The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-04-09

MING AND GIBBONS GREAT
CHURCH TRIUMVIRATE OF
LAST CENTURY.
The funeral sermon at the obsequies
held for Cardinal Gibbons, in the Ca
thedral at Baltimore, was preached
by the Most Rev. John J. Glennon,
Archbishop of st. Louis. He spoke as
follows:
ARCHBISHOP GLENNoN'S SER
MON.
Let us now praise men of renoWn,
and our fathers in their generation.
such as have borne rule in their
dOminions, men of great power, and
endued with their wisdom, shelving
forth in the prophets the dignity of
prophets.
And ruling over the present people
and by strength of wisdom, instructing
the people in most holy words.
Their bodies are buried in peace,
and their name liveth unto generation
and generation" (Ecclesiasticus "A: 1,
8, 4, 14.)
know not what thoughts to eX-
press, or words to clothe them in on
this solemn occasion, as we group
around this mound of sorrow, to bid
a last sad farewell to our father and
our friend.
Bow to Gods Decree.
Words of protest, some may say,
since it is natures way to protest
against death, to treat it as an enemy
of our race and us, yet we who are
believers in a merciful Providence,
that wisely, justly disposeth all
things, the Master of Life and Death,
holding the living and the dead equal
ly in HIS keeping, we who would also
be His children, can only bow in low
liest feytteIce~io his supreme uecree.
Thou madest man, he knows not why
He thinks he was not made to die
And Thou hast made him-Thou art
just.
But if we may not protest, may we
not at least voice our regrets? Ought
we not to sorrow, and speak that sOr
row so deep and widespread today for
the prophet who is now silent-fo1
the prince who has fallen-for the
man who is gone?
Beyond our own hearts promptings
we have as exemplars for it the noblest
names in history. Jacob mourned
for his son many days; the congre
cation mourned for Aaron" and Sam
uel for Saul; while Davids plants
and tears we're his daily offering to the
memory of his son Absalom. And OF
the Blessed Master, too, when they
brought Him news that Lazarus, His
friend, was dead, ST. John records
the love and the tears of Christ
'And Jesus wept.'
With these examples before us, O
friend sorrowing for friend, and i
again sorrow is to be measured by the
merits of the dead, and the extent O
loss, then difficult must it be for III
to suppress our emotions as we pom
der over the life, the love, the serv
ice, the sacrifice of James Cardina
Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore
High sounding titles you will say
meaning much of dignity and power
but now our thoughts do rather turl
to the kindly, gentle old man, who's
coming was joy-whOse presenc
was a benediction.
Not BaItimore's Alone.
Let those tell lis what manner c
with him. Let them tell us of tha
uniform kindliness, courtesy, though
fulness, that marked all his dealing
with them. Let them attest his p
thence in adversely, his sympathy
sorrow, his anxiety for his friend
his charity towards all. For his lii
was an open book and on it's ever
golden page are inscribed the frien
ships, the kindly deeds and far-reac
ing charities of a noble heart. Nor
Baltimore alone are these thins
known: for as he with hurrying fe'
travelled from city to city in this broa
land, everywhere the bearer of bles
ed tidings, SO everywhere today Il
fond memories remain of the Kind
man WuOSC NISlIdtlOh Woo ~ oAASSAAA
lasting benediction. No wonder, the
that when the sad announcement
death was made, wave OF sorro
should sweep the land-the voicele
sorrow of nation in mourning. Voie
less! did say? No! For here on
casket are laid the multiplied tribut
of respect and regret from the people
representatives, senators, judges; a
crowning these. the glowing tribu
from the illustrious President OF Q
Nation. Add to these, or precedi
it, as you. will, this concourse OF p'
ple-the numberless priests OF 7
Church-the mitred heads OF mo
than a hundred dioceses, all bowed
sorrow. And cause have we OF !
Episcopate, most of all, to regret
departure. He was our leader, gul
and father. We cannot forget his
falling kindness--his prudent c0uns
We fear and feel We shall not look