Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-03-24
CARDINAL
GIBBONS DIES AT
AGE OF 81 YEARS
End Comes Peacefully
To Primate AT Balti-
more Home

the Associated Press. James Car
dinale Gibbons, archbishop of Balti-
more and primate of the American
Catholic Church, died at the Archie
piscopal residence here today after a
prolonged illness which mainly af-
fected his heart. He was 81 years
old.
The end came peacefully at IL a.
m.
The cardinal suffered a relapse on
Palm Sunday evening after returning
from automobile ride.
lie was born in Baltimore, of Irish
parents, on July %, 1884.
Cardinal Gibbons, as senior Bishop
OF the church, welded strong IN
tluence outside as well as within the
United States. The confidant of
three popes, he made several impor-
tant tours to Rome, the last in Au-
gust, 1914, few days after the
opening of the war, to elect the sue
cessor to Plus x. He arrived too
late, however, to participate in the
ceremony that elevated Benedict to
the Pontificate.
Sought End of War.
Upon returning to the United
States he visited President Wilson
Informed the latter of affairs in Eu-
rope and discussed means to bring
about peace. Fhe Cardinal was
strongly interested in the affairs OF
the church in Mexico during the
troublous times in that country and
declared that he feared fighting
would never cease under the Car-
rama regime. 1t was largely as a
result of his efforts that the condi-
ton 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
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 government 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 be-
nevolence. In a sermon at Balti-
more, in 1918, he praised speech
by Lloyd-George and said that Ger
many's war aims would fail. About
the same time he explained Bene-
diets war policy, an article which so
Ispleased the Pope that he ordered 1t
translated and published broadcast.
In it he asserted sympathy with the
allied aim of winning the war "for
permanent peace" To achieve this
result he also expressed opposition to
a cessation of hostilities when Aus
tria made fresh overtures.
Decorated On Anniversary.
Celebrating his fifitieth anniver-
sary as bishop in Baltimore, on Oc-
tober 81, 1918, an event attended
by ecclesiastics from all over the
world, he received among many other
gifts the decoration of Grand Off
GER of the Legion of Honor from
France. Italy also decorated him.
A month later he Joined with for
mer 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 anniver-
sary as cardinal-archbishop and the
50th year of his priesthood. Cardinal
Mercier, the heroic primate of Bel
gium, visited him on this occasion.
The cardinals views on political,
economic and sociological questions
were frequently sought by newspa-
pers. In interviews he endorsed the
plan for the establishment of the
Jewish Homeland in Palestine, he OPP
posed the government ownership of
public utilities, maintained that pro-
hibition meant the invasion of home
and mental practice" condemned di-
vorce, praised the work of the aVia-
ton army in France, favored AmerI-
can military training, importuned the
clergy to fight Bolshevism, demand
ed that the Turk should be driven
from Europe and appealed to the
public to support America entrance
into the League of Nations. At a
convention of Irish Nationalists in
Philadelphia he expressed the hope
that the Paris peace conference
would make it possible ''to free Ire
land" He was one of the advocates
of Neighbor Day for stimulating
fraternity and community spirit
among Americans. In proclama-
ton he designated June II for this
observance.