The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-07

ldiU' TURNER speaker cannon anu
Mayor Presly of Baltimore sat with the
cardinal and all of them except the
chief justice spoke in praise of him.
Among the 500 guests seated on the
platform behind the president, the
cardinal and other speakers, were
members of the house of representa-
tives. Probably a more distinguished
gathering was never held in this coun-
try outside of Washington and the
wheels of government came pretty
near to a stop while those who sit in
cardinal. The armory folds $4,000
people, its builders say, and it was
crowded to the doors.
The cardinal sat in a red plush
chair in the center of the stage. To
his right was President Taft, then
Chief Justice White, and on the cardi-
nails left were Governor Crothers of
Maryland, Ambassador Bryce, Speaker
Clark and Representative Cannon. The
ovation that greeted Mr.. Roosevelt as
he came up the steps with Chief JUS
which greeted the cardinal as he
climbed the stairs with President Taft
was far more remarkable
The cardinal wore the red robe, the
skull cap of red and the deep green
ring of Office. Through all the speeches
preston of his wr1nkled and kindly
face and his bright eyes attesting to
the pleasure this tribute afforded him.
He smiled like boy when Presi-
dent Taft introduced him to Mr..
Roosevelt; he laughed with glee when
the chief justice Shook his hand, and
the ghost of grin fiickered over his
face when Speaker Clark, mixing for
a moment politics with religion, said
the cardinal had been a potent force
for good among both Catholics and
Republicans
The Presidents Speech.
Following Governor Crothers. who
presided, President Taft made the first
speech. He said in part:
This assembly, venture to say, can
ind few counterparts In history. We
are met as American citizens to con-
graduate the American primate of one
of the great churches of the world upon
the twenty-ffth anniversary of his &C
cession to the highest office in his
church except one, and upon the If
tieth anniversary of his entering the
church as one of its priests.
I'VE are not here as members CT any
denomination. We are not here in any
official capacity. But we are here to
recognize and honor in him his high
virtues as a patriotic member OF our
political community and one who,
through his long and useful life, has
spared no efforts in the cause of good
citizenship and the uplifting of his fell
lowmen-
Born in Baltimore, educated in Ire
land, made q priest in Maryland, a cur
ate in North Carolina and a bishop in
Richmond, a coadjutor in Baltimore
archbishop of Baltimore and successor
of Archbishop Carroll and Archbishop
Kendrick in the primatial see of this
country he was called to the high po-
sftion of cardinal June Z, 1886, by Leo
XIII.
I'm spite of the burden and RESPONSE
bility of his high position in the
church he has taken part in the maHy
great movements for the betterment Of
mankind and has shown himself not
only a good Catholic in the church
sense but he has been broadly Catholic
in the secular sense of that word, so
that the affection felt for him by his
co-religionists has spread TO all denom-
nations and to all the people who are
quick to perceive disinterested friend.
THAT he may long continue active
In his present high position. that ne
may long continue in secular move
ments to take the leading place he has
ALWAYS had in works of usefulness, is
the fervent prayer of Catholic ID
Protestant. of Jew and Christian"
Cheers for Roosevelt.
When Mr. Roosevelt arose to speak
the crowd cheered for half a minute
while Speaker Clark held the watch:
while the American people may ar
fer among themselves on question of
dogma" he said they unite On what
counts more than dogma-conduct.
1--WE read now and then about peoPie
complaining that the churches are
growing smaller and that they are los
ing their influence. .
3E2rt there will be no complaints in
the future if that church makes as It's
cardinal principle the rendering of ser
vice to the people. No church will have
to defend itself so long as those VINO
are high in that church devote them
selves to the people as you, Cardinal
Gibbons, have devoted yourself to them.
I'VE will see presidents who are Catn-
olics as well as presidents VINO are
Protestants and we will see presidents
who are Jews as well as Gentlles. l.
should be the aim of every man VINO
is president to so carry himself TOWARD
his fellow Americans who are not Oh
his religion that some day when there
is another president who is not OF MS
religion that man may treat him in the
same fashion. -
ssThe cardinal has fought for the
lowly. He has shown by his life that
Justice can come only through law ana
order. He has set an example TOT all
of us by the things for which he has
striven, and the way in which he has
striven.'' .
1.-The affection for Cardinal Gibbons,
said Speaker Clark, "1s just as strong
west of the great river as 1t is east,
He has been potent force for good
among both Catholics and Republicans.
No man ever served in either house
of congress or in both as long as ne,
no man ever served on the supreme
bench that long; only one judge mas
ever sat as long as Cardinal Gibbons;
only one officer of the navy and no O.
fcers of the army has served that long.
I wish him peace, prosperity ana Iength
of daxs."