Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-25

whom had been friends for years. In
a message Of cheer to the American
Expeditionary Forces.
/ The cardinals views on political,
economic and sociological questions
were frequently sought by news
papers. In interviews he endorsed
the plan for the establishment Of the
| Jewish Homeland in Palestine. he
opposed the government ownership
of public utilities. maintained that
prohibition meant "the invasion of
home and sacrementaf practice" con-
demned divorce, praised the work of
the Salvation Army in France, IA
yored American military training.
importuned the clergy to fight Boil
shevism. demanded that the Turk
should be driven from Europe and
appealed to the public to support
Americas entrance into the League
of Nations. At convention of Irish
Nationa1ists in Philadelphia he ex-
pressed the hope that the Paris Peace
Conference would make it possible
ito free Ireland"
| Born In Baltimore. Md. of Irish
parents July II, 1884, James Gibbons
passed his youth in Ireland, but
! when he was a lad of Ia years his
family returned to America. settling
in New Orleans, where he acted as
| 'punctual grocer's boy"
| 81 look back on those early days of
| hard work with PRIDE" he said in
speaking of his boyhood. Il am Il
! firm believer in the school of hard
and honest labor"
| His ambition for the priesthood be-
| gan in those early days. At 81 he
began preparations for his service in
the Roman Catholic church. Gradu-
ating with distinguished honor from
| the historic St. Charles college in
Maryland, he pursued his studies at
the Seminary of ST. Sulpice and St.
Mary's university in Baltimore. At
the outbreak of the Civil war, he
| was ordained to the priesthood in
Baltimore.
7 1.-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"
At the close of the Civil war, Faith
er Gibbons became private secretary
to Archbishop Spaulding and was
appointed chancellor of the diocese.
| Through strength of character he
rapidly won his way. He was elected
assistant chancellor to the second
| Plenary Council at Baltimore in 1866
Two years later, by a bull of Pope
Plus TX, the young priest was trans
lated to North Carolina where he
served as titular bishop and first vi
carapostolic.
His record in the southern state is
remarkable. He travelled among his
people from the sea to the mountains.
eating from bare boards and sleep
ing in shabby cabins. Thus, it is
said, he made the personal acquaint-
ance of every adult Roman Catholic
in North Carolina. He built six
churches, established the Sisters of
Mercy and built for them a school
! for negroes and whites
| AS Archbishop, he headed the dele
cation of American prelates to Rome
in 1888. He outlined their plans for
!
the next year. Pope Leo XIII ap-
poined him to preside over the coun-
Gil. He directed the enactment of
many new DEGREES which were favor
/ ably approved by the ecclesiastical
authorities.
| The brilliant executive ability of
Archbishop Gibbons was Immediately
recognized. He was created card
| inal, prince of the church, a quarter
century after he had entered the
priesthood. This was in 18s6--he was
| then So years of age.
! The impressive ceremonies took
place in his home city and cathedral
in Baltimore. In the presence of
hierarchy of the church, Cardinal
Gibbons was clothed in the insignia
of the office. He arrived in Rome the
following year and received the apos
tilis blessing and admission into the
college of cardinals, the twenty fifth
in succession.
| Cardinal Gibbons celebrated the
centenary of the founding Of the
] Catholic hierarchy in the United
States in 1883. He convened the first
national congress Of Catholic Iaymen
/ in the United States in the same year
He laid the cornerstone of the Cath
Ole University in Washington. and
was its chancellor since it's founda-
ton. He was the first Roman Cath
Ole prelate in the United States to
take part in the election of a pope,
casting his ballot for Plus Y
The scholarship and craftsmanship
of Cardinal Gibbons has been recog-
nized by theolegians of all creeds.
! The last days of the Cardinal Glib
bons were spent among his friends in
his native Baltimore. He was n pic
turesque figure on the streets Not
withstanding his high Office, His
Eminence was one of the most demo-
cratic of Americans. During his
daily walks about the city. he receiv-
ed the respectful salutations of per-
sons of all faiths. responding with
his genial and cordial smile whether
to a policeman or a. DISTINGUISHED
! financier.