Imperial Valley press., 1921-03-24
PR|N nee 0 F
c A I / OL|C
CHURCH IS
DEA D
Cardinal Gibbons, After a
Long and Useful Life,
PaPsses Out. Most Be-
loved of All His Fellows.
(By Associated Press)

BALTIMORE, March 24.-James,
Cardinal Gibbons, archbishop of Balti-
more, primate of the American Cath
olic church, died at the archpiscopal
residence here at 1888 o'clock today
in his S7th year.
The end came peacefully. A touch
ing incident in connection with the
last hours Of the cardinal was the be-
stowal of the Pope's benediction upon
him, which was received just previous
to his death by cable from Rome.
Cardinal Gibbons died of a compli-
cation of diseases which mainly af-
fected the heart, and he had been in
Ill health for several years, although
he refused to give up his duties until
very recently.
Active service for more than half
century in the interests of his coun-
try as well as his church is closed by
the death of Cardinal Gibbons. At the
celebration, in 1911, of the 25th ami
versary of his elevation to the Car
dinalate, His Eminence, out of all the
tributes paid him, expressed himself
as most affected by that from William
Howard Taft, his intimate friend, and
then president, who said:
Through his long and useful life
Cardinal Gibbons has spared no effort
in the cause of good citizenship and
the uplifting of his fellow men,"
"You have portrayed your subject,
not, fear, as he is, but as he should
be-" responded the cardinal Zone
merit only can l claim, and that is an
ardent love for my native country and
her political institutions. l consider
the republic of the United States one
of the most precious heirlooms ever
bestowed on mankind down the ages.
1t is the duty and should be the de-
light of every citizen to sertngthen
and perpetuate our government by OBJ
servance of it's laws and by the integ-
rity of the public life"
Born in Baltimore, Md, of Irish
parents July II, 1884, James Gibbons
spent his youth in Ireland, but when
he was lad Of IA years his family
returned to America, settled in New
Orleans where he acted as 'punctual
grocer's boy"
81 look back on these early days of
hard work with PRIDE" he said in
speaking of his boyhood. II am
firm believer in the school of hard and
honest labor"
Cardinal Gibbons was active in his
work for the allies in the war and in a
letter written to the Catholics of the
archdiocese of New York in 1917 when
the United States entered the con-
flict, urged the fullest support of the
government.
The cardinals views on political,
economic and sociological questions
were frequently sought by newspapers
In interviews he endorsed the plan
for the establishment of the Jewish
Homeland in Palestine, he opposed the
government ownership of public util-
tiles, maintained that prohibition
meant "the invasion of home and sac
ramental practice" condemned divorce
praised the work of the Salvation
Army in France, favored American
military training, importuned the
clergy to fight bolshevism, demanded
that the Turk should be driven from
Europe and appealed to the public to
support Americas entrance into the
League of Nations. At convention
of Irish Nationalsts in Philadelphia
he expressed the hope that the Paris
peace conference would make it pos
sible "to free Ireland"