The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-05
American Cardinal Explains the
 Workings of the COncIaVe
CATHEDRAL WAS CROWDED
In His First Sermon Since His Return to United States the Cardinal Pays Eloquent Tribute to
 Pope Plus X.

Baltimore, October 4.-Special services were held at the Baltimore cathedral to- day in honor of the election of Plus X. Cardial Gibbons preached the sermon at high mass and was attentiyely listened to by a congregation that filled the edifice. So dense was the throng which filled every inch of the cathedral, that the pro- cession of clergq, seminarians and acol- ites following the mass was delayed until hundreds of persons cleared the aisle of the church. In addition to being the first sermon delivered at the cathedral by Car dinal Gibbons for three months, it had been announced that he would speak of the conclave which elevated the new pom tiff, and speak of the general conditions at the vatican. At the conclusion of the pontifcal mass the popes prayer was chanted by the choir of St. Mary's choir of thirty voices.
 Ills Eminence spoke as follows:
 Cardinal Gibbons Sermon.
 You naturally expect me 10 make some observations in reference to the recent eonclave, and to the new pontiff who has been happily chosen to preside over the church of God.
 Seventy members constitute the sacred college, when the body Is complete, but the college rarely attains that num- Der, as between one eonsistory and an- other several deaths are apt to intervene among a body of men usually advanced fp ha of ta cardinals amounted to sixty-four mem- bers, of whom sixty-two took part in the election of the sovereign pontiff.
 ''The following nations are represented In the sacred colleges: Italy. France. Spain. Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, Poland. Ire land, Australia and the United States. It Is to be regretted, however, that the deaths of Cardinals Tascherau and Vaughan, and the shsence of Cardinal Moran, prevented England. Canada and Australia from having voice in the con- clave. And had the election of a pope been held some years ago. the illustrious Cardinals Newman and Manning would have adorned the venerable senate by their learning and experience.
 'The conclave which has just taken place marks a new and important era in the annals of the American Catholic church. This is the first time in the history of the Christian religion that the United States or any part of this wes- tern hemisphere was ever associated with the other nations of Christendom in se- lecting a successor to the Chair of Peter.
 U. S. Will Have More Cardinals.
 'I would not at all be surprised if in the next conclave the Catholic church of the United States will be represented by several members of the sacred college. so that the number of cardinals from our country may be commensurate with the population, the grandeur and the com- manding influence of the nation, and may be In keeping also with the numerical strength of our hierarchy and laity, and the splendor and progress of our rellgi- ous and charitable institutions.
 At the time of the conclave, and for weeks preceding it, Rome was full of newspaper reporters gathered from vari- ous parts of the civilized world. They were there to furnish the earliest news to the journals which they represented. The great majority of these journalists were men of truth and honor. But few of them who could not obtain trustworthy facts, or because they regarded facts as less savory than fiction, yielded to the temptation of making statements which were the offspring of their fancy. The more spicy the dish which they served to their patrons the more eagerly 1t was devoured.
 Cardinals Show Discretion.
 Tn the judgments of mankind, the cardinals of the church are acknowl- edged to be generally men of high or der of intelligence, of great discretion, of large experience, and of integrity of character. In these respects l believe they are not surpassed, if they are equaled by any dellberative body in the whole world.
 "The cardinals, however, are not an- gels, but men, subject to the usual in- firmitles and ambitions of flesh and blood. And because they are not exempt from the frailties incident to mankind and because of the peerless dignity of the supreme pontificate. as well as of the tremendous responsibility it involves every precaution that human ingenuity and experience could suggest, has been availed of in this, as in preceding con- claves. so that no cloud should rest over the election of the successful candidate.
 "such were the circumstances which marked the election of our new chief pastor who has assumed the title of Plus x.
 T was present at the concIave and took part in the proceedings, and with out revealing it's secrets, I can most positively assure you and the American neople that the election of the pope was conducted with absolute freedom, with the utmost fairness and impartiality, and with a dignity and solemnity be- coming the august assomblage of the sacred college, and the momentous con sequences of their suffrages.
 A Wonderful Gathering.
 q have witnessed debates in the Brit ish parliament, In the French chambers. and in both houses of congress, and must canddly say that in sobrety of language. and in courteous department of members towards one another, the col- lege of cardinals surpassed them all. And this is the most noteworthy when we consider that some twelve different nationalites, swayed by as many nation- al characteristics. were reprpzpntpd in