Year: 1877

DON6.


HE DEL1vEns TOUCHING vALEDIcToRY Ser
MON TO HIS DIOCESE TESTIMONIAL PROM
IsED HIM by HIS FRIENDS.


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


RICHMOND, Va, Oct. IA, 1871


Archbishop Gibbons OF Baltimore, now Primatc Of
the Catholic Church Of America delivered his farewell
TO tho congregation OF St Peters Cathedral
this morning during high mass His text taken
from ST. Pauls episrle to the Hebrews, chapter ".
after reading which ho sad:-


THE SERMON.


When man holding position Of responsibility and
trust about surrender hts Office it proper that
before rotiring he should render account Of his
stewardship. Called as am, by the highest authority
In the Church, from this field OF labor another or
still greater responsibility, deem 1t my duty to give
you brief summary Of the present condition OF this
diocese


Here tho Archbishop gave relative statement OF
the present financial condition OF the diocese of Rich
mond, compared with that of 1872, the time OF
his nstaation in the course OF which he took
to show that the diocese FREQ from dcbt He
then proceeded


can consistently say that from the day Of my in
stalation in this Cathedral until the moment that
resigned my trust have devoted myself to the inter-
OF this diocese far my limited strength and
ability would enable to do During that period
my mind and heart ana Will have been concentrated
upon your spiritual advancement Whenever ceie-
braed mass at the altar not day has passed IN which
have not remembered you before God in my prayers.
know, indeed, full we'll that u is not difficult TO
that YOU win Withhold from me- me- anv tr,bute
but tnat your kind partalty will ascribe TO
credit than ! really deserve. l wish. therefore,, TO
disabusc you OF false or exaggerated Impressions by
informing you TO whom and TO what you mainly
indebted Tor tho healthy condition OF rogion In our



in the community. You arc indebted, first to God;
second to the late Bishop; third to tho clergy ana
oil this portion Of the Lords vineyard God has
snguIarly blessed u.s. 10 Him be all honor and glory.
"Pau soweth, Apoios watoretn, but jod giveth the
Increase" Without Him We would nave sailed all
night and made no progress We would have nshed
ali night, like Peer caught nothing Next to God
you indebted to my venerable and illustrous pre-
decessor, who lett the diocese in solvent aud
wealthy condition. He Q man OF eminent
prudence and discretion aud OF caution verging ON
tmldlty Hc might have gained for himself great
name for enterprise and material progress by erectng
hurches aud other institutions throughout the diocese,
without regard TO expense but with all that he might
have bequeathod to his load OF debt which
would have pirayzeu nis usefulness and crushed his
heart He left me lew dobts TO pay and few scandals
To heal. Ho loft diocese without ncumbranco and o
character without reproach.


IL fortunate Tor this diocese that Bishop McGill
presided over its destn,os for upward OF twenty
years. for he stamped hts character upon the older
clergy who had the happiness oil observing his cdify
ing lie and Of being associated with hm in the min
IL Is very gratifying to though this
first occasion have done so, TO speak in terms Of
praise OF the clergy Of this diocese Other priests In
Decd | have met who have greater reputation
for learning ana polished Manners and who may have
been more convcrsant With the canons OF reLned
cety, but taken as body never met any priests TO
surpass those OF this diocese attachment duty
sngicness OF purpose in personal virtue and obed
TO the voice OF authority And II l be
permitted TO single out some of the clergy
point with peculiar Joy TO the Cathedral
clergy, who have lived with me members Of the
.hAlA Huhn t..x. rtaA tko
selves in a manner becoming their sncred calling. They
not members as you know. Of any religious order,
no community boil 70 wake them from sleep or TO sum-
mon them 70 prayer or TO the various duties
OF the ministry; anu yet think II would DO difficult
to lnd, even In monastery, moro cxactness of dis
cipiae more promptness TO Tho call OF duty than
could DC found among the priests OF this Cathedral
parish, and II were 70 lit the veil and reveal TO you
their domestic fo could disclose to you y spirit OF
ordsr. peace aud brothery concord which / hope to
SEQ initiated but dare not hope to see surpassed.


And as you, brethren of the laity you can bear
witness that never INDUCED you Dy vain nattery
but that have always endeavored 10 propose 10 YOU
your duty, matter how disastoiul II II light have
been to nesh and blood Bnt the present occasion
l would Do dong violence to my own feel
you II did not give public expression to
my admiration Tor the piety OF many OF you, which
soied me, and Tor your spirit Of generosity, which
strengthened my hands. have never had occasio on
reproach you for any actous opposition still loss
for any manifestation Of rebolious splrt ana have
always found you ready with heart and hand second
| overy effort proposed Tor the advancement Of
| religion.


A word about myself In conclusion. 1 have been
often asked what are my feelings IN leaving the do
ceso OF Richmond. or course, cannot be insensible
| to the unmerted iavor conferred upon me by tho
Holy Father In translatng mo 10 the ancient OF
BALTIMORE, nor eau DO insensble TO the pleasure |
snall experience IN being associated with tue excel
| lent and ediiyng clergy OF Baltimore, with
| many of whom l have the pleasure OF
! beng acquainted. But ono has sounded
as much myself the depth OF my own mperiec-
tons and nohngness, so no one can appreciate moro
assuming my new charge / cannot without regret
/ depart IRON city to which am bound by so many
attachments and from people VINO have always man
ilcsted so much Kindness toward mo- ask your pray
ors. do not ask you TO pray that may nave long
hle-that Is immateral but pray that God may give
light my understanding, strength to my heart ana
rcctudc to my WILL In order TO iuInl we'll tho duties
| that may devolvo upon mo. and pray that God NAV