Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-03-24
BELOVED PRIEST GOES
TO HIS final Reward
Cardinal Gibbons Passes Away at
His Home in Baltimore in
His 10th Year
(By Associated Press)

Baltimore, March James
Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop OF
of Baltimore and Primate Of the
American Catholic Church, dice
at the archbishopal residence
here today after prolonged i'll
ness which mainly affected his
heart. He was in his 10Th year
Beside the Cardinals bed stood
every member Of his household
and when it was seen the distin-
guished prelate had passed away.
the priests fell to their knees and
began reciting prayers for the
dead.
A telegram was Immediately
sent Pope Benedict. 1t is ex-
pected most of the church digni-
taries in the United States will
attend the funeral which is not
expected for several days.
Story of His Life
Active service for more than
half a century in the interests Of
his country as we'll as his church
is closed by the death OF James
Cardinal Gibbons. At the ceie-
bration, in 1911, OF the 18th ami
versary of his elevation to the
Cardinalate, His Eninence, out o.
all the tributes paid him, express
ed 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 cit
izenship and the uplifting of his
fellowmen."
You have portrayed your sub
Ject, not, fear, as he is. but as h
should be" responded the Cardi-
nal. "One merit only can | claim
and that is an ardent love for my
native country and her political
institutions. | consider the re
public of the United States one o
the most precious heirlooms ever
bestowed on mankind dowr
the ages. 1t is the duty an(
should be the delight of every cit
izen to strengthen and perpetuate
our government by observance O.
its laws and by the integrity O.
the public life"
Cardinal Gibbons, as senior
Bishop Of the church, welded
strong influence outside as well
as within the United States. Tho
confdant of three Popes, he made
several important tours to Rome
the last in August. 1914, a few
days after the opening Of the war
to elect the successor to Plus X
He arrived too late. however. t.
in the ceremony that
elevated Benedict to the Pontifi-
cate
Upon returning to the United
States he visited President VII
son. informed the latter Of affair:
in Europe and discussed means tC
bring about peace. The Cardina
was strongly interested in the af
fairs of the church in Mexico dur
ing the troublesome times in tha'
and declared that he
feared that fighting would never
cease under the Carranza regime.
1t was largely as result Of his
efforts that the condition of the
clergy and nuns of Mexico was
Cardinal Gibbons was active ir
his work for the Allies in the war
and in a letter written to the
of the archdiocese OF
New York in 1917 when the Unit
ed States entered the conflict
urged the fullest support of the
A few months pre-
he sent $4,000 to the
Committee in London,
for the relief of the Belgians. one
Of the many notable instances Of
his benevolence. In a sermon at
Baltimore, in 1918. he praised the
speech to Lloyd George and said
that Germany's war aims would
fall. About the same time he
Pope Benedict's war
policy, an article which so pleased
the Pope that he ordered it trans
ated and published broadcast. In
it he asserted sympathy with the
Allied aim Of winning the war
for permanent peace" ToI
achieve this result he also express
ed opposition to cessation of
hoStilities when, Austria made
fresh overtures.
Celebrating his 5Oth anniver-
sary as Bishop in Baltimore, on
October II, 1913, an event attend
I'd by ecc1esiastics from all over
he world, he received among
many other gifts the decoration