In the religious concerns of the city the Irish have ever played an important part. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic church in this country, the first bishop and archbishop of which was John Carroll, an Irish-American. Since his day the Irish have been in the forefront in Catholic affairs in Baltimore, and the pewholders and attendants at the Cathedral and other Catholic churches have included many of Baltimore’s leading citizens. St. Mary’s Seminary has educated hundreds of Catholic priests who have gone out and labored for the salvation of souls. Of these Levites the great and almost overwhelming majority have been Irish-Americans. Many of these good men have spent their lives in this city and have proven great sources of influence for upliftment to their fellowmen. The Irish names of the priests and bishops who have labored here in Baltimore would make a respectable directory for information on the municipality’s work for the betterment of men. Many will recall the names of the saintly McColgan, Dolan, McManus, Coskery, Slattery, McCoy, Dougherty, Malloy, Dugan, Gaitley, McDevitt, and many others of equal note who have served prominently in this city and have been towers of strength to their co-religionists. The stature of Archbishop Carroll in his day was heroic, and he was regarded as one of the chief citizens of the republic, as his famous successor, Cardinal Gibbons, is today. The similarity between Dr. Carroll and the cardinal on the lines of personal influence is remarkable. What Dr. Carroll was in his day a century ago, the cardinal is today, and the person who is familiar with the cardinal’s character knows what power and inspiration that is for good. Other prelates who were of Irish extraction and who labored here were Archbishops Neale and the illustrious Kenrick, the latter one of the greatest of church writers and a strong man of his day. In other denominations we have Dr. Patrick Allison, the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and a remarkable man in many ways, who was the friend of Dr. Carroll, and his contemporary. Rev. John Glendy, a native of Ireland, who was a rebel in 1798, and had to fly for his life to this country, was the first pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, and an orator of unusual ability. In their day they were strong men, and exercised an overmastering influence for good upon their flocks. Rev. John Healey was the first Baptist minister in Baltimore town, and founded the first Baptist chapel. He ministered here for many years and was without doubt an influential man. The congregations of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches included a number of prominent Irish business and professional men, in fact the cream of the business men of the town and city belonged to them. Hence they were widespread centers of influence and they have so remained.