Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-20
CATHOLIC HOSTS
PAY TRIBUTE TO
| us. CHURCH HEAD
Notable Gathering in Honor
of Cardinal Gibbons
Golden Jubilee
BY Associated Press

y
laity of Roman Catholicism gather
ed here to-day to pay homage to the
venerable head of the church in the
United States, James Cardinal Glib
bons, at the celebration of his golden
episcopal jubilee. Pope Benedict was
represented by Archbishop Cerretti,
who came from Rome to bring the
pontifical blessing to the aged pre-
late in testimony of his services as
bishop for half century and as q
cardinal since 1886.
Notable Church Gathering
Dignitaries of the church said the
celebration was the most notable
gathering of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy in North America in more
than thirty years. including Cardinal
O'Connell. of Boston: Cardinal Be
gin, OF Canada; Archbishop Hon
zano. the papal nuncio in the United
states. and q great host of arch
bishops and monsisnors. The lay
membership was represented by dis
tinguished businessmen and govern
mont officials.
Extreme simplicity marked the
celebration, which began with pom
tihcal high mass insthe church of the
franciscan Monastery at the Catholic
University. Cardinal Gibbons being
the celebrant. After the services, the
visitors formed in procession and
marched to the refectory where
dinner was served.
Speaks For Pope
Archbishop Uerretti. speaking for
the Pope, Cardinal O'Connell for the
hierarchy in the United States. and
Cardinal Begin for the Canadian
clergy, praised the work and char
acter of Cardinal Gibbons. Arch
bishop Glennon, of st. Louis. re-
sponded to the toast Our Country. {"
Cardinal Gibbons replied briefly,
much touched by the tributes.
Other prelates here for the SER
vices were: Archbishop Dougherty,
Philadelphia; Bishops Canevin, Pitts
burSh; Feehan. Fall River; Cannon.
Erie; Garvey, Altoona; Hoban,
Scranton; McDevitt, Harrisburg;
Monaghan, Wilmington.
Praises Work of Papacy
Thanksgiving that the blessed
sun of peace has dawned" and praise
for the work of the papacy in at
tempting to mitigate the horrors of
the war formed the theme of the
reply of Cardinal Gibbons.
II thank God that we are as
sembled to-day, when the war is
over and the blessed sun of peace
has dawned upon u.s." he said.
During that tremendous conflict
ythere was one majestic figure that
lowered over all others. / refer to
our holy father Benedict XIV. l be-
hold him now in imagination stand
ing like Moses on the mountain with
uplifted hands, praying for his spirit
ual children shedding fraticidal
blood.
Unjustly Criticised I'm War
The holy father was unjustly
criticised in those days. He was
blamed by the allies because he did
not side with them. He was blamed
by the central powers because he
did not espouse their cause. But the
holy father could not be a partisan.
He was too exalted O parsonage for
that. But though not a partisan he
was not an Indifferent spectator of
the horrors he witnessed. He fire.
quently protested against the out
RACES perpetrated in Belgium and
France; and he was habitually eX-
ercised in the benevolent work of
effecting a change of prisoners. and
III OlHCE ways lhC
horrors of war.
THE sovereign pontiff stands out
to-day the most exalted parsonage
in Christiandom. Kings will die. en-
perors will die, even popes will die,
but the papacy lives forever.
''The popes have seen the rise and
development of all the governments
of Europe. 1t is not improbable they
will witness the death of some OF
them and chant their requiem.
Church Never Shall Fall
"rhey have seen kingdoms changed
to republics and republics changed
to monarchies. They have looked on
while the Goths. the Nandals and
Visigoths invaded the fairest por-
tons of Europe. upsetting thrones.
All this they have seen. while the di-
vine constitution of the church of
which they are the guardians, have
remained unchanged. We may apply
to her the words of apostle:
"'These shall perish, but thou re-
mainest. and all of them shall grow
old as q garment. But thou. o inn
mortal church. art always the same,
and thy years shall never fall"