Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-19
CREEDS HOLD ON HUMANITY
Universal Religion Believed a Question Of
Time and Energy.
OPINIONS OF TWO PROMINENT DlvINEs
Chats with Cardinal and
Rev. Dewitt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
of Public Interest Discussed
characteristics of the Men.

copyrighted, 1896. by Frank G. Carpenter.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. IT, give you today
Interviews which / have Just had with two
of the greatest leaders of religious thought
in the United States. l refer to his eminence,
James Cardinal Gibbons Of Baltimore and the
Rev. r. Dewitt Talmage of Washington.
Cardinal Gibbons s the broadcast and the big
gest man in the Catholic church. DIR. Tai
mage Is the broadcast and one Of the greatest
of the Protestants. My interview with Car
dinal Gibbons took place at the cardinals
house Mt Baltimore. This Is a big, gray
stone building Of many rooms, situated in
the heart of the city, Just back of the
cathedral. Passing up wide stone steps to
the front door, you press an electric but
ton. The door opens and you are confronted
by a negro boy of gingerbread hue, who
takes your card, puts 1t on a silver platter
and carries It in to the cardinal. In the
meantime he directs you to one of the audi
ence parlors and you wait your turn. Car
dinal Gibbons is the head of the Catholic
church In the United States. He has many
callers. aud his reception days bring crowds
almost equal to those of the president at
the white house. My meeting was by APP
pointmunt, and after a few moments l heard
the swish Of the skirts which announced the
approach OF the cardinal. He was dressed
In a gown OF dark cloth embroidered with red,
ult itll HS nGCh " HE iCCl. "A Skull
cap Of bright red covered the crown Of his
head. and upon his wedding finger, the third
finger Of the left hand, he wore the great
sapphire ring which is one of the emblems
of his clerical rank. He offered me his hand
and led me to a seat near the window. As
he talked l had a good chance to observe
his features. Cardinal Gibbons has a very
strong face. His forehead is high and mar
row, reminding you somewhat of the pictures
Of Napoleon Bonaparte taken during his boy
80 II. a.ta. are Il.,a u,l - - -
large and straight, and his mouth strong.
but gentle. He IL slender rather than
portly. and his form Is the personihcation of
nervous activity. He is now 61 years old,
but he does not look to be more than 80. He
Is a man Of Ideas and is full OF plain. prac-
teal common sense. He Is a patriotic Amer
lean, and no one can talk with him without
neing impressed by the humanity and
brotlerly love which shows out In his
features. Our talk was more Of q chat than
a set iateryiew, and ! give 1t much as II
occurred.
A UNIVERSAL RELIGION.
Ny first question was as to whether his
eminence thought there would ever be a
universal religion.
He replied: II hope SO, but when IL will
come | canpot say. The world is becoming
more Chrlstianlike every day, and We are, /
hope. gradually nearing the time when there
viii be a universal Christianity"
l here asked whether he thought that this
universal religion would be the Catholic re-
iigion. He replied with the same answer,
II hops -" and In response to my ques-
tons srsa me some reasons OF the wonder
full growth OF the Catholic religion. Said he:
o course. | believe the Catholic religion
to be the best OF all religions. 1t Is adapted
70 all the needs OF mankind and man. II Is
fitted for the elevation Of his soul, for the
Guidance OF his conduct and for the ~satlsfac-
ton OF all his spiritual wants. 1t is fit