The Washington herald., 1919-02-21
$4,000 CHECK
GIVEN CARDINAL
AT HIS JUBILEE
Ranking Prelate Receives
Greatest Ovation Of
Noted Career.
MANYNOTABLESATTEND
Leading Churchmen Of
United States Join in
Paying Tribute.

James Cardinal Gibbons, ranking
Catholic prelate in America, ceIebrat-
ed the golden jubilee Of his episcopate
yesterday at the Franciscan Monas-
terry in Brookland. and received prob
ably the greatest ovation in his ca
reer.
Tribute to him and his service was
voiced by the foremost clerics OF the
Catholic Church while hundreds Of
laymen. high in governmental and
civilian circles Joined to pay him
homage.
Later at the Catholic University, of
which he was founder. he was tender
ed a jubilee dinner at which guests
from all corners OF the globe were
present
During the dinner the cardinal was
presented with a check for SO, 900, the
Cift of the bishops and archbishops
Of the Catholic Church in America A
statement appearing in a publica-
tion represented the check 70
be for $1,000 but officials at the
Catholic University stated that the
check was fer $4,000 and not 5000
After listening to praise Of his life
and work. Cardinal Gibbons spoke, not
OF himself. but OF the world. His
voice, thinned by his great age. his
frail form trembling with emotion,
he said:
81 thank God that we are assembled
today when the war is over and the
blessed sun OF peace has dawned-
During that tremendous conflict there
was one majestic figure who lowered
above others. l refer TO Pope Bene-
dict XIV.
Pope UnJustIy Criticized.
The Holy Father" was unjustIy
criticised in those days OF war. He
was blamed by the allies because he
did not side with them. He was
blamed by the central powers be
cause he did not espouse their cause.
But the Pope could not be a partisan.
He was too exalted a person for that
But though not a partisan he was not
Indifferent TO the horrors Of the war.
He frequently protested against the
oUtrases perpetTated in France and
Belgium and he was habitually eXer-
C.sed in the benevolent work of effect
ing an exchange of prisoners and in
many other ways mitigating the hor-
rors Of war. The sovereign pOntiff
stands out today as the most exalted
T'rsOnage in Christendom. Kings will
die. emperors will die. but the church
will live forever"
Cardinal Gibbons then turned for a
moment TO his own life.
I am today" he said, the sole
survivor of the nearly one thousand
bishops who attended the Vatican
Council and by a notable cirCUm-
stance. the Oldest prelate at the time
Of the council was a bishop from
South America.
What is still more noteworthy.
am actually the only survivor OF the
eight prelates who attended the third
plcnarl council at Baltimore in 1884, O"
Most Notable Event.
This council was the most notable
event in the history Of the Catholic
church in America. according to
rrelatcs here. until yesterday when
the gathering to honor Cardinal
Gibbons was even more notable
on the occasion OF his golden jubi-
lee. Cardinal Gibbons presented out
Of his Trrvat" pUrs, TO the Catholic
University the sum Of S25.OOO TO pay
half The cost of a new gymnasium.
according to the statement OF Bishop
Shahan rector Of the UNIVERSITY
The mon"y represented a gift col
leCted from among themselves by
tho clergy OF Baltimore He also
pres'rre6 $1,000 TO Bishop Shahan
for university use. and in addition.
announcement was made Of the in