Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-30
POPE PAYS TRIBUTE
.. TO DEAD CARDINAL
"He Showed Marvellous Fruits
That Church Can Produce"
His Holiness Asserts
MUST CHERISH HIS MEMORY
Ry the Associated Press

WASHINGTON. March 3O.--A tribute
from Pope Benedict XIV to the late
Tardinal Gibbons reached the National
Catholic Welfare Council here today
through Cardinal Gasparri, dated
March -.
"On hearing the bad news of Cardi-
nal Gibbons death. the holy father ex-
pressed the following sentiments" the
message said:
The death Of our dearest brother,
ttc cardinal archbishop Of Baltimore. Is
a great grief not only for his diocese
and his country, but also for the whole
church. Cardinal Gibbons was the liv-
ing testimony Of the magnificent devel-
which the Catholic Church has attained
in his country. and for this reason he,
more than anybody else, could show to
.the people the marvellous fruits that the
church can produce for the good Of
mankind even in our times, and not
wiihstanding numbprless difficulties.
Cardinal Gibbons. excellent priest
learned master. vigilant pastor, was an
exemplary citizen, and by the example
md preaching of Christian virtues in
private as we'll as in social life, he con =
tributed efficaciously to the sound prog
ress of his great country. His memory
therefore must be cherished with pro-
ftund veneration not only by every
Catholic. but also by every citizen of
tho United States Of America.
Baltimore. Nd. March 3O.-(By A.
P.l-NIembers Of the Catholic laity
filed the Cathedral to overfiowing this
morning at the last Of the special re-
QUEEN masses preceding the final fu ..
neral services tomorrow for Cardinal
Gibbons. whose death occurred last
Thursday. Bishop o. Il. Corrigan.
vicar general Of the diocese. was the
local priesthood. The music was sung
BY the Cathedral choir
At the end of the mass the congrc-
CATION filed slowly past the bier for n
last look at. the features of the cardinal
and the long line of men, women and
children who had gathered in the street
meanwhile. streamed into the edifice in
a procession which bid fair to continue
all day. 1t is estimated that between
$4,000 and 10000 persons viewed the
body of the prelate yesterday during
tho twelve hours it was exposed to pub
lie view.
The Office for the dead will be sung
at the Cathedral tonight by the semi =
narians Of st. Mary's College here and
the diocesan clergy. bishop Corrigan
presiding.
Governor Ritchic gave the final touch
to the plan for general tribute to the
cardinal when he issued an official
proclamation yesterday calling upon the
people of Maryland to suspend all ac-
tvitics at 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. the hour of the funeral, and offer
prayer of gratitude for the example of
Cardinal Gibbons life. In Baltimore
the mayor and dty council have pro-
claimed five minute period of sus-
pension.
\ delegation of 100 Philadclphians
will leave the city today to attend the
funeral of Cardinal Gibbons, in Balti-
more tomorrow.
The delegation consists of fifty
priests, headed by MonSignor Nevin +.
Fisher, and fifty laymen. headed by
James A. Flaherty, supreme knight of
the Knights Of Columbus.
4 special train will carry II large
number of persons to the funeral. 1t
leaves the Baltimore and Ohio station
at 10 o'clock.