Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-24

joired with former President Roosevelt,
both OF whom had been friends for years,
In a message of cheer to the American
Expeditionary Forces. On June 80, 1919,
he observed his 33d anniversary as Car
dinal-Archbishop and the 50th year Of
his priesthood. Cardinal Mercier, the
heroic primate of Belgium, visited him
on this occasion.
The Cardinals views of political, eco
nomic and sociological questions were
frequently sought by newspapers. In
interviews he endorsed the plan for the
establishment of the Jewish Homeland in
Palestine, ne opposed the government
ownership of public utilities, maintained
tnat prohibition meant ''the invasion o.
home and sacramental practice" con-
demned divorce. praised the work of the
Salvation Army in France. favored Ameri-
can military training. impOrtuned the
clergy t. fight Bolsnevism. demanded that
the Turk should be driven from Europe
and appealed TO the public To support
Americas 5 entrance into the League of
Nations. At a convention of Irish National
lists in Philadelphia he expressed the hope
that the Paris Peace Conference would
make il possible ito free Ireland He was
one of the advocates of NeighbOr Day, for
stimulating fraternity and community
| spirit among Americans. In "A proclama
tion he designated June II for this OBJ
servanCe.
Bcrnin Baltimore, Md. of Irish parents
July Il. 1884. James Gibbons spent his
| youth in Ireland. but when he was a lad,
| Of II years his family returned to America
! settling in New Orleans where he acted
as ''punctual grocer's boy"
81 look back on those carly days Of
! hard work with PRIDE ne said in speak
/ ms Of his bovhOod. Il am firm believer
! in the school of hard and honest laDor.
] His ambition for the priesthood began
/ in those early DAYS. At 2lhe began prepara-
! tions for his service in the Roman Catholic
I Church Graduating with distinguished
! honor from historic St. Charles College in
4 Maryland, he pursued his studies st the
! Seminary OF st Sulpice and st Mary's
/ Unive sity in Baltimore. At the outbreak
/ of the civil war. he was ordained 10 the
priesthood in Baltimore
The a erage American is a lover Of
/ peace, he frequel tly rem rkcd He
4 stands for peace at home and abroad
! Let lis hope that international disputes
/ will soon be decided not by standing
armies, but by Permanent courts OF arbi-
/ tration
At the close Of the civil war, Father
Gibbons became private secretary 10
Archbishop Spalding and was appointed
| chancellor Of the diocese Through
strength Of character he rapidly won his
way. He was elected assistant chancellor
Z 10 the second Picnary Council at Baltimore
| in 1864. Two wears later, by a pun OF
Pope Plus ~. the Young priest was trans
lated To North Carolina. where he served
as titular Shop and first vicarapostolic,
His record in the sout hern State is re-
/ markable. He travelled among his people
| from the sea to the mountains, eating
/ from bare boards and sleeping in shabby
I cabins Thus. II Is said. he made the per
/ sonaI acquaintance Of every adult Roman
I Catholic ID North Carolina He built SIX
7 churches established the Sisters of Mer-
/ cv and built for them 3 school for Negroes
! and whites.
Religion teaches me that We are al
I children Of the same Father. he once said.
/ I'VE are all brothers and sisters Of the
same Redeemer, and consequently. mem
bers of the same family II teaches me
the brotherhood OF humanity"
The hardworkIng oung bishop was
/ sent 70 Richmond IN 1872 He built and
I enlarged schools asvIums and churches
/ IN Richmond, Petersburg and Ports
mouth His untIring abOr attracted the
attention OF Archbishop Bavlev Of the
+ Baltimore diocese. Through his influence.
/ Bishop Gibbons became his adutor A
/ few months later Archbishop Bayley died
| Bishop GibbOns-43 years Of age-became
/ archbishop Of the diocese, then the highest
. digntary Of the Roman Catholic Church
/ IN the United States
/ As archbishop. he headed the delega-
/ ton Of American pTelates 10 Rome IN
! 1883. He outlined their plans for the
I third plenary council 70 be held the next
year Pope Leo XIII appointed him to
I preside over the council. He directed the
enactment OF many new DEGREES which
were favorably approved by the ccclesias-
tical authorities.
The brilliant executive ability Of Arch
! bishop Gibbons was Immediately recog-
nized. He was created a cardinal, a prince
Of the church, quarter century after he
had entered the priesthood This was in
1856 he was then 81 years of age
The impressive ceremonies took place in
his home city and cathedral in Baltimore
In the presence Of hierarchy Of the church
Cardinal Gibbons was clothed in the in
sigma Of the Office He arrived in Rome
the following year and received the
Apostolic blessing and admission into the
college of cardinals, the twenty-ffth in
succession.
Cardinal Gibbons celebrated the cen
tenary Of the founding Of the Catholic /
hierarchy in the United States in 1888 /
He convened the first national congress of /
Catholic layInen in the United States IN /
the same year He laid the cornerstone Of 4
the Catholic University in Washington,
and was its chanselor since it's foundation, /
He was the first Roman Catholic prelate in 4
the United States To take part in the cleo
ton Of a pope, casting his ballot for Plus X ,
The scholarship and craftsmanship Of +
Cardinal Gibbons has been recognized /
by theolegians Of all crceds
"Religion," he said shortly before his
death, lis the only solid basis for society.
Religion is to society what cement is to
modern building; it makes all parts com
pact and coherent The teachings of
Christ have been the basis Of all Christian
legislation for nearly 2 1000 years and con
tinue to be the light and guide for hun
dreds Of millions Of souls Neither Solon
nor Lycurgus nor Justinla nor Napoleon
nor any other framer Of laws ever exerted /