The Irish standard., 1903-11-07

young priest soon made himself a
prime fnvoritc and appeared to have
no dread Of his unpleasant surround
ings. After serving three years at
st. Bridget's, he was called to the
Cathedral MS secretary to Archbishop
Spalding. serving two years in this
capacity. Tn 1867. during the sessions
Of tho Plcnnry Council in Baltimore,
Father Gibbons attracted the favor.
able attention Of the many prclntes
there assembled by the ready facility
and pninstnking diligence with which
he discharged the duties Of Tint body.
Father Gibbons was consecrated Mt
the Baltimore Cathedral on August 18,
1868, Bishop Of Adrnmyttinm in Parti-
hus 1nfldellum, and vicnr-Apostolic Of
North Carolina. Bishop Gibbons pre-.
sided for four years over the Diocese
OF North Cnrolinn, displaying remark
able executive ability and great apos.
tolic zeal. On the death Of Right Rev.
Bishop McGill. Bishop Gibbons was
translated to Richmond. Virginia, IN
which see he was established by Arch
bishop Baylcy on October 20. 1872.
His administration in Richmond was
marked by an almost immediate re-
vivnl Of interest in Catholic projects.
and tho cause OF that religion flourish
cd with new vIgor. Bishop Gibbons
was appointed cOndiutor with the
right OF succession to the Most Rev.
james Roosevelt Rnylcy Archbishop
OF Baltimore, on Mny 20. 1877. He
Immediately took up his residence Mt
Baltimore. On October 3 that year
Archbishop Baylcy died. and Bishop
Gibbons succeeded to the responsible
tiles OF tho first archdiocese In Amcri-
On. In the following February he was
Invested with the pnllium, the insignia
Of tho archicpiscopnl dignity. in the
Cathedral seat Mt Baltimore During
tho Gunrtcr Of n century that Cardinal
Gibbons llns been Mt the head Of the
archdiocese Of Baltimore, twcnty-six
fine churches have ben built under
his direction. Tn 1882 when Arch
bishop Gibbons and other American
prclntcs were summoned to Rome to
confer with Pope Leo XIII on affairs
relating to tho welfare Of tho Catholic
Church in tho United States, leo was
so impressed by the baltimore prc.
late that he appointed him to preside
over the third Plcnnry Council of
Baltimore, convened in the following
year At the sessions of this, the
most imposing gathering of prclates
and divfnes ever held in America,
when wealth and intellect. splendor
OF rank, and halo of ecclesiastical
achievement combined to make an as.
scmblagc forever notable I'm the Ameri-
can records Of matters Of church, the
executive ability Of Cardinal Gibbons
won the respect and admiration of the
assembled thcOlOgians. His zeal and
energy largely contributed to the suc-
coss OF the Council. The acts and de-
crccs Of this Plenary Council were ap-
proved by Pope Leo XIII. who. short
ly aftcrwnr1, as n mark Of his favor
and appreciation, raised Archbishop
Gibbons to the cartlinalitinl dignity.
Tho Archbishop selected June 30, 1886,
the twcnty-fifth anniversary Of his
ordination to the priesthood, as the
occasion for his formal investiture
with the rank and insignia of the
members OF the Sacred College, and
the ceremony was performed in the
historic Baltimore Cathedral, the ven
crablc Archbishop Kenrick Of st.
Louis, the dean of the American hier-
nrchy. being especially designated by
the Pope to officiate Mt the investiture.
The following January, 1887, the
new Cardinal sailed for Rome, and
on st. Patrick's Day he received the
red hat from the hands Of the reigning
Pontiff. Eight days later, on the
Feast Of the Annunciation, he was
installed in his titular church, Santa
Maria, in Trastevere. Cardinal Glib.