CATHOLICITY IN SCOTLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, 17 June 1920, Page 28

CATHOLICITY IN SCOTLAND.

A certain Bishop, long since gone to a good reward I am sure, once said, that, the Catholics would never convert the Scotch hut would eventually, flood them out {writes a correspondent to the Catholic Herald of India). His words were very prophetic. . The fact is being accomplished, and from where I now write I can see it every day. Forty years ago this parish did not exist, and a Catholic was as rare as a Brontosaurus. To-dav we have one of the finest churches in Scotland, an immense school, parochial halls, and 5000 excellent Catholics, all of Irish stock. The neighboring parish is estimated at 10,000. Prosit. This has brought about a remarkable change of attitude, and now it is no longer asserted that Catholics eat babies, pay for the forgiveness of sins, and worship idols wholesale. .We are not such terrible people after all. Our social status is splendid, and fair play is more in evidence, for unity is force, and in Glasgow the unit is no less than 459,000 ... a terrifying figure for the agitationist to gaze upon. And such Catholics too. Last year in this parish of mine, the Communions were 95,000 for 5000 faithful. Truly, a wonderful people.

Our losses in priests have been heavy in recent times, and we can ill afford to lose any. Our Coad-jutor-Archbishop, the Very Rev. D. A. Mackintosh, died after a long and weary illness and left us sorrowing orphans. He was indeed one of the truest of "Heather Priests." Undaunted and fearless, he built up the very finest parish in all Scotland. At the outset, he was indeed a despised and rejected man. Bigotry was rampant in those days and every step haH to be fought. He carried the truth and the truth won, bitter and all as it ever is to the antagonist. Three of his old colleagues died about the same time, and the old school of Apostles now* numbers but a few. They were wonderful men, those who endured the hardships of scorn and bigotry, deceit and cunning. Their humility makes them silent, but the very buildings cry out in praise of them. Their work was no small one, and the coming generations will be ever taught to revere their holy memory.