The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-24
ENJOYS GOOD HEALTH
Receives Many Messages of Con-
graduation and Greeting.
Born in Baltimore, He Received
Early Education in Publis schools
of New OrIeRns-WOrks in Grocery
store to Aid Widowed Mother.
Ordained Priest at Age of Twenty
seven-Made Cardinal in 1887.

Baltimore Nd. July 23-Seated under
the naples on the broad lawn of 7
Herbert Shriver, at Westminster, Car.
dinal Archbishop Gibbons, OF this city
has been reading messages from all part;
of the country to-day wishing him con
tinued life aud health in the high office
he has held for so many years. Cardinal
Gibbons went 70 Westminster last night
to remain over his birthday-he is sew
enty-six years old to-day-and enjoy a
little needed rest.
Cardinal Gibbons is in his usual health
and is able to attend to the heavy duties
Of hts ecclesiastical Office, with oeea-
sional periods Of short rest. which he
usually takes at Westminster at the
house of an old friend
4 Native of Baltimore.
James Cardinal Gibbons was born in
Baltimore July 3. 1884. and the greater
part OF his life has been spent in that
city. and although, his eeelesiastic duties
have claimed most Of his time, he has,
nevertheless. closely identified himself
with the interests Of the city and his
influence has been felt in every move
ment for civic bettermeat His sim
plicity of manner. his unaffected dignity
and kindliness has won for him the
love and esteem Of men and women In
every walk Of life without regard 10 their
religious Affiliations
His parents, Thomas and Mary Glib
bons, migrated from Ireland 20 the
United States in 1893. making their home
in the Monumental City. In 1885,. when
the cardinal was but two years old his
parents returned TO ireland. where the
father died shortly after. Remaining in
the old country but a short time after
the death OF her husband. Mrs. Gibbons
returned 10 the United States. but moved
to New Orleans. where her son was sent
to the public schools and given his
early education.
Between the age Of fifteen and seven
teen the cardinal cleTked in a grocery
store. but then he announced his inten-
tion of studying for the priesthood. To
this end he went to St Charles College
at Ellicott City. Nd. from which he was
graduated with distinction.
Ordained to Priesthood.
He then entered st. Mary's Seminary
in Baltimore and was ordained to the
priesthood at the cathedral there at the
age of twenty-seven, receiving his final
orders on June 80, 1851. The ordination
ceremony was performed by the late
Very Rev. Archbishop Kendrick, and i'm
mediately the young priest was assigned
as assistant at st. Patriek's Church OF
Baltimore.
Subsequently he was transferred TO St
Bridget's Church at Canton. Nd. but
within a short time ne was called upon
by Archbishop Spalfing. then the head
Of the Catholic Church in America. to
act as his private secretary. and to also
be the chancellor Of the archdiocese Of
Baltimore. In 1866 he was made vice
councillor of the plenary council of the
Catholic Church. a rare distinction for
so young priest
On August 16, 1868, Father Gibbons was
consecrated in the cathedral as bishop of
Adramytum in partibus inidelium and
vicar-apostolic Of North Carolina. In
this diocese Bishop Gibbons presided for
four years, during which time he wrote
THE Faith of Our Fathers" the book
having obtained a wide reputation as the
most popular work Of Catholic author
ship ever written In this country
Made Notable Success.
His work in North Carolina was not
able. and without reflection upon his
predecessor Il is but fair TO say that the
work accomplished during his bishopric
is unparalleled in the history Of the
Catholic Church in that State
He opened a school in which he him
self taught, establishing the Benedictine
Order in the State and the Sisters Of
Mercy in Wilmington; erected a dozen
churches, ordained more than a dozen
priests and received many converts.
Through his liberal and considerate con-
duct he won the admiration of the entire
and Caroltnians, from the
mountains 10 the sea. were proud Of
their bishop.
When Bishop McGill died In 1872 Bishop
Gibbons was selected TO fill the vacant
see at Richmond, Va, and on October 20
of that year, he was installed. AS in
North Carolina he at once set to work
to improve conditions and in five years
he had accomplished wonders, Within
that period he had erected five churches.
founded and successfully placed in oper-
alton St Peters Catholic Male Academy.
st. Sophia's Home for the Aged in
charge OF the Little Sisters Of the Poor:
a parochial school for boys and girls at
Petersburg, Va, a school for girls at
Va. while ST. Josephs Or
phan Asylum was enlarged and other
were improved. In all of
his work the then BishopsGibbons showed
great executive ability that attracted the
attention of his Superiors. and when
James Roosevelt Bayley, of
Baltimore, found his health failing and
requested Of Rome a coadjutor he sug-
gested the name of Bishop Gibbons for
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