The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-04

Throngs, are Most Impressive-Au-
tograph Letter From Piux K Con-
graduating Cardinal Gibbons and
Sending His Blessing to Whole
American People.
Baltimore, April 29.-Under smiI ng
skies today a procession of ecclesiastics
filed out of Calvert Hall. First CAME
ranks Of sanctuary boys, then the
members Of the seminary choir, then
other seminarians, then students of va
rious institutions of learning-aIl
these in sober black and ~white-thea
the faculty OF the Catholic university,
in black, touched here and there with
vari-oolored silks; Franciscans in
brown habits, white-frocked Domin..
cans, sable-clad Augustinians and Je,-
uits; bishops and archbishops in pu--
pie vestments, each with his attend
ants; the apostolic delegate and his
tr~aln-bearers, and then the cardinal IN
full pontifcals of red, with ermine
capes. The celebration of the one
hundredth anniversary of the laying
OF the corner stone of the Baltimore
cathedral had begun.
The procession filed down to the
side entrance Of the cathedral grounds
through these to the main entrance
to the ancient building and up tie
main aisle to the sanctuary, where the
ecclesiastlcS grouped themselves in an
imposing array. There were there the
| nn ~ Il iro1 ~ rah I;-I~, 80 D@o~,1 y
apostolic delegate, Monsignor Diomede
FalcOniO, and almost every bishop and
archbishop of the Roman Catholic
Church whose see IS within the con
fines Of the United States.
The most important event of the SOL
emn pOntifca, mass of which the Most
Reverend J. NJ. Farley, D. D., archbjsh-
OPP Of New York, was the celebranr,
was the reading, by the Rev. William
A. Fletcher, rector Of the cathed a.,
of the following autograph letter from
Rome.
POPE'S AUTOGRAPH LETTER.
To our beloved son, James Gibbons,
archbishop of Baltimore, Cardinal
Priest, of the Title of St. Mary Across
the Tiber, Plus, P. P.
Beloved son, health and apostolic
benediction.
when the first archbishop of Balti~
more, one hundred years ago, laid The
corner o of the cathedral, he laid,
we may truly say, the foundation upon
which the Church of America was %
rise to it's full and glorious height
For, whether we consider the ever
increasing number of priests ordained
within it's walls, the bishops there con-
secrated, the national counsels there
celebrated, or the various magnificen.
sOlemnities or the solemn ecclesiastical
functions that it has witnessed. all
have happily found, as it were. their
home in the cathedral of Baltimore.
Happily, we say, and ever with the
promise Of better things, as is proven
by the extension of the, hierarchy; by
the growth Of the Catholic pOpulaLiOl;
the peaceful state of religion; your
%steadfast union with the see of Rome,
and by the manifold consultations
which our heart has gathered from
your achievements.
CARDINAL CONGRATULATED.
Hence, we deem it worthy of OUT
highest approval that you propose TO
commemorate with general rejoicing so
! signal an event. We need not tell you
with what sentiment of good will and
Of heartfelt interest we share in this
celebration. You are all aware that
we have always most ardently sought,
and are now equally eager to adop1,
whatsoever may avail to enhance the
honor of our religion among the
American people. Our earnestness
herein is the greater because we are
sure that you will respond, with COM
mon accord and endeaVOr, to the invi-
tation which we, prompted by themem-
DRY Of what you have accomplished for
religion. extend you on this timely and
joyous occasion in urging the Amerl-
can people to still greater efforts in be-
half of our Catholic faith. This eXhOr-
tatiOn we repeat in all earnestness.
knowing full we'll that our words must
aim not only at advancing the cause OF
religion, but also at furthering the
public veal. Intent, therefore, as YOU
now are, upon extalling the sacred
memories of your f~orefathers and set,
; ting forth the glory of your faith, We
| offer you Jul sincere congratulatiOn;
and bestow upon you the praise that
you fully deserve both by your yea. il
organizing this public celebration anC
, by the habitual attitude of mind there
| in displayed. You manifest, indeed, 6
temper hat We ardently desire to Sc,
5 cultivated by all Catholics-a temper
l namely, which holds within itsei
strong and full of promise the hope O
the future.
r Right joyously, then, we expires:
-. our wishes for the prosperity of you
churches and the success of this cen
. tenary observance. At the same tina
as a pledge. of heavenly graces and
token of our deep affection, we i'm
+ part most lovingly our apostolic Dene
r diction to you, the bishops, the cler
gy and the whole American people.
Given at st. Peters, Rome. on tn
second day of March, 1906, in the thir
year of our pontifcate.
"(Signed) Plus, P. P. X"
The Gregorian music was impressive
The sermon was preached by the Mes