Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20
His Eminence James Cardinal
Gibbons to Celebrate.
TUESDAY HIS NATAL DAY
Noted Prelate's, Seventy Third Ami
versary Comes Next Week.
YEARS HAVE TOLD LIGHTLY
One Would Not Imagine He Had
Nearly Passed the Three-Quarter
Century Mark.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
BALTIMORE, July IS, 1907.
His eminence James Cardinal Gibbons
will celebrate the seventy third anniversary
Of his birth Tuesday next. The event Is one
OF interest not only to himself, but to the
people Of this city and to those Of the whole
United States, In which he is the primate Of
the Roman Catholic Church. The cardinal
will not single out the day by any special
observance, and to the writer he said that
1t was his purpose to spend his birthday as
quietly as possible. and that there would
be no special observance.
The years Of life have told lightly upon
Cardinal Gibbons. and to look at him one
would not imagine that he had passed the
three-Quarter century mark. Never what
can be termed robust. frugal husbandry
Of his physical powers has more than
atoned for what nature did not bestow.
Many man of giant stature, minus the
great reserve power Of the cardinal, would
have succumbed to the tremendous mental
strain which his high office entails. In the
upbuilding Of the faith he espouses. the
cardinal has labored in season and out Of
season. There are today more eloquent
men in the Catholic Church than he. but
his strength does not lie in eloquence. In
his cool judgment, in his power to discern.
in his calm Interpretation of every ques-
ton presented in his moderation. in his
vast learning. in word, in his statesman
ship lies the power Of the Cardinal Arch
bishop OF Baltimore.
Born in Baltimore.
Most Rev. James Gibbons, Cardinal Arch
bishop of Baltimore and primate of the
Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, was born In Baltimore on July q.
1884. He Is Of Irish parentage, and during
his boyhood was taken by his father to
Ireland, where he received the elements OF
a liberal education. On his return to
America he entered st. Charles College.
Maryland, graduating with distinction in
1857. He then entered ST. Marys Semi
nary, Baltimore, and after the usual course
OF philosophy and theology was ordained
a priest on the 3Oth day Of June, 1861 by
the late Most Rev. Archbishop Kendrick.
He Immediately entered upon the duties Of
his calling. serving first assistant to
the late Rev. James Dolan. rector of st.
Patrlck's Church. and afterward as the
pastor Of St. Br!dget's Church, Canton.
A few years after his transfer to st.
Brdget's he was elected by the late Arch
bishop Spalding as his private secretary.
and on the 10th Of August 1868, was
consecrated at the Cathedral Bishop Of
Adramythum IN Partbus Infdelium and
vicar apostolic Of North Carolina. He re-
manned four years in North Carolina and
displayed such remarkable administrative
abilities that on the death Of the Ri. Rev.
Bishop McGil he was translated to Rich
mond Va, where he was installed bishop
by the late Archbishop Bayley. on October
90 1872. His administration in Richmond
was marked by an almost immediate re-
vival of religious interest and by practical
results of the most important character. In
the course Of five years several new
churches were erected. and st. Peters
Cathedral Male Academy and Parochial
School was founded. By his energy, also,
St. Joseph's Female Orphan Asylum was
enlarged, a parochial school for boys and
girls was established at Petersburg, and
one at Portsmouth for girls. On the Goth
of May, 1877 he was appointed coadjutor
with the right Of succession to the late
Most Rev James Roosevelt Bayley, Arch
bishop Of Baltimore. He installed
archbishop at the cathedral February 10,
1878. On March IT, 1887. he received the
hands Of Pope Leo XIII, and on May % Of
the same year took possession Of his titular
church in Rome. On June II. 1887. upon
his return from Rome, he was given a
ception in Baltimore.
City Welcomes Him.
On the part of the city he was welcomed
by Mayor James Hodges. and on the part
of the Catholics Of Baltimore by Mr.. Charles
j. Bonaparte. now Attorney General Of the
United States. To the addresses, which
were eloquent and euogistic. Cardinal
Gibbons made happy response, and thou
sands of Baltimores best citizens gave a
rousing and hearty welcome to the dis
tinguished churchman.
The same energy, zeal and great executive
ability which characterized Cardinal Glib
bons' labors in other spheres have been
displayed in the more exalted and RESPONSE
BILE office which he fills at present, and the
diocese shows in every quarter the stimulus
Of his active brain and unerring judgment.
The monuments which speak Of his zeal
and devotion are of the most enduring
character. Many new churches are spring
ing up in all parts Of the diocese. new con-
gregatons are being formed, new religious
and educational enterprises are constantly
projected, Wnlle all tne hundred agencies
of Catholic work have been strengthened
and reinforced under his direction.
AS an author, Cardinal Gibbons holds
high rank in the literature of his church,
and his Faith of Our Fathers Is re-
garded by eminent scholars and divines of
every creed as a masterpiece of logic and
literary excellence. With all his learning
and attainments, Cardinal Gibbons is one of
the most modest of men, and is dearly be-
loved by the priests under his charge and
thoroughly admired and esteemed by Citi-
zens Of every creed. The personal habits
Of the cardinal are of the simplest charac-
ter. His daily life is one of incessant ac
tivity and viewing his age and slight
frame the wonder is how he can accom-
plsh so much He is an early riser, get
ting up about $50 in summer and not later
than 6 in winter. He usually says the
o'clock mass celebrating almost every day,
even when he Is at the seaside In warm
weather After his mass he spends a short
time in thanksgiving and then goes to
breakfast. Afterward he reads his news
papers and he never neglects the base ball
column and then he attends to his CORE
spondence. When this is finished he gives
an hour or two to his literary work. Not
his frfu intprr1IptiopS the