Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-10-22

| Gibbons.
New York, Oct. 15.-The sermon ut the
| funeral of Cardinal McCloskey this morning
was preached by Archbishop Gibbons OF
Baltimore. The text of the sermon was
Ecclesiastieus 45th chapter; 5th verse.
"These words, spoken originally Of
| Aaron" said the speaker, 'fmay be ilttlngly
applied to the great high priest whose NOR
| tai remains now lie before you. He also
was chosen out Of all men living to hll the
| highest ecclesiastical position In the nation
| that he might teach Jacob his testimonies,
and give light to Israel In his law. The
| glorious ornaments of u pontih to which
| the.sacred text referred had tenfold signi-
| fication. They symbolized In the eyes OF
the people his spiritual dignity and au-
thority; to the pontiff himself they repre-
sented the interior ornaments of virtue with
which he should be adorned and without
which the most precious ornaments lose
their lustre. These scarlet robes OF the
| Cardinal remind you Of the exalted
dignity to which he was raised. They re-
minded himself Of theg garmentof innocence
worn by his Divine Master and crimsoned
with His precious blood, and that he should
be ready, II necessary, to lay down his life
| for the faith.
The cardinals death had brought sorrow
to the universal church as well as the
| church of America and New York. 1t has
| filled with grief the great heart Of the
sovereign pontiff and the college Of cardi-
nails of which he was an illustrious member
| and distinguished ornament. 1t had fallen
heavily upon you, venerable brethren of
| tho clergy, and the sadness depicted on
your countenanees is the expression of the
grief which ILLS your heart. Nor was this
grief confined to- those who were OF the
household Of the faith. 1t extended to all
| classes and creeds Of the community. The
Il
ns well because this empire city is
nmenting the death OF one Of
its most illustrious and honored
citizens. Neither wealth, nor power, nor
rank could command such heartfelt and
universal respect as has been spontaneously
paid to the remains of your reverend pre-
late. He had won the hearts of the people.
The Christian prelate was always n man of
mark, centre of observation to the
eyes of the world. 10 the eye of
faith the bishop is exalted above angels
because he exercises powers not given to
angels. The bishop is the ambassador of
God appointed to vindicate His honor and
proclaim his name among the nations of the
earth. If it esteemed great privilege for u
citizen to represent this great republic in the
courts OF Europe. how much greater is the
prerogative to represent the court of
heaven among the nations of the world.
The life OF tho cardinal has never been
written and never can be. And
this is true of every Catholic pre-
lato OF America. The biographer might
recount the good work and deeds
he had done, but he can know nothing of
his private and inner life which is "hidden
with Christ in God" That was manifest to
Gods recording angel only. People came
to him with their cares and troubleSand for
counsel in doubt for spiritual and oven
temporal assistance. We're bishops real
life in its outward and inward fuln5ss pub
lished, il would be more interesting Than
novel. If this was true of the huiabinsi
prelate la the land with how much greater
force may it be applied to ono ucsGpyine
the eminent position of your bcloyed ear
dinal."
The Archbishop then briefly sketoled the
Cardinals life and touched upon u few
salient features in his long and oventful
career. In conclusion,, the speaker
reserved for your beloved Archbishop
as u reward of conspicuous merit
and life-long services in the cause Of
God. Our late holy father Pope Plus X
in a consistory held in 1876 was pleased to
create him cardinal of the holy Roman
church. This was an honor unprecedented
in the western world and rarely II ever was
such dignity conferred with stronger marks
of public appreciation. Not only in this
great city and state OF New York, but
throughout the length and breadth Of the
land the news Of your archbishop's eleva-
tion was hailed with the greatest manifesta-
lions Of joy and satisfaction.
shall not attempt to enumerate the instl-
tutions of religion, charity and learning
which have sprung up in this diocese dur
ing the cardinals administration of 81
years. We may form some estimate
of the development of the Catholicity
when we consider that the number of
churches has increased during that period
from 10 to 17U and the number of clergy
from 150 to 450. Your venerated cardinal
has left you at his death two great
great legacies of his love, the Catho-
lie Protectory and this noble cathe-
dral, the grandest In the United Stat s.,
will stand as lasting monuments of his
zeal for religion and humanity. He has
left you two precious legaeies of his love.
and first the legacy of pure
an unsullied life as priest, bishop, arch
the surplice OF the priest nor the rochet of
the bishop nor the pallium of the archbishop
nor the scarlet robes of the cardinal.
After spending upwards of half a century
in the exercise of tho ministry, he goesdown
to his honored grave without u stain upon
his moral character. He leaves you
another precious legacy in the per-
Cardinal laid his hands in benedietlon ON
his successor and that benediction of the
expiring patriarch will be us fruitful to the
son of his adoption and the heir of his
priestly throne as was Jacobs blessing to
Joseph.
And, If he could speak from this bier, he
would say to you all as you loved
and served and obeyed me, so
you will love and serve and obey
him. l regard us done for me what you
| do for him. l will live for you in him and
thus your father who was lost is found hay
| ing been dead he is come to life again.
Oh beloved Pontiff, may thy soul BIO this
day in Paradise. We cherish thy memory
and even in the years to come when thy life
shall be viewed through the mollowing
atmosphere of time, thy memory like the
memory of Josias will be as tho composition
| of sweet odor made by the art of the per-
fumer. Thy memory shall be sweet as
honey in every mouth and delicious music
at a banquet. They will speak OF thee as
the kind and gentle and iatherly Cardinal
| McCloskey,n