Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-10-04
would Bring About an Era OF
Civilization Unknown in
History.
Woman Brought Up i'm Catholic
Religion Receives Right
instruction.
HIS HANDSHAKE WAS HEARTY

interviewed at Baltimore last Sun
day, Cardinal Gibbons expressed the
feryent hope that union of all
Christian churches under one head
might ultimately be brought about,
and predicted that such a union would
result in wonderful advances of civ
ilization. OF the efforts of Sir oliver
Lodge to produce scientific proof OF
the existence of life beyond the grave.
the Cardinal said those who believed
in tle teachings of Christ had no
need of such proof. You want TO
know about the union of all Christian
churches" repeated the Cardinal,
when he was approached on a subject
so delicate that the majority of pre-
lstes have refused to discuss 1t for
publication. He answered: "The re-
rnion of the scattered branches OF
Christendom is a consummation de-
voutly to be wished for, and ] would
gladly sacrifice the remaining years
of my life in lending a helping hand
toward this blessed result. The first
essential requirement, he continued,
sis the recognition of the Sovereign
Fontiff, who, as the successor of st.
Peter, is the diyinely appointed head
of Christendom. Every organization,
whether religious, civil or political,
needs head for its peace and secur-
tty. as well as for its very existence.
"Once the pr1per position of the
Pope is recognized | do not believe
that the other controverted doctrines
are as formidable as is commonly
imagined. When a proper explana-
tion is given of the various dogmas
upon which Christianity is founded
am persuaded that the logical sense
of the people would prompt them to-
accept And if the various Christian
denominations Of the United States
we're once united, working with one
heart and one spirit, what a wonder
full influence our Christian forces
would exert in the civilization and
the ChristianiZing OF mankind! What
amazing things would be done for So
ciety and humanity!
"But devoutly as we wish for such
union" continued the Cardinal,
I'VE must wait for the conscience OF
the individual to bring about state
when union becomes possible. There
are three courts-the civil tribunal,
the criminal tribunal and the court of
conscience. And until the last OF these
three acts, until the soul demands,
hntil in a word such moment ar
rives, the time is mot ripe"
When asked his views in regard to
the attempts of Sir oliver Lodge to
prove scientifically that there is life
"a la nardfno1 sold ha (
rot prepared to say whether, or how
far, the continuity of life after death
could be proved by scientific investiga-
tion.
"Of such a vague proof" said the
Cardinal, 81 have no need. My faith
In the hereafter, in the Immortality |
OF the soul, rests not on conjecture, |
tut on a more solid foundation. 1t |
rests upon the infallible revelation of
the Son of God, who has said 4 am
the resurrection and the life
"And the women" THE Cardinal
vas asked.
"Why do you ask that?" was his
query. "The more | see of the world |
the more ] am convinced that a
woman brought up In the Catholic
religion should make the best wife
and mother. She receives the right
instruction and is warned TO keep
away from temptation-to shun the
things the modern woman Is prone to
turn to-"
The Cardinal spoke at some length
OF the duties of woman TO society and
vice versa but returned 20 the union |
of the Christian churches. "rhe
union of the churches would bring |
about an era OF civilization unknown |
in history" he said. you and
may not live TO see II come. but II |
will come, and hope. and then the
one undivided church will flourish and
triumph"
For more than an hour this Won
derful man-James Cardinal Glib
bons-this complete refutation OF the
0slerism theory-gave free vent to
his Thoughts II was a remarkable
display OF his wonderful mentality.
Known as the ascetic among American
prelates Cardinal Gibbons Is yet so
intensely human. 30 loyable-so in
touch with everything that makes life
gorth liyiDg-that the hour spent In
the gray stone 'palace" on North
Charles street was a memorable one.
> The statement has been made that
the Cardinal, who is in his eightieth
year. was beginning TO feel the weight
of his age and that an interview was
out of the question. Yet when the
time for the interview arrived the
Cardinal walked down a flight OF
stairs to the reception room with the
springy step OF a healthy man OF
fifty years His handshake was not
the tremulous grasp of man OF
eighty; II was the strong grip OF a
pan stlll very much In the fight
4 here was nothing infirm about the
rrelate's voice. The tone was firm
end clear and he spoke with en-
thusiasm He said just exactly what
ne had 70 say. and he ended the inter