Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-24
CATHOLIC CHURCH HEAD IN AMERICA
 IS 85 YEARS OLD
Hundreds of Congratulatory Messages Sent to Cardi-
 nal Gibbons.

Baltimore, Md, July 23.-His emin- enters upon his eighty y-fifth year. The birthday anniversary is one of inter- est not only to himself, but to the people of the whole United States, in which he is the primate of the Ro man Catholic Church. The Cardinal planned no special observance of the day, but nevertheless he was ire quently reminded of the occasion by the receipt of messages of greeting from friends and admirers in all parts of the country. A particularly feli citous message from Rome conveyed the congratulations and good wishes of the Pontiff.
 Cardinal Gibbons has frequently been spoken of as typical American. As a churchman the Roman Catholic clergy have the highest regard for h1m and look to him as a verltable shepherd. But the high esteem ill which he is held is not by any means confined to those of his own faith. Abundant evidence of this fact was furnished in the telegrams and letters of greeting which poured in at the archienpiscopal residence in this city today, and which bore the names of eminent clergy and laity of many re- iigious denominations. All joined in expressing the hope that the vener able prolate will live to see many more celebrations of his birthday an- niversary.
 The Cardinal is now the oldest member of the Sacred College in point of service and one of the oldest m years. For quarter of a century he was the only prelate in the Unl, ted States in the College of Cardin als. John Cardinal McCloskey, arch bishop of New York, the first cardin- al in this country, and the only one up to the time Archbishop Gibbons was created a cardinal, died October 10, 1885. Rome waited less than a year to elevate James Gibbons of Baltimore. He was nominated as car dinal and invested with the princely insignia June 30, 1886, by Pope Leo XIII. He is one of the few remain ing cardinals created by that pontiff. Cardinal Gibbons was born Tn Balti more, July 23, 1854. His parents were natives ot Ireland and during his boy hood he was taken to that country, where he received the clements of a liberal education. On his return to America he entered St. Charles Col lege and was graduated with high honors in 1857. Thence he went to St. Mary's Seminary, where, after taking the usual courses in theology and philosophy, he was ordained a priest of 1861. The young priest la- horoJ l,o o,1 foi+hfu1lxy o,,I coon won recognition from his ecclesiasti- cal superlors. Within few years he was elevated to the desirable position of private secretary to Archbishop Spaulding. In this position he dis played such unusual ability that he was recommended by the Archbishop for promotion to the episcopate. In due course his appointment came as vicar apostolic of North Carolina. Four years later he was transferred to the see of Richmond, Va., follow ing the death of Bishop McGill. His next promotion came in 1877, when he was appointed coadjutor with the right ot succession to the Archbishop of Baltimore.
 Cardinal Gibbons is one of the most democratic of men-plain. unestenta- tious and distinguished for good sense i'll everything he does. On the streets of Baltimore he is known to everyone and he answers in a friend ly manner the salutations of the humblest. Throughout his life it has been his custom to take an evening walk. On such occasions he displays healthy interest in everything around him. A new building going up, new picture in a store window est the great churchman, who is al ways human and never above the af-- fairs of life.
 Few of those who casually meet the Cardinal realize his advanced age. His vitality has caused expressions of amazement many times and this vigor is attributed to his systematic meth cd of living. Every hour of the day is regulated. His food is light but sub. stantial and he takes his meals at regular hours. Much of his time is spent in his library, which is one of the most extensive in the South. He is well up on the news of the day and general literary and public questions, which leads to the assumption that he reads the papers diligently. Probably no man in America has followed the progress of the great man with keen CT or more patriotic interest. Out of his own purse he has contributed gen. erously to the various war relief funds, and in many of the patriotic movements he has taken an initiative part.