The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-15
VISIT OF THE CARDINAL.
AMERICAS GREATEST PRELATE IN
SAVANNAH.

Bishop Becker Entertains the Distin-
cuished Visitor at the Episcopal
Residence-The Cardinal Declines a
Public Reception, and Desires that
His Visit be Informal-To Celebrate
Mass at the Cathedral this Morning
and Visit the Catholic Institutions
During the Day.
Cardinal Gibbons arrived in Savannah
yesterday on the 2 o'clock train from
Charleston. He was accompanied by Vicar
General Kelley Of Atlanta and Father
Colbert of Savannah The cardinal was
met at the train by Vicar General Cafferty.
Father McMaaol and DR.. J. B. Read.
1t was not known until about noon when
the cardinal would arrive, and his reception
was altogether informal, as he desired that it
should be. He is very much fatigusd from
his visit in Charleston. There were very
few at the depot when the cardinals train
arrived, and when he got out OF the car be
| shook hands with those who had assembled
TO meet him aud was driven Immediately 70
| the Episcopal residence at Harris aud Lin
coin streets. Mgr. O'Connell, rector Of the
| American college at Rome, will arrive from
Charleston this morning. The monsignore
came over from Rome with the papal legate
to attend the late centennial of the Catholic
church in Baltimore. He is South Caro-
linian by birth, and has come recently
from Columbia where he has been visiting
his mother, who resides at the state capital
FEW CALLERS RECEIVED.
Cardinal Gibbons saw few of his friends
| yesterday afternoon, but hundreds Of callers
were turned away. Mayor Schwarz paid
no nrrfiW sol xviaff
The cardinal will remain over to-day, but
he will not give public reception. nor, in
fact, a reception of any kind. IL is his
wish TO be as quiet as possible while ne is
| here. He came over to Savannah TO see
| Bishop Becker, who was unable to go to
Charleston. They are old friends, having
been consecrated on the same day, Aug. Is,
1868. in the cathedral of Baltimore, by the
late Archbishop Sralding. 1t may be that
Cardinal Gibbons will visit DR.. Read, who
is also an old friend
| The programme of the cardinals visit to-
day will be informal. He will celebrate
mass at o'clock this morning in the cathe-
dral, and it is expected that the church will
be crowded. After the mass he will visit
the Catholic institutions In the city, includ-
| ing the st. Vincent de Paul convent, st.
Joseph's Infirmary, st. Mary's Home, the
Little Sisters, and the colored Catholic
schools.
The cardinal will leave tonight at $40
o'clock, on the Charleston and Savannah
railway, for Wilmington, N. c., where he
viii spend few days 1t is his old home.
From there he will return to Baltimore.
A PRINCE OF THE CHURCH.
Cardinal Gibbons, although So years old
is much younger in appearance. Ee was
born in Baltimore, July 49, 1884 At an
early age he was taken by his parents to
their former home in ireland, where his
education began. When he was II, he re-
turned to his native city. and
after a brief experience as a clerk
entered st. Charles college, Maryland.
In September, 1857, he was transferred
TO st. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore and
June 30, 1861, no was ordained priest in
st. Mary's hospital A few months later
he was made pastor of st. Bridget's church
at Canton. While he was performing the
duties of priest there Archbishop Spalding
transferred him to the cathedral, made him
his private secretary, and appointed him to
the important office of chancellor of the
archdiocese.
In 1866 when the second plenary council
of the American Roman Catholic church as
sembled in Baltimore Cardinal Gibbons was
assigned to the office of assistant chancellor
of the body which represented the entire
hierarchy of the United States. In 1868 he
was made vicar apostolic of North Caro-
| ina WIN bho ieiuh anu tLbi0 vi BISHOP. IN
1872 he was translated to the vacant see of
Richmond, Va, and he established st.
Sophia home for aged persons, enlarged st.
Joseph's Female Orphan Asylum, and
founded parish schools in Petersburg and
Norfolk.
CoADJUToR OF ARCHBISHOP BAILEY.
When in 1877 the health of Archbishop
Bailey of Baltimore began to decline he
asked Pope Plus to give him coadjutor, at
the same time suggesting Bishop Gibbons
for the office. His request was granted,
and May 20, 1877, DR.. Gibbons was APP
pointed TO the office. In October of the
same year the archbishop died, and DIR.
: Gibbons succeeded to the vacant see, and
thus at the early age of 43 he attained to
the highest ecclesiastical dignity of his
church in the United States.
In 1888 Archbishop Gibbons was sum.
moned to Rome with other American arch.
bishops to confer upon affairs in the United
States. During this visit he (Gibbons) was
the recipient of many marked favors from
| Pope Leo. He was appointed to preside
over the Third plenary council of Baltimore,
which assembled in Baltimore November,
1884.
The pope expressed his appreciation OF
Archbishop Gibbons service in this capac-
ity, and shortly afterward, at a special
consistory, he nominated him for promo
ton to the high dignity of cardinal, and he
was Immediately confirmed.
Cardinal Gibbons has endeared himself tx
all-Protestants as well as Catholics, the
poor as we'll as the rlch-by his simple and
| transformations life.