The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-04-02
Tbe Peoples CARDINAL.

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In the centuries that have passed the world has
noble princes of the Catholic Church and Their
red robes flashed in the courts of kings and in the councils OF
nations At times their learning overawed even the intel
ectual leaders of the age Often their capacity for admin
saton compelled political powers to sit at their feet and
there take lessons in diplomacy and government Rcheieu
Consavi and Anone to conure with and they
all redrobed prelates.
Last week there departed from this earth a modern
Prince of the Church Well past the four score he
had filled up life that lived for God and country
James Cardinal Gibbons the that has sounded the
call for and affection since the days OF the last
century. He not least among those giants-lreland
Ryan, Spaldng and HughesWho threw the force OF genius
and the power of tremendous energy into every conflict
that threatened Church country Like them he had
sprung from the and IKE e tae toG aa ne
that enabled him to enter into the lives and the problems
and the aspirations of the people with sympathetic intel
ligence.
The life of this unusual prelate presents many angles
for admiration that it difficult to select from
which he be viewed with the hope of embracing COM
plete survey his activities AS the life of Church and
State manifold did the and sympathy of the
Peoples Cardinal direct itself along channels In
things however does the light of his shine forth
with challenging user his deep and uncompromising devo
ton his Church. and his tenacious attachment to the
peculiar genius of his country.
Cardinal Gibbons held truths to be uncontestable
the Catholic Church the only religion and the Amer
government is the most liberal earth Around these
acterzed his every thought and movement in the spiritual
the material To the of these two ideals
did he consecrate his every effort priest Bishop and
Cardinal spokesman of the Catholic Church in America
In the Cardinals activities for the spread of Cathociy
notes with satisfaction the spirit Of Cancellation and
gente1ess that marked his attempts to uphold his
brethren to win his fellow citizens to the true faith Bas
ing his attack the fact that Americans ordinarily fair
and just sought make breach in their hearts rather
than their inteects knowing full well that when he had
their confidence the citadel of the mind would
render In this spirit his Faith of Our Fathers is said
fo haJo dc in
country Never would he insult his hearers by attempt
to force Catholic doctrine upon them rather did he seek to
enlghten them realizing that the grace of God acquired
by love and genenes rather than by ferocious outbrs
That he possessed the courage Of conviction IRE
specve of possible loss Of popularity apparent many
occasions His famous address Democracy delivered
Rome some years when he spoke Cardinal of the
Church in America aroused all Europe to the strength of
approval from every creed and denomination marked
him of the most powerful champions of American
his position in the hearts of his countrymen firmly
established that the succeeding years but added his
strength and reflected most favorably the Church
whose devoted and Prince he Men like Gibbons
and Ireland have perhaps done to se bgory in this
land of freemen than other force that known
When the Church was brought face to face with the
problem Of Labor and many conservative churchmen here
and abroad urged upon her the necessity banning Catho
Lie membership in the Knights Of Labor the farseeng and
rcversy and the intense peril of the Chrch position
she even apparently to abandon the workngman in the
demand for his rights Gathering about him kindred
and mighty souls Gibbons carried the battle for Labor up
to the very throne of Peter Light shed the dark
spots reason supplanted unfounded fear and Gibbons
returned bearing the banner Of justice that the Church
has denied her children in any age or land
His stand on other matters sometimes brought down
the devoted head of the Cardinal the opposition
Of lesser minds the clergy But his faith
the Church and his unbounded confidence in the liberty
loving spirit of real Americans enabled him take
fearless stand the broad ground of genuine patriotism
The simplicity that characterized the life and daily
duct Of Cardinal Gibbons endeared him all the people
In him they recognized how truly human real greatness may
be- To him they looked to their natural leader
the words Of his devoted friend Archbishop Ireland when
controversy arose. they nstinctvey towards
Baltimore to see which way the wind blowing
Honored by Popes Presidents and statesmen the world
in his e loved by the people, revered by the clergy
the great Cardinal in his death leaves void in every heart
NonCathocs of every class vie with another in
showing appreciation for his memory they honored
him in life
The distinct lesson which Cardinal Gibbons leaves
to his fellow Catholics is that they may win the
forces of bgoty they but seek to ignorance
prejudice rather than to antagonze the unbeever what
he considers right.