Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-06-04
BLSHOP. AND CARDLNAL.

Bishop Gibbons, the new candidate, OBJ
viously chosen as the successor of the late
Cardinal McCloskey, is the one American
in the ancient and renowned Cardinalate,
which sustains to the Pontif something of
the same relation as regards advisory func-
tons as the American cabinet does to the
President of the United States.
The constitution of this historic body,
which in some form has existed from the
dawn of Christianity, was determined by
Sixtus V, in 1886, and it was provided that
the surprising honors of this exalted sta
ton, great in itself, should be distributed
proportionately among the Christian Ma
tions of earth.
obtaining for three hundred years, is never
quite full. Vacancies are constantly occur
ring through the death of the venerable car
dinals, but it seems to be the policy of the
Vatican to move slowly To the filling of
these posts.
Aside from the distinction which the
Pope's favor bestows upon Bishop Glib
bons, he is entitled, as Cardinal, to an in
come of $4,000 a year, and the emoluments
of such dignities and Offices as may be as
signed him in the sacred college. These,
however, would be nominal in the case OF
!, an American Bishop whose remoteness from
the Ppal residence would not permit of
much personal service, nor is 1t likely that
they would be coveted by a churchman like
Bishop Gibbons, whose distinguishing quail
ties are humbleness and charity.
There are more Roman Catholics in the
United States than in Ireland or England,
or, we may say, in Italy, for, though Italy is
nominally Catholic, its religion is more APP
parent in architectural monuments, tradi-
tons and statutes than in the daily work of
the people. Like any other religious mi
nority, Catholicity at its best is seen in
those countries where it has the least en-
couragement or no encouragement at all
from the State, and where the denominating
environment, if not actually hostile, is at
least unsympathetic. A pampered church
is degraded church, and in every age, I'M
!, der every system its union with the State
has worked its detriment, If not the detri-
ment OF both.
In America all there is of church archi.
lecture, all the cost of maintaining the So
ciety and the ministry, much of the elee-
nlosynary work which the State fails 10 do,
come of the voluntary contribution of peo-
pie who have drawn no monetary aid from
Europe, but have been compelled time and
again TO give of their substance TO aid church
work in the old land To such country
the Roman Pontif might wisely come, moi
for single one of the seventy Cardinals
but for many His search need not be re-
stricted 10 the Atlantic littoral, but might
include the region of the Great Lakes, OF
the Mississippi, down which the ilustrious
Marquette floated more than two centuries
ago, and, crossing the Missouri, the scene of
DE Smet's great missionary labors, be con-
tinued on the Pacific coast, upon the nomen-
clature OF which the piety of the custom of
early explorers has affixed titles dear 10 the
church.
As temporal sovereign an Italian Pope,
governing Italians, might bring to the coun-
ciIof State college of Italians, but the
universal POntif, seeking ascendency over
tbs beayis sS Ip's.s- f,s 80 0sha- ParpoSo THAI
to turn them to good, will pass beyond the
narrow confines of peninsula and find his
most disinterested council in new world
and among a free people.