Evening star., 1921-03-24

interests OF his country, to the Roman
Catholic Church and to Christianity
is ended with the death Of Cardinal
Gibbons. ....
welded strong influence.
Cardinal GIBBONS. as senior bishop
Of the church, welded a strong inhu-
ence outside as we'll as within the
Emitted States. The confidant of three
popes, he made several important
tours to Rome, the last in August:
1914, few days after the opening or
the war. to elect the successor 10
Plus " He arrived too late, however,
To participate in the ceremony that
elevated Benedict to the pontificate.
upon returning to the United states
he visited President Wilson, Informed
the latter of affairs in Europe and
The cardinal was strongly interested
in the affairs of the church in Mexico
during the troublous times m that
country and declared that he feared
CarranZa regime. Ii was largely as
result of his efforts that the condi-
tion of the clergy and nuns of Mex
leo was ameliorated.
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 conflict
urged the fullest support of the govern
u1ent- A few months previously he sent
$4,000 to the American 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 by Lloyd
George. and said that Germany's war
aims would. fail About the same time
he explained Benedicts war policy. an
article which so ,>leased the Pope that
he ordered it translated and published
with the allied aim of winning the war
'for permanent peace" To achieve this
result he also expressed opposition to
cessation of hostilitieS when Austria
made fresh overtpres.
Receives Foreign Decorations.
Celebrating his fftieth anniversary as
bishop in Baltimore, on October 81.
from all over the world, he received.
among many other gifts, the decoration
of grand officer of the Legion of Honor
from France. Italy also decorated him.
"A month later he joined with
former President Roosevelt, both of
whom had been friends for years, in
q message of cheer to the American
Gxpeditionary forces. On June 80.
1sl3, he observed his thirty-third an
S9ro.rsary as cardinal-archbishop and
the fftieth wear, Of his priesthood.
Cardinal Mercier. the heroic primate
Of Belgium, visited him on this oc-
cz4ton.
The cardinals views on political.
ecooomic and sociological questions
were frequently sought by newspa-
pefs. In interviews he Endorsed the
plan for the establishment of the
Jewish homeland in Palestine, he op-
posed the government ownership Of
public utflities, maintained that pro-
hibition meant "the invasion of home
and sentimental practice" condemned
divorce, praised the work, of the Sal
vAfien Army in France, favored
Anoartcan military training. impor-
tuned the clergy to fight bolshevism.
d0manded that the Turk should be
driven from Europe and appealed to
the public to- support Americas en-
trance into the league of nations. At
a. convention Of Irish nationalists in
Philadelphia he expressed the hope
that the Paris peace confidence would
make it possible ito free Ireland" He
Mas one of the advocates of Neighbor
day. for stimulating fraternity and
community spirit among Americans.
III a proclamation he designated June
II for this observance. '
born in Baltimore July IS. 1884. the
SON of Thomas and Bridget Gibbons.
land. returning with his mother-his
father having died-to the United
States when he was fourteen years
old On their return to this country
the family made their home in New
Orleans. where young James first en-
ployment was as a clerk and deliv-
cry boy in a grocery store. Not long
before his death Cardinal Gibbons
said:
II look back on those early days Of
hard work with pride. because / am
. firm belleEer in the school Of hard
and honest labor.
Ordained When 27 Years Old.
Inclined from early boyhood toward
the priesthood, at the age of twenty
one James began preparations for
service in the Catholic Church when
honors from historic St Charles Col
lege at Ellicott City, Md. He con-
tfnued his studies at the Seminary
Of st. Sulpice and at St. Mary's Uni
versity in Baltimore, and at the out
break of the civil war he was or
dained to the priesthood in the city
Of his nativity. being then twenty
seven years old.
Of the conflict between the states
definitely crystallized this sentiment
into an enduring and abiding abhor-
renee OF war and bloodshed and a sim
cere devotion to peace.
He often expressed sentiments such
al these:
1.-The average American is a lover of
peace He stands for and desires
peace at home and abroad. Let us
hope that international disputes soon
will be decided. not by standing
armies. but by permanent courts Of
arbitration"
Immediately following his ordina-
ton he was appointed assistant to
Rev. James Dolan, then rector of St
Patrick's Church. Baltimore. after
ward being transferred to st. Brigid's
Church, Canton
Became Secretary to Archbishop.
Archbishop spalding. at that time
head of the Catholic Church in
America. in 1865. after Rev. Gibbons
had served four years with ST. Pat
rick's and ST.. BriEids churches, called
him from parish work to become pri-
vate secretary to the archbishop as
chancellor of the archdiocese of Balti-
more and a member of the archiepis-
copal household. In 1866, on the occa-
sion of the second plenary council Of
the Catholic Church in America. he
was made vice chancellor of the coun-
ell.
August Is, 1858. Rev. Gibbons was
consecrated in the cathedral at Balti
more. by Archbishop Spalding, ''bish
op Of Adramyttum in partibus in
ndelum, and vicar-apostie of North
Carolina.
He presided over this diocese four
years. during which time he wrote
The Faith of Our Fathers" the book
which has been adjudged the most
popular work of Catholic authorship
ever written in this country.
In 1863 Bishop Gibbons attended
the ecumenical council of the Fati-
can, presided over by Pope Plus TX
At Rome. and was the youngest bishop