Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1921-04-01
CARDINAL GIBBONS
TAKEN BY DEATH
Venerable PreIate Dies at Archie
piscopaI Residence.
CHURCH CAREER is NOTABLE
Primate of the American Catholic
Hierarchy Receives Pope's Bene-
diction in Last Hours-End
Comes After Long illness.

Baltimore, March 25.-JameS Cardi-
nal Gibbons, archbishop of Baltimore
and primate of the Catholic church in
America, died at the archiepiscopai
residence after prolonged illness,
which mainly affected his heart, in his
eighty-seventh year.
Pope Benedict, who has followed
the course of Cardinal Gibbons ill
ness with deepest interest and symra-
thy, sent his blessing in the following
cablegram from Rome received at the
archiepiscopal residence, short time
before the cardinals death.
1.-THE holy father, invoking heavenly
blessings and comforts on his emf
nence, Cardinal Gibbons. sends to him
from the bottom of his heart the apos-
tolic benediction"
Rev. Louis r. Stickney, rector of
the cathedral, surrounded by members
of the household and the nursing sis
tiers in attendance upon the cardinal,
impaired the blessing in behalf of the
pope as the cardinal lay unconscious.
Active Over Half Century.
Active service of more than half q
century In the interests Of his country,
as well as his church, is closed by the
death of James, Cardinal Gibbons. At
the celebration, in 1911, of the twenty
fifth anniversary of his elevation to
the cardinalate, his eminence, out OF
all the tributes paid him, expressed
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 citizenship and
the uplifting of his fellowmen."
"You have portrayed your subject,
not, ! fear, as he is, but as he should
be- responded the cardinal. Zone
merit only can I claim, and that is an
ardent love for my native country and
her political institutions. l consider
the republic of the United States one
of the most precious heirlooms ever
bestowed on mankind down the ages.
1t is the duty and should be the de-
light of every citizen to strengthen
and perpetuate our government by OBJ
servance of it's laws and by the in
tegrity of the public life"
Welded Large Influence.
Cardinal Gibbons, as senior bishop
of the church, welded a strong infiu-
ence outside as well as within the
United States. The confidant of three
popes, he made several important
tours to Rome, the last in August,
1914, few days after the opening of
the war, to elect the successor to Plus
X. He arrived too late, however, to
participate in the ceremony that eie-
waited Benedict to the pontifcate.
Upon returning to the United States
he visited President Wilson, Informed
the latter of affairs in Europe and
discussed means to bring about peace.
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 Bel
g,ans. one of the many notable In
stances of his benevolence. In SER
mon at Baltimore. in 1918. he praised
the speech by Lloyd George and said
that Germany's war aims should fail.
Born in Baltimore, Md. of Irish
parents July II, 1884, James Gibbons
spent his youth in Ireland, but when
he was lad of fourteen years his
family returned to America, settling
in New Orleans, where he acted as
'punctual grocer's boy"
His ambition for the priesthood be-
gan in those early days. AT the out
break of the Civil war he was or
dained to the priesthood in Baltimore.
"The average American is lover
of peace" he frequently remarked.
He stands for peace at home and
abroad. Let US hope that interna-
tional disputes will soon be decided
not by standing armies, but by per-
manent courts of arbitration"