Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-05
CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Personal characteristics Of the Head
Of the Catholic Church I'm the United
states.

L
| Baltimore Dispatch to the New York Sun.
Cardinal Gibbons. the primate Of the Roman
Catholic Church in the United states, leads q
very quiet and uneventful life. His elevation to
the cardinalate has not changed him the least Hi.
rooms In the archiepiscopal residence on Charles
| avenue are fitted up with almost painful SIM
plicity. He enjoys the distinction OF being the
youngest Of the cardinals. He Is not q young
man In the strict sense Of the word, for he has
already passed his nftieth birthday, but he is
| young In comparison with his venerable col.
leagues in the college OF cardinals Cardinal Glib
bons Is an American from the soles OF his feet to
| the crown OF his head He was born in Baltimore
July %, 1884, within stones throw OF the place
| where he now resides. He was ordained June 80
1861. In 1868 he was appointed vicar apostolic OF
North Carolina. -Four years later he was installed
bishop of Richmond. In 1877 he was made coad-
tutor archbishop OF Baltimore, assuming, on the
death OF Archbishop Bayley the full archbishoprtc
On June % of last year the red cap was conferred
upon him.
and delicate. His features are clear cut and his
kindly manners make friends wherever he goes.
As writer he ranks very high. No one who has
ever read the "Faith OF Our Fathers can help
being charmed with his style. The book is made
up principally OF sermons delivered while on mis-
sonary tours in North Carolina and 1t is said has
met with q larger circulation than any other sim
liar Catholic work ever published. More than
100000 copies have been sold. While Cardinal
u X.
ridge, near Baltimore, small pox broke out in the
village, and all the people who were able deserted
the town. one old negro, who was on the point Of
neither food nor medicine. Father Gibbons
FASTENED to the dying mans bedside, where he
remained until the last No one else could be pro-
cured TO carry the corpse TO the grave and Father
Gibbons acted as undertaken as well as minister
Having obtained coffin he placed the body In 1t,
formed the last rites OF the church, and buried it,
There is another incident In the life OF the cari-
nal which he rarely touches upon, but 1t has fire.
quently been told in Baltimore and never denied.
While bishop OF Richmond he was defendant in q
suit relating to some church property. When he
was called 10 the stand the plaintiffs lawy err after
nun6Dr OF vain endeavOrS to involve the witness
In contradictions, questioned the bishops right to
the title OF bishop OF Richmond. The defendants
lawyer s 0G1e sh 20 ns as put the
papers he would answer the question. This was
allowed. The bishop left the court room, and In
twenty minutes returned with a document which
he proceeded to read with great sOemnity, all the
more solemn as the paper was written In Latin,
The plantin'S lawyer pretended to take notes In
duStriously, bowling his head once in WHILE as In
acquieSence, and seemed perfectly convinced at
the end. When the reading was finished he an
nounced that the papal bulls just read were en-
for his expressed doubts. The next day 1t leaked
out that The bishop, unable to md the papal bulls
at his residence, had brought TO court and read a
Latin essay on Pope Leo the Great, written by one
or his ecclesiastical students and forwarded by
the president OF the college as a specimen OF the
young man SKILL III Ldtln composition.
The cardinal adapts himself 10 all classes and
conditions OF men. he can SympatniZe with the
woes OF his poorest and most uneducated parish
oner with just as much sincerity as he discusses
art and literature with men who stand at the head
OF both. The cardinal was one OF the prominent
figures ut the recent constitutional centennial in
Philadelphia. reception was given In his honor
by the Catholic CLUB. Tue cardinal there met the
President OF the United States and nearly every
member OF his Cabinet the general OF the Army
and the admiral OF the Navy, the governors OF at
least thirteen states with their respective STATS
and a score OF DINER national, state and local
celebrities, together with any number Of arch
bishops. bishops and priests. He had an appro-
PIRATE word for every one. He talked war with
Gen. Sheridan and war ships with Admiral Luce
He surprised secretary Bay ara with MS knowledge
Of foreign affairs, and showed Gov Beaver that he
Penn and Pennsylvania During The evening the
cardinal was thrown into contact with group OF
reporters. Here he appeared at his very best. lie
possesses an insight into journalism which very
particular knowledge or the local papers was
what pleased most OF all He knew the names OF
the prOprletors OF nearly all the papers, and in
On-hand manner referred to the political opinions
OF each and the kind OF people they catered to.
Speaking OF the cardinal, word concerning this
red cap Is order. Innocent w. at the council OF
Lyons In 1245, conferred the cardinals the dis
unction or mat req cap. The special meaning OF
the cap Is that the pope places It on the head the
seat OF the brain, 10 warn the cardinal that he
must give learned and loyal counsel to the govern
ment OF the church, while the color signifies that
the wearer must be prepared to shed the last drop
OF blood .rather than betry his trust. The cap is
now one or ceremony only, and serves but twice.
once when the aldinal receives IL In cOnsiStOry
and next when 1t rests on his cataralQue at his
obsequies. 1t Is then suspended from the ceiling
OF the chapel or aisle or the church where he Is
buried The hat Is round, with a low crown and q
wide Stin brim, from the inside OF which hangs
fifteen silk tassels. The cardinals health Is COM
paratlvely good at the present time, and IL Is
understood that he contelnplateS writing another
book on the doctrine OF the church.