New-York tribune., 1919-01-06
Cardinal Gibbons
Lauds Victory in
New Years Sermon
Baltimore Cathedral Is
lhronged as Prelate En-
presses Hope Future Will
See Everlasting Peace

BALTIMORE. Jan. 5-Cardinal Glib
bons to-day preached his New Years
sermon to q throng which crowded the
Cathedral to overfowing. MANY men
IN the service, including a great MANY
officers. heard the sermon and later
attended the reception the Cardinal
gave at his home. The prelatc con
Guided his sermon by expressing the
hope that the future will see the annie
able settlement of all disputes. He
said:
81 could not deny myself the pleasure
ct personally appearing before YOU
once more in this pulpit and wishing
YOU all happy New Year, not in the
conventional phrase, but year happy
IN the consciousness that Gods bene.
diction will rest upon you.
Ne have reason to rejoice that our
victory was so decisive, so glorious
and so sudden. It came like brioht
sun emerging from long clouded
"The question may be asked: To
NAV cause arc we chiefly indebted for
'he victory which has been achieved =?
some may ascribe it exclusively to
me Valor Of our soldiers and sailor:
No one has higher estimate ot onr
soldiers and sailors heroism Than
have '''"i'
OtherS may give the palm of merit
10 the military genius Of the command
ing generals. No one sets = biobo,
Value than | on the strategy and valor
OF Marshal Foch. and on the Enolisb
Italian and Belgian commanders. But
thcy were not the chief factors in ac.
compllshine the victory.
Credit to Divine Providence
For myself. am persuaded that we
owe our victory to the special inferno
sltlon of Divine Providence. We owe
our success to the Lord Of Hosts. the
Dod OF Battles, who made our army and
navy Wy. the instruments of his designs.
we gained the victory because W,
were guided by the eternal PRINCIPLES
81 oI Justice, truth and righteousness
righteousness exalteth a nation. hut
sin maketh a people miserable' We We
conquered because we fouoht under tho
inspiration Of our heavenly Father
"Whllc our brave soldiers fought IN
the trenches the nation was inccssantlv
praying Tor the success OF our arms.
Many OF the most conspicuous SOL
dlers in the history Of mankind. from
AlnS David to Marshal Foch. were men
OF faith and niety and trust in God.F
S'arshal Foch is regarded as tho
greatest strategist of the century. 4
fcW weeks ago he did not disdain 70
send me and some other prclateS .
request for the prayers of the children
of the nation in behalf of the Alliod
armies. u
Tribute to Eoch
"One of the correspondents Of an
American newspaper gives an account
o, OF his visit to country church u
France. While gazing about he OBJ
served general entering. His coun-
tenance was wrinkled with care. his
mead vas stopped. He wore a plain and
stained uniform and was attended bv .
single orderly. After cntcrino tho
church the general fell upon his knees
and remained absorbed in prayer three
quarters OF an hour. The corrcspon-
dent followed him as he left the church
and observed that he was warmlv So -
1utcd in the streets. The soldier was
General Foch. '''
on entering into this camnaipu tho
united States was inspired BY the most
Supi'me and honorable motives that
ever cnaracterized a nation. The his
loTy OF civilization does not present y
Solltary instance of such disintcrested
ss's-ae.--s-.-.E.~.-.-...-