Evening star., 1932-08-14
The Gibbons Memorial.


statues and monuments commemorative
of great men, women and events which
have left their impress upon the Ma
tion's history will be enriched today by
a classic memorial in honor Of James
Cardinal Gibbons. The statue, which will
stand in front of one of the city's most
beautiful Roman Catholic churches, has
been erected by the Knights OF Colum-
bus In celebration of the golden ami
versary of that organization. 1t will
be accepted in the name Of the Federal
Government by President Hoover at the
end Of colorful ceremonies.
Gibbons was more than great
Roman churchman. He ranked among
citizens of all faiths as a great Amer
ican. When paying tribute to him in
1911, on the occasion Of his jubilee as
priest and cardinal, President Taft de-
clared: What We are especially de-
lighted to see confirmed in him and his
life is the entire consistency which he
has demonstrated between earnest and
single minded patriotism and love OF
country on the one hand and sincere
devotion to his church on the other"
It was on the same occasion that there
was held at Baltimore in Cardinal Gib-
bons' honor q civic demonstration, al
most unique in American history, be-
cause of the evidences Of affection and
regard it evoked from people Of every
religious afflhation for churchman
whose range Of interest and activity
systematically far outstripped those
merely Of his own creed.
Cardinal Gibbons was American
born. a native Of nearby Maryland. He
first saw the light of day in 1884, while
Andrew jackson was President. His
advance in the priesthood and hierar-
chy was rapid. After serving as Vicar
Apostolic of North Carolina, Father
Gibbons in 1853 became Bishop Of Bal
timore. In the latter capacity he was
summoned to participate in the his
toric Ecumenical Conclave at Rome In
October, 1869, when the momentous
question of the infallibility Of the Pope
was considered and passed upon. An
uncommonly young prelate, Cardinal
Gibbons records in his Retrospect OF
Fifty Years" how his characteristic
modesty, plus his youth, imposed upon
him at the Ecumenical "a discreet Sd
lence." In 1878 Bishop Gibbons be-
came the new Archbishop Of Baltimore,
the home Of his infancy, the city where
he had been ordained priest and
where he had been raised to the
episcopate.
A chronicler of Cardinal Gibbons
| life and times has just written:
The ninth incumbent of the primatal
see of the church in the United States
had thorough and practical acquaint-
ance with American life, and his daring
spirit prompted him to pursue line
Of action different from that Of his
, more conservative predecessors. He felt
that he ought not to shut himself on
from his fellow citizens or confine his
activities solely to matters ecclesiasti-
cal. Consequently we find him parti-
cipating in public affairs and social
functions, in order to dispel, as far as
lay in his power, the misconceptions
and prejudices existing within the
| minds of those who honestly viewed
the Catholic Church with disfavor, by
giving them an open demonstration OF
what a high Catholic prelate really Is
| as churchman and as citizen.
In appreciation Of his jealous pur-
suit of the ideals Just enumerated, Pope
Leo XIII in 1887 bestowed the coveted
and honored red hat upon Cardinal
Gibbons, a distinction which brought
him the American peoples congratula-
tions and good wishes, regardless OF
their denominational ties. His whole
religious and civic life was an inspira-
ton of which his church and his
country came to be equally proud. The
graceful bronze reproduction Of his
kindly countenance and knightly bear
ing, as future generations Of Ameri'
cans view 1t in Washington, will be ar
enduring reminder Of the service M
rendered alike to his God and to hi
beloved native land.