The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-16
ARCHBISHOP GIBBONS.
SERMON TO HIS ;FLocK.

FAREWELL SERMON TO HIS FLOCK.
IMMENSE CONCOURSE At ST. PETERS CA
THEDRAL-A TOUCHING DISCOURSE BY
THE DEPARTING PRELATE-THE CONGRE-
CATION DEEPLY MOvED-sPECIAL SER
VICES FOR THE OCCAsION-FINALL LEAVE
4TAKISGs, &C. sic-t! ZE.fi-
Sunday was day long to be remembered
by the Catholic community OF Richmond,
as we'll az by many OF our citizens Of other
denominations. as q day OF general regret
aud sorrow at the translation of Right Rev.
Bishop James Gibbons from this diocese to
the archdiocese Of Baltimore, of which he
has been made the archbishop to succeed
Archbishop Bayley, recently deceased.
Before half-past 10 o'clock, the usual hour
for Sundays services, St. Peters Cathedral
was filed to its utmost capacity by con-
gregation which embraced Catholics from
the three parishes OF Richmond and many OF
our best nom Catholic citizens, who were
attracted thither to listen to the farewell
words OF the departing Bishop. "
SPECIAL SERVICES.
AS a special honor to the new Archbishop
the celebration Of solemn high-mass was
begun at the hour above named. The cele-
brant was Rev. DR.. D. OCbnnelI, who was
recently ordained Mt Rome for the diocese
OF Richmond; Rev. Father f. Janssens, ad-
ministrator OF the diocese, acting as dea-
con-. and Rev. Father Habets acting as sub
deacon
The Cathedral choir rendered some OF its
best music on the occasion, MoZart's grand
twelfth mass being sung as special mark
OF respect to DR.. Gibbons, that composition
being particularly his favorite mass.
THE AHcHBIsHoP's FAREWELL.
Immediately following the gospel the
choir sang the Veni Sancte Spiritus, by
Able Vogler; after which Archbishop
Gibbons assembled the pulpit and pro-
ceeded to deliver his farewell sermon. He
took his text from the cpistle read in the
mass Of the day-chapter Of the Epistle OF
st. Paul to the Hebrcws-beginning with
the words "For every hiSh-priest taken
from among men," &c. He then said:
Dearly-beloved Brcthren,-1 fear I shall
address you to-day under many embarrass-
ing circumstances. l had hoped to have
sufficient time to think Of what should say
on such trying occasion. But while in
the presence OF death I could not think OF
the living. Standing by the body Of the
rccentlv-deceased and greatly venerated
Archbishop OF Baltimore, my attention was
so much cngrosSed by passing events that
it was entirely impossible for me to give
any attention TO the remarks have to make
to-day. / know, however, you will bear
with me, and believe that what say comes
from the depths of the heart.
When man holding position OF respon-
sibiity and trust is about to surrender his
office it is proper that before retiring he
should render an account OF his steward
ship. Called rs I am, without any concur
renee or action on my part, by the highest &C.
clesiastical authority from this field OF labor
to another OF still greater responsibility, l
deem it. my duty to give you brief sum-
mary Of the present condition OF this dio
cese.
Here the Archbishop gave relative state
ment of the present condition of the diocese
as compared with its condition at the time
OF his installation-fye years ago almost to
the day, he having taken formal charge OF
the diocese on the Goth OF October, 1872. In
the course OF his explanation he took occa-
sion to show that not only was the diocese
| free from debt, but also, among other
things, he showed the following healthy
condition OF affairs as to the rapid progress
OF religion: At the time OF his advent
In Richmond, the diocese, which embraces
the State OF Virginia and two or three points
in West Virginia bordering on this State,
contained Is churches, as many chapels and
stations, II priests, and Is parochial schools,
with an aggregate attendance OF ], 400 pu-
pills. Now in the diocese OF Richmond
there are a churches, about the same num-
Der OF chapels and stations, q priests,
large number Of ecclesiastical stu
dents preparing for the ministry, and 26
schools with an aggregate attendance OF p
250 children showing an increase in five
wears OF nine churches; chapels, stations,
and priests in the same proDortion-and
nearly 1000 pupils in the parochial schools.
He also stated that the ecclesiastical pro-
perty OF the diocese had augmented about
S150,00 of which sum fully 100000 is
credited to Richmond. The only indebted
ness to which he referred was small
amount still due on the new institution on
Fourth street occupied by the Sisters of
Charity. 1t will, therefore, be readily seen
that his successor will not have many trou-
bles to contend with.
DR.. Gibbons, continuing his remarks,
said: ,-..
From the day of my arrival among you
and my installation in this Cathedral until
the moment / resigned my trust can con.
scientiously say that have DEVOTED myself
to the interests OF this diocese, and have
endeayored to discharge my duty as well as
my limited strength and ability enabled me to
do so. During that period my mind and
heart and will have been concentrated
on your spiritual advancement. When.
ever I celebrated mass at the altar not
day has passed in which have not remem
bered you before God in my prayers.
reioiced not only in your spiritual but also
in your temporal advancement, and in ap
pealiug to your generosity in the interest:
OF charity and religion rejoiced III the
munitcence OF your contri buttons, not Sc
much on account of the liberality OF tht
offerings themselves, but because these
offerings afforded me an evidence OF your
hearty cooperation and goodwill.
know, indeed, full we'll that it is no
| difficult to convince You OF all this. Wha
I apprehend is not that you will with
hold from me any tribute OF justice II
which I can lay claim, but that your
kind partially may ascribe to me more
credit than really deserve. Idesire there
fore to dsabuse you OF false or exaggerated
impressions, by informing you to whom ant
to what you are mainly indebted for tht
healthy condition OF religion in your mlds
and the respectable hold which il has at
tanned in the community
You are indebted first to God, secondl!
to the late Bishop McGill, thirdly to TIT
clergy, and fourthly to yourselves. Ever
since I took charge of this portion OF thu
Lords vineyard God has singularly blessed
US. 10 Him be all the honor and glory
Every other cause Of success is secondary
to Him. TO illustrate this will suppos'