Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-09

CARDINAL GIBBONS town. which stands to-
day. In 1914 there were thirteen sisters in this
convent. From that time forward many
churches and institutions of learning and
charity were established in different parts of
the country. The indomitable energy of Bishop
Carroll spread the religion in all directions In
1906 the corner stones of three churches were
laid In Baltimore alone and in 1908 there were
eighty churches in the diocese. The pope
then saw necessity for division of the do
cese and the appointment of more bishops.
METROPOLITAN SEE.
On the Sth of April, 1908, Baltimore was
raised to the rank of metropolitan see and four
suffregan bishoprics were erected in New
York, Philadelphia, Boston and Bardstown.
Bishop Carroll was then raised to the dignity
of archbishop. He had formed a national
clergy. After Archbishop CarrolIs death. in
1915, Bishop Neale became archbishop, serving
for about two years, when death called him
from his duties, and Ambrose Marechal, who
had been named his coadjutor, was consecrated
archbishop in 1917. Archbishop Neale's re-
mains lie in the chapel in the Convent of Wis.,
ltation. in Georgetown that institution having
been founded through his efforts.
Growing up from almost nothing under the
iberalizing influences of this free country the
Catholic church in the United States was built
on broader and more liberal foundation than
was possible in any foreign country. As it
grew in strength it increased in liberality The
laity became more independent under Protes-
tant influences and in the presence of the per-
feet political freedom of the people of the re-
public. This was felt more especially during
the period that Marechal was archbishop, and
1t was watched with some apprehension at first
but the wisdom of the heads of the church in
this country taught them to adjust themselves
to their surroundings and the conditions under
which they subsisted, and the result was the
greater liberaliZing of the church rule This
problem was one that especially taxed the wis
dom OF Archbishop Marechal. Meanwhile the
diocese was still further divided and the
branches of the church extended
Archbishop Ma-echai was succeeded on his
death by Archbishop Whitfield in 1925
DIR. James Whitfield was succee ied upon his
death, in 1884. by Rev. Samuel Eccleston, and
1t was during his administration. 1S49, that the
pope was invited to seek an asylum in Balti-
more. BY the pontifcal briefs of August g..
1850, the Baltimore diocese was again divided,
the archbishop of Baltimore retaining as his
suffragans only the bishops of Philadelphia,
Richmond, Wheeling, Savannah, Charleston
and Plttsburg.
Archbishop Eccleston was succeeded upon
his death. in 1851, by Right Rev. Francis P.
kenrick, who was transferred to this see from
Philadelphia and who was appointed apostolic
legate 70 preside at the national council of the
entire vpiscopate of the United States. By a
decree of the propaganda of July 29,
1858, the prerogative Of place was
granted to the see of Baltimore, so that
in councils, assemblies and meetings of
every kind precedence was given to the arch
bishop OF Baltimore and the seat of honor
above every other archbishop, without regard
to order of promotion or conservation. Arch
bishop Kenrck died in 1868 and was succeeded
by Bishop Spalding of Louisville, whose death
occurred in 1872, when Archbishop Bayley was
appointed to the diocese. Upon his DEATH in
1877, he was succeeded by Archbishop, now
Cardinal Gibbons
The first national council of the clergy of the
United States met in the Baltimore cathedral
May 9, 1852, Archbishop Kendrick presiding.
The second plenary council was held in 1866,
Archbishop Spalding presiding, and the third
plenary council was held in 1884, presided over
by Archbishop Gibbons and attended by four
teen archbishops and sixty bishops.