Las Vegas optic., 1914-07-23
CARDINAL GIBBONS
EIGHTY YEARS OLD
VENERABLE DIVINE STILL IN Ex-
cELLENT HEALTH THOUGH
ocToGENARIAN

1
recent journey to Rome. Cardinal Glib
hons today reached his eightieth birth
day anniversary. In accordance with
the rules and traditions of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy the anniversary
was not made the occasion for any
special celebration or observance of
a public character, but the arrival of
hundreds of letters and kilograms of
congratulation bore witness to the fact
that the venerable prelate has many
{. friends and admirers throughout the
world, who did not fail to remember
this memorable day in the life of the
cardinal
Some of the messages of felicitation
received by the cardinal came from
felow-members CT the Sacred College.
The pope's greeting was included in
the cablegrams, as were also congra-
tn atoms from some of the rulers of
Europe. His Baltimore friends also
, showered him with messages and many
of them sent flowers.
As soon as the warm weather has
passed the cardinal expects to resume
The customary routine of his duties
1t is expected that he will preach sew
eral times at the cathedral before
Christmas. These sermons attract
great crowds each month. and all who
attend marvel at the aged prelate's
strong voice and vigorous delivery.
Cardinal Gibbons was born in Balti-
more, of Irish parentage, on July 23,
1894. While he was still boy he was
taken to Ireland by his father, and
there he received the elements of a
liberal education On his return to
America he entered st. Charles col
lege, Maryland, from which he grad
uated with distinction in 1857. He
then entered st. Mary's seminary, in
this city, and after the usual course
of philosophy and theology was Or
dained a priest in 1861 by the late
Archbishop Kendrick. He immediate
ly entered upon the duties of his call
irg, serving first as assistant at st.
Patrick's church, and afterwards as
the pastor of st. Bridget's churh.
| In 1868 he was named vicar apostle
lie of North Carolina. He remained
four years in North Carolina and dis
played such remarkable administrativ,
| abilities that on the death of BishoT
McGi1l he was transferred to Rich
mond Va, where he was installed
bishop by the late Archbishop Bayley
in 1872.
Bishop Gibbons administration in
Richmond was marked by an almost
immediate revival OF religious inter-
est and by practical results of the
most important character, In the
course of five years several new
churches were erected, and academies
and parochial schools were founded,
On May 20, 1877, Bishop Gibbons
was appointed coadjutor with the
right of succession to the late Arch
bishop Bayley of Baltimore. He was
installed archbishop at the cathedral
February 10,1S7S On March II, 1887,
he received tn red hat of tn cardinal
ate from Pope Leo XII, having pre-
viously been invested with the insig-
MIA of the office at the Baltimore ca
thedral. On May 25 of the same year
he took possession of his titular church
in Rome and, when he returned from
Rome June II, 1887, he was welcomed
in Baltimore by one of the largest and
most enthusiastic public demonstra-
tions ever witnessed in this city.
Cardinal Gibbons was one of the
founders of the Catholic University
and for many years its chancellor.
His influence at the vatican has al
ways been great and it is said that his
representations were the cause of the
late pope's famous encyclicals on the
labor question relative to popular gov
ernment in the United States.
AS an author Cardinal Gibbons holds
high rank in the literature Of his
church. and his Faith of Our Faith
ers" is regarded by eminent scholars
and divines of every creed as a mas
terpiece of logic and literary attain
ment. With all his learning and at
tainments Cardinal Gibbons is one of
the most modest and unassuming of
aen and dearly beloved not only by
the priests in his charge but by the
people of all classes, who venerate
him for his kindness, charity and
truly democratic affability.
Few of those who meet Cardinal
Gibbons casually realize that he has
reached his eightieth milestone. His
vitality has caused expressions of
amazement many times and this vigor
is attributed to his systematic method
of living: Every hour of the day is
regulated. His food is light but sub
stantial and he takes his meals at
regular hours. He strictly adheres to