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LIFE
JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS
By ALLEN S. WILL, A. AC, Lift, D,
to Cd*#r thm
Oadf th* thing* th** *m Oocf t^^MmtthftWt xxli, 2J
JOHN MURPHY CX)MPANY
R, 051 T, WASHHOURNK, Ltd,,
I, I md 4 Ffttrr>oit#r Row, London. 249 Buoh*nftn itrttt v
Copyright* *9ii
JOHN MURPHY
Att
nfc ittttl&ntfft* Hull, Ldo, Eitf tend,
TO THB XNRPtRlQXl OF
MY I*A!UMH
Till BOOK IS
PREFACE
Few men who exert great influence are able to see In their
own times the fruition of their most cherished undertakings;
but such has been the privilege bestowed by a benign Providence
on Cardinal Gibbons, It seems not inappropriate, therefore,
to pause on the occasion of his fiftieth anniversary as priest
and his twenty-fifth anniversary as Cardinal and survey, when
he is 77 years old, the broad outlines of his career. Not only
is it true that the principal labors to which he has hitherto
devoted himself have been concluded, but some of them, indeed,
were finished so long ago that their details have been almost
forgotten by a generation intent chiefly on the things of the
present*
No comprehensive attempt has been made up to this time to
tell the story of the Cardinal s life, crowded, as it has been,
with events not only of dtep significance to the world, but of
absorbing interest. True, there is much in print, but it is frag
mentary, tinged with the impressions of a moment, contro
versial or wholly lacking in the perspective with which his
career may now be fairly viewed. These considerations, and
the peculiar appropriateness of the double jubilee, have em
boldened me to embark on the rather hazardous task of trying
to write a biography while the subject of it is yet living, At
the beginning I resolved that if any compromise with the
standards which should govern an impartial biography were
encountered, I would not proceed with the work; and I have
fully satiified myself, at least, that this obstacle did not arise.
In the preparation of this book, I have been especially
solicitous to obtain accuracy. Unverified statements have been
rejected, and I have wholly discarded unconfirmed tradition
and reminiscence. The opinions expressed, except where they
are attributed to others, are mine*
ALLBN S. WILL,
30, 1911.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
EARLY LIFE AND STUDIES,
Baltimore at the tlmo of Cardinal Gibbons birth His parents re*
turn to their former home in Ireland Studies and SportB In Irish
schools Daath of his fatherHis mother takes the family to New
Orleans -Clerk In a grocery store Ilia mind turns to the priest
hood Classical and theological studies Ordination. ,,,,,,,, ..... 1- 12
CHAPTER II
AT ST, PATRICK S AND ST. BRIDGET S,
Six weefen as assistant pastor of Si Patrick s Church, Baltimore*
Pastor of St. Bridget* during the Civil War~Dangri and difflcml*
ties Ministrations at Fort Monnry-~ Temporary decline of his
health Prophetic uormou on tlm night of Lincoln*** as*a*aluation* a8~ 21
CHAPTER III.
SECRETARY TO ARCHBISHOP SPALDING,
Critical period for the Church at the time of his trannfrr to the
Arehblifaop n botiiebold Aiwliitfmt Chancellor of the Second Plenary
Council of BnlUmorfH-Noittlnated for Vicar Aportollc at the age of
82 ytar Sunday-school work Olfte m a preacher beglnnhiK to
devtlop ......,..,*..,,..., ..... .*.,....* M ,. ..*...,....*. *SBS- 28
CHAPTER IV.
VICAR APQ8TQLIC1 OF NORTH CAROLINA*
Vlrnr Apoitolif nnfl Titular Blhop of
Iteceptlou In North Uarolluti KxpttritMcen la tbe ^
trn~M!wiIottttry Jjournvyi iu the fat* of tthynU**! obntaoleii Popular
with Protwtaut a well m Cathollei Kapid growth of the church
In the vieariate. * i * * * ....... ...,.....**..*...*....... .20- 43
CHAPTER V,
AT THE VATICAN COUNCIL OF 18TO-
Suddtn chins* of flald from ptofjr work la North CaroJInn to the
atmaq>her of the Vatican (Vuttri!~naiiona for the convomtton of
tlm <^unciI~QuiNitloa of InfalllhU* ttntfhtaK olBw of lloman INmt Iff
Attitude of tho Amwlcaii l*I**h<i tlhho|i <}lbl>onii vote* for tto
dwlnmtlon of JnfitlHWllty, tlnniicht clouUtlnjc lt opiKirtu!M*n*>*
of famouK chttrt hiutn. .*..*.*......*<....**** *4i^ 81
X CONTENTS
CHAPTER VI.
BISHOP OF RICHMOND.
Bishop Gibbons succeeds Blnhop McOIH Sn Richmond, contlaalag
his work in North Carolina at the same tititfl !Crl0tKlbt| with An-h
bishop Bayley Energetic nnd faithful labor* in Virginia Hit* first
book, "The Faith of Our Fathers" .......... .....,.,..,., ...... ,tci- 77
CHAPTER VII.
ABCHBI8HOP OF BALTIMORE.
Recommended by Archbishop Bayluy for tuecewiloia to th* prlmt-
tlal American Se& Death of Bnyley Kwlv* the imilitun lu ttte
Baltimore Cathedral A matt of the jmopte IdsatlflmtJoti with
varied Interests of the commuuity I atrlotlwu Ui wont mitt
Visit to Borne la 1880 IMter on th wiamitwtian of i r
GarfleldDsnth of th* Arehbtihop a tnotbvr !!! llf* In thi
episcopal resldeoc. .... ...... ,...,,,, ........ , ......... .,,,,, .T- 87
CHAPTER VIII,
THIED PLENABI COUNCIL OF BALTWOB1.
Cow for acJton to summon itti*r Ptonnry Oouodi Areb-
blihop i aibboM prttWw Apovtollc DtleKut t^tlwa <-on*trtKtiv*
work for the OhBfeh In America Deetvwi ef the Ooutit*llA odl
for oth*m OrtgiB of th Oatbotlo Utttvtndty ........... . ........ *M24
CHAPTER IX.
CRKATHJD A CARDINAL,
0lbx * M |B *""* p th Third
analremry of
flmoBtwiaoa la BiUtfmwre
CHAPTER X,
for Eom^ to wtlv* tb^ n4 hf TairtalM in hi tii^iai
CONTENTS XI
CHAPTER XL
KNIOHTS OF LABOR QUESTION,
El&e of tho Knights of Labor In America Forbidden by the Church
in Canada Cardinal Gibbong confers with Fowderly His "Kalghta
of Labor letter 1 * to th Prefect of the Propaganda and hl vigorous
attitude In Home cause the Congregation of the Holy Office to with
hold an Interdict from the Knights in the United States and to reverse
the action regarding Canada His vlwii of the labor question sus
tained by Leo XIII ................... ........ ,.*,.. ........ 148-168
CHAPTER XII
1ABLX XEJAES OF OABDINALATE*
Homeward Journey from Rome Guwfc of Cardinal Hatutlag to
Loadou~Frl&udshlp and sympathy of Cardinal Gibbons and Man
ningFeted on his return to Baltimore Praytr at thu Constitu
tional Centennial Celtbratiow Western trip ^Transmits Preildtnt
Cleveland * gift to Loo XIII in honor of the Pontiff s golden jubilee
la the priesthood Ills second book, "Our Christian Heritage**. 166-188
CHAPTER XIII.
OF TUB AMERICAN HIKRARCHY,
(llhboim organtE an Jmpo^Jug eetobntlon in
to honor of the oMtunmlftl of tht Hftrarchy~Littir of I^o XIII on
tht growth of the Ohureh In Amirtc*a~Tht **Cathol$c CSongrtii* 1
of 1889~Dtdicttloa of tht School of Sacrtd Selta^s of tht 0tbolic
Univtrilty~f}rt intwert of the aardlnal !a tht
viewn oa the tumtwtmo quwtlon, ***,* ..* * ,
CHAPTER XIV,
AFOiTOUO DILlQATlj Till BOHOOL QU1ST1OR
of ftllgloui Intolrnc Im Amtrt^n public
QibboM adTiiiNi Af*la*t filirtct rtlitioms bttwttn tht Vtfc*
tern and tht oT0ramtttt it WtiMmtofi~Tratwml8lo o f
nlUn to tht World s Fair at Chicago In Arcfcbitbop 8atolll*
liiidi to his temporary tppolstmtnt as Apovtoilc Dtl^ttt t Itttr
ptrntanwt Awhblihopi aoMta^r tbt ephoot qn^itJw~Attttadi
Cardinal Gibbons ri$rdtni aducntion^I^o XIII inttitiifj tbt **F
btult platt"-~Apt>al of th0 ciardlnai to Vmm^m for a continaanov of
govortimtmt ftpproprliftouii to Cjaholie ItKllun
xii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XV.
AMERICANISM ; THE OAHENSLY QUESTION.
Origin of the controversy concerning "Americanism" The Oa-
hensly program Cardinal Gibbons thrown hiH whole weight; against
foreign nationalism in the American Church President Harrison
thanks him for his attitude Sustained by tho Pope 1 -Tho "American
Protective AHHodntion" Bishop Keauo roni#ns an rector of the Uni
versity Misunderstanding 1 abroad of "The Life of Father Hooker"
Letter of Leo XIII on "Americanism" -Itoply of Cardinal Oih-
bons ......................... * ........... * .......... .,...*,, 234-268
CHAPTER XVL
THE WORLD S FAIR; PAELIAMKINT OF RELIGIONS.
Catholic Interest in the four hundredth anniversary of the cUi-
covery of America The Cardinal Inspire* a celebration in Baltimore
Ills prayer at the dedication of the great fair la Chicago Addre
before the Parliament of Reunions Attitude on the reunion of
Christendom Visit to Rome ia 1804 Public welcome* on bin return
to Baltimore. .,* .......... . . . . . ....... <.,,, ...... * . * .SKH-277
CHAPTER XVII.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR,
Cardinal Gibbons an advocate of International arbitration ~~ His
appeal for a permanent tribunal of arbttration-~8*rmcm at requiem
mam for the "Maine** dead Efforts to prevent war between th
United Etates and Spain Af tor the* outbreak of wnr im advocate*
lov of country next to love of Ood mid readtniHii to die for country
If necessary Directs thnnkggl?fng In churchcn for American vlctor-
leiH-Ueetlnga with OerTern~Dottbtn windom of nnnrxinit Hpaninh
ifllanda Kfforti to Am0rlcnn!f(o thc^ church orffnntKtttion In thi*
Islands Visit to Rome in )(W1~Anoth*r popular welcome* fn B*UH*
more ................... , . ., ........ ...I.,,..,,,,,,.,.,,,,,,. 27R-202
CHAPTER XVITI.
THE BTRRNUOUB LIPB; LABORS AND
Influence In hrtngfniaf nhotit the fnippremilon of tti^ T^oufpstuna lot*
In revlewn and masraKinefi itdwcatltig 1 pnlltlenl aud
reforms -Silver jtihllw of hlit eplwopte--4SHft from the
relnnd*n olmtnent ^ifmnn on "The Church m&
th Af*e* Wlevntfon of ftittoHI to the oiirdlnnlfjte In the Battmore
OathfHdral ^rtnrdlnnl OHihona* third hook, **The Amhniwfldor of
CUrlgt**~Opp0utt!an to woman suffrngt Vftwu on
CONTENTS xm
CHAPTER XIX.
PAPAL CONCLAVE OF 1903.
Lnflt Illness of Leo XIII Cardinal Gibbons the first American to
take part In the election of a Pontiif Personal experiences during
the Conclave Ills influence in bringing about the election of Pius X
Marks of friendship from the new Pontiff Another Baltimore
welcome Trip to Rome in 1908 Preaches at Bucharistlc Congress
In London 312-327
CHAPTER XX.
CENTENARY OF THE BALTIMORE CATHEDRAL.
Remarkable growth of the Catholic Church in the United States
coincident with the history of the Cathedral The Cardinal organizes
a celebration Declarations of himself and other American prelates
against socialism Letter from Plus X Archbishop Ryan on evils
of the times 328-384
CHAPTER XXL
SYMPATHY WITH FRENCH CATHOLICS.
Influence of Franco in the early development of the Church in
AmericaThe "Law of Associations" and subsequent agitation
Cardinal Gibbons Nddrosses a letter of sympathy to the Cardinal
Archhlnhop of Purls in behalf of the American Archbishops Personal
utterances on the same subject Gratitude of the Pope 835-338
CHAPTER XXIL
BYKNTS OF LATER YEARS,
Experiences In the #reat Baltimore fire of 1904 His life endan
gered In a driving accident KSxtenslve travels Methods of recrea
tion Embarriwsnieuh* of hint high office Held In affection by non-
Catholics OppoRltkm to divorce, raee suicide" and other evils
HIg New Year receptionsHealth and habits Misfortunes His
fourth book, "Discourses and Sermons" 839-381
CHAPTER XXIII.
GREAT CIVIC CELEBRATION IN HIS HONOR,
Civic celebration in Baltimore, June 6, 1011, Jn honor of the Car-
dinars goldan Jubilee m priest and silver Jubilee as a member of the
8nered College-- Addressee by President Taft, Vice-President Sher
man* ex>PreuIdent Roosevelt, Governor Orothers, Mayor Preston and
others . ....,,.,.,,..., .,,*..,.,*,.,,.*,, , 382-893
CHAPTER XXIV.
A SUMMARY OF HIS LABORS.
Conspicuous aooompllBhmontfl in tho Borvlw ot Church and State
-Gi eat program In 11 w development of good fooling between Cath
olics and non-GaU&oltcn. . . . * * * .*.,.,* ,394-398
ILLUSTRATIONS
CARDINAL GIBBONS ,.,,,. Frontispiece
ST. CHARLES OOLLEGE, Blllcott City, Md ..... 10
(Where Cardinal Gibbons began M$ otwical studies for th$
Priesthood)
ST. BRIDGET S CHURCH, Baltimore, In 1803 .... 14
CARDINAL GIBBONS, ai priest, In 1808 . 28
ST, THOMAS* CHURCH, Wilmington, N. 0. * * * .84
CARDINAL GIBBONS an Bishop of Richmond . , 64
OLD ST* PETBR S CATHEDRAL AND BISHOP S RESIDENCE,
Richmond* Vtt., ia 18T0 ,.,,*,. 70
BALTIMORE CATHEDRAL ,..... ". 108
CARDINAL GIBBONS in htfl role ...... 180
a mam?>^f of th Bcwwd
INTERIOR OP THE CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA IN TRAB-
TE1VERK, Rom 142
*
FAG SIMILE OF CARDINAL CHBBON8 HANDWRITING . 188
(Ha tract from "Ow Ohrittlcm Heritage")
CARDINAL GIBBONS RESIDENCE, Baltimore ... 218
MoMAHON HALL, CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, Wuhlnitutt, D. 0. 2T8
CARDINAL GIBBONS, PRESIDENT McKlNLFA and ADMIRAL
DEWEY at tho prowutatlon of a gword to the Admirsl . 808
PRBSBNTATION OF GIFT B THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUB
TO Till CATHOLIC UNIVBRSITY 85fl
CARDINAL GIBBONS, PRESIDENT TAFT aud ARCHBISHOP
FAIXX)NIO . ...... 984.
(AMfte Golden /wWJee o/ (, X/oy*rf*w CftKroA, Fsthiwton,
A owm&w 18, I90fi)
SCENE ON THEJ 8TAGB AT THB CIVIC CBLBBRATION, BftW-
mor, June fl, 1011 ........ 884
LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS
CHAPTER I.
EARLY LIFE AND STUDIES.
Although the active life of Cardinal Gibbons has stretched
well into the twentieth century, the twilight of the eighteenth
still seemed to linger around his early home when he was born
in Baltimore, July 23, 1834. The city of which he was to be
come the foremost citizen, identified with it throughout a long
career, was then overgrown from the straggling outlines of a
colonial town. On the east the peaked roofs and tall, thin chim
neys of its residential streets extended barely to Fell s Point, a
full mile inside of where the Lazaretto Light, now half hidden
by the smoke of clamorous factories, blinked at the smart clip
per ships which raced up the Patapsco with the trade of the
world, To the westward the swinging sign of the General
Wayne Inn, on Paca street, bearing a portrait of "Mad An
thony" in brilliant blue and buff, marked the dividing line be
tween urban life and a peaceful vista of rural estates, soon to
be devoured by the hungry giant whose spreading bulk was
already beginning to crowd them,
Uptown one might see, in the stately parade of late Georgian
fashion which passed on bright afternoons, the women who
were giving the city a repute as the home of the loveliest of
their sex in America; and here and there might be observed th
riven hair and olive cheeks of the daughters of rich Santo
Domingan planters, driven in a swarm by the revolution of
L Ouvcrture to find in Baltimore the home of exiles. Down
town, around the waterfront, the heart of the city throbbed.
Grave merchants in sober dfets, their throats wrappid in stiff
2 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
black stocks, sat in counting-rooms fronting on narrow streets
and traded ambitiously with Europe, South America and the
Indies. Privateers, which twenty years before had scattered
British commerce in a hundred ports, now anchored around the
wharves to load the products of the West and South in peace
ful commerce. Swift schooners, manned not infrequently by
sailors who had proved that they could use a cutlass as well as
trim a sail, were freighting the rich crops of the Chesapeake
region to the metropolis of Maryland, Planters and merchants
from half a dozen States drank the old wines of the Fountain
Inn, or Barnutn s, crowding to the gay and busy city to buy
their supplies a year ahead.*
The name of Johns Hopkins might be seen on the sign of a
wholesale grocery store on Lombard street, near Light street, f
A few hundred yards distant, on German street, near Charles,
was the dry-goods establishment of George Peabody. The
alert young man who opened Mr. Peabody s store in the morn
ing and wrote his laconic business letters was William Pinkney
Whyte. On Charles street, near German, was the modest office
of Enoch Pratt, iron merchant, Chief Justice Taney*s hand
some residence was on Lexington street* the second house from
St Paul street The courts of law felt the inspiration of Wil
liam Pinkney, Luther Martin, William Wirt and Reverdy
Johnson, Edgar Allan Poe, recently dismissed from West
Point, was walking the streets seeking employment as a writer
or teacher. At the Adelphi Theatre Junius Brutus Booth, then
in the noonday of his genius # was playing nightly, Two years
before, a tottering old man had been an object of respectful
interest as he used to enter his residence at Front and Lom
bard streets after attending mass. He was Charles Carroll,
and the hand that turned the heavy brass door knob had signed
the Immortal Declaration*
etr roneftf of f * . *. _***>
t fir. Hmir C, Wijmtr, tttti<|ti*ri*n; of Saltinaori, Ii tutfeorfty tor tfe*
*ld building ft* given
HOUSE IN WHICH HE WAS BORN. 3
The stately Cathedral, then lately erected on a bold hill in
the newer part of the city, was the seat of Catholic influence in
America. It had been the pride of John Carroll, first Ameri
can archbishop, who had died before it was opened for wor
ship; but he had lived to see the organization of the Church
planted on a foundation that would stand the shock of the
"Knownothing" times, soon to come, and prove firm and last
ing in the marvelous career of development that was opening
before the new republic, Carroll had been succeeded by Neale,
and then Marechal and Whitfield ; and in the year of the future
Cardinal s birth, Ecclestpn was elevated to the episcopal chair,
and sat beneath the canopy at mass. Besides the Cathedral,
the churches of St. Peter, St. John, St Patrick, St. Mary and
St James had been erected; and the aggressive spirit of the
clergy was fast winning converts* The Catholic population of
Maryland was estimated at 7S* 00 out ^ 500,000, a greater
proportion than in any other American State,*
The house in which the Cardinal was born survived the
changes of time until 1892, when it was torn down to make
way for the widening of Lexington street into a plaza for pub
lic parades and outdoor meetings. It stood on the west side
of Gay street, a short distance north of Fayctte street, and was
a substantial home of two stories, capped by a high-pitched
roof, the type of many others to be seen in Baltimore in the
first half of the nineteenth century, That part of the city,
since given over almost wholly to trade, was then near the
core of the residential district, In front of the Gibbons home
streamed a picturesque tide of life fashionable idlers* who
maintained many of the traditions of the English aristocracy;
folk of many sorts coming in from the northeastern outskirts
of the town to the maze of rope and mast that covered the
inner harbor; coaches of the rich, with liveried servants on the
boxes; white-arched Conestoga wagons, rumbling in from
* tttttr jf ArtfefotHhop KS^dtnton t<* fhn ronir^ffttJon f>f
3b*i Hlttory of th* Cuffed Chwn*fc in tht Unittd BtalMTvwu
4: LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
Pennsylvania with the crops of rich counties to barter for the
city s wares* In later years, when the pallium and the red
hat, and other honors had been heaped upon him, the primate
of the American Church used sometimes to point out this quaint
building to favored friends, who accompanied him in his long
walks about the city-
Here, in 1834, lived Thomas Gibbons, father of the Cardi
nal, who was employed by Howell & Sons, a firm which for
many years carried on an importing business on Gay street
He was one of thousands of young Irish farmers who had
lately been swarming to America to seek their fortunes, The
bloody days of 1798 were not long gone by ; and Daniel Q Con*
nell was even then spreading the propaganda which he hoped
would free his prostrate country from her wretchedness, but
which, like others, was to end m disaster, Thomas Gibbons
was born in 1800, and grew up netr Westport, County Hayo*
There he married Bridget Walsh* a deeply religious young
woman, of strong character* the daughter of t neighboring
farmer. Shortly after their marriage the couple emigrated in
a sailing vessel to Canada f and after a short stay there, fettled
in Baltimore* m search of a milder climate and fuller opportth
nities in life, Six children were born to them, the first three
being daughters and the last three ions,
James was the eldest ion. He was baptiied In the Cathe*
drat by Rev* Dr. Qmrles L Whitt, When Father White, after
a long life spent In works of piety f died paitor of St. Matthew 1 !
Church, Washington* in 1878, it was Afthblshop Gibbons who
preached the sermon at his funeral,
Thomas Gibbons became a estken of the United States* and,
like many of his fellow-countrymen^ wai an intense admirer of
Andrew Jackson* whose crushing defeat of the English at
New Orleans had made him a hero In their eyet* Hit Infant
son f the Cardinako*be f wat proudly field up in arm* to set
"Old Hickory 11 on one of the latter 1 ! triumphal vilti to Balti
more. Though the yoting immigrant s affairs protpfertd fairly
SCHOOL DAYS IN IRELAND. 5
well in America, his health failed, and his physician advised a
long trip. He took his family back to Ireland in 1837, when
James was three years old, and there he decided to remain,
buying land near Westport and settling down again to the life
of a farmer.
The future Cardinal s education was begun at the age of
seven years, when he was sent to a private classical school at
Ballinrobe, near Westport, taught at first by a Mr, Jennings,
and later by John J, Rooney, He was a slender lad, with clear
blue eyes and brown hair, and, though his health was not the
strongest, his ardent love of outdoor life helped to develop a
vitality which in future years enabled him to sustain the great
est fatigues of mind and body* An eager intellect and the
power of intense application made him an apt pupil When
the elements had been mastered, he began with avidity the
study of history, languages and mathematics, unraveling, by
the laborious methods of Irish schools in those days, the pol
ished sentences of Virgil, Ovid, Cicero and Livy, and delving
hard into Xenophon and Homer, The English classics par
ticularly fascinated him. Addison, Goldsmith, Johnson and
Moore were his favorites, and to his pronounced fondness for
the study of such models was due, in large measure, that limpid
clearness of expression which became a striking characteristic
of his literary style in later years, A remarkable memory en
abled him to quote off-hand many poems he had read* He
received much help from his maternal grandfather, Jamet
Walsh, for whom he had been named a scholarly man who
taught him the principles of mathematics*
Among those strenuous Irish lads, bubbling with vitality*
sportt were rough when the stern discipline of long school
hours was lifted* They wrestled and b05ced ran and jumped,
played cricket, football, handball and prisoner*! base, which
later developed into the American game of baseball Young
Gibbons, though not so sturdy of frame as some of his compan-
loved the rigor of their contests as much at any. He
6 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
played as hard as he studied, and a mark which he carried on
one of his fingers through life was left by an injury received
in a game of cricket
Among the fifty boys at the school were not a few who rose
to distinction. One of them, Thomas Tighe, became a mem
ber of Parliament, and held other important offices. His two
brothers, Robert and James Tighe, adopted the career of offi
cers in the English army, as did another schoolmate of the
Cardinal, General Sillery. The future Bishop MacCormack,
of Galway, was also a pupil at Ballinrobe. Thomas Tighe lived
to a ripe old age. He used to recall James as an amiable lad f
very studious and talented, and a marked favorite in the
school*
James was confirmed by Archbishop McHale at such an
early age that he was rejected on account of his youth when
he sought the privilege in company with other children; but,
mingling in the stream of the favored ones, he received the rite
notwithstanding this obstacle, and was praised for his pre
cocity. The deep piety of his mother exerted a marked influ**
ence on him in the impressionable period of his early life*
The Gibbons family might have remained in Ireland and the
Cardinal s lot might not have been cast in his native country,
had not the death of his father in 1847, when the lad was 13
years old, changed the whole outlook, The energetic mother,
thus suddenly left with the responsibility of a young family,
decided to return to America with her children, and they em
barked on a sailing ship at Liverpool for New Orleans, It
was a long trip, ^destined to be marked by shipwreck and a
providential escape for all on board. They sailed from Liver
pool in January, 1853, and it was the middle of March before
the islands skirting the American coast were sighted* Near
midnight on March 17, in calm weather, the vessel went fast
aground on a sand bar close to the Island of Great Bahama,
and, had the wind proved treacherous, none might have escaped
* Bxtrtct from a Ittttr wrltttn by Thomt* Tight. May 87, IM.
A VENTURE IN BUSINESS LIFE. 7
the sea. But fate was favorable, and, after waiting in great
anxiety for the dawn, they were transferred in small boats to
the island, whence they were carried to Nassau and kindly
treated until they could continue their journey.
Arriving in New Orleans, James obtained employment as
clerk in a grocery store on Camp street, kept by William C.Ray
mond. It was one of the business establishments characteristic
of New Orleans in those days, supplying the needs of Missis
sippi river steamers and plantations, as well as families of the
city. Little did the rough river men, or the elegant country
gentlemen who came in from their broad acres of cotton or
sugar to buy for themselves and their slaves, think that the
obliging youth who waited on them would some day rise to
eminence attained by few Americans-
Young Gibbons intelligence, industry and fidelity attracted
the notice of Mr. Raymond, and he was soon offered promo
tion* He was seriously thinking at this time of the choice of a
career; and a mission held at St Joseph s Church in the spring
of 1854 served to fix his aspirations in the channel from which
they were never to swerve. This mission was conducted by
three remarkable young Redemptorist priests f* om New York
Revs. Isaac Thomas Hecker, Clarence Walworth and Augus
tine Hewit All were converts from Protestantism, Idealists
by nature and gifted with brilliant talents, they had run the
gamut of religious aspiration and had at last taken refuge
within the fold of the Catholic Church as the haven where the
eager inquiries of their restless natures might find satisfaction.
Of the three, Hecker was easily the leaden* In earlier year*
he had been a member of the socialistic community at Brook
Farm and a companion of Ralph Waldo Emerson and George
William Curtis, A venture in business life had failed to satisfy
him. Converted to the Catholic faith in 1844, he had been
ordained a priest but five years before he began his mission in
New Orleans, His magnetic preaching kindled a fire within
* flIUott Ui* of Fttt&nr Hocktf.
8 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
the soul of young Gibbons, who joined in the devotions with a
new fervor and spirit. The priesthood became his goal, in
which determination he was also greatly influenced by his con
fessor, Father Dufoe, a Jesuit, and by Father Duffy, a Re*
demptorist
Four years after this mission closed, Hacker, Walworth and
Hewit, with two companions, obtained the papal permission to
found the Congregation of Missionary Priests of St. Paul, in
which they realized their zealous hope of devoting their lives
to preaching for the conversion of Protestants* The great
work of the "Paulist Fathers" since that time has been their
monument; but not the least of the fruits of Hecker s ardent
labors for the development of the Church in America was the
accession of the young New Orleans clerk to the roll of "Am*
bassadors of Christ"*
Mr. Raymond was loath to see his youthful friend forsake a
business career, in which the prospects of success seemed so
bright. A warm friendship had sprung up between these two
which was to end only with the death of Raymond, many yean
afterward* Mrs, Gibbons, too, wai reluctant to part from
her eldest son, on whom she had grown to lean more as hla
talents and character ripened with years and in whom the
widowed mother hoped to find the prop of her old age* James*
decision remained fixed, and at last all acquiesced In the stp
he was resolved to take-
In the summer of 1855, when *** was 2I yean old, he
started for Baltimore, having decided to make his native city
and state the scene of the labors upon which he wai about to
enter* His mother, his eldest iten Mary f and hit younger
brother, John, who had already begun to climb the ladder of
riches in the grain trade, remained in New Orleans* his sitter
Catherine having died in Ireland at the age of 17, Hii jour
ney was beset with delays and difficulties in ihoie dtyi, before
^. *!*& Mf 1 * i. *
JIJM* wm of i*ttb** H. wHwortbt ft fllitiatdSM <m***<itor Stm it*** o* Mtw
STUDIES AT ST/ CHARLES COLLEGE. 9
the conveniences of the railroad had been generally extended.
He went by steamer up the Mississippi and the Ohio to Cincin
nati, and thence by rail most of the way to Baltimore, though
it was necessary to cross part of the Alleghenies by stage. Six
teen days after he left New Orleans he arrived in Baltimore,
and soon entered St. Charles College, Ellicott City, Md, then
recently erected on land given by Charles Carroll, where he
began his classical studies in preparation for the priesthood.
The next two years were spent at St. Charles, where the
keenness of his mind and the thoroughness of his earlier educa
tion at once made him a pupil of note, He took up again the
study of the ancient and modern classics, and so zealous was
he to pursue these, that he wanted to remain another year, but
Rev, Oliver L. Jenkins, president of the college, refused per
mission on the ground that he was already thoroughly equipped
to enter St Mary s Seminary, in Baltimore, and begin the sec
ond stage of his course. His character in those early days of
his manhood seems to have made an impression on his fellow-
students at St, Charles ; but it was too early to predict for him,
among so many other bright young men, that he would rise to
any extraordinary height, His modesty and amiability tended
to keep him in the background- One of his comrades was
John S, Foley, later Bishop of Detroit, a member of a noted
Citholic family of Baltimore, who, after the lapse of many
years, wrote thus of hi$ recollections of the future Cardinal :
"The burdens of his high office have told upon his slender
frame with advancing years, and yet as he rises before my
mental retrospect I cannot see much change In the supple,
trim figure that entered so ardently into our youthful sjx>rts*
He still preserves the grace of movement of his early dayi,
when with all his apparent delicacy he proved himself to be as
elastic as tempered steel Those were the days when the fixed
rules of football a la Rugby were unknown or ignored, and
recall with an accelerated pulse the dash with which the Car*
dinaJ in pftto broke into the melee around the elusive sphere
10 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
and ruthlessly beat down all opponents. Whatever he did was
done with all his might, and that is the philosophy of his story.
He engaged in his studies in the same earnest, indefatigable
fashion that he exhibited at football or in the racquet court,
and his mind was as active as his body, full of spring and resil
iency. He was a youth, too, of noble and generous impulses,
and his unaffected modesty was a most charming trait of his 1
character. All these splendid attributes he has carried with
him into the turbulent arena of life. * * * With him,
life is real, life is earnest"
In September, 1857, he began his training at St Mary s,
under the presidency of Rev. Francois L Homme, a French
Sulpician. Owtflg to the inadequate facilities in those days,
many American priests were still educated abroad, and a large
number of who labored among the American people
were of foreign birth. The devoted fathers of St, Mary s had
"come to Baltimore in Bishop Carroll s time to begin the work
of training a native priesthood, and French influence was still
strong in the institution, whose mother house remained in
Paris, Since the Council of Trent, the Church had insisted on
rigorously thorough preparation for the duties of the ministry,
and yottng men who aspired to that calling were forced to go
where they could obtain the training, Protestant churches,
which did not exact these requirements, early recruited their
ministers from native soil, and accepted them with such editca*
tion as they could obtain at home, The Lutheran clergy, most
of whom still spoke German in the pulpit, continued to be
predominantly Teutonic; and not a few of the Protestant Kpis**
copal priesthood were Englishmen, or graduates of English
colleges. A largely increasing number of Americans were
seeking holy orders in the Catholic Church* and the tide was
fast turning from Paris and Lottvain.
The training of the future Cardinal at St. Mary s was as
strict as at European seminaries the stern course in phi-
* Helly, Collections In the Life and Timw of Ctrdtaftl Oibboni, ToL 8, pp. $2, SB*
Q
a
U
I
U
RIGOROUS COURSE AT THE SEMINARY. 11
losophy, theology, scripture, church history and canon law;
the prolonged meditations and devotions ; the searching scru
tiny of character, and the Spartan rigor of labors that might
not stop for fatigue. Young Gibbons met every test, being
described by his teachers as "having exceptional facility in
his studies and as applying himself with great eagerness.*"
He "possessed a cheerful and even temper, and gained the
esteem and affection of all/ Despite the severity of the
course, he customarily spent an hour each day in devotional
reading of scripture, instead of twenty minutes, which were
obligatory* His success in philosophy was so marked that he
was appointed master of the conferences held three times a
week by the students to discuss the points covered by the lec
tures of the professor and to arrive at a fuller understanding
of them* The professor of philosophy at that time, Rev,
Francois P. Dissez, survived to celebrate the fiftieth anniver
sary of his entrance into the seminary, and he recalled through
out his long life the zeal and industry of his distinguished
pupil
Young Gibbons received the tonsure September 15, 1858, at
the hands of Archbishop Kenrick, who conferred upon him the
four minor orders June 16 of the following year. The same
prelate promoted him to the subdiaconate June 28, 1861, to
the diaconate June 29* and to the priesthood June 30*
Deep shadows were drawing over the country in those clos~
ing years at the seminary. In their brief periods devoted to
general conversation the students had anxiously discussed the
exciting events of the time the John Brown raid, the fugitive
slave riots, and the formation of the Southern Confederacy*
Blood was already being ahed in civil war when the young
priest was ordained, His associations and sympathies were
with the Southern people, among whom he had lived, but his
judgment opposed secession as a political step. He remained
a Union man to the end, though taking no part by word or
* Ittcordi of it, Mftry t
12 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
deed in the struggle that was rending his unhappy country,
His not to draw the sword, but to preach peace and mercy;
not to stir the passions of men, but to point them to the exam
ple of their Divine Master. He had chosen his path ; where
the cross led, he would follow.
CHAPTER II.
Ax ST. PATRICK S AND ST. BRIDGET S.
One Sunday morning in July, 1861, the congregation of St.
Patrick s Church, Baltimore, saw within the sanctuary a young
priest, lightly built, yet graceful and well-proportioned, of
medium height, with a strong face and a large, firm mouth,
softened by a singularly sweet and winning expression. When
he spoke, his voice was clear, almost perfectly toned and musi
cal, like the notes of a silver bell, The fascination of his man
ner won the hearts of all. That day he was introduced to
members of the congregation as Father Gibbons, newly ap
pointed as assistant to Rev. James Dolan, the veteran pastor
of St. Patrick s. Not a few of them lived to see him, so rapid
was his advancement, a member of the Sacred College, famed
in America and Europe both as a shepherd of souls and a leader
of men.*
Father Dolan, known as "The Apostle of the Point"- St.
Patrick s is situated on Fell s Point was a priest of vigorous
and aggressive activity, who had long carried on a notably suc
cessful work in East Baltimore, unaided, and did not want an
assistant. He had managed to find a separate field of labor
for every one who had been sent to him, and Father Gibbons
was no exception. Seven years before, Father Dolan, in his
missionary zeal, had built a little church on the edge of the
city s eastern boundary, in a district called Canton, and named
it St. Bridget s, after the patron saint of his mother. It was
then temporarily under the jurisdiction of St. Patrick s Parish,
and Father Gibbons had not been ordained more than six
t * Mr. John MaJIoy, of .Baltimore who fanriwi *t a ttnwtblt tg (1011)*
JittaetlJ tbi brief pnrlod a! Ftthar Gibbon^ llf when he was tttt<mt
Patrick s tnd tho Icnproe^lon fat produco<3 on the congrcigttion, of wi
" mmt>r it th* tlmt.
IS
14 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
weeks when Father Dolan sent him there, saying, "Canton is a
good school for a young priest." Toward the end of 1861 he
was made full pastor of St, Bridget s by Archbishop Kenrick,
and began in an independent field the only work as a parish
priest he was destined to do.
The neighborhood was semi-rural, and, in the temper of the
times, turbulent and dangerous. Maryland alone, of all the
American States, had lately been carried by the Knownothing
party, and Canton had been a favorite scene for the operations
of the "Blood Tubs," a band composed of butchers and their
lawless associates, who used to carry half-hogsheads of beef
blood to the polling places and bespatter with the gory contents
citizens who would not vote the anti-foreign ticket. The fury
of this movement had not fully subsided when the Civil War,
with its violent clashes of opinion in a border State, rent the
city asunder with excitement- Federal troops had taken pos
session of Baltimore and erected a chain of fortifications, one
of which, Fort Marshall, was thrown up in what is now High-
landtown, within the boundaries of St. Bridget s parish.
Armed force took the place of law, and the volunteer soldiers,
not yet trained to the restrictions of discipline, terrorized the
community,*
It was under these trying circumstances that Father Gibbons
began his pastorate. The Church was in a lonely place, sur
rounded by farms and market gardens, Only one dwelling
that of Mrs* Bridget Smyth, a devoted member of the congre
gation, four of whose grandsons became priests was near.
The rectory consisted of a few small rooms built against one
end of the church, lacking in light and ventilation, the boards
of the floor touching the ground- The good Mrs. Smyth pitied
the hardships of the young pastor and sent him his first meal
on the Saturday evening when he went to Canton to begin his
labors, f
* Scharf. History of B&ItJiaort CJty **id County* p, J8&
t Surviving mmbr ot tfct Siaytii temtiy u.r authority for thm&
10
(0
00
X
u
K
3
X
U
in
LABORS AS A PARISH PRIEST. 15
The congregation included some of the neighboring rural
population, but was chiefly composed of laboring men from the
copper works and rolling mills scattered along the Canton
waterfront. With his tireless activity and remarkable faculty
of making friends, Father Gibbons soon knew them all by
name. So vivid was his memory for names and faces that the
absorbing mental impressions of later years were never able to
blot out his recollection of the devout flock of St Bridget s,
and his smile and instant recognition were theirs whenever
he met them.
Soon after going to Canton, Archbishop Kenrick directed
him to take charge of St Lawrence s Church, since renamed
for Our Lady of Good Counsel, on Locust Point, a mile across
the Patapsco. In this capacity he served as volunteer chap*
lain at Fort McHenry, as well as at Fort Marshall Every
Sunday morning* in winter storms as well as summer calms, he
left Canton about 6 o clock, was rowed in a skiff across to
Locust Point, heard confessions at St Lawrence s, said mass,
preached, baptized, attended sick calls ; then recrossed the river
to Canton, where he celebrated high mass at half-past 10
o clock and preached again* No obstacle deterred him. His
kindhearted housekeeper used to bundle him up in stormy
weather and tie her shawl over his head* but many of his trips
meant keen suffering. When the river was impassable, he
would travel to St Lawrence s in a sleigh or carriage, crossing
at the head of the harbor by way of Light street, several miles
up* As no Catholic clergyman may celebrate miss except
while fasting, it was usually about i o clock in the afternoon
when, after a morning s arduous labor, he could eat This
ordeal seriously impaired his digestion and compelled him to
observe great care in diet throughout his life* "It killed my
stomach/ he used to say.
The decline of his health caused some of his parishioners to
express the opinion at one time that he "could not live two
months/* Tuberculosis was suspected; but one day he re-
16 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
tamed from an examination by his doctor and joyfully an
nounced that his lungs were sound.* The living condi
tions of the rectory were bad enough, but he made them worse
by devoting a part of his limited quarters to the purposes of a
hall for fairs and church meetings, leaving only a small sleep
ing-room which he called his own. When a fair was in
progress at a late hour he would sometimes pass through the
hall,^ returning from a pastoral call, and bid the merrymakers a
smiling goodnight, saying, "I must go to bed now," as he dis
appeared in his little apartment. Directly above his living-
room he established a parochial school, and the noise and
trampling overhead did not seem to diminish his satisfaction
that the children of his parish were thus provided for.
When he was able to obtain sufficient means, he built a new
and suitable rectory of brick, in conformity with the style of
the church. In order to carry out this project, he had to raise
a considerable sum of money. As a means to the end, he
decided to secure a large building in the center of the city for
a fair, and applied to the lessee of Carroll Hall, a noted place
for public assemblies in those days. At first the lessee assumed
an air of suspicious coldness and was far from inclined to grant
the request. After Father Gibbons had explained the circum
stances to him more fully, his attitude changed and he readily
yielded, besides making ample apologies for what had seemed
discourtesy. A few words explained all. "I thought you
were a Yankee/ said this stout-hearted sympathizer with the
Confederacy.
The war feeling was so intense that part of the congregation
of the Cathedral left on several occasions when the prayer for
the authorities was said. This prayer had been framed by
Archbishop Carroll, and, among other things, besought that
t 2?Jr D< i? ne t? y **f M r?- p * ter Ha S*^ members of St. Bridget s Congre-
?.V 186 V^? W K? J 1 ^ to . old * recalled distinctly a number of Incidents
that period, which have been incorporated in this work. Many tradition*
linger from the same period, which have been rejected unless confirmed. ** UiWWMI
CHAPLAIN AT FORT MoHENRY. 17
the people might be "preserved in union," which by no means
accorded with the views of the secessionists,
Natural inclination developed in earlier years, and the large
area of his parish, in which there were no street cars at the
time, made Father Gibbons a pedestrian, and this tended to
restore his health. His habit of taking long walks has con
tinued through life, and has been, perhaps, the most potent
means of sustaining him in the manifold and prolonged activi
ties, the endurance of which so often created amazement in
others. He seemed going all the time. No detail of the field
was too small to receive his painstaking attention ; no locality
too dangerous to be penetrated by the devoted priest, bent on
his mission of mercy and help,
His duties at Fort McHenry required courage and circum
spection. This place, hallowed in American history, had been
made a prison for Confederate soldiers and for civilians who
fell under the ban. Members of the Maryland Legislature sus
pected of favoring secession were held there by the power of
the bayonet. Among the noted prisoners were George Wil
liam Brown, Severn Teackle Wallis, Ross Winans and George
P, Kane, Father Gibbons ministered to Federal and Confed
erate alike. At one time there were in the fort four Confed
erates who had been sentenced to be hanged. Three of them
John R. H* Embert, Samuel B. Hearn and Braxton Lyon
had been with the army in Virginia, and, in a lull of the cam
paign, had succeeded in crossing the Chesapeake to visit their
families on the Eastern Shore. Though not spies, they were
arrested as such, court-martialed, and received the death sen
tence with another Confederate, William H, Hodgers, said to
have been a blockade-runner.* Father Gibbons was called to
attend Embert The sentence was to be executed immediately
after la o clock Sunday night, August 29, 1864; but when the
U b ,* JP nlon * n< * Cifdtr*t* Araiin, Purifi 2 t Vol.
$84, *040 IftU ; Vol. S, pp, 87, 114, 115, m, W0, 48tf ( #80,
18 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
young priest arrived at the gate of the fort to prepare the pris
oner for death, he was told that the penalty had been commuted
by President Lincoln a few hours before to imprisonment
during the war. John W, Garrett, president of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, and other prominent men had interceded
for the four Confederates and the merciful President had lent
a ready ear.
The men thus snatched from the verge of the grave by
executive clemency were sent to Albany* After the close
of the war, when Father Gibbons had been transferred to the
Cathedral, he was surprised to receive a visit from Embert
Their greetings were warm, but were scarcely over before his
caller said :
"Father, I am delighted to see you under more favorable
circumstances than confronted us at Fort McHenry; and, as
you did not have the opportunity of tying the knot around my
neck on that occasion, I ask you now to tie a more pleasing
f knot/
He had come to be married, and Father Gibbons performed
the ceremony.
The young clergyman s courage was repeatedly proved in
those stirring times. Returning to St. Bridget s rectory one
night, he found a soldier asleep In the yard, and started to
arouse him with an admonition to leave the church property.
The soldier leaped to his feet, seized a paling from a broken
fence and rushed at him with the fury of a tiger. Father
Gibbons turned and ran toward his door f but toon found him
self trapped in an angle formed by wall and fence from which
there was no escape* The soldier had the paling raised to
strike him a murderous blow, when, t realising that he must
defend himself quickly, he summoned all hln strength, knocked
the man down and thoroughly subdued him. When the big
soldier came to his senses he realised that the frail young man
in priestly dress was more than his match, and beat t precipi
tate retreat. %
ADVENTURE WITH AN INSANE MAN. 19
On another night, arriving at his rectory after collecting
money for the church, he was met outside tue door by his
housekeeper, in tears, who told him a crazy man was inside.
It proved to be an intruder of herculean size, naked and raving,
who had taken possession of the premises and was threaten
ing everybody. Father Gibbons found no weapon at hand but
an umbrella, with which he belabored the man to such good
effect that in a short time he forced him to dress and leave the
house.
He was often in danger from drunken soldiers, and always
avoided a conflict when he could do so, but when that was not
possible, proved that he could defend himself against any,
The entries of Father Gibbons in the parish record of St.
Bridget s, written in a delicate and well-proportioned but firm
hand, have been carefully preserved by the pastors who have
succeeded him. They tell the ordinary story of a priest s
lifebaptisms, weddings, financial details. He neglected noth
ing, and became as familiar a figure to the people of Canton
as the smokestacks of their mills. His own congregation was
devoted to the young priest, and, as he was never heard to say
anything distasteful to non-Catholics or to refuse his ministra
tions to any, he was almost as well liked by those of faiths
different from his own* Traits that were to mark him in later
life were developing strongly* He was an accurate judge of
men and women, and had a remarkable faculty for organiza
tion, which he put to good use in stimulating the work of the
church in every direction, The young folk would walk miles
to help him, and the older parishioners were charmed by his
respectful and sincere attentions. Not infrequently he WES
called to travel long distances out the suburban roads which led
into Baltimore through the Canton district, for churches w<&ro
lew and priests fewer in those days, even in Maryland* Sparse
outlying communities were in many cases too poor to support
pastors, and the political and economic confusion of the drafts
arreited the spread of the gospel
20 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Baltimore was passing through a dreadful experience during
the period of his pastorate at St. Bridget s, Known to be pre
dominantly in sympathy with the South, the city worked and
slept at the mouths of cannon planted by General B. F. Butler
on Federal Hill, a bold eminence in the southern part of
the city. Thousands of young Baltimoreans had passed the
gauntlet of the Union lines and goi^e south to fight for the
Confederacy, leaving their families behind, racked by anxiety
and scanning with sickened hearts the latest bulletins of bloody
losses at the front. Other thousands had voluntarily entered
or been drafted into the Federal army, and wife, son and
daughter counted themselves fortunate if their loved ones came
back wounded, but living* When the Southern tide rose with
the genius of Lee, precautions at Washington were doubled to
prevent Maryland from falling into the hands of the Confed
eracy; and in the agonized waiting at the end, while the
requiem of the new republic was being sounded by the artil
lery around Petersburg, none in Baltimore knew who was
friend or foe.
On the night of Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Father Gib
bons was preaching in St. Joseph s Church, Baltimore. His
topic was the crucifixion. With one of those apt similes which
were characteristic of his literary and oratorical style, he pic
tured a benevolent ruler, exercising his authority with clem
ency, suddenly stricken down by the hand of a subject A
short time after the congregation had been dismissed the
streets filled with people, and from lip to lip passed the fateful
bulletin, "Lincoln has been shot!" In the light of the tragedy
which startled the world, the words of Father Gibbons took on
a strange significance. That night there was a terrible com
motion in Baltimore. A week later the body of the murdered
President was brought to the city, and Father Gibbons, with
some of the other clergy, inarched in the procession which es
corted it to the rotunda of the Exchange, where it lay in State,*
* Scharf, Chronicles of Baltimore, p, 6&4.
FREE FROM WAR S BITTERNESS. 21
Among the congregations which he served there was deep
sympathy with the South ; but he went about his work without
mingling in the polemics of the time, though his heart bled for
the agonies of the helpless which are always the fruit of war,
no matter what the issue to be decided, nor under what flag the
sword be unsheathed.
CHAPTER III.
SECRETARY TO ARCHBISHOP SPAIJDING.
The talents of Father Gibbons, combined with his piety and
indefatigable zeal, attracted the attention of Archbishop Spald-
ing, who had been raised in 1864 from the Bishopric of Louis
ville to the See of Baltimore, after the death of Archbishop
Kenrick. It had been remarked of the young priest, as his
powers developed, that he seemed "destined for leadership/
though he had scant opportunity to show his real mettle in the
little field of St. Bridget s. The shock was great to the devoted
congregation when it was announced in October, 1865, that he
had been transferred to the Cathedral as the Archbishop s sec
retary, and the people of Canton could hardly realize that the
smiling face and gentle ministrations which had become inter
woven as a part of their daily lives were to be missed from
among them. A petition to have him retained was started,
but it was soon seen that this would be futile
It was a time when the Church had need of her strong men.
The passions following the Civil War were at their worst, and
grew daily in ferocity. The United States Government had
used pressure at Rome against the appointment of Archbishop
Spalding, because it was feared that he was not sufficiently In
accord with th policy of repression toward the South.* This
had failed, and the Church had been able to proceed serenely
on her mission, unclouded by the storms of the political atmos
phere. Whole States were in ruin, and the ministration! of
religion were more necessary, and at the same time much more
;$&,?!! Ltasisfti
Blordaa, CuthwJral feeoordt, Btlttaort, p. tt,
SECOND PLENARY COUNCIL. 23
difficult to convey, than before the gigantic conflict. Hun
dreds of families in the Diocese of Baltimore, as elsewhere,
were mourning the loss of father, brother, son. In the coun
ties of Southern Maryland, the soil in which the Catholic faith
had first taken root among English-speaking people in the
Western Hemisphere, the slaves had been freed, and poverty
spread its shadow where the refinements of an affluent aristoc
racy had lately flourished.
To meet the emergency by dealing comprehensively with all
the pressing problems of the Church in America, the Second
Plenary Council of Baltimore was convened in the Cathedral
in October, 1866- Father Gibbons was made its assistant
chancellor, and for the first time was thrown into an arena
where the larger outlook of the Church immediately con
fronted him. He fitted into these surroundings as if they had
always been a part of him, A natural statesman, who might
have been a Richelieu in world politics had he been a typical
Frenchman of the seventeenth century instead of a typical
American of the nineteenth, men of lesser parts instinctively
looked to him. Where others might be unprogressive, imprac
tical, out of touch with the times, too ardent or controversial,
he was cool, judicial, far-seeing, enlightened, inspired by senti
ments of lofty patriotism s well as by the brilliant fire of apos
tolic zeal He was already formulating in his mind those
grand ideas which he was one day to impress on the world;
and his contact with the leading men of the American Church
served to give him the bearings with which he might start on
his real careen
Archbishop Spalding presided over the council, and to Father
Gibbons, as his secretary and the assistant chancellor, fell 4
large share of the work of the gathering Among its most
important acts was the creation of a number of new dioceses,
subject to confirmation by the Holy See, to stimulate the spread
of the faith in the stricken South and the growing communi
ties ol the North and West, One of these was the vicatiate
24 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
apostolic of North Carolina. So strong an impression had
Father Gibbons made on the assembled bishops that, though
but 32 years old and only five years removed from the semi
nary, he was unanimously nominated for this important post.
The decrees of the council were signed by seven archbishops,
thirty-nine bishops or their procurators, and two abbots. An
important declaration, destined to be quoted as a precedent by
the fathers of the Church in Rome itself in a few years, related
to the office of the Supreme Pontiff. The council decreed that
he spoke with "the living and infallible authority" of the whole
Church, "which was built by Christ upon Peter, who is the
head, body and pastor of the whole Church, whose faith Christ
promised should never fail ; which ever had legitimate pontiffs,
dating their origin in unbroken line from Peter himself, being
seated in his chair and being the inheritors and defenders of
the like doctrine, dignity, office and power."
The other decrees of the council need not be cited at length
here. Among the many subjects treated were the dissensions
among Protestant sects, and zeal for their conversion, Uni-
tarianism and Universalism were condemned, the one as deny
ing the divinity of Christ, and the other as rejecting the doc
trine of eternal punishment. Transcendentalism and Panthe
ism were defined as human systems, which, having dethroned
God, would make a deity of man. Warnings were given
against spiritism and magnetism. There was held to be little
reason for doubt that some of the manifestations of spiritism
were the works of Satan. It was pointed out that the leaders
"of the system deny the divinity of Christ and the supernatural
in rdigion.
Preachers, it was declared, were to employ an explanatory,
rather than a controversial, style in their sermons, and to
adapt themselves to the capacity of their auditors. In repre
hending vices, they were never to become personal. They
should declare the truth fearlessly, without being influenced by
human motives. Attacks were not to be made from the pul-
DECREES OF THE COUNCIL. 25
pit on public magistrates, nor were priests to mingle political
and civic topics with religious doctrines. Care must be taken
not to bestow undue praise in funeral orations. Prolixity in
sermons was to be avoided* Priests should avoid recourse to
civil tribunals when possible. They should abstain from all
improper spectacles and games. Regarding money matters,
they were not to be importunate in addressing their congrega
tions. The practice of taking money on deposit, for which
interest was to be paid, was condemned. The clergy should
avoid idleness as a pest* Greater provision for the education
of priests, and for the erection of preparatory schools as well
as seminaries, was recommended,
It was decreed that mixed marriages were to be discouraged
Bishops should seek to use a uniform method in granting mat
rimonial dispensations. Catholics might be buried with sacred
rites in a non-Catholic cemetery if they possessed a lot in such
a place, provided it was not obtained in contempt of Church
law. Free burial must be given the poor. Entrance money
was not to be collected at churches,
Stress was laid on the proper education of youth. It was
urged that parish schools should be erected by every congre
gation, and the instruction, when possible, should be by teach
ers belonging to religious congregations. Catechism classes
were to be instituted in the churches for children who attended
the public schools. A strong desire for the establishment of a
Catholic University in the United States a dream to be real*
izcd in the near future was expressed*
In addition to the Masonic order, long previously condemned
by the Church, the Odd Fellows and the Sons of Temperance
were forbidden. The faithful, it was decreed, should not enter
any society which* having designs against chttrch or state,
bound its members with an oath of secrecy,*
The council adjourned after a session of two weeks. Its
closing ceremonies were attended by President Andrew John-
* Act* t fteernt* tcrne, Pln. II, Btltimorf, !Bfl# $ra<mi *d Panto**!
tr F Second Plenary Council. DUblUbtxl br K*llr * Pitt Baltimore 1606,
M LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
sett, whom Father Gibbons met on that occasion, the first of a
long line of Presidents whom he was to know and with many
of whom he was to have dose and important relations.*
The nominations of the new bishops were not confirmed
until 1868, and in the meantime Father Gibbons continued his
work at the Cathedral In January, 1866, he had established
the first Sunday-school there, and it became so popular that he
was aWe to report, in a letter to the Secretary of the Maryland
Senate calling attention to the work of the parochial schools,
that its average attendance in 1867 was 500. He taught classes
in catechism regularly at Calvert Hall School and SL Mary s
Orphan Asylum. His sermons soon attracted attention, and
he was in demand at churches throughout the city. At this
period the rare gifts as an orator in the best sense, which were
to make him one of the foremost preachers of his time, were
being rapidly perfected by experience and matured thought
The classical simplicity and beauty of his English could not
fail to charm; his logic was sound, his learning solid; and the
clearness and sweetness of his voice, which could fill a large
hall without effort, combined with magnetism of manner that
gripped the attention instantly, formed a rare medium for the
virile ideas with which his pulpit utterances teemed,
In a remarkable degree he had the confidence of Archbishop
Spalding, as he had later of Bayley, the successor of SpaMing.
The Baltimore Cathedral has long been a cradle of bishops,
and the young secretary in 1865-68 proved to be Che brightest
ornament of them alL The surroundings are singularly weH
adapted to bring out of priests their capacity for the exeet^ive
work of the Church. They live in the Archbishop s house aad
sit at his table. Here riot only the affairs of tihe diocese, font,
to a large extent, those of the American Church ceiiter. All
avenues lead to* the seat of the priniatial see, and in this sense
Baltimore is the Rome of America. The paiisii contains some
of the most important Catholic fatniEes of the United States,
Shea, History of the Catholic Qmrcli fa tfee Bnifetf Etoes, VoL 4, p. 720.
CANtHNAt OttmONft AM PMIItW IN 1 ft ft 6
titNS ftfANtHNM, Wl^V MiNK" H <5<.**KHft V W . *
ARCHIEPISCOPAL RESIDENCE. 27
pillars of the Church since the days of Leonard Calvert The
clergy thus have under their spiritual care a highly cultivated
element, in whose social life they mingle and from whose
environment they draw a certain inspiration.
The archiepiscopal residence stands in dignified semi-isola
tion on a large lot on Charles street, in surroundings which in
1865-68 were almost Athenian in their refinement. It is of
gray stone and brick, two stories, high, with a large basement,
and is constructed in the breadth of proportion characteristic
of Baltimore homes of the better class in the early half of the
nineteenth century, but without any trace of magnificence of
architecture or ornament. At the rear a paved walk leads to
the Cathedral, which stands, like the house, on a hill where the
victorious troops of Rochambeau encamped on the return from
Yorktown in 1782. A tall flight of steps leads to the front door
of the house, which sets back in a recess of the wall. Inside is
an English hallway extending the full length of the building,
flanked on each side by spacious rooms, furnished with marked
simplicity almost scantily. Not a trace of luxury can be
seen. On the walls are religious paintings and portraits of
prelates identified with the archdiocese, with a bust or two here
and there. A bay window, standing out boldly, is a vantage
point for reviewing parades.
The residence was originally a small building, erected in the
administration of Archbishop Whitfield and occupied by him
for the first time in 1830. Captain William Kennedy and his
wife contributed a large sum in 1865, by means of which two
wings were built and another story added. A conspicuous
tablet in the library commemorates this gift,
Here, when Father Gibbons was a member of Archbishop
Spalding s household, was the heart of fashionable Baltimore.
Across the street and up and down were tne houses of the
rich and cultured, the historic families of Maryland, and on the
sidewalks trooped the belles and beaux of the town. Charles
street at that point does not twist sharply like its neighbor,
28 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
St. Paul street, which is said to have followed the tracks of a
cow-path originally; but so numerous are the hills that scarcely
a level spot is to be found. Inside and outside the archiepis-
copal residence the atmosphere is one of lofty things, and every
priest who has lived there has felt its stimulus.
CHAPTER IV.
VICAR APOSTOLIC OF NORTH CAROLINA.
In the Baltimore Cathedral, where he had been baptized,
ordained, and at whose altar he had served as priest, Father
Gibbons was consecrated titular bishop of Adramyttum and
vicar apostolic of North Carolina August 16, 1868. He stood
among the venerable men there assembled the youngest mem
ber of the American hierarchy. Rev. Thomas A. Becker, who
had also been a member of the "school of bishops" the Cathe
dral household was raised to the See of Wilmington, Del., at
the same time. The two new prelates received the crozier,
ring and miter at the hands of thtir friend and patron, Arch
bishop Spalding. Another Cathedral priest, Rev. Thomas
Foley, chancellor of the diocese, and afterward Bishop of
Chicago, delivered the sermon.*
It was a beautiful day, and a great crowd assembled to wit
ness the imposing ecclesiastical ceremony. As always on im
portant occasions at the Cathedral, the procession was long, in
cluding the students from St. Charles College and St. Mary s
Seminary, immediately in the rear of the cross-bearer, acolytes
and sanctuary boys, Then came the clergy of the diocese, the
superiors of religious orders, the bishops and archbishops. The
hierarchy of the day was well represented by Bishops O Hara,
of Scranton, and Shanahan, of Harrisburg, themselves newly
consecrated ; Bayley, of Newark, destined to succeed to the See
of Baltimore and exercise a strong influence on Bishop Gib
bons life ; McGill, of Richmond, whose chair he was to occupy
four years later j Whelan, of Wheeling; Domenec, of Pitta-
* An xttmd*d Account of thtic crmonU vti flren in th Catholic
the church paper of the Haiti rooro ArcUdlocone, Aufuxt 22, 18C8, which it authority
(or amny of the f*ct* related here.
20
30 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Irarg, and Lynch, of Charleston. Dr. Henry B. Coskery, vicar-
genera! of the diocese, was a deacon-of-honor to the Arch
bishop and shared the regrets of the Cathedral household in
losing such an agreeable and useful companion.
Father Foley spoke from an overflowing heart in the words
of his sermon addressed to the new vicar apostolic. "And
you, Right Reverend Sir/ he said, "are to go to the large State
of North Carolina. It appalls one to think of that State of
more than a million inhabitants, with but a few altars and one
or two priests to minister at them. This is the work which
the Holy Ghost, which the Supreme Pontiff, which the united
body of our bishops in council assembled, have cut out for you,
a work which plainly bespeaks the character which you hold
with them. It would not do for me to speak from personal
observation and with the feelings which I bear toward you.
You have been associated with us, like your Right Reverend
companion, at this altar. You were of our household and
home. We have had the opportunity of observing in both
not only those great characteristics which ought to be found in
every Christian priest, but also those interior traits of virtue
which embellish and complete the man of God. We, then, who
have lived with you for years, if our testimony be of avail,
added to that which the Holy Spirit, the Supreme Pontiff and
the prelates of our country have given, cheerfully and truth
fully offer it We have seen you both doing the toil of the
priesthood, helping the poor, instructing the ignorant, visiting
the sick at all hours; thinking nothing too laborious or too
fatiguing for yourself and always willing to take not only your
share of the labors, but ready to take a larger portion, that
you might relieve your brother priests.
"Again, I say to you, that I cannot congratulate you on
going to North Carolina, but I do rejoice for the honor which
the Church of God has conferred on you, and I congratulate
your flock, few and scattered, upon the advantage they are to
derive from the apostolic mission you are to establish in that
ARRIVAL IN NORTH CAROLINA. 31
State, which, in a religious sense, may be called a desert It
will not be long, I predict, before that desert will be made to
bloom and produce much fruit, and your vicariate, now so poor
and uninviting, will be able to compare with other dioceses
of longer existence in religious prosperity,"
The young Bishop remained in Baltimore a short time, con
firming a class at his former church, St, Bridget s, dedicating
St. Joseph s Monastery, since noted as a center for the work
of the Passionists, and otherwise assisting Archbishop Spald-
ing,
The Archbishop and Rev- Bernard J. McManus,of St. John s
Church, Baltimore, accompanied him to Wilmington, N* O,
where he arrived on Friday evening, October 30, He was
received with joy by a delegation of the laity, headed by Rev,
Mark S. Gross, a beloved priest of St Thomas Church, the
only sanctuary of the Catholic faith in the city. The Bishop
and his companions were taken in carriages to the residence of
Col F W. Kerchner, one of the principal residents, a parish
ioner of St- Thomas 1 , who welcomed them with southern hos*
pitality. Major Reilly made an address in behalf of the laity,
expressing gratitude that at last a bishop had been sent to
North Carolina to build up the work of the Church and pledg
ing the co-operation of Catholics as far as their means wouldgo.
The new bishop responded with deep sincerity, thanking the
faithful for their reception and hoping that the future would
strengthen the bonds already established between the diocese
and himself* He knew that the Catholics in the State were
few and far between, He had not come among them to seek
personal comfort; sent by constituted authority, he had only
one object their spiritual good and the salvation of souls*
Regardless of sacrifices and difficulties, he was ready to ex
pend his utmost efforts in the work, and he did not doubt that
he would receive cordial co-operation- Archbishop Spalding
spoke briefly, encouraging the Carolinians with hopes for the
spread of the faith.
32 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
But there was another side to the picture. On the night fol
lowing Bishop Gibbons arrival, he beheld for the first time a
torchlight procession of negroes, who were then, by alliance
with the "carpet-baggers" from the North, in political control
of the State. As he described the scene, it appeared like an
inferno. "Is my lot to be cast in these surroundings?" he
thought, with dismay. These wild and ignorant elements,
suddenly sprung from slavery to power, had shaken the politi
cal and social fabric of the state to its foundations. Power to
them meant an opportunity for turning loose the impulses of
savagery. They even seized churches and devoted them to
any use that suited their whim.
Soon after the new bishop arrived he was told of how the
Catholic Church at New Bern had been saved a short time
before from destruction. Captain McNamara, of the Federal
Army, was riding past the church, when he saw a body of
persons gathered about the door, apparently in charge of it,
and asked their business.
"We have occupied this church for school purposes," said
one of them.
"What is your authority?" inquired the Captain.
"Our authority is that of the United States Government and
pf Jesus Christ," answered the school mistress.
"Well," remarked the Captain, "that is pretty good author
ity; but, as a Federal officer, I am accustomed to obey written
authority. Can you show papers from the sources you have
mentioned?"
The teacher was at a loss for words, and the Captain con
tinued ;
"As you cannot produce the papers, my order is that you
vacate this church at once and enter it no more for such pur
poses."
The shadow of the negro and "carpet-bagger" regime
stretched from the mountains to the sea. On the first occa
sion when the bishop went to vote in the State, a negro official
EXPERIENCES WITH NEGRO OFFICIALS. 33
demanded that he show naturalization papers, and he had diffi
culty in convincing the suspicious black that he was native
born. Another negro official ordered him peremptorily to tear
down a frame shed on the church property in Wilmington
because a city ordinance provided that buildings should be of
brick or stone. The bishop pointed out that wooden buildings
were standing on city property, but the negro insisted, and he
was forced to cover the shed with tin.
Writing later of his experiences at this period,* he expressed
the view that, "While right-thinking men are ready to accord
to the colored citizen all to which he is fairly entitled, yet to
give him control over a highly intellectual and intricate civili
zation, in creating which he has borne no essential part, and
for conducting which his antecedents have manifestly unfitted
him, would be hurtful to the country as well as to himself/*
In a subsequent political campaign in Marylandf he declared
himself publicly against taking the suffrage from the negroes,
but he adhered consistently to the view that their domination
in political affairs would be madness,
On the Sunday after his arrival, the Bishop was installed in
St. Thomas* Church, A pouring autumn rain descended, but
the Church was filled. Archbishop Spalding preached a ser
mon, which served as a cordial introduction of the new prelate
to the vicariate. "Your Bishop/* he said, "was recommended
by the Council of Bishops held in Baltimore a few years ago.
He received their unanimous vote and holda his commission
from Rome, I know him well He is beloved by all who
know him in Baltimore, There are few Catholics here, and
they are poor, We cannot expect much at first. The King
dom of God, steady in its increase, is the work of more than
i $00 years* The apostles were poor, They enriched the world
with their heroic deeds of Christianity. They never failed, nor
will they ever fail in their successors. 1 recommend your
* BimtoXftCMnei* of Cardinal GIblxmi HUM! Hfort tb UnJM ttt&
Historical Society of Nw lorfc. Hay SW3 1S03U
34 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Bishop to you, not only to Catholics, but to all good Chris
tian men who have the spread of Christ s religion on earth at
heart. * * * He has not yet chosen his seat. For the
present, he will reside among you. He improves upon ac
quaintance. Though he will be found uncompromising in his
principles of faith, he will be charitable to all, assist all, irre
spective of sect or creed."
Bishop Gibbons postponed his own address to the congrega
tion until vespers the same day. On that occasion he began
with expressions of gratitude to the Archbishop, who had left
many pressing duties in Baltimore, "at the call of friendship/*
to install him in his new diocese. He had come among them
as a stranger, and yet he could not look upon himself in that
light, called, as he was, by the Supreme Head of the Church to
be their spiritual father. Although he knew scarcely a face
among all those in front of him, he knew the people of the dio
cese as citizens and sons of the South, for so was he. They
were not only united to one another by the bonds of a common
faith, but were brothers linked by the ties of a common country
and having the same material interests. He had not doubted
that a welcome awaited him in North Carolina, and would do
his best to prove worthy of it.*
The field, as Father Foley had intimated, was almost un-
tilled. In the whole vicariate there were but three priests
Father Gross, Rev. Lawrence P. O Connell and Rev. H. P.
Northrop and about 800 Catholics. The faith which Bishop
Gibbons had come to teach was not understood, but his wide
sympathies and singular freedom from prejudice well fitted
him for his trying . task. Father O Connell was stationed at
Charlotte, and Father Northrop, afterward Bishop of Charles
ton, was at New Bern.. Undaunted by his difficulties, the
young Bishop began his labors. As in many Southern
churches, four small , rooms had been partitioned off behind
the sanctuary in the rear of St. Thomas two on the ..ground
* Catholic Mirror > Nov. 14, 1868 ; WUtotnffton Daily Journal, Nov.; 8, 1S68.
CRAMPED QUARTERS IN WILMINGTON, 35
floor and two upstairs and these formed the pa v storal resi
dence. Father Gross shared his narrow quarters with the
Bishop, there being no means to provide an episcopal house.
These two devoted men of God were attached to each other by
the warmest personal ties. Father Gross large-hearted charity
led him to give away so much that Bishop Gibbons sometimes
found himself hard pressed to supply the funds for their little
establishment. It was said of this saintly priest that if he had
more than one hat or pair of trousers, he was sure to bestow
the extra one on some needy parishioner. On one occasion,
when he entered a store, it was noticed that he wore a laced
shoe on one foot and a buttoned shoe on the other* When
asked about it, he replied that he had given a pair to a poor
man and had not noticed that they were not alike.
The Bishop had raised $7,000 before he left Baltimore to
buy additional ground adjoining St. Thomas Church, which
was a small building and which he designed to enlarge. He
spent some time in consolidating the foundations of the work
in Wilmington, and then started on a tour of his diocese.
Throughout the State he traveled, preaching and teaching,
studying each locality, and, wherever opportunity offered^
planting the seeds of a Catholic congregation* The leading
people of the State, Protestants as well as Catholics* received
him in their homes, When no other means were available! he
instructed and preached in Protestant churches, courthouses,
public halls, and even in Masonic lodge rooms* On a visit to
Greenville, which he reached early one morning by boat, he
went to the hotel to register, and met Dr. O Hagan, a Prot
estant physician, who insisted that the Bishop should be his
guest. During the morning he held a sort of levee* When it
was learned that he intended to preach, the local judge offered
him the use of the courthouse, and the trustees of the Meth
odist church put their house of worship at his disposal He
chose the church f and preached there at night to a large con
gregation, nearly all of whom were Protestants* The people
36 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
were summoned by the church bell ; the choir was the regular
one of the church ; the Bishop read from a Protestant Bible,
and the only part of the service which was of his own faith
was the sermon.
Everywhere crowds flocked to hear this liberal and zealous
apostle of the faith. They felt a pricle in the youthful prelate,
their own Bishop, pre-eminently a man of the people, mingling
with all and winning friends everywhere by his rare graces of
manner. His gifts as a preacher were enough in themselves to
form an attraction in the communities to which he went
Aimed especially to win those who were full of hostility to his
creed, his sermons were of the simple truths of the gospel, the
brotherhood of man, duty to God and country- Prejudice
melted before his words. In the broken condition of the South,
it was recognized on every hand that where Bishop Gibbons
founded a church, it was an element of stability, of spiritual,
social and material improvement an inspiration to hope and
progress* Carolinians knew that he felt their woes and shared
in their struggle upward from the ruins left by war. It was
said of him that he came to know every Catholic in the State
by name.
His hardships in his travels would have taxed the strongest
frame. One of his converts was Dr, J. C. Monk, a physician
who lived at Newton Grove, nearly a hundred miles from Wil
mington, His own account of Dr. Honk s conversion was as
follows :*
"While I was absent in Europe at the Vatican Council, in
1870, a letter came through the post addressed To Any Cath
olic Priest of Wilmington, N. C 1 Father Gross received the
letter, which was one of inquiry about the doctrines of the
Catholic Church, and from Dr. J. C. Monk, A correspondence
was opened between m after my return from Rome. I rec
ommended certain Catholic books. Dr. Monk procured these,
and, having more fully instructed himself and his family in
TRIP IN SLEET AND SNOW, 37
the faith, he and his household were all received into the
Church. He came to Wilmington to make a profession of
faith. 1 baptized the family and learned, with the deepest inter
est, of the circumstances that had led to his conversion and of
his hopes in regard to the community in which he had lived
all his life as a prominent physician.
This was a remarkable conversion* The finger of God was
here. Nor was the conversion to be barren of results. Dr.
Monk returned home, after receiving my promise of a visit to
his family, In due time Father Gross visited Newton Grove,
and to a great throng in the open air preached on the true
faith. From that time an earnest inquiry into the tenets of the
Catholic Church sprang up among the people, Dr. Monk was
a providential man for the diffusion of the faith* He was
highly respected, and as a physician had access to every family
in all that region. His zeal to enlighten the people was sur
passed only by his solid piety and good example. Possessed of
means, he liberally aided in every way the spread of the faith*
"A few months later I redeemed my promise of a visit to
Newton Grove* The trip came near imperiling my life. I
remember it was the month of March. The day of my de
parture opened with difficulties, The railway train left very
early in the morning. Rising at 4 o clock, I found the weather
cold and rainy, The carriage failing to call for me, I was
compelled, with the help of a boy, to carry my large, heavy
valise, packed with mission articles, the distance of a mile to
the depot. As I traveled northward, the rain became a furi
ous storm of sleet and snow. Reaching the station, I found
the brother of Dr. Monk, who had come to meet me, and on
horseback, too, with ax in hand, to cut our way through the
forests, The sleet and snow had covered the country and
bound to earth, in many places across our course, the pine sap
lings that grew in dense bodies up to the margin of the road.
A neighbor was with him to take me in his buggy. We started.
It was a journey to be remembered a trip of 21 miles in the
38 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
teeth of wind, rain, sleet and snow. After a short exposure,
1 was all but frozen by the violence of the storm and the in
tense cold. We had ridden a number of miles, when, to my
delight, my friend drew rein at his own house. I entered the
hospitable door, and the change was most grateful from
cold and misery to warmth and comfort,
"In a few moments the housewife had brought in a hot
bath for my frozen feet, and the husband a supplement in the
way of a hot drink. The generous hospitality restored, in a
very short time, my almost perished frame. They were both
strangers, but the closest friends could not have treated me
more kindly. I remained for dinner, and, as the weather had
become clear, we proceeded on our journey. The next morn
ing being Sunday, I celebrated mass in Dr. Monk s house, and
preached there later in the day to an earnest audience. The
religious interest was profound. It promised to become, as
it truly did, a movement of the whole district toward the
Catholic Church.
"Regular appointments were made for a visit by the priest,
and in a short time the brother of Dr. Monk, with his family,
embraced the Catholic faith. The congregations that met on
the occasions of the priest s visits to Newton Grove were so
large that it became necessary to erect a temporary structure of
rough boards for their accommodation.* This tabernacle an
swered admirably for the services, which were arranged to
suit the primitive state of affairs in that section. The priest
appeared on the rostrum in his secular dress, and, after prayer
and reading of the Scriptures, delivered a long instruction on
the Catholic Church or some one of its doctrines. The preach
ing, directed at the conversion of the people, was necessarily
simple in its character, historical and didactic. Catechisms
and books of instruction were freely distributed after the ser
mons. An attractive feature of these services was the sing
ing, by select voices, of beautiful hymns.
* The number soon grew to three hundred.
ORGANIZING MISSION CHURCHES, 39
"The Catholic movement daily gathered strength by the
accession of many of the most respectable families in the vicin
ity. Within a short time the number of conversions warranted
the erection of a church and schoolhouse. On their comple
tion, this apostolic mission became firmly established and con
tinues to prosper/
Another church sprang from a visit by a priest to three
Irish brothers, peddlers, who had settled 80 miles from a
church. Their families were baptized, and conversions among
the country folk multiplied. In a short time a flourishing
parish was established.
A missionary found at Chinquepin, a village far in the re-
cesses of the North Carolina pines, an old Irish woman who
had not seen a priest in 45 years. She said her faith was still
as fresh as her native sod, and that she had never omitted her
prayers, A congregation of converts was founded, for whom
a chapel and school were subsequently erected.
On his mission journeys remote from railways, the Bishop
used to ride in a dilapidated wagon drawn by two horses* A!
young priest, or sometimes a negro driver, accompanied him*
The vehicle carried packages of clothing, flour and medicines
for the poor; clerical robes, mission literature, and food for
the wayfarers, for often they ate their noonday meal under
a great tree, far from a habitation* This old wagon finally
became so unsafe that the Bishop s friends were afraid it
would break down and leave him stranded in the wilderness.
They repeatedly offered to buy him a carriage, but he always
replied that he thought the wagon might last a Httle longer*
"Friends/* he used to say, "you can give me the money, if you
will, for the Church needs it, but not for any vehicle for my
own use/ 1
Priests were so rare in North Carolina in those days that
they sometimes had difficulty in proving their identity* While
Father O Connell was traveling near Asheville, worn out by a
long journey, he arrived at the house of a Catholic family and
40 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
presented himself. The woman of the house had been im
posed upon by a pretended clergyman some time before, and
refused to believe Father Q ConnelL He showed her his mis
sal, vestments and breviary, which he carried in a valise, but
she was still unconvinced. In despair, the tired priest gave up
the attempt and turned, heartsick, from the door. Seeking
spiritual comfort, he sat down beside a fence and began saying
his beads. The woman opened the door, saw him at his devo
tions and was convinced at last "Now/* she said, "I know
your are a holy man of God* I could be deceived about other
things, but not those beads! 71 She welcomed warmly to her
home the stranger whom she had so lately rejected.
In making a visit to an outlying community with Father
Northrop, the man whose guest the bishop was to be drove up
in a carriage, sitting bolt upright with singular fixity and hold
ing the reins tightly. As he approached, it became evident that
he^was intoxicated and was trying to discharge his function as
driver without betraying himself, The bishop began a severe
reprimand, saying that it was the first time In many years
that a bishop had visited the locality, and it was incumbent
upon him to conduct himself properly on such an occasion,
"Your Grace/ 1 was the ardent reply, "I felt so overjoyed
that I just could not help getting tipsy 1
Making the best of circumstances, the Bishop and Father
Northrop entered the carriage, and each took a position on
one side of their host, holding him erect by their combined
efforts while he drove them to their destination.
At New Bern the Bishop had some copies of a circular
printed, prescribing the manner in which worship might be
held on Sunday where there was no priest, The faithful were
to assemble at a designated place, and one of them was to read
the prayers for mass, after which a portion was to be read
from one of the Catholic books appointed for such occasions,
The children and others in need of catechetical instruction
TRAVELS IN HIS VICARIATE, 41
were then to be arranged in classes and taught prayers and
Christian doctrine.
Leaving New Bern, the Bishop stopped at Swift Creek,
where he confirmed Mr. and Mrs, Nelson in the garret, "the
only unoccupied place at our disposal " After a short visit to
the town of Washington, where he "said mass in Dr. Galla
gher s house/ he proceeded to Plymouth, There he was hos
pitably received by Captain McNamara, who had saved the
Church at New Bern from being turned into a carpet-bag
school Driving five miles from that town, he baptized and
confirmed Mr, Isaac Swift, who had been a rich planter, but
was greatly reduced in fortune. "I started to pursue the
journey 12 miles further, for the purpose of visiting a Catholic
family/ the Bishop wrote, "but the vehicle broke down and
we were obliged to return/ 1
At Edenton he was able to say mass in "the finest Catholic
Church in the State" -St. Ann s. He preached there to a
large congregation, composed chiefly of Protestants, No
wonder! The Catholics of Edenton and vicinity then num
bered eighteen, about half of whom were converts. They were
anxious to have a resident priest, who might also attend the
near-by missions, and Bishop Gibbons expressed the hope "that
Providence will soon enable me to gratify their wishes/ 1
He preached in the courthouse at Tarboro, and noted that
"the most intelligent citizens of the town were present, includ
ing three judges/* At Wilson, the next stop, he also preached
in the courthouse, and found that many Protestants had prom
ised to subscribe for the erection of a Catholic Church,
Arriving at Raleigh, he was entertained at the handsome
residence of William Grimes, The Legislature was in session,
and many of its members went to hear him preach in St. John s
Church.
42 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
He returned to Wilmington December 17, after a trip of
four weeks, the results of which he summarized as follows :
"Number of miles traveled by rail, stage and steamboat, 926.
"Number ot towns and stations visited, 1C.
"Number of Catholics In various places, 400.
"Converts confirmed, 10; total number, 04.
"Converts baptized, 10 ; total number, 16."
The need of money to carry on the work was pressing. In
the same month he received a draft for 1,600 francs from the
Society for the Propagation of the Faith, a total of 8,000
francs having been allotted to his vicariate for 1868.
In preparing his Lenten regulations for 1869, tne Bishop
wrote that they were about the same as in the Diocese of
Baltimore, except that "milk is allowed in this vicariate, owing
to the scarcity of tea and coffee in certain sections of the
State."
Having received a circular asking a small subscription in
behalf of the American College at Rome, he replied that "the
impoverished condition of the State and the smallness of tfat
Catholic population" made it impossible to contribute.
He installed Rev. J. V. McNamara as pastor of the Church
in Raleigh, July n. The Governor, Chief Justice, several
of the associate judges and many prominent citizens were
present. By this time there were 100 Catholics at the State
capital.
At Charlotte, where he arrived July 16, he confirmed 43
persons and baptized Mrs. Mary E. Butler, wife of John T.
Butler, his host during his stay in Charlotte, having received
her profession of faith. A short time later he dedicated St.
James Church, at Concord, whose congregation, consisting of
60 persons, were all converts, with one exception.
He found three Catholics on a visit to Morgantown, one of
whom, Mr. McGraw, had ten children, all Protestants, having
been reared in the faith of their mother. From that place he
traveled 26 miles, over a beautiful mountain country, to
CONVERSIONS MULTIPLY. 43
Moore s, in McDowell county, On August 8 he observed the
total eclipse of the sun from the Blue Ridge,
He traveled 24 miles on horseback, August 9, and arrived
at Asheville, where he preached in the courthouse and bought
a lot for a church.
The Bishop set out in November, 1870, for a second trip
over the eastern part of the State, visiting many towns. Con
versions were still numerous. At Plymouth he found that a
certain Irish Catholic had been induced to join the Baptists,
Immersed, the convert was invited to say prayer. He gave out
"Hail, Holy Queen/ The astonishment of the audience was
immense. The convert afterward returned to the Catholic
Church,
In August, 1871, the bishop started on a visitation to the
western part of the State. From the town of Company Shops to
Greensboro he was conveyed on a freight engine- At Gas-
ton he found a congregation of 8o f where there had been but
36 on his first visit, two years before. At Lincolnton he
preached to a large audience in the courthouse, the people
being, no doubt, moved by some curiosity to see the first
bishop who was ever present in that town. He found that
a handsome church had been erected by this time at Asheville,
which he dedicated September 24, preaching on "Charity/ 1
Bishop Gibbons recognized early that schools were one of
the greatest necessities of the stricken South and a potent
means of propagating religion* "We can testify, wrote
Father Gross, "to his self-sacrificing zeal for the establishment
of Catholic schools throughout the vicariate, under stress of
direst poverty and the most adverse surroundings. To this
end he not only sacrificed money, and time, and labor in begging
money, but descended to teach himself daily a class In the
parochial school, to help and encourage the priests wbote
services, for the want of lay teachers, had to be gratuitously
engaged/ *
Rv, Htrk $, Gron, In ttot Oarm#Ute &tiH*#, May, li5,
44 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
In 1869 the Bishop brought to Wilmington a colony of
Sisters of Mercy from the mother house in Charleston and es
tablished them in one of the old-fashioned Southern homes,
called the Peyton mansion, which he bought for $16,000 a
fortune in Carolina in those days. The people wondered
whence the money had come* But a small part of it had been
raised in the vicariate, the Bishop having obtained most of
the sum through several visits to the Northern States, More
than $5,000 was collected in Albany alone, The sisters
founded schools at Charlotte and Hickory, as well as at Wil
mington.
One of the most enduring works of the Bishop s administra
tion was the establishment of Mary Help Abbey by the Bene
dictine Order at Belmont, near Charlotte* For this urpose
Rev. J. J. O Connell gave his estate of 500 acres, to which he
had returned after the war, and whence he attended the neigh
boring missions. Arch Abbot Wimmer, of St Vincent s Ab
bey, Pennsylvania, was applied to for a colony for the vicari
ate. The devoted Abbot received at the same time a similar
petition from a far more favorable diocese, but he chose North
Carolina, and Rev, Herman Wolf, formerly a Lutheran min
ister, was sent there as prior.
The first shelter for the fathers was a frame tavern a hun
dred years old, of Revolutionary celebrity. For a time the
outlook was so discouraging that the abandonment of the
priory was debated in the chapter of the abbey in Pennsylvania.
At this critical period a number of young Benedictines volun
teered to go to Belmont if allowed to take with them an abbot
of their own selection, This offer was accepted, and they
chose Rev. Leo Haid to lead them in the undertaking, With
his administration a new era began, Handsome and ample
buildings were erected, and St. Mary s College was launched
as one of the successful educational institutions of the South,
a training school for a native Southern clergy, so much needed
in the aggressive work of the Church,
INFLUENCES ON HIS FUTURE. 45
It was difficult to get priests to keep up with the progress of
the work in North Carolina. Their task was full of obstacles
and they were altogether unsalaried. But the spiritual re
wards which they won cheered them on, and, as the success of
their labors became known in other dioceses, outside help was
less difficult for Bishop Gibbons to obtain.
His experiences in North Carolina, coming as they did at a
comparatively impressionable period of his life, exercised a
great influence over him. Previous to that time his lot had
been the ordinary one of a priest, schooled in the repressive
discipline of the seminary, and then thrown out into the active
and arduous labor of a parish, with little time to corne in con
tact with the world, except as represented by his own flock.
In North Carolina he was suddenly thrust into a different
atmosphere. The people were not only ntarlysall Protestants,
but tens of thousands of them had no conception of what the
Catholic Church was or what it represented.
From the beginning his mission was, first, to calm antago
nistic opinion, and then to lay a foundation for the spread of
his faith. His work, being so largely among Protestants, gave
him a far better comprehension than the average priest receives
of what they stand for in matters of religion and their sin
cerity of view. By force of circumstances, he had to concede
to them desire equal to his own for the truths of Christian
faith. He was not less a Catholic when he left Carolina than
when he went there. In fact, it seems that the foundations of
his belief had been strengthened by opposition ; but he had ac
quired a broad charity, a wide horizon of view, from which he
never separated himself in later life, and which stamped him
as a friend of men of other creeds. Impressions gained in
country towns and secluded rural homes were felt later in the
Vatican itself,
CHAPTER V,
AT THE VATICAN COUNCIL OF 1870,
It was but a step for this man of destiny in the Church
from his pioneer work in the North Carolina forests to the
august assemblage of the Vatican Council of 1870. He had
served his vicariate scarcely more than a year, when that
memorable gathering, the first general council of the Church
since Trent, 300 years before, convened. When the bishops
sat at Trent, America had been discovered but a short time,
and not all of them were sure that it was not a part of the
Indies. So secure was the papacy in its political power over
a great part of the civilized world, that Alexander VI had but
recently issued his bull of demarcation giving to Portugal all
of the newly discovered lands east of a line too leagues west
of the Azores, and to Spain all to the westward,
America had no episcopate, and only a few adventurous
priests had gone forth as messengers of the faith to the un
known peoples spread over its vast area. Now it wai the
home of many millions of Catholics, and the pontiffs were
beginning to see in its future the Church s brightest hope for
the expansion of her spiritual influence. From Canada to
Patagonia the bishops were called to Rome to deliberate, in the
providence of God, upon the welfare of the souls of men ; and
the American element constituted a force unknown in the
previous councils which had declared the judgment of the
Church.
While the problems which led Pius IX to summon the
council were chiefly of European origin, they were not con
fined to the Eastern Hemisphere, Wars had been flaming
upon every hand, and the campaigns of Garibaldi had been
PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH. 47
carried almost to the doors of the Vatican. The Crimea had
reeked with Russian, French and English blood. Austria had
been humbled at Sadowa, In the United States the great
Civil War was raging when Pius took the first steps toward
convoking the council The independence o the papacy itself
was threatened, and none knew when there might be another
Avignon* Troops of Napoleon III had been supporting the
Pope in the midst of Italian hostility. Catholics throughout
the world had become impatient to the bursting point from the
continual restraints exercised upon the papacy. In their minds,
from long habit, they associated its spiritual independence with
the temporal power; and the prospects of the loss of this filled
the bishops with alarm* Many could not, from the nature of
things, conceive the possibility of a pontiff shorn of political
power, yet able to exercise, despite all obstacles, the spiritual
oversight of Catholics throughout the world and aggressively
to press forward in the propagation of the faith.
Of 36 crowned heads, 24 were Protestant, and Jn almost
every country there was a powerful current of public opinion
in favor of the separation of church and state. Perhaps even
more was to be feared from Catholic than non-Catholic sov
ereigns* Regalism the interference of Catholic monarchs
in the purely internal affairs of the Church had grown to be
an almost insupportable burden. Political meddling hampered
the pontificate in the selection of bishops ; and priests were in
terfered with almost at the steps of the altar- Private ambi
tion and intrigue interwove every step in the adjustment of
the direct relations between church and state* Ecclesiastical
seminaries, basking in the favor of powerful rulers, taught
what Rome called heresy,
In the first era of the Church, kings and nations had been
gradually brought in harmony with the papacy, until the red
union of Christendom had become a fact ; but in the 300 years
following the Council of Trent there had been a steady em*
trifugal force to which the constitution of the Church had
48 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
never adapted itself. Many of the decrees of Trent related
to conditions which had disappeared; others needed radical
modification. Pope Pius was inclined to consider that the
time was ripe for convoking the council as an "extraordinary
remedy for the extraordinary evils of the Christian world."*
Nearly all the cardinals whom Pius consulted in December,
1864, when he first announced that he had been deliberating
regarding an ecumenical council, strongly advised that it be
convoked They declared it to be their opinion that the spe
cial character of the age was a tendency to overthrow the an
cient Christian institutions, founded on a supernatural prin
ciple, and to erect a new order, based on natural reason alone,
They ascribed this tendency to two errors first, that society
as such had no duties toward God, religion being considered to
be for individual conscience only; second, that human reason
was sufficient to guide man to a higher knowledge and destiny
apart from ,the organization of the Church.
They pointed to the revolt from the authority of revelation
and the growth of naturalism, rationalism, pantheism, social
ism and communism, Liberalism, leading to the declaration
of the supremacy of the state rather than the church over edu*
cation, marriage and consecrated property and to abridgment
of the temporal power of the head of the Church, was set forth
as the practical result of these tendencies. The cardinals dwelt
on the need of amending the discipline of the Church, untouched
for 300 years ; of better provision for the education of the clergy
and the government of monastic orders, and of bringing the
laity to a more general obedience to ecclesiastical lawa, almost
ignored in some countries, From these general sources many
specific developments were cited, such as laxity in the ob
servance of the marriage tie, mixed marriages, secret aocie*
ties, the haste to get rich by questionable methods, non-uni
formity in the observance of feasts and fasts. An ardent
desire was expressed by the consultors for the reunion of
* Mumtaf* Trot Storj of tfe* Vatican Ommdl.
AN OVERSHADOWING QUESTION. 49
Protestants in the fold of the Catholic Church; and it was
hoped that the acts of the council would open a way for this
great undertaking.
Only two of the cardinals spoke of papal infallibility, whicK
was destined to be the overshadowing question for the council
A few alluded to the preservation of the temporal power. By
far the largest number of replies dealt with subjects embraced
in the supernatural character of religion and the eternal des
tiny of man, leaving material topics out of consideration as
worthy to be discussed, if at all, in the light of the spiritual
progress of the world.
Pius deliberated long before finally deciding to convoke the
council. The bull of indiction was dated June 29, 1868, and
the tremendous work of preparing in detail for the labors of
the gathering began.
In October, 1869, Bishop Gibbons sailed from Baltimore in
the company of Archbishop Spalding and other American
prelates.* Landing at Southampton, he proceeded by easy
stages through France to Italy* What emotions swept his
imagination as he beheld for the first time the Eternal City, the
chosen seat of the successors of Peter! The ardor of youth,
as well as the impulses of piety, must have tinged his view
as he gazed on the storied Vatican, in whose basilica he was
soon to sit with the fathers of the Church from every quarter
of the world, He was the youngest bishop in that gathering
of more than 700. "My youth and inexperience/ he wrote,
"imposed upon me a discreet silence among 1 my elders, I do
not remember to have missed a single session, and was an
attentive listener at all debates/ f
The American and English bishops had, perhaps, a greater
stake in the decision of the question of papal infallibility than
any others. It had been accepted as a doctrine of the Church
* OatWfa Jftrror, October 28, 180$, ^ . .. Mt . ._. ,
t Phonal RtttnIcmncHi of tfofl Vatican Cownolt, Cardtetl Glfcfco&i In
North American Rtvitw for April, 18D4.
50 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
so long in continental Europe that the opposition to it which
might arise there would subside, in all probability, as the true
meaning of the definition was comprehended. In England,
from the time of Henry VIII, this had been a subject which
had aroused Protestants to defiant denial. Sovereigns, in their
coronation oaths at Westminster, had abjured it as a heresy.
In America the problem was to win non-Catholics to the
Church, as well as to hold the allegiance of the faithful; and
this could only be done in the clear light of public opinion. The
chief obstacle to the spread of the Catholic Church on this
side of the Atlantic had been the impression that it was subject
to foreign control. Enlightened Americans of Protestant
ancestry could not wholly reconcile themselves to papal su
premacy of a universal church; and the spread-eagle type of
patriotism was moved to explosion at the very thought of it
The American bishops did not question the truth of the
doctrine of infallibility ; they unalterably adhered to it in both
belief and practice. Some of them could see, however, no use
in defining it at that time, and were strongly of the opinion that
it would raise another cloud between them and the Protestants
when their Church was at last piercing the mists of misrepre
sentation which had darkened her path so long. The doctrine
sought to be defined with the weight of a general council was
that the pontiff, when speaking ex cathedra, in the exercise of
his office as the shepherd of all Christians, and declaring a doc
trine of faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, was
infallible. This was very different from a declaration of per
sonal infallibility on all subjects, but it would be hard to get
non-Catholics to understand it. To say that it had been held
before and was merely the definition of a dogma containing
nothing new might complicate the situation by raising added
doubts.
When Bishop Gibbons arrived in Rome it did not appear
that the question of infallibility was likely to come before the
council. Anti-Catholic papers, it is true, had been filled with
ATTITUDE OF AMERICAN BISHOPS. 51
rumors that a Jesuitical conspiracy was on foot to clothe the
Pope with this attribute. The schemata, or list of topics to be
treated by the council, had been prepared by a Commission of
Direction, composed of five cardinals, an archbishop and eight
bishops, with 102 consultors, of whom 10 were bishops, 69
secular priests and 23 regulars. When the commission, in
preparing the outline on the subject of the Roman pontiff and
his temporal power, came to discuss infallibility, two questions
were raised, The first was, "Whether the infallibility of the
Roman pontiff can be defined as an article of faith;" the sec
ond, "Whether it ought to be defined as an article of faith."*
The commission voted affirmatively, with unanimous voice, in
reply to the first question; concerning the second, all but one
agreed in the view that the subject ought not to be proposed in
the council unless it should be demanded by the bishops. The
subject was thus, for the time being, set aside.
Notwithstanding the action of the Commission of Direc
tion, a majority of the American bishops saw, with dismay, a
rapidly growing sentiment in favor of bringing the question
before the council. This might be done by a petition to the
Commission of Postulates or Propositions, which could intro
duce new subjects into the schemata. In a short time 450 of
the 700 prelates had actually signed such a petition. About a
hundred, including many of the Americans, signed a counter
petition; but it became clearly evident that it was more diffi
cult to marshal influence on that side of the question. The
Americans held a consultation at their college in Rome, and a
large majority declared that it would be inexpedient to bring
up the question.
Bishop Gibbons, on account of his youth, did not feel justi
fied in expressing any opinion. Not five bishops in the whole
council, said Cardinal Manning, could be justly thought to
have opposed the truth of the doctrine.
* Manning, True Story of the Vatican Council, p. 82 et
52 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
The council lasted from December 8, 1869, to July 18, 1870.
In March the question of infallibility was formally presented.
On the first vote 451 recorded themselves in favor of the de
cree, 88 against it, and 62 gave a conditional assent. The
stage of argument, learned, logical and profound, was soon
reached. It may be well to pause here for a brief survey of
the reasons for and against the decree, as stated by the Arch
bishop of Florence, to whom Pius IX gave a commission to
write the history of the council.
On the negative side it was held that as the whole episcopate
and priesthood and the faithful, with few exceptions, had re
ceived with veneration and docility the doctrinal decisions of
the pontiffs, no necessity for such a definition existed. In or*
der to define the question of infallibility with exactness, it
would be necessary to prescribe the form and manner in which
infallibility was to be exercised, This would be difficult, and
would involve the Holy See in complications. The hope of
reuniting the Eastern churches and of the return of Prot
estants to the fold would be weakened. Dissensions might be
produced among Catholics themselves,
"Let that suffice which has already been declared and has
been believed by all/ wrote a learned theologian of the oppo
sition, "that the Church, whether congregated in council or
dispersed throughout the world, is always infallible, and the
Supreme Pontiff, according to the words of the Council of
Florence, is the teacher of the whole Church and of all Chris
tians, But as to the mysterious gift of infallibility which, by
God, is bestowed upon the episcopate united to the Pope, and
at the same time is bestowed in a special manner on the Su
preme Pontiff, it may be left as it is. The Church, as all
Catholics believe, whether in an ecumenical council or by the
Pope alone without a council, guards and explains the truth
of revelation. It is not expedient or opportune to make fur
ther declarations, unless a proved necessity demands it, which
necessity at present does not appear to exist/ 1
DEFENDING THE DEFINITION. 53
This about stated the case for the Americans. Their objec
tions might be summed up in a sentence the fear that their
propaganda among non-Catholics would be hindered and that
public opinion might revert to the conditions of "Knownoth-
ing" times-
Weighty and pious arguments were presented on the other
side by devoted fathers of the Church. They held that such
a definition would be opportune, because the doctrine was true ;
for, if true, how could it be said to be inopportune? Has
not God revealed it, they asked, and can it be permitted us to
think that what He has thought it opportune to reveal, it is not
opportune for us to declare? In the minds of objectors, "op
portune" must refer to something of a political or diplomatic
character, some calculation of expediency relating to peoples or
governments. This caution would be proper for legislatures
or cabinets debating public questions of a secular nature; but
the Church deals with the truths of revelation, and it is at all
times opportune for her to declare what God has willed that
man should know* It had been said that many revealed truths
were not defined. This was true, and would be a strong argu
ment if the truth had never been denied. The infallibility of
the Roman Pontiff having been dented, its definition became
necessary. Some persons, in order to throw doubt on the doc
trine, or to prove it false, represented the denial of it to be
ancient and widespread. This increased the need of declar
ing it by an authoritative decree. Protestants would say : "If
you are not doubtful, why do you hesitate to declare it?" An
tagonists hoped to find a division among Catholics in order to
gain leverage for an opinion that the Church was not really
united and, therefore, not the authoritative custodian of the
deposit of Divine truth. All Catholics believed that the
Church, by the assistance of the Holy Ghost, is infallible. If
it were left open to doubt whether the teaching of the head
of the Church were true, those who believed that he might err
could always contradict his teaching, A fallible head to an
54 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
infallible body would be contrary to the logic of common sense.
The Church during eighteen centuries had done many acts of
supreme importance by its head alone. Were these acts fal
lible or infallible? The question had been formally raised,
and, for the sake of Divine truth, it was contended, must be as
formally solved.
To the petition of the bishops, addressed to the Commission
of Postulates or Propositions, was added an appendix, contain
ing reasons for their view and a citation from the authorities
of provincial councils in support of it. Among these was an
extract from the declarations of the Second Plenary Council
of Baltimore, of which Bishop Gibbons had been assistant
chancellor, and which it was hoped would have weight with
the American prelates assembled at the Vatican, This decla
ration was :
"The living and infallible authority flourishes in that Church
alone which was built by Christ upon Peter, who is the
head, leader and pastor of the whole Church, whose faith
Christ promised should never fail; which ever had legitimate
pontiffs, dating their origin in unbroken line from Peter him
self, being seated in his chair and being the inheritors and
defenders of the like doctrine, dignity, office and power. And
because where Peter is, there also is the Church, and because
Peter speaks in the person of the Roman Pontiff, ever lives in
his successors, passes judgment and makes known the truths of
faith to those who seek them, therefore, are the Divine declara
tions to be received in the manner in which they have been
and are held by this Roman See of Blessed Peter, that mother
and teacher of all churches, which has ever preserved whole
the teachings delivered by Christ, and which has taught the
faithful, showing to all men the paths of salvation and the
doctrine of everlasting truth/ *
The declaration by the Council of Florence in 1439 was the
favorite citation of those who urged that a definition be pro-
* Jlcta et Dtcrota, Cone. Plan. II, Baltimore.
NOT PERSONAL INFALLIBILITY. 55
mulgated. It was that "the Roman Pontiff is the true vicar
of Christ and head of the whole church and is the father and
teacher of all Christians; and to him in blessed Peter the full
power was given by our Lord of feeding, ruling and govern
ing the universal Church/
Nearly five hundred of the bishops, assembled in Rome in
1867 to observe the centenary of the martyrdom of St. Peter
and St. Paul, had addressed Pius IX in the following terms :
"Believing that Peter has spoken by the mouth of Pius, what
ever has been said, confirmed and decreed by you to preserve
the deposit of faith, we also repeat, confirm and profess, and
with one mind and heart we reject all that you have judged it
necessary to reprove and condemn as contrary to Divine faith,
to the salvation of souls and to the good of society. For what
the fathers of Florence defined in their Decree of Union is
firmly and deeply impressed on our minds that the Roman
Pontiff is the vicar of Christ, the head of the whole Church,
the father and teacher of all Christians*"
None claimed personal infallibility for the pontiff. In or
der to exclude the possibility of this interpretation, the title of
the Vatican Council s decree was changed from "De Romani
Pontiflds Infalttbilitate" (on the infallibility of the Roman
Pontiff) to "De Romani Pontifids InfallibUi Magfcterio" (on
the infallible teaching office of the Roman Pontiff). The mag-
isterium or teaching office of the primacy was the doctrinal
authority of the supreme ruler and teacher, It was held to be
a Divine assistance inseparable from the office and not a quality
inherent in the person of the Pope.
The chapter on papal infallibility came to a vote in the
council in July. On the first vote 451 of the fathers answered
placet, or aye, 88 non placet, or no, and 62 placet juxta modum,
or aye, with modifications. Nearly two hundred amendments,
some of which were adopted, were offered, When the time
came for the final action in public session, 533 voted placet,
and only 2 non placet; 55 absented themselves, in order to
S6 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
avoid being recorded on the negative side of a question whose
decision they considered inopportune; n others were absent
for unknown causes, and were supposed to have left Rome, as
permission had been given several days before to begin the
journey homeward. The two who voted non placet were
Bishop Fitzgerald, of Little Rock, Ark., and the Bishop of the
Italian Diocese of Caiazzo. They at once made their sub
mission and subscribed to the decree.
Bishop Gibbons voted placet on the question on both occa
sions when it came before the council. As we have seen, his
judgment was that the tim-e for the definition was not oppor
tune; but, seeing the irresistible drift of opinion among the
fathers of the Church, he could not cast his vote against a
doctrine which agreed with his own belief and practice.
So much doubt has been thrown upon the meaning of th6
declaration of infallibility that it may be well to quote its lan
guage. It read as follows ;
"Therefore, faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the be
ginning of Christian faith, for the glory of God our Savior* the exalta
tion of the Catholic religion and the salvation of the Christian people,
the sacred council approving, we teach and define that It la a dogma
divinely revealed: That the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks 00 cath*
dra that Is, when In the discharge of the office of pastor and teacher of
all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority* he defines &
doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the Universal Church-
Is, by the Divine assistance promised to him In blessed Peter, possessed
of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that the
Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith and
morals ; and that, therefore, such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are,
toefonnable of themselves and not from the consent of th Church/ 1
Of the monumental work of the council in dealing with the
doctrinal, disciplinary and social problems which had arisen
since Trent, nothing need be said here. In all questions except
that of infallibility there was no sharp line of difference be
tween a majority of the Americans and the other fathers who
sat in the Vatican. It was the one declaration of the gathering
which profoundly stirred the external world*
EFFECT OF THE COUNCIL. 57
Contrary to expectation, this was less acutely evident in
America than in Europe. Here there were no political bonds
between church and state which might be unloosed by a declara
tion in Rome or anywhere else. No officeholder or politician
in America had the vestige of authority to meddle in doctrinal
definitions which in no way affected the civil government.
There was no concordat to be debated in Congress.
The Franco-Prussian War broke out while the council was
in session, In a short time Bismarck and Von Moltke had
crushed the power of Napoleon III. French troops having
been withdrawn from Rome, the city was seized by Victor Em
manuel and Pius IX was deprived of the last remnant of that
temporal power which had endured since the time of Charle
magne* It is clearly evident that in the whole of Europe a
gradual weakening of the pontiff s potency in political affairs
has taken place. In America it is perhaps true that the spread
of the Catholic faith was arrested for a time; but its marvelous
development in the closing years of the nineteenth century is
complete evidence that the dclaration of papal infallibility was
not a permanent obstacle to the increase of spiritual results
west of the Atlantic. Aggressive anti-Catholicism has flared
up once or twice, but has found its strongest enemy in enlight
ened public opinion, The liberality of the young vicar of
North Carolina who sat in the Vatican Council has been one of
the most powerful factors in this state of things.
Bishop Gibbons, at thirty-six, was naturally impressed in an
extraordinary manner by the scenes through which he passed.
He had been ordained but nine years before, and life was still
fresh to him when he was projected in the midst of the wisdom
and grandeur and solemnity of the greatest organization of
the modern world. His own country and its political organi
zation had not a hundred years of independence behind it; in
Rome he sat in an assembly whose deliberations represented
the accumulated experience and weight of an institution whose
roots were planted in the beginnings of Christ ianity, and whose
68 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
development had employed a large proportion of the master
minds of the world, from St. Peter to Constantme, and down
through the ages. He was the youngest bishop; many pre
lates of venerable years sat on an equality beside him. He
met for the first time Cardinal Manning, who was destined to
have a great influence on his life; and he was impressed at the
outset by the brilliant Archbishop of Westminster perhaps
more than by any other man he met. Manning delivered the
longest oration of the council, which lasted hardly more than
an hour. His emaciated form and incessant activity moved
Archbishop Spalding to say to him : "I know not how you can
work so much, for you neither eat, nor drink nor sleep."*
Of the American prelates, Archbishops Spalding and Ken-
rick were among the most influential. Bishop Gibbons was
surprised at the memory of Kenrick, who reclined in his seat,
with half-closed eyes, listening to the debates, taking no notes,
and yet, when he came to speak, reviewed with remarkable accu
racy what had been said by others. Archbishop McCIoskey, of
New York, destined to become, five years later, the first Ameri
can Cardinal, was a "silent Solon; 11 Archbishop Leahy, of
Cashel, had in an eminent degree the gifts of the Irish orator,
recalling in his eloquent Latin the glories of the Schoolmen.
He could flavor judgment with wit in the tongue of the
Caesars, Archbishop Darboy, of Paris, who shared the confi
dence and expressed the views of Napoleon III, made a deep
impression. He had seen the assassination of two of his prede
cessors Archbishops Affre and Sibour ; and in less than a year
after the council adjourned was himself shot to death in the
prison of La Roquette amid the ravings of the Commune.
Bishop Dupanloup, of Orleans, was one of the Forty Im
mortals of the French Academy and the counsellor of Prince
Talleyrand, whom he reconciled to the Church after a long
estrangement, Cardinal Dechamps, Archbishop of Malines,
* Personal Remlni*c<mc of tb Yatteaa Council, Cardinal Gibbon* la tfc
North American HwiW), April, 1894*
IMPRESSIONS OF FUTURE PONTIFF. 59
was primate of Belgium, and his brother Adolphus was Prime
Minister of that Kingdom. Baron Von Ketteler, Bishop of
Mainz, was disfigured by a scar on the face received in a duel
of student days at Goettingen* Bishop Gibbons saw the de
mocracy of the Church strikingly exemplified in Cardinal
Prince Schwarzenberg, primate of Bohemia, and Cardinal Si-
mor, primate of Hungary, the two most influential churchmen
of the Austrian Empire. Schwarzenberg, a handsome man, of
commanding presence, was a prince of the realm as well as of
the Church, Simor sprang from the people, and was proud
of declaring it- Bishop Strossmayer, of Bosnia, was reputed
the most eloquent prelate in the council "His periods/ wrote
Bishop Gibbons, "flamed with the grace and majesty and musi
cal rhythm of Cicero."
Cardinal Pecci, afterward Leo XIII, the most powerful
friend of Bishop Gibbons in the career that was opening before
him, said little in debate, but was potent and indefatigable in
council The young American prelate thought he could see a
design of Providence In the fact that the man who was to
rule the whole Church should not have been involved in the
disputes of ;the council Cardinal Feed s learning and admin
istrative experience were invaluable in the vital work of the
gathering.
Every bishop knew at least two or three languages; some
spoke ten or twelve. Cardinal Simor told Bishop Gibbons
that he employed four different tongues in the government
of his diocese Latin, German, Hungarian and Slavonian,
Next to the young American prelate sat a vicar apostolic
from China, who used six dialects in his vicariate. A bishop
of a Chinese diocese had traveled twenty-three thousand miles
to attend the council One or two blind bishops had to be
guided by servants as they took their places in the assem
blage. Some of the feeblest were so exhausted by their travels
that they died in Rome or on the way, martyrs to their obedi*
ence to duty.
60 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
At Trent only four English-speaking prelates sat; at the
Vatican Council there were more than one hundred and
twenty. Bishop Gibbons ventured to express the opinion that
if the next ecumenical council should be held in fifty years, "the
representatives of the English language would equal in num
bers, if not surpass, those of any other tongue/* He agreed
with Cardinal Manning that "the number of prelates who ques-
tioned the claim of papal infallibility could be counted on the
fingers of one hand." "Yet/ Bishop Gibbons added, "many of
the speakers, indeed, impugned the doniga, not because they did
not personally accept it, but with the view of pointing out the
difficulties with which the teaching body of the Church would
have to contend in vindicating it before the world, I have lis
tened in the council chamber to far more subtle, more plausible
and more searching objections to this prerogative of the Pope
than I have read or heard from the pen or tongue of the most
learned or formidable Protestant assailant. But all the objec
tions were triumphantly answered. Every dispassionate reader,
whatever may be his religious convictions, must be profoundly
impressed, as I was at the time, with the fearless and serene
conduct of the great majority, who, spurning a temporizing
policy or the dictates of human prudence, were deterred neither
by specious arguments, nor imperial threats, nor by the fear
of schism, from promulgating what they conceived to be a truth
contained in the deposit of Divine revelation. Since the last
vote taken in the solemn session of July 18, 1870, all the
bishops of Christendom, without a murmur of dissent, have
accepted the decision as final and irrevocable/ 1
Such was the Vatican Council, a product of the thought, the
labor, the spiritual inspiration of three hundred years, Father
Hecker, who expressed the general view of American* Catho
lics, considered that it meant a new era, especially for the
United States, the tendency of whose free Institutions* he
declared, was to make men Catholics, The constitution of the
Church having been fixed in permanent form and tb^Tcapstone
INSPIRATION FOR HIS LABORS. 61
applied by the definition of papal infallibility, he held that in the
wide radius left for liberty of thought and action the fullest
development of the individual should be sought.
From his experience in the Olympian atmosphere of the
Church, Bishop Gibbons returned to his task in North Caro
lina with a new light on the world-wide mission of the Cath
olic faith, which was to guide his footsteps along many a diffi
cult path that would open before him.
CHAPTER VI.
BISHOP OF RICHMOND.
Bishop Gibbons had labored in North Carolina a little less
than four years, when a new field opened for his versatile
activity. This was the See of Richmond, Va., in which a
vacancy was created by the death in January, 1872, of the
beloved Bishop John McGill, who had guided the affairs of
that diocese 22 years. The Vicar of North Carolina was now
recognized on all sides as a coming man in the Church. His
superiors in the hierarchy were glad to acknowledge his tal
ents, and his brother bishops were ready to acclaim any promo
tion that might come to him. He was no less popular among
the clergy, on account of his charming personal traits. Always
ready to help a priest, as well as a layman, he could listen well
as they told their difficulties, and, if occasion demanded, could
administer effective correction in a manner which the recipient
would have difficulty in distinguishing from praise.
Human nature seemed almost an open book to him, as to
many other men who combine in themselves the elements of
success. He could often form an instantaneous and accurate
judgment of a man whom he met for the first time, and his
almost instinctive trait of justice enabled him to modify it
Readily, as circumstances might require. His was a strong
character, which was bound to dominate in the end, but a
conciliatory one. Few could attain with greater east a pur
pose in the face of obstacles. Those who were thrown in con
tact with him, in and out of the Church, formed the habit of
following where he kd ; it seemed the natural order,
At first Bishop Gibbons was appointed administrator of the
Richmond diocese, in addition to the duties of his vicariate,
while time might be afforded for the prescribed procedure of
62
FRIENDSHIP WITH ARCHBISHOP BAYLEY. 63
the Church in the selection of a permanent successor to Mgr.
McGill. The final choice of Rome fell on him, and it was
decided that he should continue as administrator of North
Carolina at the same time* The situation of Richmond was
favorable to the management of both jurisdictions, and the
energy and resourcefulness of Bishop Gibbons might be ex
pected to be equal to the double task.
Here began the close interweaving of his life with that of
another man who was to exert a marked influence on it. This
was James Roosevelt Bayley, one of the most interesting fig
ures whose impress has been kft on the Catholic Church in
America. Bayley was a near connection of the Roosevelt
family of New York, from which an American President
afterward sprang. He was a grandson of Dr. Richard Bay-
ley, a celebrated anatomist and a pioneer of American medi
cine* Born to luxury and culture, he was a society man in
New York in his younger days. His family were of the Prot
estant Episcopal faith, and, his thoughts turning to the minis
try, he was ordained in that church, serving as rector of an
influential congregation in Harlem- In time he became a Cath
olic and studied at the Seminary of St. Sulpice, in Paris.
Archbishop Hughes, afterward famous as the head of the See
of New York during the Civil War, ordained him* On ac
count of his ripe scholarship, he was made president of St
John s College, Fordham, N. Y. His contributions to litera
ture were considerable. He was serving as Bishop of New*
ark, when a warm friendship sprang up between him and Arch
bishop Spalding, who looked upon him as his successor, Sev
eral months before Archbishop Spalding s death, it is related,
he put his pectoral chain and cross around Bishop Bayley s
neck and said : "Onfc day this will be yours/ *
Bishop Bayley did not want to come to Baltimore, saying:
"I am too old a tree to be transplanted/ He refused to accept
* Rlordon, Cathedral Records, p, 85*
64 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS;
the idea of the change until the papal decree had been issued.
Archbishop Spalding died in February, 1872, and on October
13 Bishop Bay ley was invested with the pallium in the Balti
more Cathedral, Bishop Gibbons taking part in the ceremony.
The next Sunday the new Archbishop installed Bishop Gibbons
in St. Peter s Cathedral, Richmond, as the head of that diocese.
These two warm friends had been thrown intimately to
gether at the Vatican Council Bayley was then 56 years old,
Gibbons 36, and during the long months of the council, when
Americans were participating for the first time in a general
synod of the Church, the elder prelate learned to admire both
the talents and the graces of the younger. Bishop Gibbons, in
turn, was captivated by the intellectual powers, the broad and
deep cultivation, the strong nature of Bishop Bayley; and their
friendship continued during the two years immediately fol
lowing their return to America, until unexpected fate threw
them in closer contact. Bayley s practical experience in life
before his retirement into the semi-isolation of the Church had
continued to be of the greatest use to him. He was a keen
judge of the capabilities of others, and saw in his friend traits
that would adorn the most exalted positions in the Church*
Virginia was not fruitful soil for an increase in the har
vest of the Catholic faith. In that State more than any other
lingered a trace of the atmosphere of Elizabethan England*
On Jamestown Island, in May, 1607, Rev, Robert Hunt had
spread a sail cloth between the boughs of trees and read the
first service of the Church of England on American soil*
This remained the established church of Virginia, as much as of
the mother country, until the Revolution. The local vestries
were entrusted by law with political as well as ecclesiastical
functions, such as the care of orphans and the poor. From
public taxation the pay of the clergy was taken* Neither Cath*
olics, nor persons of any other religious faith, were ever ac
tively persecuted in Virginia, though the anti*Catholic anti-
* Lyon G, Tyler, Cradle of the Republic, p. 110.
CARDINAL OIMON* AS BISHOP OF RICHMOND
CHURCH DIVISIONS IN VIRGINIA. 65
Puritan and anti-Quaker feeling among the people made it un
pleasant at times to maintain open worship other than that of
the English Church.
Even after the revolution marked impressions remained,
especially in the tidewater counties, of the ecclesiastical and
social predominance of the English Church in colonial times;
it was too closely threaded in the life and institutions of the
people to be withdrawn suddenly. Presbyterians and Luther
ans entered the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, and other de
nominations, especially Baptists and Methodists, soon outnum
bered the Episcopalians In the mountainous districts of the
State.
In North Carolina there was scarcely any immigration to
furnish a foothold for the Catholic Church. There was little
more in Virginia, but still enough to plant a nucleus in each of
the larger cities, like Richmond, Petersburg and Norfolk* The
first mass in Richmond was said by Abbe Dubois, in 1791,
Not until 1820 was the diocese created, and the outlook was
so unpromising that it was abolished and united with Balti
more two years later. In 1840 it was re-established by Bishop
Whelan, who administered it ten years, and was succeeded by
Bishop McGilL Bishop Gibbons was, therefore, but the fourth
in succession, counting from Bishop Kelly, who was in charge
during the brief period 1820-22*
It is interesting to the student of American history to note
that the Catholic faith and the Church of England were first
planted on soil belonging to the English Crown, within the
present limits of the United States, scarcely 100 miles from
each other. Jamestown and St Mary s are both within the
segment of a circle of comparatively small radius whose center
is at the mouth of the Chesapeake* In this strategic region,
the key of America, Raleigh chose the base from which he
would colonize the new empire; the Jamestown experiment
succeeded, after Raleigh s head had fallen on the block; the
Revolution was fixed by the eloquence of Patrick Heary,
66 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
was consummated at Yorktown; the War of 1812 was settled
by the victories of North Point and Fort McHenry ; the crisis
of the Civil War occurred; and seven Presidents of the United
States were born. Maryland and Virginia, so closely akin in
many things, are totally unlike in church antecedents and influ
ences. One has been receptive, by tradition and feeling, to the
Catholic faith; the other has been the opposite. In parts
of Virginia a Catholic priest is unknown even at this day, and
would be looked on as a curiosity should he come.
As in North Carolina, Bishop Gibbons field of labor in the
Richmond diocese was among a people broken by war and
"reconstruction." Had public opinion been less unfavorable
to the Catholic Church, the other difficulties in the way of
building up the diocese would still have been tremendous ; to a
man of less resolution, they would have been appalling. There
was scarcely money enough in circulation to supply the elemen
tary needs of business transactions, and almost none to build
churches, convents and schools. For four years great con
tending armies had struggled up and down the State, What
escaped the seizure of the Federals, was willingly given to the
half-starved Confederates. In the process of destroying the
economic resources of the State, so as to prevent it from being
made a highway for future military advances on Washington,
crops had been laid waste, fruit trees torn up by the roots,
horses taken for the cavalry, cattle and hogs bayonetted in the
fields, mills and dwellings burned.
All able-bodied men had joined the army, and the corpses of
thousands strewed the soil as the shock of conflict passed from
the Alleghanies to the Potomac. The sudden freeing of the
slaves had demoralized the supply of agricultural labor* Farm
ers could get no seed to plant, no man to sow or reap. Piled
on this base of wholesale destruction, had been the weight of
crushing taxation imposed by the "carpet-baggers" and their
negro allies, who were bent on extracting the last ounce of
TRAVELS IN HIS DIOCESE. 67
blood from the helpless people suddenly cast under the evil
spell of their power.
The diocese, which embraced nearly all of Virginia and sev
eral counties of West Virginia, contained at the time of Bishop
Gibbons arrival fifteen churches, the same number of chapels
or stations, sixteen parochial schools and seventeen priests, A
continuance of the aggressive methods employed in the vicar i-
ate resulted In winning many converts. The same liberality of
view that had endeared Bishop Gibbons to the people of North
Carolina, without regard to sect, appealed with equal strength
to the predominantly Protestant population of Virginia. The
Bishop s sermons in Richmond, Petersburg and throughout
the State were attended by almost as many persons of other
beliefs as Catholics, and were largely addressed to them. He
could gauge his auditors. If they wanted an exposition of
Catholic doctrine as a fortification to their own faith, few could
give it as well as he ; but, clicl they come to listen that they might
disapprove, he won their attention at the outset by the presenta
tion of the simple truths of Christianity, ancl then proceeded to
a discussion o his theme with a breadth and charity of view
that disarmed criticism. None could be offended; all were
charmed. Protestants thanked him for visiting their towns,
and Catholics looked upon him with pride.
Early in November, 1872, he went to Lynchburg, where he
preached and confirmed, ancl then proceeded to Lexington. In
that picturesque old town, where Robert E* Lee had died but
two years before, the bishop confirmed ten persons in the
engine-house, where Father Murray celebrated mass, no Catho-
lie Church having then been erected there. Ht performed the
ceremony of marriage for John B* Purcell and Miss Olympia
Williamson, in the presence of a brilliant assemblage, including
Gen. G, W, Custis Lee, son of the Confederate chieftain, and
prominent persons from Washington and Lee University and
the Virginia Military Institute, where "Stonewall" Jackson had
taught,
68 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Returning to Richmond, he contracted for the erection of a
schoolhouse at the corner of Ninth and Marshall streets, at a
cost of $17,695.
Early in 1873 ^ e made a trip to North Carolina, preaching,
lecturing, confirming and generally stimulating the work of the
vicariate. At Raleigh he confirmed a class of nine, including
the mayor and his wife, who were converts* Returning to his
duties in Virginia, he visited Alexandria, Fairfax, Gordons-
ville, Warrenton, Middleburg, Winchester and other places in
Northern Virginia, where almost every foot of ground had
been trodden by armies but a few years before and where
memories of Washington, Madison, Monroe, Marshall and
other pillars of the republic abounded* In a short time he had
inspected the work in practically every church in the diocese,
and accessions to the faith in large numbers began*
At Culpeper, he preached in the town hall to a large con
gregation, most of whom were Protestants, The local judge
adjourned court in order to enable those attending it to be pres
ent at the sermon.
While on a trip to North Carolina in 1874 the bishop
preached in the Court-House at Halifax, where he was the
guest of Mr* Conigland About 4*30 o clock the next morning,
his sleep was disturbed by the barking of dogs. This enabled
him to hear a noise in his room, which, he soon found, was
made by a thief searching for plunder, Calling out "who s
there?" he received no answer* He then leaped from bed to
attack the robber, but the latter fled, leaving at the door the
bishop s vest, containing about $150. His cross was lying on
the table and his watch was tinder the pillow, but, after a
hasty examination, he found that nothing was missing, "It
was fortunate/* he said, in relating the Incident, "that I did not
aeiw the man, as he probably would have overpowered me/ 1
Wra, S Caldwdl, a wealthy resident of Richmond, deeded
to ifce Wshop a handsome residence, with its furniture, which
"THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS." 69
was converted into a home for the Little Sisters of the Poor.*
Both Houses of the Legislature, under a suspension of rules,
passed unanimously a bill incorporating the order in Virginia,
and it was promptly signed by the Governor* In a short time a
community of six, headed by Sister Virginia appropriately
called was installed. Two years later a community of the
Sisters of Charity was established at Petersburg.
Bishop Gibbons was constantly called upon to answer objec
tions which sprang from the fact that the Protestant faiths
were the only ones known in many of the localities he visited*
When he returned after a time, he found the impressions pro
duced by his sermons weakened, and the idea of supplementing
them by a printed treatise occurred to him. He suggested this
one day while visiting Father Gross, in Wilmington, in the
spring of 1876, and asked him to write it. Father Gross said:
"Bishop, why don t you write it? 1
Seized with an inspiration, the Bishop replied :
"While the spirit is in me, give me paper and ink, and I will
jot down the first chapter."
Such was the beginning of "The Faith of Our Fathers/ of
which nearly a million copies have been sold. The labor of
composing this book, one of the most remarkable religious
works which has appeared in any age or language, was
crowded into the indefatigable young Bishop s duties* He
meditated on each successive chapter while traveling on rail
way cars, or by other means, and confirmed his quotations
and references on his return. In clear, simple and classic
English he thus wrote the principles of the Catholic religion
and replied in detail to the arguments commonly urged against
it. No religious controversial book had ever been conceived iti
a broader spirit. It leaves no sting with the reader, be Ms
convictions what they may, and as a concise explanation of tfae
Church, its history, doctrines and mission, it has never had at!
equal One may lay it down and say "I disagree/ but never
* 18T4L
70 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
"I do not understand. 1 Its literary strength and grace gave it
a permanent place in, the libraries of the world almost imme
diately after its publication, lat in 1876; priests found that it
said what they wanted to say better than they could say it
themselves, and its circulation by the thousands has ever since
been a favorite means of reinforcing the efforts of the clergy.
It has been translated into twelve languages.
The book takes up the leading doctrines of the Catholic
Church, such as the trinity, the incarnation, unity of the
Church, apostolicity, perpetuity, authority, the primacy of
Peter, the supremacy of the popes, the temporal power, invo
cation of saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary, sacred images, pur
gatory, prayers for the dead, charges of religious persecu
tion, the holy tucharist, the sacrifice of the mass, the use of
religious ceremonies and the Latin language* penance, indul
gences, and extreme unction* Regarding each of these, a clear
and simple explanation is given* Objections are frankly and
fully cited and answered in detail.
These doctrines, the author points out* are misunderstood by
many Protestants; and where it serves the purpose of his expo
sition he employs dialogue. The following extract is in the
form of a conversation between a Protestant minister and a
convert to the Catholic Church, which lie cites as an illus
tration :
Minister "You can not deny thnt thu Roman Ottthollc Church teacha*
groig iirrori th worship of imngc*, for fiMttmce*"
Convert*- W I admit no auch charge*, for I have bw&n taught ao udk
doctrines.* 1 "
Minister **But th& prli*nt who Instructed you did not tmcfa you all.
He held back aome pointu which ha kn*w would ht objectionable to you,"
00nr0rt~ 44 nn withheld nothing; for I nm In poineisloa of books
(mating thoroughly of fill Catholic doctrine**/
Mlnlflter~ flft l)clu(ld mull Do you m>t know that In Burop* they are
taught differently? f
Convert 4l That <*n not iws for the* Church tench** thu nnm0 cwd all
over the world* aod niout of the Uoctri&al books which I rttud wer origl*
published In Burope."
SOUGHT TO CORRECT MISUNDERSTANDING. 71
The author particularly urged that the Church should be
judged by her own acts and declarations, and not by those of
her enemies. Writing in the South, he asked if it would be
fair, in order to obtain a correct estimate of the Southern
people, to select for his only sources of information Northern
periodicals which during the Civil War were bitterly opposed
to the South. He defended with particular warmth the asser
tion that the Catholic Church had always been the zealous pro
moter of religious and civil liberty. Wherever encroachments
on these rights of man were perpetrated by individual members
of the faith, he argued, the wrongs, far from being sanctioned
by the Church, were committed in palpable violation of her
authority, He took up the old arguments about the Spanish
Inquisition and the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, and dis
cussed them fully from the Catholic point of view. The broad
charity which shines through the pages of the book has been,
perhaps, as potent as its logic in carrying conviction to the
minds of tens of thousands of readers throughout the world.
In the five years during which Bishop Gibbons presided over
the Richmond Diocese the number of churches increased from
fifteen to twenty-four, with about the same number of chapels
or stations, to which twenty- four priests ministered* The sub
ject of education was always close to his heart, and under his
vigorous efforts ten new parochial schools were established.
There was a marked development in all directions, and the
diocese was kept practically free from debt.*
He frequently visited Baltimore to assist Archbishop Bayley
at ecclesiastical ceremonies, and, in fact, was identified almost
as much with Baltimore as Richmond, the proximity of his
diocese and his natural ties with the archiepiscopal see leading
almost inevitably to this* The most notable of these occasions
was the consecration May 25, 1876, of the Baltimore Cathe
dral^ whose corner-stone had been laid in 1806 by Bishop
* GatnoliG titmfard, Philadelphia, October 27> 1877, Quoted by Kelly, Vol. IX,
p, 118.
t OatftoUo Afitron May 7, 1870.
72 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Carroll, but which was not free of debt until seventy years
later. Archbishop Bayley was the consecrator and Bishop
Gibbons preached.
What thoughts welled up within him as he stood in the pttl-
pit on that memorable occasion ! The superb old pile had been
a part of his life, and his life had been a part of it Within
two hundred feet of it had been old St Peter s Church, the
first of the Catholic religion in Baltimore, erected about 1 770
on the north side of what is, now Saratoga street, near Charles
street, on land bought in 1764 from Charles Carroll, father of
Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Archbishop Carroll had pon
tificated there, but he cherished the dream of a Cathedral and
raised $225,000 a great sum in those days by collections,
subscriptions, and even by a lottery, which accorded with the
custom of the times, Benjamin H. Latrobe, the architect
of the Capitol in Washington, drew the plans. The Cathedral
is a cruciform structure, Ionic in its general outlines, but now
capped by Russo-Byzantine towers, which predominate the
architectural tone. The great blocks of granite for its con
struction were hauled from Ellicott City, ten miles distant, by
oxen. John Eager Howard, the hero of Cowpens, gave much
of the large lot on which it stands. The War of 1812 stopped
the work, and, while still unfinished, it was dedicated May 31,
1821, by Archbishop Marechal. Seven years later, Mgr. Mare-
chal gave it a large bell, bought in his native France, and com
pleted one of the towers. The altar was the gift of Marseilles
priests, whose teacher he had been. Archbishop Eccleston fin
ished the second tower, and Archbishops Kenrick and Spalding
erected the noble portico, adorned with huge pillars. The
bodies of Carroll and other archbishops find sepulture in this
venerable church. Within its walls was held the Provincial
Council of 1829, the first in any English-speaking country since
the Reformation. Among the historic church edifices of
BENEFITS OF LIBERTY TO THE CHURCH. 73
America the Baltimore Cathedral is easily first in importance,
though not in antiquity,*
The consecration of the Cathedral was marked by a notable
assemblage of prelates, clergy and laity. Bishop Gibbons, in
his sermon, dwelt on the permanency of the Church, and then
struck a note which was characteristic of him.
"It is charged/ he said, "that the Church will shrink from
the light of modern invention and discovery. Ah, no! She
will welcome them and will use them to extend the knowledge
of God. Yes, we bless you, men of genius! If, when rail
roads and steam vessels and telegraphs were not known, the
Church carried the gospel to distant nations and unexplored
regions, how much more can she do with their aid?
"Need it be repeated that the Church is slandered when it 13
charged that she is inimical to liberty ! The Church flourishes
only in the beams of liberty. She has received more harm
from the tyranny and oppression of kings and rulers than any
other of the victims of their power* We pray for the pros
perity of this our young country. In this its centennial year
we rejoice that it has lived to so sturdy a life of liberty and
regard for right, and we raise the prayer *B$to Perpetual w
Only a little more than a year was to elapse before he would
be preaching in this same Cathedral as Archbishop of the
Province of Baltimore.
During his residence in Richmond, Bishop Gibbons was not
able to obtain the appointment of a vicar for North Carolina,
The faithful Father Gross wrote in February, 1876 :
"When, on the death of the bishop of Richmond, Bishop Gibbons was
nottins volen$ t Introduced by His Holiness Plus IX Into the see of Etch*
mond, with the title of administrator apostolic over the Yloartate of
North Carolina, It was but the Chang of an additional new field, bring*
ing an Increase of the same arduous duties* The change was, and tttH
Is, keenly felt by the people and especially by the clergy of North Oaro*
Una, But the vlcarlate Is not forgotten, nor Is It neglected* Frequent
* Riordan, Cathedral Records, pp, 93-9$.
74 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
visits are made In the State, when the bishop lectures upon Catholic
truths and cheers the hearts of all, laity and clergy, by his presence.
The citizens of Wilmington, Raleigh, Charlotte, Salisbury and Fayette-
ville frequently enjoy his strong and engaging discourses in explanation
of Catholic doctrine. He has multiplied his help by the admission of
priests for the missions In the work of the ministry. Every town in
North Carolina of importance has its priests, its regular Sunday service.
No hour of the day or night is there when Catholics may not receive the
ministrations of their religion. If there is any regret, it comes from the
Catholics themselves.
"But, thank God, if the field of North Carolina has been well worked,
the fruit has been abundant No Catholics are more fervent ; no people
are more easily won over to the faith. Of three missions, two of them
can boast of a hundred converts each; the other of thirty. Male and
female Catholic schools have been established. In a word, Rev. Dr.
Gibbons found in North Carolina in 1868 three priests (one borrowed,
since returned), now there are seven or eight; he found seven hundred
Catholics, now there are sixteen hundred ; seven churches, now there are
eleven or twelve, with a convent-academy, conducted by the Sisters of
Mercy, and located upon a handsome piece of property purchased for
them by the bishop. The word is still onward In North Carolina,
"An impression prevails that the Catholics could not support their
vicar and bishop, hence his removal. They could not honor him, Indeed,
with those episcopal surroundings becoming, but not necessary to, hi*
sublime office of bishop. Such wealth of catholicity North Carolina does
not possess. The pope s vicar did not come to find and enjoy the
becoming honors and dignity of aa established diocese, but to accept and
perform the duty of a bishop to preach the gospel, to convert souls;
to accept the poverty of a vlcariate, and by his apostolic labor, to make
it rich with the wealth of Catholic faith. The fleM of North Carolina,
with its poverty and trials, and sparse Catholicity, was, and is yet, not
too much for our vicar, nor for any one whom the Holy Father may
Judge to send. Everything has a beginning. Even the gospel of Christ
has Its seed. Others may enter Into our labor and may enjoy Its fruita.
The more numerous and imperative wants of the Richmond diocese,
widowed by the death of Rev, Dr. MeGlll, removed our vicar. Rather
the spiritual poverty of the Richmond diocese caused the transfer than
any failure in North Carolina.
"Our vicar was removed with the promise of another ; but our bishop s
zeal is so untiring, his charity so unselfish, that though, we constantly
regret, we feel the less his transfer. Catholicity l& still advancing In
FIRST AMERICAN CARDINAL. 75
North Carolina, and rapidly, though our vicar s undivided efforts would,
of course, produce still greater results.* *
When Archbishop McCloskey was elevated to the Sacred
College in 1875, the young bishop s thoughts were far from
associating his own career with that honor. Nevertheless, it
is interesting to note that he viewed it in much the same light
as his own appointment afterward impressed him an honor
to his country, and to its non-Catholic as well as Catholic peo
ple. He thus expressed himself :
"The hierarchy of the United States will rejoice to hear that this
eminent dignity has been conferred on an American prelate, who has
endeared himself to the church by his long service In the cause of
religion, his marked ability, his unostentatious piety and great suavity
of manners* I am persuaded also that not only the Catholic body of
this country, but our citizens at lar#e, will receive, with just pride, the
Intelligence that the Holy Father has determined to associate an Ameri
can Archbishop with the members of the Sacred College. There Is no
doubt that the venerable Archbishop of New York will fill with marked
discretion and wisdom that exalted and responsible position."!
The Bishop s farewell sermon to the people of his diocese in
St, Peter s Cathedral, October 14, 1877, was marked by char
acteristic modesty. Though he had done so much for them,
he gave the human credit to his predecessor, Bishop McGill
"Ever since I took charge of this portion of the Lord s vine
yard/ he said, "God has singularly blessed us. To Him be all
the honor and glory. Every other cause of success is secon
dary to Him* Paul soweth, Apollo watereth, but God giveth
the increase. Without Him, we would have made no progress*
We would have fished all night, like Peter, and caught nothing-
Next to God, you are indebted to my venerable and illustrious
predecessor, who left the diocese in a solvent and healthy con
dition, He was a man of eminent prudence and discretion,
and of caution verging on timidity, He might have gained
* Letter to th $oti*fter Cross, February 0, 1876* Quotad by Belly* Vol. II,
p, 106 et tea*
t New ITork tferaJtf, March 14, 1875,
76 LIFE OF CARDINAL -GIBBONS.
for himself a great name for enterprise and material progress
by erecting churches and other institutions throughout the
diocese, without regard to expense. But with all that, he
might have bequeathed to his successor a load of debt which
would have paralyzed his usefulness and crushed his heart
He left me few debts to pay and few scandals to heal. He left
a diocese without incumbrance and a character without re
proach. It was fortunate for this diocese that Bishop McGill
presided over its destinies for upwards of twenty years, for he
stamped his character upon the older clergy, who had the hap
piness of observing his edifying life and of being associated
with him in the ministry.
"It is very gratifying to me, though this is the first occasion
I have done so, to speak in terms of praise of the clergy of this
diocese; other priests, indeed, I have met who have a greater
reputation for learning and the graces of oratory, but, taken
as a body, I have never met any priests to surpass those of
this diocese in attachment to duty, in singleness of purpose,
in personal virtue and obedience to the voice of authority,
And if I be permitted to single out some of the clergy from
among their colleagues, surely I can point with peculiar joy
to the Cathedral clergy, who have lived with me as mem
bers of the same household, and who have always deported
themselves in a manner becoming their sacred calling.
* * * If I could lift the veil and reveal to you their do
mestic life, I could disclose to you a spirit of order, peace and
brotherly concord which I hope to see imitated, but dare not
hope to see surpassed.
"As for you, brethren of the laity, you can bear me witness
that I never indulged you by vain flattery, but that I have al
ways endeavored to propose to you your duty, no matter how
distasteful it might have been to flesh and blood. But on the
present occasion I would be doing violence to my own feelings
if I did not express my deep sense of admiration for the piety
of many of you, which edified me; for the obedience of all of
to
00
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>
Q
i.l
12
u,
FAREWELL TO RICHMOND. 77
you, which consoled me, and for your spirit of generosity,
which strengthened my hands. I have never had occasion to
rebuke you for any factious opposition, still less for any mani
festation of a rebellious spirit, and I have always found you
ready with heart and hand to second any effort I proposed
for the advancement of religion. * * *
"I cannot without regret depart from a city to which I am
bound by so many attachments, and from a people who have
always manifested so much kindness toward me. I ask your
prayers all the time. I do not ask you to pray that I may have
a long life that is immaterial but pray that God may give
light to my understanding, strength to my heart and rectitude
to my will, in order to fulfill well the duties that may devolve
upon me. I pray that God may send you a bishop according to
His own heart a man of zeal and mercy, who will cause
virtue and religion and faith to flourish and bear fruit through
out the length of the diocese."*
His fellow-citizens of Richmond, without distinction of re
ligious belief, viewed his departure with regret. Many testi
monials of esteem brightened his last days in the diocese. On
October 16, the clergy of the diocese dined with him, having
come from their respective homes to say good-bye. After din
ner, through Father O Keefe, they presented him a beautiful
chalice. The paten and cup were of solid gold; the other parts
of silver gilt.
> Ootabcr 80, WT.
CHAPTER VII.
ARCHBISHOP OF BALTIMORE.
Archbishop Bayley had presided over the See of Baltimore
but a few years, when his health began to fail, and he sought
the appointment of a coadjtxtor. The eyes of the people of
the diocese, no less than the discriminating vision of the Arch
bishop himself, turned to the Bishop of Richmond. In Balti
more he had been born and baptized ; studied for the ministry
and been ordained; served as parish priest of St. Bridget s and
as assistant at the Cathedral ; and while in North Carolina and
Virginia he had returned at times to aid the archbishops and
share the labors of the clergy, who looked upon him both as a
friend and a natural leader.
Archbishop Bayley wrote in his diary March 24, 1876 :
"Two years ago the doctor advised me to obtain the assistance of a
coadjutor. My health troubles me so much I find It difficult to attend
to my duties. Today I wrote to his Eminence, Cardinal McOloskey,
Archbishops Purcell, Kenrlck, Wood and Williams, asking them to assist
me In obtaining as my coadjutor cum jure auccfgatottf* the bishop of
Richmond."*
The time was ripe for the decisive change in Bishop Gibbons
career. In May, 1877, he was appointed titular Archbishop of
Janopolis and coadjutor to the incumbent of the See of Balti
more, with the right of succession ; and when that prelate died
at Newark, October 3 of the same yean he succeeded to the
exalted post at once. The funeral of Archbishop Bayley in the
Cathedral, October 9, was marked by many tributes by clergy
* EOT. M. J. Rlordan, to Volame II, The Catholic Church In the United State*
of America, p. 31.
78
RECEIVES THE PALLIUM. 79
and people to the work of this remarkable man. Cardinal Mo
Closkey, of New York, who had been raised to the Sacred Col
lege two years before; Archbishop Wood, of Philadelphia;
Archbishop Gibbons, and many bishops and priests were pres
ent at the solemn and beautiful services. Bishop Thomas Foiey,
of Chicago, delivered the funeral discourse, recalling the emi
nent contributions which Bayley had made to the progress of
the Catholic Church and the spiritual welfare of the American
people. The Archbishop had asked that when his labors were
over, his body should rest near the grave of his aunt, Mother
Seton, who introduced the Sisters of Charity into the United
States. It was taken to Emmitsburg, McL, and lowered into
the vault beside all that was mortal of that saintly woman.*
Archbishop Gibbons received with characteristic spirit the
new and great honor which had come to him. When he first
learned of his elevation, he exclaimed :
"Thy will be clone. In Thy hand is my fate P
The death of Pius IX caused him to hesitate about proceed
ing with the ceremonies of receiving the pallium, but Cardinal
McCloskey and other prelates and clergy advised him not to
postpone the event too long, This historic mark of his new rank
was placed upon his shoulders February 10 by Bishop Lynch,
of Charleston, in the Cathedral The procession from the
archiepiscopal residence to the church embraced a distinguished
gathering of the hierarchy, many of them in the prime of life,
fruitful in their work for the harvest of souls, but scarcely
any of whom lived to see the full outlines of the career of
the man whom they had assembled to honor, Following the
picturesque seminarians of St. Mary s, came Bishops Moore,
of St Augustine; Spalding, of Peoria, then full of his great
project of founding a Catholic university ; Kain, of Wheeling,
afterward Archbishop of St. Louis; Corrigan, of Newark,
destined to succeed to the see presided over by the venerable
McCloskey, and to measure his strength against Archbishop
* Biordan, Cathedral Record*, p. 86.
80 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Gibbons in many a controversy regarding the vital problems
of the American Church; Gross, of Savannah, soon to be
Archbishop of Oregon; Foley, of Chicago, close friend from
early days of the new Archbishop; Becker, of Wilmington,
Del., also bound to him by ties of intimacy; Shannahan, of
Harrisburg; Fitzgerald, of Little Rock, staunch opponent to
the last of the decree of papal infallibility passed by the Vati
can Council; Loughlin, of Brooklyn, venerable and beloved;
Archbishop Williams, of Boston, strong upholder of the hands
of Archbishop Gibbons on many a trying occasion ; and, lastly,
the new Archbishop, attended by two of his closest friends,
Rev. D wight E. Lyman, of Govanstown, Baltimore county,
&nd Rev. Michael Dausch, of St. Vincent s Church, Baltimore.
As the mass was beginning, Bishop Conroy, of Ardagh, Apos
tolic Delegate of the Holy See to Canada, entered the Cathe
dral and took a seat of honor opposite Archbishop Gibbons.
Such an eminent gathering of leaders of the Catholic faith
in the old Cathedral could not fail to be inspired by its sur
roundings. Bishop Lynch, in his discourse, was moved to re
hearse in outline what this Church, assembled in the plentitude
of her power, had done for society, truth, virtue, and science.
He recalled that men still lived who could remember when Car
roll was the only American archbishop, while his successor
could now count ten other archbishops and sixty bishops, whose
authority stretched from ocean to ocean* Never, he said, had
the Church in America been stronger, truer in the faith, or
more united for aggressive work in pursuit of her great mis
sion. Men were needed to control, like safe and devoted
pilots, the progress of this vast undertaking, and it was a
cause of congratulation that Baltimore had an archbishop who
had already given promise of being a worthy successor of the
eminent prelates who had gone before* He would not congratu
late the new Archbishop, for those who had worn the mitre
knew that he needed sympathy more than congratulation.
Referring to the fact that he was facing upon Archbishop
THE SEE OF BALTIMORE. 81
Gibbons the last pallium bestowed by Pius IX, he paid an
eloquent tribute to the fruitful labors of that pontiff.
As Archbishop Gibbons rose to reply, he gazed, not like a
stranger sent into a new field, upon the faces of strangers ; not,
as in Wilmington and Richmond, upon men and women who
had scarcely heard of him before, but upon a notable congre
gation of the leading people of Baltimore, whom for years he
had counted as his friends, Here, at last, he was at home.
Here, in this venerable church, was the greatest work of his
life to find expression,
"The See of Baltimore/ he said, replying to Bishop Lynch,
"is, indeed, replete with historical interest, whether we con
sider its venerable antiquity, as far as that term can be applied
to a nation as young as ours, or whether we consider the
illustrious line of prelates who have presided over its destinies.
The morning of Bishop Carroll s consecration, in 1790, brings
us back to the dawn of our American history, which followed
the dark and eventful night of our American Revolution.
Washington then occupied the Presidential chair. The elder
Adams, Jefferson and Madison were still in the full vigor
of active political life; the United States as then constituted
had a population short of four millions ; the city of Baltimore,
which now rejoices in its hundreds of thousands of souls, had
only 13,500; while the Catholic population of the United States
at that time may be estimated at twenty-five thousand souls, or
less than one-fourth of the present Catholic population of
Baltimore*
"But if this See of Baltimore is venerable for its antiquity,
it is still more conspicuous for that bright constellation of
prelates who diffused their light over the American Church,
as well as over this diocese* It is not necessary that I ahotiM
enlarge upon the greatness of these eminent men ; for many of
them were personally known to yourselves by familiar ac
quaintance. All are known to you by splendid reputations,
82 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
their names are cherished as household words in your families,
and their bright example is held up to the admiration and emu
lation of your children.
"Otherwise, I might speak of Bishop Carroll, who possessed
the virtues of a Christian priest, with the patriotism of an
American citizen; I might speak of a Neale, "whose life was
hidden with Christ in God; of a Marechal, who united in his
person the refined manners of a French gentleman with the
sturdy virtues of a pioneer prelate; of a Whitfield, who ex
pended a fortune in the promotion of piety and devotion ; of
the accomplished Eccleston, who presided with equal grace
and dignity in the professor s chair, on this throne, and at the
Council of Bishops; of a Kenrick, whose praise is in the
churches he has not only adorned this see by his virtues, but
also, I might say, illuminated all Christendom by his vast learn
ing, I might speak of a Spalding, whose paternal face is to
this day stamped upon your memories and affections, whose
paternal rule I myself had the privilege of experiencing, whose
very name does not fail, even at this day, to evoke feelings of
heartfelt emotion; of a Bayky, I can simply say that those
who knew him best, loved him most. His was a soul of honor.
He never hesitated to make any sacrifice when God s honor and
his own conscience demanded."
The Archbishop alluded modestly to the alarm he felt when
called to this important see; the fear with which he had taken
up the lines, fallen from the hands of the illustrious man who
had preceded him, and the sense he possessed of his own un-
worthiness. It would be, he said, a presumption on his part to
hope to emulate these illustrious prelates, but he would make it
the study of his life to copy their virtues, however imperfectly.
If he was discouraged by the sense of the weight of the obliga
tions resting upon him, he had also, thanks to God, great
grounds of hope and confidence, and this confidence was in
the clergy of the diocese. He could say of them, as he had said
CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS ORDERS. 83
of the priests of Richmond, that they enjoyed an honored repu
tation among the clergy of the country.
In praising them, he would be doing violence to his own feel
ings and to his sense of justice, if he did not speak in commen
dation of that venerable institution, to which most of them
owed their theological training and were so deeply indebted
St. Mary s Seminary, the fruitful mother of priests and bish
ops. The introduction of the Sulpician Fathers to the dio
cese had been almost coeval with the creation of the diocese
itself. If the departed prelates to whom he had alluded were
honored in public life, the names of a Nagot, a Tessier, a
Deluol and others were not less revered* It would be difficult
to say whether religion was more indebted to the active min
istry of the former or the private, unpretentious labors of the
latter,
He expressed his confidence in the religious orders with
which the diocese abounded, from the Society of Jesus the
glorious pioneers of the Cross in this region clown to the last
society founded. Different in their founders, in their dress
and in their rules, they were all happily guided by the same
spirit one faith and one God. "There are diversities of graces,
but the same spirit; diversities of ministries, but the same
Lord; diversities of operation, but the same God, who worketh
all in all." He wished to say that he confided in his brethren
of the regular and secular clergy. He had unbounded confi
dence in their wisdom, devotion, teaming, piety, zeal and
hearty co-operation. United as a band of brothers, they were
invincible. They would labor together in promoting the king
dom of Jesus Christ, in vindicating the claims of the Apostolic
See, and in fostering faith, charity, religion, piety and pure
patriotism, which would flourish still more in the favored State
of Maryland, "the land of the sanctuary and the asylum of civil
and religious liberty/
84 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
In conclusion, the new Archbishop asked his heaters to pray
for the illustrious pontiff whose soul had just been released
from the bonds of earth.*
Non-Catholics as well as Catholics applauded the selection of
Archbishop Gibbons; all Baltimore seemed to look on it as a
compliment. H-e was the first native of the city to fill that
exalted office, so interwoven with the birth of religious liberty
and of the Catholic faith and hierarchy among English-speak
ing people on this Continent.
He was but forty-three years old, the youngest of the arch
bishops, when he thus became the primate of the American
Church. With Rev. William B. Starr as chancellor, and Rev.
Alfred A. Curtis, afterward Bishop of Wilmington, as secre
tary, he began the work of the diocese with aggressive activity.
The pioneer days of North Carolina were but a memory now.
His task was to strengthen the foundations of the Church in
the oldest diocese of America ; to multiply its efforts in the city
where it had found its most congenial home. At once he be
came a leading figure in the community, apart from his eccle
siastical office* It had not been the fashion for Catholic arch
bishops, nor, indeed, for prelates of any other faith, to take
part in the complex activities of life in a modern American city.
They had rather sought the seclusion of study, and had re
garded the sharp boundary of ecclesiastical duty as one beyond
which they ought not to trespass. Mingling with the world
had seemed to them to be contamination or a compromise with
the material life.
Not so with Archbishop Gibbons, He was among and of
the people. His predecessors in the see had hardly been
known to Protestants. He became so well known that In
a short time he was as familiar to them and, perhaps, as much
beloved by them, as by Catholics, It is related of htm that on
one occasion, when passing through the streets with a visitor,
Catholic Mirror, February 10, 18TS*
FRIEND OF MEN OF ALL FAITHS. 85
they came to the door of a beautiful church, from which a large
congregation was beginning to emerge. Archbishop Gibbons
was saluted so often, and gave so many salutes in return, that
his companion was moved to remark :
"You seem to be well acquainted in this parish?"
"Ah!" he replied, "these are our Episcopalian friends 1"
He felt from the beginning that the slight trace of distrust
of the Catholic Church and hierarchy which was felt by cer
tain elements of the people was due, in large part, to a lack
of understanding. One of his great purposes was to remove
this cloud, to bring the Church out into the brilliant light of
public observation among Americans, that all might see her
mission and the mission of her priesthood as being a spiritual
one. He yielded to none in his devotion to American institu
tions and the Government of the United States, and he felt
that the influence of the Church was for the perpetuity of law
and order and constituted authority* A student of history and
an intense admirer of those grand figures in American life
who had erected a magnificent nation where once the Indian
had roamed through the forest or pushed his canoe along the
stream, he was fond of recalling that Catholics had been among
the most devoted pioneers who had helped to make the nation
what it is.
In his own Maryland the faith which^he held had been in*
separably interwoven with the birth of the English province
on the banks of the Potomac and the Chesapeake, Jesuits,
penetrating the wilderness from St. Mary s, had borne aloft
the Cross to light the pathway of civilization. Westward,
along the Ohio and the Mississippi, down to the Gulf, near the
shores of which part of his youth had been spent, these conse
crated men of God had left enduring memorials of their sac
rifices in the early days. In the Revolution, Catholics had been
eminent in the halls of statesmanship and on the field of battle.
None craved more than they the full freedom of religion, the
"government of the people, by the people and for the people/
86 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
which, tinder Washington, had been won for the fringe of
straggling colonies planted by adventurous Englishmen. They
had felt more than Protestants the whip of oppression, the
shackles of alien government. Almost simultaneously with the
new nation, had come the consecration of Carroll, to found in
free atmosphere at last the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
This Church had grown and prospered as the nation had be
come stronger. In every war and every time of stress its mem
bers had been one with their Protestant brethren in their ex
amples of patriotism and devotion to the common country.
Still, in Baltimore as elsewhere, there was no denying that
a trace of distrust remained. It had been too deep-seated a
feeling to be erased in less than a century. The keynote of
Archbishop Gibbons attitude was liberality. As a churchman,
none was more devoted to his Church ; as an American, none
was more devoted to America.
The month in which he received the pallium was marked also
by the elevation to the papacy of Leo XIII, with whose career
his own was to be so closely linked. These two men of ad
vanced and liberal ideas, each a Catholic of Catholics and at
the same time breathing the atmosphere of the times, alert,
progressive, knowing how to "take occasion by the hand,"
labored concurrently in the most important periods of their
lives. With a less sympathetic pontiff, the work of Gibbons
would have been impossible; and Leo did not hesitate to say
again and again that the encouragement and active help which
he received from the Archbishop of Baltimore formed one of
the potent influences that sustained him amid the hostility and
misunderstanding with which he was often beset.
The bishop s former post at Richmond was filled by the ele
vation of the gifted and pious Dr. John J. Keane, then assist
ant pastor of St. Patrick s Church, Washington, to the bish
opric. On the advice of the Archbishop, Rev. Mark S. Gross,
his companion of other days in North Carolina, was appointed
yicar apostolic there, but on account of ill health and dread
VISIT TO ROME IN 1880. 87
of the responsibility, resigned at a meeting of the bishops of
the province held in Baltimore November 24, 1880. Bishop
Keane made a characteristic proposal to take up the work of
the vicariate if the Holy See would release him from the Bish
opric of Richmond, but this magnanimous offer was not
accepted.
Bishop Keane continued for some years to perform the du
ties of both the bishopric and the vicariate, as Bishop Gibbons
had done before him. The vicariate was finally filled by the
appointment of Rev. H. P. Northrop, who had long labored
as a priest in the field. Archbishop Gibbons consecrated him
in the Baltimore Cathedral January 8, 1882, and installed him
a week later in St. Thomas Church, Wilmington.
Catholic bishops being required to go to Rome every ten
years, unless excused by the Pope, Archbishop Gibbons made
a visit ad limina in 1880, It was his first trip to the Eternal
City since the Vatican Council, and his first meeting with Leo
XIII as pontiff. Before his departure the clergy of the dio
cese, as a mark of their affection, presented $1,000 to him as a
contribution toward his traveling expenses.
He spent 23 days in Rome, and had two "delightful audi
ences" (thus he wrote) with Leo XIII, besides several confer
ences with Cardinals Simeoni and Nina, upon whom largely
fell the detailed oversight of American affairs. Returning,
he stopped at Innspruck to witness the Passion Play; and in
England visited Lttlworth Castle, where Bishop Carroll had
been consecrated. On his birthday, July 23, he met at the
famous oratory of Edgbaston, near Birmingham, Cardinal
Newman, upon whose wonderful life work the capstone of
ecclesiastical approval elevation to the Sacred Collegehad
been placed a year before. He breakfasted as Newman s guest
and was charmed with the brilliant conversation of that great
English churchman, who presented to him several books bear
ing the autograph of the giver. The archbishop afterward
gg LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
spent a month in Ireland, and sailed from Queenstown Au
gust 25.
When he returned to Baltimore he found the city in a flut
ter of festal preparation for the observance of its one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary, and he joined with hearty accord in
the plans. He issued a circular to the clergy of the city,
which he directed to be read at the masses on Sunday, October
10, of that year, advising that Catholic organizations should
take an active part in the parades and other festivities, and
that the clergy and the authorities of the parochial schools
should march with them. At the same time, he exhorted the
people to "avoid all sinful excess" during the celebration, A
Te Dettm was sung in the Catholic churches of Baltimore the
following Sunday. Leading men of the city, who organized
this celebration, never ceased to remember with gratitude the
active and cordial help of the public-spirited Archbishop,
In common with all Americans, Archbishop Gibbons felt
the shock when President Garfield was shot and fatally
wounded by an assassin July 2, 1881. He promptly issued
a circular letter to the clergy of the diocese, expressing his hor
ror at the deed and directing prayer for the President s recov
ery* The following extracts show the tone of the circular :
4l lt In scarcely possible to imagine a deed more appalling to men or
more iniquitous before God. For if It Is such a crime to slay even a
prlrate cltteen, what an enormity in It to attempt the death of one who,
while representing the whole nation! Is also as to matters temporal, the
highest vicegerent of God Himself In the land? * * * And our
detestation of the wretch who has stricken down our head Is yet moro
increased when we add to the official dignity of tha sufferer his accessi
bility and affability to an and his committing, Htee all his predecessors,
his personal safety entirely to the good will and good sunst of those over
whom he presides, * * * In the face, then, of this most hideous deed
we are called upon to express at onct our loathing of th crime and our
deep sympathy with him whom this crime has placed In such great suffer
ing and such Imminent peril,
"For while the Catholic Church is happily abore all parties and Is far
from the wish to take to herself the decision of the yery transient, and
SYMPATHY WITH PRESIDENT GARFIELD. 89
aa a rule not very momentous questions as to which these parties are
at issue, yet none more than the Catholic Church Inculcates respect for
every duly constituted authority or more reprobates or threatens every
thing by which such authority Is assailed."*
The Archbishop sent a copy of his circular to Mrs. Garfield,
with a letter of sympathy, for which she returned her grateful
acknowledgments. When the president was informed of it,
he exclaimed : "Bless the good will of the people." The Arch
bishop sent to Cardinal Simeoni an account of the attempted
assassination, which occurred in his diocese.
After the death of Mr. Garfield, several months later, the
Archbishop preached at the Cathedral, and took occasion to
answer the doubts of the efficacy of prayer which had been
raised in the minds of some by the fatal ending of the Presi*
dent s illness, despite the united petitions of the nation. He
pointed out that "God answers ottr prayer in one of two ways,
either directly or indirectly. Sometimes He grants us the di
rect and specified objects of our petitions; sometimes He de
nies us the direct object of our prayer, but grants us some
thing equivalent or even better than we ask for, * * *
In regard to the President: If God, in response to our prayers,
did not save his life, He has done more He has saved the life
and preserved the peace of the nation- And the life of the
nation is of more value than the life of any individual."
In addition, the Archbishop said God had been pleased to
prolong the President s life until the popular excitement had
subsided, saving the country from unknown dangers. He
found in the subduing of party spirit and the increased respect
for the Chief Magistracy of the nation additional cause for
thanksgiving, f
In the autumn of the same year he issued what was, perhaps,
the first official direction by a prelate of the Catholic Church in
conformity with the national observance of Thanksgiving Iky*
* Cathedral Archives,
t QathoUo Kim% October 8. 1881,
90 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
After citing in a circular to clergy and laity the admonition of
St. Paul, that "prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be
made for kings and for all that are in high station/ he con
tinued :
"Surely it behooves us to pray with alacrity for the continued prosperity
of our beloved country when we recall to mind the many advantages we
enjoy as Christians and citizens under our system of government, which
constantly holds over us the &gis of Its protection. We should pray for all
our public functionaries, both State and national, that they may dis
charge the Important trusts confided to them with a due and conscientious
regard for the interests of the people. We should also give thanks to
the Giver of all good gifts/ not only for the spiritual blessings we have
received at His hands, but also for the public peace and domestic tran
quillity we enjoy and for the abundant harvests with which the land has
been generally favored. * * * A fitting occasion will be presented to
us for offering to God the homage of our adoration and gratitude on
Thursday, November 24, a day especially recommended for public and
national thanksgiving by the Chief Magistrate of the nation*" *
The Archbishop was deeply affected by the death, in 1881, of
Thomas C. Jenkins, the oldest pewholder of the Cathedral
and the oldest member of its board of trustees, a scion of a
family distinguished for generations by good works in the
support of the Church no less than in the temporal activities of
the community. Ten years later he consecrated the beautiful
new church of Corpus Christi (Jenkins Memorial), built by
the munificence of the children of this good man, who remained
among his strongest props in the diocese. One of them,
Michael Jenkins, was created a Knight of St Gregory by a
succeeding Pontiff, f
The Archbishop s mother, whom he had often visited in her
declining years, and the struggles of whose untimely widow
hood he vividly remembered, died at the home of his sister,
Mrs. George Swarbrick, in New Orleans, May 7, 1883, at the
age of eighty years. He continued to visit New Orleans at
* Cathedral Archive*
t Hrrs X 1903.
FIRST VISIT TO MR. CLEVELAND. 91
intervals as the guest of his brother, John T. Gibbons, who had
become a wealthy grain merchant*
The uncertainty of human events was strikingly illustrated
by an experience of the Archbishop March 4, 1885, when
Washington was resounding with the acclamations of a multi
tude assembled at the inauguration of President Cleveland,
following the exciting campaign in which Mr. Blaine had been
defeated, On that day he was in the sanctuary of the Cathe
dral taking part in the funeral of Mrs. Walker, sister of Mr.
Blaine. The defeated candidate for the presidency came from
Washington to attend the obsequies, while his late rival was
being elevated to the office to which both had aspired.
In the same month the Archbishop paid his first visit to Mr.
Cleveland in the White House, remaining half an hour. The
President urged him to renew his visits from time to time.
This was the beginning of a warm friendship, which con
tinued during the life of Mr. Cleveland. He was a Presby
terian, but, like the Archbishop, was singularly free from
prejudice regarding religion and was accustomed to "render to
Qesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God, the things that
are God s." On not a few occasions he leaned on the Arch
bishop s advice at critical periods of his career. Once, when
the Baltimore prelate was visiting him in 1887, he remarked ;
"Would you care to have me read to you my forthcoming
message on the tariff ? *
"I shall be much honored/ was the reply.
The President then submitted to the judgment of his ecclesi*
astical friend, word by word, the famous message to Congress
which cost him re-election in 1888, but brought about his
triumph at the polls* four years later. The Archbishop com
mended its frankness and statesmanlike character, but ex*
pressed doubt as to how it would be received by the public.
History soon justified his viewpoint
92 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
On another occasion great pressure was brought to bear on
Mr. Cleveland to appoint a certain priest as chaplain in the
Government service. This clergyman did not enjoy the con
fidence of his spiritual shepherd, the Archbishop of Baltimore,
who declined to recommend him to Mr. Cleveland, though fre
quently importuned to do so. Without the Archbishop s
sanction, the President positively refused to make the ap
pointment. Threats were resorted to, and it was intimated
that if Mr. Cleveland and the Archbishop did not recede from
their attitude, they would be pictured in the pages of Puck.
This showed a serious misjudgment of the characters of these
two men, for both were so constituted that threats would only
make them more fixed in any position they had assumed on a
question of right and wrong- The clergyman was not ap
pointed.
Mr. Cleveland frequently referred to his friend as one of the
best types of the American citizen, and on meeting Balti-
moreans was in the habit of saying:
"From Baltimore? Oh, that is Cardinal Gibbons city!
There are some men in Baltimore whom I particularly admire,
and none more than the Cardinal 1"
The anarchist riots in Chicago, May 4, 1886, profoundly
moved the Archbishop with a sense of danger to the country.
Preaching five days later at the dedication of the Church of the
Holy Cross, Baltimore, a large number of whose members were
of German birth, he declared that foreigners coming to these
shores were generally an admirable addition to the population,
but he denounced anarchism, socialism and nihilism. He said :
"They (the Chicago anarchists) have no conception of true liberty.
They would retain for themselves the Uon s share of freedom, leaving
to others only a morsel. The citizens of the United States enjoy the
amplest liberty, but it is a liberty of law, of order and of authority.
Liberty without law degenerates into license."
Soon the Archbishop and future Cardinal came to be as
much identified with Baltimore as Pericles with Athens. On
A POPULAR FIGURE IN BALTIMORE. 93
the streets of the city his slender, graceful form, in somber
black, relieved by a touch of purple, became familiar to passers-
by as he took long walks, swinging a cane and chatting in ani
mated fashion with a clerical companion. In gatherings re
lating to the interests of the city or State, his aid was sought
and freely given. He sat on public platforms with Methodists,
Jews and Quakers. None spoke with more sincere patriotism,
more progressive spirit. Governor and Mayor regarded him
as friend.
On a social occasion he could be charming. When Balti-
moreans have some particularly important business to transact,
it is their custom to have a banquet. It is characteristic of
them that some of their greatest inspirations to public achieve
ment are born amid the gastronomic delights of the diamond-
back terrapin and the canvass-back duck. It grew to be a
familiar spectacle to see the Archbishop at the banquet board,
in the place of honor, at the right of the presiding officer. He
seldom remained to the end, and took no part in the purely
convivial aspect of the gathering. When he spoke, it was as
a patriot no less than a preacher, His habit of gracefully
fitting into his surroundings was nowhere more conspicuous
than at the social board* He opened conventions with prayer,
and reviewed parades from his bay-window.
His sermons in the Cathedral became one of the attractions
of the city. Non-Catholics as well as Catholics crowded the
spacious pews and aisles to hear him. Rarely he preached on
a controversial theme ; never with a sensationalism designed to
attract the unthinking. He felt that the Gospel itself was
strong enough to draw men, if it could be presented to them
with clearness and simplicity. He made no compromise with
truth, He palliated no sin because of the mightiness or the
lowliness of those who practiced it. He could unsparingly
condemn a grievous fault. He sustained his viewpoint from
94 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
that of the apostles, and often Protestants found more spiritual
sustenance in his discourses than in those of their own pastors.
In his visits to churches he made many converts. His
whole attitude was a powerful appeal to Protestants. On an
extremely hot Sunday in midsummer, while in Southern Mary
land, he asked the priest accompanying him to preach. At the
conclusion of the sermon, when the priest descended from
the pulpit, almost exhausted by a vigorous discourse on the
doctrine of absolution, he was surprised to see the Archbishop
ascend the steps and preach again, but on a very different
topic one which appealed alike to persons of all creeds.
"I thought you asked me to preach?" exclaimed the aston
ished clergyman, when the congregation had been dismissed.
"Did you not see," replied the Archbishop, with one of his
characteristic smiles, "that more than half the congregation
were Protestants? *
His labors were incessant. Men of the most robust physique
could hardly keep up with him. His health as he reached
the noon of vigorous manhood showed much improvement,
but his digestion remained weak, and at times he appeared
almost emaciated. On one occasion it was said of him that his
frame seemed barely substantial enough to hold the soul within.
Regularity of habit, prudence in diet, a characteristic optimism,
avoidance of the American sin of worry, and his habit of tak
ing daily a long and vigorous walk sustained him in his most
arduous activities.
Amid all the burdens which fell upon him, he practiced his
devotions, which occupied several hours every day, with unfail
ing regularity. He was up at six o clock every morning. Soon
afterward he said mass, and, after a light breakfast, was alert
for the business of the day. Callers were numerous. Some
came for religious consolation; others, for advice; still others,
to solicit alms, to invite his participation in public projects, to
HIS DOOR OPEN TO ALL. 95
urge his presence in churches. He denied himself to none.
He could turn from one to another with complete ease, as if
the last visitor were the first whom he had seen. The breadth
of his character and observation, together with the ready social
faculty which seemed to be instinct with him, gave him the
power of meeting almost all persons on a footing of con
geniality.
His purse at this time was not over full. Though he was
beginning to receive a considerable revenue from royalties on
"The Faith of Our Fathers," this went almost as quickly as it
came. He helped students with contributions, assisted the
poor, subscribed to worthy undertakings, was a patron of liter
ature and art. It was said of him that he was, perhaps, the
easiest man in Baltimore from whom to get a response to an
appeal for aid* With all his keen discrimination of character
and his power of reading men, kindness of heart predominated
in his impulses. His marvelous memory for names and faces,
and his extraordinary acquaintance contributed greatly to sw^lt
the number of his visitors. He could identify childwn by
their resemblance to their parents, and couples whom he had
married were his friends forever,
Distinguished foreigners, visiting America for purposes of
observation, made a practice of coming to Baltimore to call at
the house of the Archbishop, the primate of the American
Church. He could often speak to them in their own tongues.
Not a few of them conveyed their impressions of him in the
books which they subsequently wrote.
At his front door was usually an usher, who received the cards
of visitors and escorted them to one of the reception rooms on
the main floor of his residence. Often he was kept busy going
from one room to another, and it seemed almost like a public
reception. In a respite he would ascend the stairs to his study,
where he would write or dictate ; but at the next call he would
descend again, with patience unruffled and a cheerful cordiality
which made the last visitor feel thoroughly at home*
96 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
He dined about one o clock; then he rested a while, perhaps
received more callers, and about four o clock came the daily
walk or drive, when in the exhilaration of healthful exercise
his cares were forgotten. After supper he studied, or made
visits. At times he had a habit of dropping in on his parish
ioners or other friends, chatting half an hour, perhaps remain
ing for a cup of tea, and always the life of any party in which
he happened to be. Through all these busy hours were scattered
numerous devotional exercises. He spent more time reading
the Scriptures than perhaps any clergyman of his diocese, and
was always ready for the humblest duty of the priesthood.
Marriages, baptisms and funerals found him every ready, if the
time could be spared from his necessary episcopal duties. His
discourses to bridal couples were particularly happy, and many
of them kept his picture in their homes throughout life. The
sacredness of marriage, its responsibilities and duties, was a
favorite theme with him. He regarded this as the foundation
of the social structure, and his influence was unceasingly and
uncompromisingly bent toward maintaining the home life of
the people. He never failed, when occasion offered, to exalt
the nobility of wifehood, motherhood, womanhood* He valued
the judgment of women, as well as their devotion to the cause
of religion. In many a household he watched the home circle
spring up, and now and then, by a visit or a word of encour
agement, helped to strengthen its foundations.
Often he said high mass and preached on Sundays, and he
was foremost in Lenten devotions. Once every year he went
into retreat with the clergy of his diocese, While he could
adapt himself to circumstances with rare tact, he never lost
sight of his office as a minister of religion. He could laugh
over a game of marbles with a small boy, or discuss theology
with equal zest in a conference with a visiting archbishop,
A story is told of him by a friend who happened to see
some angry boys disputing over a baseball game and a slender
man standing in their midst trying to quiet them. On ap-
INTEREST IN REFORMATION OF YOUTH. 97
preaching, the friend was surprised to see that it was the
Archbishop. In a short time peace was restored and the game
proceeded.
He frequently visited the institutions for the reformation
of youth in Baltimore and its vicinity, speaking simple words
of encouragement and vigorous common sense to the boys and
girls. He did not believe in severe restrictions, though firm
ness he considered thoroughly necessary. His view was that
in almost every person, young or old, there is much of good,
which needs only to be awakened by proper influences. It has
been, perhaps, due as much to his personal guidance and fre
quent aid, as to any other cause, that the benevolent and re
formatory institutions maintained by Catholics in the Diocese
of Baltimore have taken a standard which has placed them con
spicuously in the front rank.
CHAPTER VIII.
THIRD PLENARY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE.
Archbishop Gibbons was near the noonday of his construc
tive activity when he embarked on one of the greatest projects
of his life the organization and guidance of the Third Ple
nary Council of Baltimore, over which he presided as Apostolic
Delegate. This notable gathering, which served as a model
for subsequent councils of the Church in Canada, Australia
and Ireland, was held in the Baltimore Cathedral from Novem
ber 9 to December 7, 1884.
The rapid growth of the American Church and the diversity
of its new problems led to the decision to convoke the prelates
for a general consideration of its needs. Since the Second
Plenary Council of Baltimore, held in 1866, many questions of a
highly important character had developed, simultaneously with
the amazing expansion of the American people. Waste lands in
the West, where only the Indian had roamed, or perhaps an
adventurous miner had strayed in search of sudden wealth,
had changed into prosperous and populous communities, which
afforded fertile fields for the activities of the Church. The
territory once embraced in the Louisiana Purchase, and subject
to the ecclesiastical laws of Spain and France by turns, had
become united by the railway and the telegraph with the older
communities of the East, in which precedent had been largely
obtained from the hierarchy of Great Britain. Still further
toward the Pacific, States and Territories had been organized
out of the immense region wrested from Mexico by the fortune
of war. Here, too, the customs were, in many instances, dif
ferent from those which prevailed in other parts of the nation,
and there was no longer such a separation by distance that
08
WORLD-WIDE ASPECT OF THE CHURCH. 99
uniformity was not essential. Not long before, the Archbishop
of St. Louis and the Bishop of San Francisco had rarely seen
the Archbishop of Baltimore, because of the great distances
and the physical obstacles which separated them; but now it
had become easy to assemble the whole hierarchy for effective
and concerted action.*
Wherever the Catholic Church goes, it organizes. From
the nature of things, its methods necessitate concentration of
authority and purpose. The mission which springs up in the
primeval grove is as much subject to the spiritual oversight of
the Supreme Pontiff as is the magnificent cathedral in one of
the capitals of Europe, Its worship is not left to chance, nor
circumstance, nor popular caprice; but must conform to the
ritual of the universal Church, as decreed by the fathers assem
bled in the plentitude of their authority
The priest may penetrate an unexplored country; he may
journey over wild mountains, or along streams where the un
tutored native has never seen a white man ; but he is bound as
closely by faith and discipline to the great ecclesiastical organi
zation of which he is a part as is the canon of a basilica in
Rome. The language in which he may celebrate the mysteries
of the mass is not the one which he learned from his mother,
not the one which may be spoken in the locality where he hap
pens to be, but the one which has formed the casket for the
deposit of Catholic faith from the days of the martyrs,
The United States in 1884 was still, In the eyes of Rome, a
missionary country, subject to the jurisdiction of the Congre
gation of the Propaganda, It had no comprehensive frame
work of canon law which would serve as an enduring basis for
the multiplication of its activities. The gifted doctors of the
Church in Europe, Asia and Africa had possessed such consti
tutions for their guidance from ancient times, modified to suit
conditions as they arose from era to era. Much had been ac-
* Memorial Volume, Thlr<3 JPUaary Council, pp*
100 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
complished by the first two plenary councils, which had assem
bled to deliberate upon the organization of the Church in
America, The task, however, was far from complete, and the
siecessity for its accomplishment was one of the chief reasons
which led to convoking the third council.
In a more conservative country, where population and social
and political development proceeded at a less furious pace,
many years might have elapsed before the comprehensive de
crees of the second council would have become obsolete in any
important particular. America had made precedent itself obso
lete. Its statesmen had been no more able than its leaders
in the religious world to penetrate the future. They had not
seen that, in little more than a century, three millions of people
would swell into a hundred millions. They had not known
that the progress of invention would irritate the slavery ques
tion into a national sore which could be healed only by the
knife. They had not seen that the rural communities of
America, in which the framers of the Declaration of Independ
ence expounded their sublime truths, would give place in a
short time to vast cities, more populous and powerful than
whole groups of independent States which had helped in times
gone by to sway the world.
At first, Archbishop Gibbons took a conservative view of the
proposal to hold a plenary council. At the instance of Cardi
nal McCloskey, Bishop Corrigan, of Newark, called on him
in January, 1882, to consult in reference to the expecliency of
summoning such a gathering. Cardinal McCloskey s own
views were rather adverse to it, and Archbishop Gibbons ex
pressed the opinion that it would not be expedient to hold a
council for some time to come. As a preliminary step, he
suggested that provincial councils might be held, or the bishops
of each province might assemble informally and consider what
subjects might be discussed in a plenary cotmciL
In time, as opinion among the American hierarchy crystal
lized, Leo XIII called a number e^f ; tibe, archbishops to Rome to
VISIT TO ROME IN 1883-84. 101
confer with him on the subject. Archbishop Gibbons left Bal
timore in October, 1883, for the Eternal City. The confer
ences there continued during November and part of the follow
ing month, and the state of the Church in this country was
carefully considered in the thorough manner characteristic of
Rome. Cardinal McCIoskey was in infirm health, and Leo,
having finally decided to convoke the council, designated the
Baltimore archbishop as Apostolic Delegate to preside over it
in his name.
Archbishop Gibbons returned to Baltimore in March, 1884.
He found that the clergy and laity had made extensive prepa
rations for a public reception, which he declined. In a sermon
at the Cathedral a few days later, he expressed his thanks for
the offer, but added :
"I am myself opposed to such public demonstrations, and though they
may be appropriate on some occasions, I felt that I had not the age nor
the merits to deserve such. It would have taken place in the midst of
Lent, and I would have felt very much mortified to consider myself con
ducted home in a procession of triumph at a time when the Church
directs our minds to the spectacle of our Saviour conducted to suffering
in a procession of shame."
The Archbishop, in the same discourse, spoke of his experi
ences in Rome, After saying that he had three private audi
ences with Leo XIII and two others in company with his
brother prelates, he drew a picture of tha;t pontiff which was
significant of their future relations.
"No one can spend a half hour in the presence of Leo XIII,"
he said, "without giving thanks to God for granting to His
Church so great a pontiff, and without being profoundly im
pressed with the breadth and elevation of sentiments that J&f
spire him. In my first interview he remarked to me : f l
severe and harsh measures; I dislike anathemas; I
appeal to the good sense and intelligence and heart of
world. As the vicar and servant of Christ, I desire to
all souls more closely to our common Master. To all I
debtor, I have the solicitude of all the churches of
102 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Asia, Africa, and especially of your own great and beloved
country, whose spiritual progress gives me such consolation/
"Notwithstanding his advanced age and delicate, I might say
emaciated, frame, the Pope is indefatigable in his labors. In
my first interview with him he informed me that he began his
audiences that morning at half-past eight o clock. They con
tinued until his frugal meal at one o clock, and were resumed
and lasted probably until nine o clock at night, I was informed
by a member of his household that he allows himself but little
repose, and that sometimes, when the city is buried in sleep/ the
aged pontiff is engaged until after midnight in writing his
masterly encyclicals or in doing some other good work in the
interests of the Christian commonwealth."
The Archbishop also spoke of the life of the cardinals >
his future associates saying that, "whatever may be the pomp
which surrounds them on public occasions, the Roman cardi
nals, especially those engaged in congregations, are the hardest
worked officials in the Eternal City, They are conspicuous
for their learning and piety, and lead simple lives in the sanc
tuary of their homes, and, some of them, even lives of great
austerity. If profound knowledge and clear insight into char
acter and good common sense and sterling virtue and un
wearied application to the duties of office form the essential ele
ments of prudent counselors, the Roman cardinals constitute
the most able senate of any deliberative body -existing in the
world."
Regarding his conferences at Rome, he said they were held
at the College of the Propaganda, under the presidency of
Cardinal Simeoni, assisted by Cardinals Franzelin and Jaco-
bini. They were characterized by "the most ample freedom of
discussion, joined with the most perfect harmony and good
feeling."
The Archbishop also dwelt on his observations of general
conditions abroad, and expressed a viewpoint which had al
ready become characteristic of him, when he said ;
FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 103
"The oftener I go to Europe, the longer I remain there, and
the more I study the political condition of its people, I return
home filled with greater consideration for our country and
more profoundly gratified that I am an American citizen.
When I contemplate the standing armies of over a million sol
diers in each of the principal countries of Europe; when I con
sider what an enormous drain these armies are on the re
sources of a country and what a frightful source of immoral
ity; when I consider that they are a constant menace to their
neighbors and an incentive to war, and when I consider that the
subject of war engages so much of the attention of the cabinets
of Europe; and when, on the other hand, I look at our own
country, with its 55,000,000 of inhabitants and its little army
of 25,000 men scattered along our frontiers, so that we might
travel from Maine to California without meeting a soldier or a
gendarme; and when I consider that, if need be, every citizen
is a soldier without being confined to barracks and is ready to
defend and to die for his country; when I consider that we
have no entangling alliances; when I reflect on our material
prosperity ; above all, when I consider the happy blending with
us of authority with civil and religious liberty; with all our
political corruption, I bless God for the favors he has vouch
safed us and I pray that he may continue to hold over us the
mantle of his protection."*
It was an immense task to prepare for a new plenary coun
cil Archbishop Gibbons showed his rare judgment of men by
selecting Dr. Dennis J. CXConnell as his assistant. He could
not have chosen an ecclesiastic better fitted by keen insight into
the workings of the universal Church and rare comprehension
of the true spirit of the American people to help him in the
undertaking. The archbishop himself was particularly adapted
by experience, no less than by ability, for his work, having
served as assistant chancellor at the Second Plenary Council of
Baltimore and having been a participant as bishop in the
*0<ithQUQ Afirror, March 22, 18S4,
104 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Vatican Council of 1870. He had seen the operations of the
Church in both Europe and America, and had studied her polity
at the fountain of the pontificate. Her great men had been his
counselors. The work was congenial to his natural bent, and
its prodigious labor did not deter him.
An outline was completed for numerous topics to be treated
by the council; and when his conferences in Rome were over,
the basis for all the deliberations of the prelates in Baltimore
had been accurately marked out. On his return home, he
applied himself to a continuance of his preparation for the
council. He was engaged on this arduous undertaking every
day up to the time for the gathering to assemble,
Soon after his return he issued a pastoral* on the confisca
tion of the American College by the Italian Government. The
college had been founded and maintained by contributions from
the American residents of Rome and the Catholics of this coun
try. The Government at Washington promptly protested
against its unwarranted seizure, and it was ultimately restored
to its rightful owners,
The work of Archbishop Gibbons in preparing for the coun
cil found a fitting climax in the deliberations of that body
Itself. It was natural that differences of opinion should de
velop, for its members represented diversified and widely sepa
rated communities. They spoke with that full freedom which
is permissible even in the precincts of the Vatican, and which,
in the clash of ideas, develops the vital spark that fuses the
predominant judgment of learning, experience and piety- The
ability and tact of Archbishop Gibbons were put to a severe
test, but seemed to respond more fully as greater demands were
made on them, When debaters like Ireland, of St. Paul ; Keane,
of Richmond; Spalding, of Peoria; Gilmour, of Cleveland;
Hennessy, of Dubuque, and Ryan, of Philadelphia, could not
agree, he found common ground on which all could stand.
Had his career been wholly different, and had he embarked on
* Cathedral
PRESIDING OVER THE COUNCIL. 105
the uncertain sea of politics, he would probably have attained
as conspicuous success as in the Church. He understood, with
rare comprehension of human nature, how to handle a large
deliberative gathering. He could say a word here* bestow a
smile there, express a doubt at the right moment, and seize the
psychological opportunity to press a point.
When the facts are considered, it is extraordinary that
unity could have been obtained among men of such strong
characteristics, whose opinions were inevitably influenced by
great differences of initial viewpoint. It was a "melting pot"
in which the diverse tendencies of the American people were
mingled; but, happily, the individual members of the gather
ing proved that they possessed within themselves resources
enough for the construction of great national ideas.
The council ended in complete -harmony ; and the venerable
Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis, wept at its close, as he
expressed the thanks of the prelates to the Apostolic Delegate
for the manner in which he had presided over their delibera
tions.* "More than half a century," said he, "has jpassed
since the First Plenary Council, when I stood beneath the -dome
of this Cathedral, a silent spectator of the deliberations of that
body. I had never seen a more sublime sight. It was not this
grand old building, nor the gorgeous vestments, nor the dulcet
strains of the music that inspired me. It was that assemblage
of men from all parts of ,the country, with different ideas and
sentiments, but with one common end in view the good, of
our Church,
"When Xerxes beheld his army of a million men standing
in their martial strength before him, he wept on reflecting that
not one of that mighty host would survive a century ; and so of
us, venerable Fathers, in half that time death shall claim us all/ 1
Tears flowed down the seams of his aged face as he referred
to the pleasant memories of the two former plenary councils*
QathoUo HfcrOr f December 18, 1884.
106 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Archbishop Gibbons was, naturally, moved to his inmost
depths by this closing scene. "Whatever success has attended
my part of the work/ he said, with characteristic modesty,
"I attribute, under God, to your kind forbearance and uniform
benevolence toward me. Mindful of the words of the apostle,
you have not despised my youth. I have witnessed the pro
ceedings of the greatest deliberative bodies in the world; I have
listened to debates in the House of Commons, the French
Chambers, and both Houses of Congress; I have attended
provincial, national and ecumenical councils; but never did I
witness more uniform courtesy in debate, more hearty acqui
escence in the opinions of the majority than in the Third Ple
nary Council of Baltimore.
"Venerable Fathers, we have met as bishops of a common
faith ; we part as brothers, bound by the closest ties of charity.
Though differing in nationality, in language, in habits, in
tastes, in local interests, we have met as members of the same
immortal episcopate, having one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all; and if the Holy Father, whose
portrait adorns our council chamber, could speak from the
canvas, well could he exclaim, Behold how good and how
pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
"The words you have spoken in council, like good seed, are
yet hidden from the eyes of men ; but they will one day arise
and bring forth fruit of sanctification. The decrees you have
formulated will foster discipline and piety; they will quicken
the faith and cheer the hearts of millions of Catholics.
"This is the last time that we shall assemble under the dome
of this venerable Cathedral, with the portraits of God s saints
looking down upon us. The venerable Archbishop has re
minded us of our short tenure of life; but we are immortal!
God grant that the scene of today may be a presage of our
future reunion in the temple above, not made with hands, in
the company of God s saints, where, clothed in white robes
FOUNDATION OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. 107
and with palms in our hands, we shall sing benediction and
honor and glory to our God forever/ *
The decrees of the council were taken -to Rome by Dr.
O Connell and several of the American bishops. They were
signed by 14 archbishops, 61 bishops or their representatives,
6 abbots and one general of a religious order. The decrees
were approved and returned without material changes, and the
highest praise was bestowed upon Archbishop Gibbons for the
manner in which he had guided the assemblage of prelates.
It was, indeed, a monumental work, and the Church through
out the world was quick to recognize it.
One of the principal outcomes of this council, as viewed in
the light of later, events, was the foundation of the Catholic
University of America. The higher education of the Ameri
can clergy and of Catholic youth had long engaged the deep
attention of Archbishop Gibbons and other far-seeing mem
bers of the hierarchy. Notwithstanding the multiplication of
schools for the advanced training of priests, many of them
were still forced to go to the great universities abroad, and they
returned, in some cases, with ideas which were not suited to
the characteristics of the flocks they served. The develop
ment of a thoroughly American clergy, one in faith and dis
cipline with their brethren throughout the world, but in touch
with the spirit and aspirations of their own people, was a
favorite project with the Baltimore Archbishop and other dis
cerning men in the Church,
Naturally, the Church became the shepherd of a large por
tion of the immigrants from countries where English was not
spoken, and she consistently pursued the policy of selecting
priests for these people who could speak their own language,
who could sympathize with and help them in their homes on
an intimate footing. But the greatest obstacle of all was that
a number of the clergy who served English-speaking congrega-
* Memorial Volume, Third Plenary Council, pp. 65-67.
108 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
tions were of foreign birth and training. In part, this could
not have been avoided, as the Catholic Church insists upon a
rigorous schooling of her priests, in accordance with the de
crees of the Council of Trent and of the Vatican Council; they
could not be content with the moderate education which often
sufficed for clergymen of some Protestant faiths. Until the
birth of the American republic, practically all the priests who
labored in English-speaking America were foreigners. Almost
simultaneously with the foundation of the hierarchy in the per
son of Bishop Carroll, the devoted fathers of St. Sulpice had
come from Paris to found in Baltimore a college for the train
ing of priests. This was, naturally, under French influences
for many years. As other schools developed, they were all of
European origin, and it had been difficult to send forth for
ordination Catholic ministers of religion who had been asso
ciated with no educational training except that of their own
country.
In colonial times the American priesthood had a French
tinge, just as the priesthood of the Church of England had an
English origin. Later, when the wave of Irish immigration
set in, the priests were largely of Irish birth ; and as Germans
began to swarm to the shores of America, there was another
introduction of foreign influence.
Archbishop Gibbons, a native American, an intense admirer
of the land of his birth, an optimist regarding the American
people, felt that this should be changed. While a priest could
execute his Divine mission without being one in language or
social environment with the recipients of his ministrations, it
was far better to have an American clergy for Americans.
It was also highly important to have a cultured clergy men
who, while able to penetrate among the homes of the poor, to
carry their evangel into the nurseries of vice and degradation,
could also meet the higher types of the people on a footing of
perfect equality. Tens of thousands of Catholics were men
and women of culture, refined in their social instincts, moving
CAPSTONE OF AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. 109
in the best circles of city, town and country. The priests minis-
tiring to them should have some polish, some versatility of
education and association, some measure of the impulses of
those with whom they came in contact.
In an incredibly short time a wonderful system of Catholic
education had been established throughout the United States.
Still, it needed a capstone. American universities, up to 1876,
had been little more than advanced colleges ; but with the estab
lishment of the Johns Hopkins University, at Baltimore, in the
centennial year, European methods of post-graduate education
were introduced, and soon the whole American system of higher
culture was being shifted to this base. It was no longer the
under-graduate, but the post-graduate, work of an educational
system which faithfully expressed its essential character. The
one thing needed to surmount the structure already raised by
the Catholic Church was the active help of devoted and wealthy
laymen in founding a university where the loftiest ideals of the
Church for the training of her priesthood and laity should be
fitly expressed. At first this was only a dream. At the Sec
ond Plenary Council of Baltimore the question was seriously
debated, whether the time had not come to establish a univer
sity; but means were lacking, and it was felt that the mo
ment was not opportune to embark satisfactorily upon this
undertaking* There was unanimity of opinion among the
prelates who. then expressed themselves on the subject that the
day was not far distant when the university could be founded,
and they resolved always to keep in sight this climax of their
educational efforts.
Bishop Spalding was the apostle of the project A Kentuck-
ian by birth, he had studied at Mount St. Mary s College, Em-
mi tsburg, Md., and also in Cincinnati; but to obtain the ample
training which he sought for his life work, he had been com*
pelled to spend five years at Louvain.* He saw the grievousi
need for a great university in America, and he early embarkecj
* R*lly, Collection* to the Lite of Cardinal Gibbons, Vol. 1, p. IB.
110 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
on a life of effort to bring about a realization of this fond hope.
His brilliant talents and the ardor of youth combined to equip
him admirably for his mission In 1882 he visited Rome and
obtained the papal approval for the plan of organizing the
university. Archbishop Gibbons, and the other prelates who
met in Rome in the autumn of 1883 to frame the outlines for
the work of the Third Plenary Council, discussed the project
with eager hopes, and resolved to embrace it in their program.
When the council met, Bishop Spalding was able to announce
a triumph. He presented an offer from Miss Mary Gwendo
line Caldwell of $300,000 to form the nucleus for a university
fund. Her father, William Shakespeare Caldwell, had in
herited a large fortune, which he increased by his own business
skill. While living in Richmond, Va., as we have previously
seen, he had munificently endowed the Little Sisters of the
Poor, and bestowed with open hand other benefactions on the
Church.*
The offer was gladly accepted, and the council appointed a
board of trustees to take charge of the university project.
Archbishop Gibbons headed this board, and for many years
devoted himself with unceasing solicitude and activity to the
realization of the plan. An appeal was issued to the Catholics
of the United States to provide the means for the endowment
of eight professorships, with which it was decided that the
university could begin its work, and also to erect the necessary
buildings. On all sides the idea was welcomed. In a short
time an admirable group of buildings had been erected at
Washington, and the aspirations of years were bearing abun
dant fruit.f
Provision for the careful government of the Church was
notable in the other acts of the council.$ It was declared that
when a see became vacant, the archbishop should assemble the
f Rtordan, in the Catholic Church In the United States of America, Vol. II, p 35.
}Acta * Daorete Cone. Plen. Ill (Baltimore, 18S6).
DECREES OF THE COUNCIL. Ill
consultors and irremovable rectors of the diocese, and they
should choose three names to be forwarded to Rome and to
the other bishops of the province. The bishops of the province,
under the presidency of the archbishop, were to meet and dis
cuss the candidates; if they desired, they might reject all the
names proposed and substitute others, but must give their
reasons for the change in forwarding their recommendation to
Rome, where the pontiff was to make the final selection.
It was recommended that there should be six diocesan con-
suitors, but two would suffice. Half of these were to be
chosen by the bishop at his own option; the other half, after
nomination by the clergy. The advice of these consultors
should be asked by the clergy regarding the holding of a dio
cesan synod, dividing a parish, committing a parish to a re
ligious society, and in transactions relating to Church property
where the sum involved was more than $5,000. Consultors
were to hold office three years, and could not be removed except
for grave reasons. Each bishop was to appoint six examiners
of diocesan clergy. They were to examine the junior clergy
and the candidates for irremovable rectorships.
A parish, in order to have an irremovable rector, must pos
sess a proper church, a school for boys and girls, and stable
revenues for the support of priest, church and school. In
each diocese every tenth rector should be irremovable, if the
needed conditions obtained* A candidate for such a post must
have been in the ministry ten years and have shown himself a
satisfactory administrator in spiritual and temporal affairs*
The examination for irremovable rectorships must take place
before the bishop or vicar-general and three examiners, Each
candidate was required to answer questions on dogmatic and
moral theology, liturgy and canon law, and to give specimens
of catechetical exposition and preaching.
Priests ordained for a diocese were bound by oath to remain
in it. If an alien priest brought satisfactory testimonials from
a former bishop, he might be admitted only after a probation
112 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
of from three to five years. Infirm clergy were to be cared
for. Unworthy priests, it was decreed, had no just claims to
support, but, if they wished to amend, a house governed by
regulars should be provided for them.
All priests should make a spiritual retreat once a year, or at
least every two years. They should give themselves to solid
reading and study, and avoid conduct that could raise the least
suspicion of evil.
In all dioceses of the United States, it was ordered, there
were to be the following six feasts of obligation and no others :
The Immaculate Conception, Christmas, Circumcision of Our
Lord (New Year s Day), Ascension, Assumption and All
Saints 3 Day. The faithful were exhorted to a proper observ
ance of Sunday. Music in church should accord with the
sacredness of the time and place.
As the Church considers marriage one of the seven sacra
ments, it must be administered by a duly authorized priest.
Mixed marriages were not to be contracted unless it were prom
ised that the Catholic party to the union was in no danger of
being turned from the Church and would strive to convert the
non-Catholic party. Promises must also be given that the chil
dren of the union were to be brought up as Catholics. No dis
pensation from these obligations was permitted.
Preparatory seminaries for the education of clerics were to
be organized. The students should be taught Christian doctrine,
English, and at least one other modern language, according to
the necessities of the diocese. They must learn to speak and
write Latin, and instruction in Greek was also to be given*
The teaching was to embrace the usual branches of profane
learning, including the natural sciences, besides music and the
Gregorian chant. Care must be taken in admitting candidates
to the greater seminaries, and they must be zealously trained in
virtue and learning. They were to take two years work in
philosophy and four years in theology. In theology were to
PRIESTHOOD AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS. 113
be included the dogmatic and moral branches of the subject,
biblical exercises, church history, canon law, liturgy and sacred
eloquence. Great care must be taken in the appointment of
the spiritual directors and the professors of the seminaries.
Clerical students must spend their vacations in a manner be
coming their profession.
For five years after ordination priests must take an exami
nation every year in Scripture, dogmatic and moral theology,
canon law, Church history and liturgy. Priests having the
care of souls were to attend ecclesiastical meetings for the
consideration of questions of doctrine and discipline; such
meetings were to be held four times yearly in urban and twice
yearly in rural districts.
Parochial schools were declared to be an absolute necessity,
and pastors were directed to establish them. Parents must
send their children to such schools, unless the bishop judged
that there was sufficient reason for sending them elsewhere*
It was held to be desirable that instruction in the schools should
be free. Colleges and academies for the higher education of
youth trained in parochial schools were to be encouraged by
all possible means,
The council appointed a commission to prepare a catechism
for general use, which was made obligatory after its publica
tion. Another commission framed, with exacting care and the
labor of years, a manual of prayers, which is a model of its
kind and is the standard for American Catholics. Still an
other commission was appointed to aid the missions among the
Indians and negroes.
Regarding secret societies, it was decreed that if Rome had
not condemned a particular one, a commission composed of all
the archbishops of the country was to decide whether or not
it properly came under the laws relating to forbidden organiza
tions. If the archbishops could not agree, the matter was to
114 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
be referred to Rome. This point later proved to be of the
highest importance in the Knights of Labor controversy.
The bishop was decreed to be the guardian and supreme
administrator of ecclesiastical property. In all churches some
seats must be provided for the poor. Warning was given re
garding abuses incident to such means of raising money as pic
nics, fairs and excursions. Balls for religious purposes were
not to be given.
Each diocese was to have an episcopal tribunal. In dis
ciplinary cases it was to consist of a judge, a fiscal procurator,
a diocesan attorney, an attorney for the accused and a chancel
lor. An auditor and a notary might be added. In matri
monial cases the officers of the tribunal were to be an
auditor, a defender of the marriage tie and a notary; the inter
ested persons might employ advocates.
The pastoral letter issued by the Fathers of the Council
at the close of their sessions expressed clearly the objects which
they had sought to accomplish, as well as defined briefly their
principal decrees. The influence of Archbishop Gibbons was
plainly seen in a number of its most important declarations.
Perhaps most significant of all was its definition of the har
mony between ^the Catholic Church and the American people.
On this point the following extract may be quoted :*
"We think we can claim to be acquainted with the laws,
institutions and spirit of the Catholic Church, and with the
laws, institutions and spirit of our country; and w-e emphat
ically declare that there is no antagonism between them. A
Catholic finds himself at home in the United States ; for the
influence of his Church has constantly been exercised ipt behalf
of individual rights and popular liberties. And the right-
minded American nowhere finds himself more at home than in
the Catholic Church, for nowhere else can he breathe more
freely that atmosphere of Divine truth, which alone can make
him free.
* Memorial Volume, Third Plenary Council, Part* 8*
RELIGION AND THE STATE, 115
"We repudiate with earnestness the assertion that we need to
lay aside any of our devotedness to our Church, to be true
Americans; the insinuation that we need to abate any of our
love for our country s principles and institutions, to be faithful
Catholics. To argue that the Catholic Church is hostile to our
great Republic, because she teaches that there is no power but
from God; 7 because, back of the events which led to the for
mation of the Republic she sees the Providence of God leading
to that issue, and back of our country s laws the authority of
God as their sanction this is evidently so illogical and contra
dictory an accusation, that we are astonished to hear it ad
vanced by persons of ordinary intelligence. We believe that
our country s heroes were the instruments of the God of Na
tions in establishing this home of freedom; to both the Al
mighty and to His instruments in the work we look with grate*
ful reverence; and to maintain the inheritance of freedom
which they have left us, should it ever which God forbid
be imperiled, our Catholic citizens will be found to stand for
ward, as one man, ready to pledge anew their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor/
"No less illogical would be the notion, that there is aught in
the free spirit of our American institutions incompatible with
perfect docility to the Church of Christ. The spirit of Ameri
can freedom is not one of anarchy or license. It essentially
involves love of order, respect for rightful authority and obedi
ence to just laws. There is nothing in the character of the
most liberty-loving American which could hinder his reveren
tial submission to the Divine authority of our Lord, or to the
like authority delegated by Him to His Apostles and His
Church, Nor are there in the world more devoted adherents
of the Catholic Church, the See of Peter and the Vicar of
Christ, than the Catholics of the United States. Narrow, in
sular, national views and jealousies concerning ecclesiastical
authority and Church organization may have sprung naturally
enough from the selfish policy of certain rulers and nations in
116 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
by-gone times; but they find no sympathy in the spirit of the
true American Catholic. His natural instincts, no less than
his religious training, would forbid him to submit in matters
of faith to the dictation of the state or to any merely human
authority whatsoever. He accepts the religion and the Church
that are from God, and he knows well that these are universal,
not national or local for all the children of men, not for any
special tribe or tongue. We glory that we are, and with God s
blessing shall continue to be, not the American church, nor the
church of the United States, nor a church in any other sense
exclusive or limited, but an integral part of the one holy Cath
olic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, which is the Body
of Christ, in which there is no distinction of classes and nation
alities in which all are one in Christ Jesus/
The fathers stated that one of their first cares had been to
provide for the education of aspirants to the priesthood. "It
has always been the Church s endeavor/ says the pastoral
letter, "that her clergy should be eminent in learning, for she
has always considered that nothing less than this is required by
their sacred office of guarding and dispensing Divine truth.
The lips of the priest shall keep knowledge/ says the Most
High, and the people shall seek the law at his mouth/ This is
true at all times ; for no advance in secular knowledge, no dif
fusion of popular education, can do away with the office of the
teaching ministry, which Our Lord has declared shall last for
ever.
"In every age it is and shall be the duty of God s priests lo
proclaim the salutary truths which our Heavenly Father has
given to the world through his Divine Son; to present them
to each generation in the way that will move minds and
hearts to embrace and love them ; to defend them, when neces
sary, against every attack of error, From this it is obvious
that the priest should have a wide acquaintance with every
department of learning that has a bearing on religious truth.
Hence in our age, when so many misleading theories are put
PREPARATION FOR THE PRIESTHOOD. 117
forth on every side, when every department qf natural truth
and fact is actively explored for objections against revealed
religion, it is evident how extensive and thorough should be the
knowledge of the minister of the Divine Word, that he may be
able to show forth worthily the beauty, the superiority, the
necessity of the Christian religion, and to prove that there is
nothing in all that God has made to contradict anything that
God has taught.
"Hence the priest who has the noble ambition of attaining
to the high level of his holy office, may well consider himself a
student all his life; and of the leisure hours which he can find
amid the duties of his ministry, he will have very few that he
can spare for miscellaneous reading, and none at all to waste.
And hence, too, the evident duty devolving on us, to see that
the course of education in our ecclesiastical colleges and semi
naries be as perfect as it can be made. During the century of
extraordinary growth now closing, the care of the Church in
this country has been to send forth as rapidly as possible holy,
zealous, hard-working priests, to supply the needs of the multi
tudes calling for the ministrations of religion, She has not, on
that account, neglected to prepare them for their Divine work,
as her numerous and admirable seminaries testify; but the
course of study was often more rapid and restricted than she
desired. At present our improved circumstances make it prac
ticable both to lengthen and widen the course, and for this the
council has duly provided/
The question of popular education, which had been fully dis
cussed by the councils treated of in the pastoral letter as one of
supreme importance* The declarations of this council are par
ticularly noteworthy as furnishing the basis on which the
school question was afterward worked out by American Cath
olics,
"Popular education/ the letter declares, "has always been
a chief object of the Church s care; in fact, it is not too xpuch
to say that the history of civilization and education is the his-
H8 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
tory of the Church s work In the rude ages, when semi-
barbarous chieftains boasted of their illiteracy, she succeeded
in diffusing that love of learning which covered Europe with
schools and universities; and tKus from the barbarous tribes of
the early Middle Ages she built up the civilized nations of
modern times. Even subsequent to the religious dissensions
of the sixteenth century, whatever progress has been made in
education is mainly due to the impetus which she had previ
ously given. In our country, notwithstanding the many diffi
culties attendant on first beginnings and unexampled growth,
we already find her schools, academies and colleges everywhere,
built and sustained by voluntary contributions, even at the cost
of great sacrifices, and comparing favorably with the best edu
cational institutions in the land.
"These facts abundantly attest the Church s desire for popu
lar instruction. The beauty of truth, the refining and eleva
ting influences of knowledge, are meant for all, and she wishes
them to be brought within the reach of all. Knowledge en
larges our capacity both for self -improvement and for promo
ting the welfare of our fellow-men; and in so noble a work
the Church wishes every hand to be busy. * Knowledge, too, is
the best weapon against pernicious errors. It is only a little
teaming* that is a dangerous thing/ In days like ours, when er
ror is so pretentious and aggressive, every one needs to be as
completely armed as possible with sound knowledge not only
the clergy, but the people also that they may be able to with
stand the noxious influences of popularized irreligion. In the
great coming combat between truth and error, between faith
and agnosticism, an important part of the fray must be borne
by the laity, and woe to them if they are not well prepared!
And if, in the olden days of vassalage and serfdom, the Church
honored every individual, no matter how humble his position,
and labored to give him the enlightenment that would qualify
.him for future responsibilities, much more now, in the era
of popular rights and liberties, when every individual is an
CATHOLIC VIEW OF EDUCATION. 119
active and influential factor in the body politic, does she desire
that all should be fatted by suitable training for an intelligent
and conscientious discharge of the important duties that will
devolve upon them.
"Few, if any, will deny that a sound civilization must de
pend upon sound popular education. But education, in order
to be sound and to produce beneficial results, must develop
what is best in man, and make him not only clever, but good.
A one-sided education will develop a one-sided life; and such a
life will surely topple over, and so will every social system that
is built up of such lives. True civilization requires that not
only the physical and intellectual, but also the moral and relig
ious well-being of theupeople should be promoted, and at least
with equal care. Take away religion from a people, and moral
ity would soon follow ; morality gone, even their physical con
dition would ere long degenerate into corruption, which breeds
decrepitude, while their intellectual attainments would only
serve as a light to guide them to greater depths of vice and ruin.
"This has been so often demonstrated in the history of the
past, and is, in fact, so self-evident, that one is amazed to find
any difference of opinion about it. A civilization without re
ligion would be a civilization of the struggle for existence and
the survival of the fittest/ in which cunning and strength
would become the substitutes for principle, virtue, conscience
and duty. As a matter of fact, there never has been a civili
zation worthy of the name without religion ; and from the facts
of history the laws of human nature can easily be inferred.
"Hence education, in order to foster civilization, must fos
ter religion. But many, unfortunately, while avowing that
religion should be the light and the atmosphere of the home
and of the Church, are content to see it excluded from the
school, and even advocate as the best school system that which
necessarily excludes religion. Few surely will deny that child
hood and youth are the periods of life when the character
ought especially to be subjected to religious influences. Nor
L!F 0$ CA&DiNAL GIBSONS.
can we ignore the palpable fact that the school system is an
important factor in the forming of childhood and youth so
important that its influence often outweighs that of home and
Church.
"It cannot, therefore, be desirable or advantageous that re
ligion should be excluded from the school. On the contrary,
it ought there to be one of the chief agencies for molding the
young life to all that is true and virtuous and holy. To shut
religion out of the school and keep it for home and the Church,
is, logically, to train up a generation that will consider religion
good for home and the Church, but not for the practical busi
ness of real life. But a more false and pernicious notion could
not be imagined. Religion, in order to elevate a people, should
inspire their whole life and rule their relations with one an
other. A life is not dwarfed, but ennobled, by being lived in
the presence of God. Therefore, the school, which principally
gives the knowledge fitting for practical life, ought to be pre
eminently under the holy influence of religion. From the
shelter of home and school the youth must soon go out into
the busy ways of trade or traffic or professional practice. In
all these, the principles of religion should animate and di
rect him. But he cannot expect to learn these principles in the
workshop or the office, or the counting-room. Therefore, let
him be well and thoroughly imbued with them by the joint
influences of home and school before he is launched out on the
dangerous sea of life,
"All denominations of Christians are now awakening to this
great truth, which the Catholic Church has never ceased to
maintain. Reason and experience are forcing them to recog
nize that the only practical way to secure a Christian people is
to give the youth a Christian education. The avowed enemies
of Christianity in some European countries are banishing re
ligion from the schools, in order, gradually, to eliminate it from
among the people. In this they are logical, and we may well
profit by the lesson. Henoe the cry for Christian education is
DEVELOPMENT OF PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, 121
going up from all religious bodies throughout the land. And
this is no narrowness and sectarianism on their part; it is an
honest and logical endeavor to preserve Christian truth and
morality among the people by fostering religion in the young.
"Nor is it any antagonism to the State; on the contrary, it is
an honest endeavor to give to the State better citizens, by mak
ing them better Christians, The friends of Christian educa
tion do not condemn the state for not imparting religious in
struction in the public schools as they are now organized ; be
cause they well know it does not lie within the province of the
state to teach religion. They simply follow their conscience
by sending their children to denominational schools, where re
ligion can have its rightful place and influence,
"Two objects, therefore, dear brethren, we have in view
to multiply our schools, and to perfect them- We must multi
ply them till every Catholic child in the land shall have within
its reach the means of education. There is still much to do
ere this be attained. There are still thousands of Catholic
children in the United States deprived of the benefit of a Cath
olic school Pastors and parents should not rest till this defect
be remedied. No parish is complete till it has schools adequate
to the needs of its children, and the pastor and peopk of such
a parish should feel that they have not accomplished their en
tire duty until the want is supplied*
"But, then, we must also perfect our schools* We repudiate
the idea that the Catholic school need be in any respect in
ferior to any other school whatsoever. And if hitherto, in
some places, our people have acted on the principle that it is
better to have an imperfect Catholic school than to have none,
let them now push their praiseworthy ambition still further,
and not relax their efforts till their schools be elevated to the
highest educational excellence. And we implore parents not
to "hasten to take their children from school, but to give them
all the time and all the advantages by which they have the
122 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
capacity to profit, so that in after life their children may Vise
them blessed/ "
Another portion of the pastoral letter which was destined
to be frequently referred to in impending controversies was
that relating to forbidden societies. It should be remembered
that these decrees were to be binding, unless revoked by a sub
sequent council. "One of the most striking characteristics of
our times," says the letter, "is the universal tendency to band
together in societies for all sorts of purposes. This tendency
is the natural outgrowth of an age of popular rights and repre
sentative institutions. It is also in accordance with the spirit
of the Church, whose aim, as indicated by her name Catholic,
is to unite all mankind in brotherhood. It is consonant also
with the spirit of Christ, who came to break down all walls of
division, and to gather all in the one family of the one Heavenly
Father.
"From the hilltop of her Divine mission and her world
wide experience, she sees events and their consequences far
more clearly than they who are down in the tangled plain of
daily life. She has seen associations that were once praise
worthy become pernicious by change of circumstances. She
has seen others which won the admiration of the world by their
early achievements corrupted by power or passion, or evil guid
ance, and she has been forced to condemn them. She has be
held associations which had their origin in the spirit of the
ages of faith transformed by lapse of time and loss of faith,
and the manipulation of designing leaders, into the open or hid
den enemies of religion and human weal.
"Thus our Holy Father, Leo XIII, has lately shown that
the Masonic and kindred societies although the offspring of
the ancient Guilds, which aimed at sanctifying trades and
tradesmen with the blessings of religion ; and, although retain
ing, perhaps, in their ritual much that tells of the religious
ness of their origin, and although in some countries still
professing entire friendliness toward the Christian religion
CONDEMNATION OF SECRET SOCIETIES. 123
have, nevertheless, already gone so far, in many countries, as to
array themselves in avowed hostility against Christianity and
against the Catholic Church as its embodiment, so that they
virtually aim at substituting a world-wide fraternity of their
own for the universal brotherhood of Jesus Christ, and at dis
seminating mere naturalism for the supernatural revealed re
ligion bestowed upon mankind by the Saviour of the world.
He has shown, too, that, even in countries where they are as yet
far from acknowledging such purposes, they, nevertheless, have
in them the germs which, under favorable circumstances, would
inevitably blossom forth in similar results.
"The Church, consequently, forbids her children to have
any connection with such societies, because they are either an
open evil to be shunned, or a hidden danger to be avoided. She
would fail in her duty if she did not speak the word of warn
ing, and her children would equally fail in theirs if they did
not heed it.
"Whenever, therefore, the Church has spoken authorita
tively with regard to any society, her decision ought to be final
for every Catholic. He ought to know that the Church has not
acted hastily, or unwisely, or mistakenly; he should be con
vinced that any worldly advantages which he might derive
from the membership of such society would be a poor substi
tute for the membership, the sacraments and the blessings of
the Church of Christ; he should have the courage of his re
ligious convictions, and stand firm to faith and conscience.
But if he be inclined or asked to join a society on which the
Church has passed no sentence, then let him, as a reasonable
and Christian man, examine into it carefully, and not join the
society until he is satisfied of its lawful character.
There is one characteristic which is always a strong pre
sumption against a society, and that is secrecy. Our Divine
Lord Himself has laid down the rule : Every one that dqeth
evil, hateth the light and cometh not to the light, that his works
may not be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the
124 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
light that his works may be made manifest, because they are
done in God/ When, therefore, associations veil themselves
in secrecy and darkness, the presumption is against them, and
it rests with them to prove that there is nothing evil in them.
"But if any society s obligation be such as to bind its members
to secrecy, even when rightly questioned by competent author
ity, then such a society puts itself outside the limits of ap
proval ; and no one can be a member of it and at the same time
be admitted to the sacraments of the Catholic Church. The
same is true of any organization that binds its members to a
promise of "blind obedience to accept in advance and to obey
whatsoever orders, lawful or unlawful, may emanate from
its chief authorities ; because such a promise is contrary both
to reason and conscience. And if a society works or plots,
either openly or in secret, against the Church, or against lawful
authorities, then to be a member of it is to be excluded from
the membership of the Catholic Church/ *
The council sent a letter of sympathy to the bishops of Ger
many, whose people were then groaning under the May laws.
The Archbishop of Cologne replied, recounting the difficulties
of the Church in his own country, and adding : "We congratu
late you, venerable brethren in the Lord, because in your repub
lic the Church rejoices in the fullness of liberty, so essential
to her and her due by right Divine/ 1
* Memorial Volume, Third Plenary Council.
CHAPTER IX.
CREATED A CARDINAL.
The discerning judgment of Rome in selecting the Arch
bishop of Baltimore to pilot the Third Plenary Council on
its difficult path was fully sustained by the outcome. Now
that the council had erased ecclesiastical complexities due to
the diverse racial and political origin of the American people
and had given the Church in the United States a complete and
unified organization on which might be made the impress of a
truly national character, the field of opportunity immensely
broadened. Social and economic questions, always the deepest
which move a nation, were beginning to throb. It was no
longer true that all Americans might find work. Men were
crowding to the cities, where stupendous aggregations of cap
ital were tightening their grip on the means of employment.
Labor was organizing to struggle for its own interests ; finan
cial exploitation threatened panic in the midst of prosperity.
Immigration was unprecedentedly large. The assimilative
power of the American Church was to be tested, no less than
that of the body politic; for both it was to be a time of trial.
Cardinal McCloskey died October 10, 1885, having been a
member of the Church s most exalted council ten years. Arch
bishop Gibbons was selected to preach the funeral sermon in
St. Patrick s Cathedral, New York, on which occasion he thus
aptly compared the Cardinal and his famous predecessor :
"McCloskey, meek, gentle, retiring from the world, reminds us of
Moses with uplifted hands praying on the mountains; Hughes, active*
bold, vigorous, aggressive, was, as It were, another Joshua fighting In
the valley, armed with the Christian panoply of faith, truth, Justice."
When, in time, speculation turned to the choice of a
cardinal, it soon became evident that, except for local
125
126 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
ences, Archbishop Gibbons was the favorite of prelates and
people. Friends of Archbishop Corrigan, who had been ele
vated from the Bishopric of Newark to the See of New York,
hoped that he might receive the honor; or that, if a red hat
were bestowed elsewhere, the representation of America in the
Sacred College might be increased, and New York, the most
populous Catholic diocese in the world, might continue to have
a resident cardinal also. In Boston, the wise and clear-sighted
Archbishop Williams was considered worthy of the highest
place in the gift of the papacy.
Leo XIII, always keenly observant, did not delay his choice
long. Private advices from Rome soon announced that the
elevation of Archbishop Gibbons had been finally decided upon.
When the archbishop heard of these, he exclaimed :
"Should the report be verified, may God give me, as he gave
to his servant David, an humble heart, that I may bear the
honor with becoming modesty and a profound sense of my
own unworthiness."
On May 18 he received from Cardinal Jacobini, Papal Secre
tary of State, the biglietto, an official document informing him
of the Pontiff s intention to raise him to the cardinalatial dig
nity at the next consistory.
"The Sovereign Pontiff," wrote Cardinal Jacobini, "wishes
in a particular manner to attest the high esteem and considera
tion he has for the virtues which adorn your Grace, and for the
many claims you already have on account of your merits, as
well as to increase the luster of the Metropolitan See of Balti
more, first among all the churches of the vast republic of the
United States, and on that account adorned with the honorable
title of primatial see/ 1 *
Baltimore has sometimes been compared, in certain rather
striking aspects, to a European city, and one instance in which
the parallel might be traced is the warm-hearted interest and
pride with which the people, as a whole, regard the Catholic
* Letter of Cardinal Jacobini to Archbishop Gibbons, May 4, 1886 (Cathedral
Arcnives) ,
PREPARING FOR HIS ELEVATION. 127
archbishopric and the old Cathedral. Perhaps there is in this
an echo of the story of St. Mary s and the beginnings of the
American hierarchy in the days of Carroll; but there is no
doubt that the lofty character of an influential portion of the
Catholic laity from early times has had much to do with the
feeling. Governor and mayor, merchant and laborer, talked
with eagerness of the approaching ceremonial. The novelty
of seeing in a democratic community the ancient rite of the in
vestiture of a cardinal excited popular expectation to a high
pitch. The city prepared for a fete and wrote the name of
Gibbons on the roll of its most distinguished sons.
The consistory at which the new cardinal was created was
held in Rome June 7 ; twenty-three days later would come the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
Would the messengers of the papal court arrive in time for a
double celebration? Baltimore began to take an eager interest
in this also, and lay committees which were making ready for
a gala occasion redoubled their efforts.
Monsignor Straniero, the pontifical representative bearing
the red zuchetta and biretta, accompanied by Count Muccioli,
of the Noble Guards, and Rev. Thomas S. Lee, rector of the
Baltimore Cathedral, who had been a guest of the American
College in Rome, started for Liverpool promptly.
"Present to Cardinal Gibbons our affectionate paternal bene
diction/ 7 said Leo to them at parting. "We remember him with
the most cordial esteem, and believe we could not confer the hat
on a more worthy prelate. We cordially hope that during his
cardinalate our most holy faith may be blessed by great in
crease of strength among the Catholics of the United States."
A fast steamer bore the messengers to New York, and they
landed on American soil June 21. Hurrying by train to Balti
more, a large gathering of clergy and laity met them at the
railroad station. That evening at the archiepiscopal residence,
on Charles street, Count Muccioli, in clattering sword and bril
liant uniform, giving a picturesque reminder of the temporal
128 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
power, presented the red ztichetta to the new prince of the
Church; and Monsignor Straniero, who bore the biretta to be
conferred June 30, announced his mission in the presence of a
distinguished assemblage.
Prelates, priests and laymen began to crowd into the city
for the coming event. By the thirtieth nearly the whole Ameri
can hierarchy had assembled. On the morning of that day,
after an ecclesiastical procession, witnessed by an immense
crowd of people, the venerable Archbishop Kenrick, of St.
Louis, as the Pontiff s representative, bestowed the red biretta
On Archbishop Gibbons in the Cathedral, where Mgr. Ken-
rick s famous brother, then Archbishop of Baltimore, had or
dained the young priest a quarter of a century before.*
In no other American city, and indeed, in few cities of the
world, can ecclesiastical processions be witnessed comparable
with those in Baltimore. Though the people are accustomed
to them, they regard each new one with intense interest. For
the elevation of their cardinal, a spectacle of this kind unprece
dented in the United States was arranged. On account of
its rarity and picturesqueness, it deserves a brief description.
First, came a detachment of policemen; then, the proces
sional cross-bearer, preceded by a lad bearing an incense urn,
wafting the perfume to right and left; following were one
hundred and seventy students of St. Charles College, where
the new Cardinal as a youth had alternated the classics and
football. An equal number of seminarians from St. Mary s,
marching with steady tread, in white surplices, came next ; they,
too, acclaimed him as an alumnus. Afterward came nearly two
hundred and fifty of the regular and secular clergy, wearing
white surplices over their black cassocks ; monsignori, abbots
and bishops followed in line, preceded by the Capuchin Fathers,
members of the Benedictine Order, Lazarists, Dominicans, Jes
uits and Franciscans. Following the bishops in a Catholic
procession the post of honor is always at the end, following the
* Catholic Mirror, July 8. 1888.
CEREMONIES IN THE CATHEDRAL. 129
Biblical rule that "the first shall be last and the last first"
came the archbishops. The herculean forms of Ryan and Pee-
han, clad in episcopal purple, towered above the rest like great
trees in a forest. Archbishop Kenrick, so feeble that every step
seemed an effort, tottered along; on his left was Mgr. Straniero,
the Papal Delegate, bareheaded, and clothed in a purple robe,
Count Muccioli, the Noble Guard, wore his full uniform. Last
of all, came the new Cardinal, bearing himself with the simple
dignity which seemed to fit him like a garment.
Protestants as well as Catholics reverently uncovered their
heads as the procession passed through immense crowds con
gregated on the streets. Within the Cathedral, as this won
derful assemblage of the Church passed up the broad aisles,
was a congregation which included many of the most distin
guished men in the cardinal s native city and state.
Archbishop Williams celebrated pontifical high mass. The
eloquent Archbishop Ryan was selected to preach the ser
mon. His strength as a pulpit orator, no less than his dignity
and perfect self-possession on public occasions, were never
more noticeable. With the new Cardinal he was in thorough
sympathy, not only through the bonds of the closest personal
friendship, but those of concurrent judgment regarding the
weighty problems of Church and nation,
He began by treating the Church as a kingdom, not of this
world, but "visible, universal and perpetual." "Behold that
kingdom," he said, "under one king, Jesus Christ, and His
visible representative on eartl;, the Sovereign Pontiff, with ju
dicial and legislative departments spread throughout the whole
earth, with more discordant elements than any kingdom that
ever existed, and yet with more union of action and conviction
and affection a kingdom that extends farther than all others,
and claims the tribute of intellect and heart. Men acknq^l-
edge, indeed, its power and wisdom, and try to accotint for
both on purely hutnan theories. Some regard it S ti
fection of the monarchical system; others, as a great repH
130 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
whose officers, from the pope to the humblest abbot, are
elected by the governed, and whose religious orders are the
model in great part for our own form of government. But the
truth is that the Church is, strictly speaking, neither of these,
nor a wondrous combination of both; but a new and Divine
institution, a kingdom of God on earth, as the Scripture
calls it. * * *
"The simple forms by which a few thousand converted Jews
were ruled in Jerusalem would be insufficient to govern the
children of every tribe and tongue and people, numbering over
two hundred millions, ruled from Rome as a center of unity.
Hence we find that the Sovereign Pontiff selected a body of
ecclesiastics in Rome whom he constituted his chief or cardinal
counselors in the great affairs of his spiritual kingdom. * * *
"These cardinals form, as it were, a senate of the Church,
and what a magnificent senate! * * * The selection of
these counselors of the Pope is left to his own judgment; but
tbe Fathers of the Council of Trent presumed to suggest that
the Roman Pontiff select them, as much as possible, out of all
the nations of the earth, when suitable persons can be found.
The wisdom, of this is evident. The central governing body
ought to understand thoroughly the peoples whom they gov
ern. The present Pontiff, who is remarkable for his knowl
edge of the outside world and of the genius of this century,
has, more than any otittr, perhaps, acted on this great and
most wise principle.
"To the exalted dignity which I have bsen describing the
venerated and beloved Archbishop of Baltimore is now pro
moted. Providence has fitted him for the position. He is in
perfect harmony with the spirit of the Church, and can repre
sent it to the American people; he is also in entire harmony
with the spirit of the country, and can represent it in the coun
cils of the Church. He knows and feels that there is no an-
een the Catholic Church and our political insti-
"AN HONOR TO THE AMERICAN CHURCH." 131
tutions; but, on the contrary, she is nowhere on earth today
more perfectly at home than in this free land* * * *
"On this day twenty-five years ago the present Cardinal was
ordained to the priesthood by the greatest ecclesiastic whom
the American Church has yet seen Archbishop Francis Pat
rick Kenrick, of this city. Today the brother of that great
prelate, venerable in years and merits, after traveling over a
thousand miles, appears in this sanctuary to crown with the
scarlet of the cardinalate the young priest of that day. The
former prelate prayed that God might bless and sanctify and
consecrate* the prostrate young Levite ; today his brother prays
that the same God may illumine and fortify the exalted prince
of the Church. In this Cathedral, where the new Cardinal
was baptized, officiated as a priest and was consecrated bishop,
and presided so wisely over the late plenary council, he receives
today the highest honors of the Church of God. It is an honor
not only to him, but to the American Church; to this great
State of Maryland, which, Catholic in its origin, proclaimed
from the beginning the great doctrine of religious liberty. It
is an honor to this Catholic and hospitable city of Baltimore,
and I rejoice to learn that her non-Catholic citizens appreci
ate it."
Mgr. Straniero, in conferring the scarlet biretta, spoke of
the amazement which the growth of the Catholic Church in
America had created at Rome. "Its hierarchy/ he said, "has
had scarce one hundred years of existence, and yet it is
daily growing in splendor, both from its broad increase and the
great virtues of the venerable men who make up its number.
Witness those illustrious American prelates returning two years
ago from Rome, whither they had gone to manifest their ven
eration and love toward the See of Saint Peter, and, again,
when all were gathered at the late council at Baltimore to give
that shape and life to ecclesiastical discipline and for the care
of the faithful which existing circumstances required.
132 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
"All this could not escape the provident notice of the Roman
Pontiff. Consequently, that he might give more proof of his
fatherly care and love to the faithful of these States, and to
their chief pastors, he determined to admit another of the
prominent bishops of America to the Sacred College of Car
dinals. Influenced by these motives, the Holy Father, in a
secret consistory lately held at the Vatican, selected you, most
eminent prince, who, bearing the dignity of the episcopate,
have these many years ruled the Church of Baltimore. Your
writings have been universally read, and all have admired the
depth of your learning, your zeal, and your many virtues.
Those who have known you intimately have been deeply im
pressed by your remarkable qualities of heart and powers of
mind. Waiving all else, it is enough for me to recall that
when the American bishops assembled in plenary council, the
Roman Pontiff appointed you to preside therein and to dis
charge the office of Apostolic Delegate.
To your Eminence may God grant a life of many years
for the service and adornment of the Holy See and the welfare
of the loving flock entrusted to your care. And as today is,
moreover, the twenty-fifth anniversary of your ordination to
the priesthood, on this account also, do I congratulate you.
From the bottom of my heart I pray that God may grant you
yet many anniversaries of this day/ 1
Archbishop Kenrick, addressing the Cardinal, said that the
honor which had come to him was one which American Cath
olics had a right to expect, on account of their number and the
importance of the Church in the United States. "We also had
a right to expect^it," he continued, " on account of the great
ness of our country, the position it occupies among the nations
of the earth, the influence it is to exert over the future destinies
of the human race. It is nothing anomalous or contrary
to^ the principles of the republic that we should have in our
midst a cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, an4 We
are confident that your appointment will continue to be re-
RESPONSE OF THE NEW CARDINAL. 133
garded as it is now regarded a new element of strength and
harmony for all.
"We congratulate your Eminence on your appointment to
so high an office. It will increase your cares and responsi
bilities, but it will also increase your means of usefulness as
an honored citizen of the republic and a faithful bishop of the
Church of God/ 7
The Cardinal responded, in turn, to the addresses of Arch
bishop Kenrick and Mgr. Straniero, and then addressed the
prelates, clergy and laity. He spoke of the associations which
clustered around the old Cathedral in which they were all as
sembled. "Many temples there are/ he said, "more spacious
and stately, indeed, than this ; but none in our country which
has seen within its sanctuary so many illustrious prelates.
Within these walls were held ten provincial, and the three na
tional councils those of 1852, 1866 and 1884. How often
has the voice of an England, a Hughes, a McCloskey, a Pur-
cell, a Fitzpatrick, a McGill and an O Connor resounded here!
"The corner-stone of this Cathedral was laid by the patri
arch of the American Church, the immortal Carroll Arch
bishop Neale passed away before its completion; and in that
chair have sat in luminous succession a Marechal, a Whitfield,
an Eccleston, a Spalding and a Bayley great names of imper
ishable renown in the annals of the Church in America.
"Traditions such as these are so many links in the golden
chain of love which binds your hearts to this ancient see.
Another strong link which touches, as it were, and gathers up
all the links that holds us, is the bond that draws us close to
the See of Peter. I feel assured, therefore, that your hearts
will go forth with mine in a message of thanks to our beloved
Pontiff for the event we are celebrating today. It is an honor
not personal to myself. It is an honor which he confers oft
this venerable see, which you all love so well, and on the whpl&
Church in America. It is a signal mark of admiration statf
high esteem for our beloved country, in whose spiritual ^ wM-
134 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
fare from the first day of his accession to the Chair of St.
Peter he has taken so enlightened an interest.
"God raises up men in every age to meet the emergencies of
the occasion. He has providentially raised up our present
illustrious Pontiff to meet the special wants of these times.
As the first Leo, by his majestic bearing and fearless eloquence,
arrested the march of an all-conquering warrior and saved
Rome from destruction, so has the thirteenth of his great name
conciliated one of the mightiest empires of modern times, giv
ing back peace and liberty to the Church of Germany. He has
been chosen umpire of two great nations of the eastern world ;
and his impartial decision, gratefully acquiesced in by their
rulers, has hushed the clamor of strife and restored peace and
harmony.
"Never, perhaps, in the history of the Church has the moral
influence of the papacy been more strongly marked and benefi
cently exerted than during the reign of Leo XIII ; never have
the true relations of church and state been more clearly enun
ciated than in his ever-memorable encyclical letter, Immor-
tale Dei.
"In no country of all the nations of the earth does he find
more loyal and devoted spiritual children than among the
clergy and laity of this free republic. And I am happy to add
that our separated brethren, while not sharing in our faith,
have shared in our profound admiration for the benevolent
character and enlightened statesmanship of the present Su
preme Pontiff.
"Beloved brethren of the laity, I say from my heart of
hearts that earth has for me no place dearer than the sanctuary
where I now stand and the diocese which I serve. And how
could it be otherwise? It was in this Cathedral that I first
breathed the breath of life as a Christian. At yonder font I
was regenerated in the waters of baptism. Almost beneath
the shadow of this temple, in old St. Mary s Seminary, I was
raised to the dignity of the priesthood by the hands of the
MEMORIES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. 135
venerable Archbishop Kenrick, the illustrious brother of him
from whom I have the honor of receiving the biretta today.
It was at this very altar that I was consecrated bishop by my
predecessor and father in Christ, the venerated Spalding.
"We of this diocese down to the humblest priest hold it aji
honor as well as a duty to labor in the sacred soil of Maryland,
where your forefathers, two hundred and fifty years ago,
planted the cross and raised the banner of religious liberty
and called forth the oppressed of other lands to take their
shelter beneath its protecting folds. What holy enthusiasm
should not these memories evoke ! What zeal should they not
arouse for religion and country! May it be the study of my
life to walk in the footprints of my illustrious predecessors in
this ancient see, and in the footprints of the first cardinal
archbishop in these United States, who has lately passed to his
reward, and whose sterling merit was surpassed only by his
modesty and humility. And may it be your good fortune also,
dearly beloved brethren, to emulate the faith and civic virtues
of your ancestors, and to hand down that faith and those vir
tues untarnished as precious heirlooms to the generations yet
to be."
Following the long and magnificent ecclesiastical ceremony,
there was a dinner at St. Mary s Seminary. The venerable
institution had suddenly turned red. Bands of cardinal cloth
adorned the building, and mingled with the American flag
was the banner of the papacy. The Cardinal, in the brilliant
robes of his new office, presided at the feast. In front of him
was an archiepiscopal cross of flowers, and on each side of the
cross were mitres of white roses. All who could get near him
were eager to congratulate him. His winning smile and thor
ough modesty captivated all. Among priests he could be a
leader as well as among people.
At night the seminary was brilliantly illuminated in em
blematic designs. Red fire blazed along the streets, and there
was a parade of Catholic Knights and young men s societies,
136 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
many of them in uniform. Again all Baltimore was out of
doors to watch; and, characteristically, there was the- utmost
good nature and decorum.
A purely social touch was given the festivities by a reception
in the evening to the visiting prelates, given by Miss Emily
Harper the granddaughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, at
her home, on Cathedral street, in the center of fashionable Bal
timore. , , j .1
At ten o clock the National Marine Band, then under the
leadership of the afterwards famous Sousa, serenaded the
Cardinal at his residence, as a final touch to a memorable day.
So dense were the throngs in the streets that police had to clear
a space for the band to approach. The Cardinal appeared at
his famous bay-window, where he was instantly recognized,
and the multitude broke into resounding cheers. Men threw
their hats in the air, and women waved their handkerchiefs.
It was almost like a candidate for the Presidency addressing a
great mass-meeting in the height of an American political cam
paign. Attired in his red cassock, partly covered by a black
robe, the center of all eyes, the Cardinal walked out on the por
tico of the building when quiet had been restored and briefly
expressed his thanks, concluding with a prayer for a blessing
on all. Amid another deafening din, he retired, and the
throngs dispersed.
The next day, with many of the visiting prelates, the Car
dinal attended the annual commencement of St. Charles Col
lege, where thirty-one years before, a youth just from New
Orleans, he had pursued his classical studies in preparation for
the priesthood. He spoke with affection of the memories of
those days and the panorama of life since. "With respect to the
references made in the course of the addresses here to our
Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII," he said, "I wish to say in all
simplicity and sincerity that the predilection he has appeared
uniformly to evince toward me and the favorable appreciation
he has made of what I have been able to do in the cause of
DEEP INTEREST IN EDUCATION. 137
religion, has been a constant source of embarrassment to me in
his presence and of wonder when distant from him. 3
The devoted interest which the Cardinal had always taken
in education wherever his lot happened to be cast had made him
a prime favorite among the teaching orders. Such an occasion
as his elevation to the Sacred College could not be permitted
by them to pass unnoticed. A large body of the Christian
Brothers, representing the Province of Baltimore, visited him
at his residence and presented an address, printed on satin, ac
companied by a sum of money in a silk purse made by the
Sisters of St. Mary s Orphan Asylum. Brother Azarias, of
Rock Hill College, known throughout the English-speaking
world as a literary critic in the front rank, read the address,
expressing their thankfulness at his interest in and zeal for
education.
In such congenial company, the Cardinal responded from the
fullness of his heart. "It is a source of inexpressible satis
faction to us/ he said, "to feel the most perfect assurance of
how free from friction are the relations of the Catholic Church
and the giant republic of the West. It proves the elasticity,
if we may so speak, of Catholic doctrine. It proves that it is
Catholic indeed, and has the capacity to adapt itself to all that
is good in the many forms of governments and persons,
Breathing the pure air of liberty, the Church -expands with its
finest strength, and grows in beauty and power.
"We would find yet more occasion to approve and love it if
we could contrast its state here with its condition in other
countries less happy in their government and laws. Here the
government extends over us the segis of equal laws without in
terfering with the just rights of any.
"How much can you not accomplish, Hear brothers, in tfeat
spirit of self-sacrifice displayed by you on so many fieHs ^
untiring effort! We see around us now the monuments |>f
those labors in the many young men reared in tfye
138 .JJEE OP CARDINAL GIBBONS.
intelligence and learning, fitted for the duties of citizenship,
making them noble representatives of the State of Maryland.
You carry out the principles of your founder, or rather, of the
Gospel, for, after all, everything must be referred to the Gos
pel. The secret of your success is found in humility, piety and
intelligence; they form a triple cord which cannot be broken.
Acting upon these principles in molding the minds, hearts and
souls of youth, you do more than the great artists, whose
genius brought out those beautiful images in marble or on
canvas which have for centuries been the admiration and
delight of every land and people.
"It is not a slight debt that this archdiocese and this jjreat
city of Baltimore the first great field of your labors in this
country owe you. The clergy have experienced the benefit
of your labors. You have many reasons to be proud of your
mission in this archdiocese, for that mission is the high one
of instilling virtue into young hearts and training their minds
in knowledge/
By the press of the United States, that potent pilot of public
opinion in which many foreign observers have found the real
governing power of the country, the elevation of Cardinal
Gibbons was commended with practical unanimity. Protestant
as well as Catholic newspapers discussed it at length, express
ing their sense of the honor done the whole United States,
?s well as that portion of it embraced within the Catholic
Churcfi. Cardinal Gibbons had not yet risen to the full height
of his popularity; but already some knowledge of the traits
which distinguished him as a man and a prelate had penetrated
every part of the country. The newspapers saw in his selec
tion for the Sacred College a recognition of the most pro
gressive tendencies in the American Church and a hopeful
sign of the complete understanding of the United States by the
leaders of the Church in Europe. They felt that as an Ameri
can by birth, training and public experience, no less than by
sympathy and aspiration, he was well fitted to represent this
JPLJBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA. 139
country in the highest councils at Rome. The favor with
which he was regarded by Leo XIII was hailed as an augury of
benefit to America.
The venerable Leo was then well past three score and ten;
and none could foresee the remarkable age to which Provi
dence was destined tojspare him.
CHAPTER X.
SPEECH IN ROME ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHURCH AND
STATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Rome was the next step. From the hand of the Supreme
Pontiff alone could the new Cardinal receive the red hat, and
there, among his brethren of the Sacred College, his words
and acts would be fraught for the first time with the weight of
a prince speaking to princes in the world-wide council of the
Church. Would he remain only a national figure, of whom it
would be said that he was a leader among a new people, but in
the ancient forum of the pontificate had no mission to humanity
as a whole? It was the greatest test he had yet been called
upon to meet.
He left Baltimore January 26, 1887, accompanied by his
chancellor, Rev. P. J. Donahue, afterward Bishop of Wheeling,
and by his consultors Revs. John S. Foley, Thomas S. Lee,
John T. Gaitley, A. L. Magnien and J. A. Walter. New dem
onstrations of popular esteem marked his departure from New
York, and in Paris he was extensively entertained. Arriving
in Rome, he became the center of an influential American rep
resentation there assembled, including Mgr. O Connell, then
rector of the American College; Archbishop Ireland, Bishop
Keane and others. Among such churchmen he was at home
as leader and friend.
Conferences with the Pope ensued, at which conditions in
America were discussed ; and on St. Patrick s Day, at a public
consistory in the Sala Regia, the Pontiff bestowed the hat and
ring and performed the ceremony of sealing and opening the
lips.
140
SPEECH IN HIS TITULAR CHURCH. 141
Archbishop Taschereau, of Quebec, was elevated at the
same time, as were several European cardinals. To Cardinal
Gibbons was committed, as his titular church, the ancient edifice
of Santa Maria in Trastevere, the first temple raised in the
world in honor of the Mother of Christ.
Standing in this church, March 25, 1887, the past and the
future met It was the day of his installation. He wore the
scarlet cassock, signifying that he would defend the faith even
to the shedding of his blood, as in the days when Christians
were thrown to the lions in the Colosseum, not far distant. Sur
rounding him was the centuried magnificence of architecture,
painting, statue, mosaic. The long ceremonial eloquently
typified the story of Christianity from the era of Constantine,
through the glories of Charlemagne, the brilliancy of the Ital
ian renaissance and the reconstruction of modern Europe. It
was carried out with the precise formalism of early Rome and
in the majestic tongue in which martyrs praised God as they
went to their death. The atmosphere was rich with incense
and quivered with reverent music. Vestment and altar bespoke
antiquity. It was an occasion to overpower the senses, to
hush the voice of the present in the great shadow of the accu
mulated grandeur and wisdom of the past.
All this must have profoundly affected the American Car
dinal as he stood in his gorgeous robes while bishops, canons
and priests performed their parts. He had not intended to
make an address, beyond the brief responses necessary to his
participation in the ceremony. But a few days before Mgp*
O Connell had suggested to him that he should speak on sudi
an occasion, and he had coincided in this view. The Cardinal
spoke as follows :
"The assignment to me by the Holy Father of this beatftf|
basilica as my titular church fills me with feelings of joy ;
gratitude which any words of mine are inadequate to
For, as here in Rome I stand within the first temple raised /
honor of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, so in my far-off
142 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
my own Cathedral Church, the oldest in the United States, is
also dedicated to the Mother of God. This venerable edifice
in which we are gathered leads us back in contemplation to the
days of the catacombs. Its foundation was laid by Pope Ca-
Hxttis in the year of our Lord, 224. It was restored by Pope
Julius in the fourth century, and renovated by another Supreme
Pontiff in the twelfth.
"That never-ceasing solicitude which the Sovereign Pontiffs
have exhibited in erecting these material temples, which are
the glory of this city, they have also manifested on a larger
scale in rearing spiritual walls to Zion throughout Christen
dom in every age. Scarcely were the United States formed
into an independent government, when Pope Pius VII estab
lished a Catholic hierarchy and appointed the illustrious John
Carroll the first Bishop of Baltimore. Our Catholic commu
nity in those days numbered a few thousand souls, and they
were scattered chiefly through the States of New York, Penn
sylvania and Maryland. They were served by a mere handful
of priests. But now, thanks to the fructifying grace of God,
the grain of mustard seed then planted has grown to a large
tree, spreading its branches through the length and breadth of
our fair land. Where only one bishop was found in the begin
ning of this century, there are now seventy-five exercising
spiritual jurisdiction. For this great progress we are indebted,
wider God and the fostering vigilance of the Holy See, to the
cvvU liberty we enjoy in our enlightened republic.
"Otir Holy Father, Leo XIII, in his luminous encyclical on
the constitution of Christian states, declares that the Church is
not committed to any form of civil government- She adapts
herself to alL She leavens all with the sacred leaven of the
Gospel. She has lived under absolute monarchies, under con
stitutional monarchies, in free republics, and everywhere she
grows and expands. She has often, indeed, been hampered in
her Divide mission. She has even been forced to struggle for
her existence wherever despotism has cast its dark shadow,
LIBERTY FAVORABLE TO THE CHURCH. U3
like a plant shut out from the blessed light of heaven. But in
the genial atmosphere of liberty she blossoms like a rose.
"For myself, as a citizen of the United States, and without
closing my eyes to our shortcomings as a nation, I say, with a
deep sense of pride and gratitude, that / belong to a country
where the civil government holds over us the &gis of its pro
tection, without interfering with us in the legitimate exercise
of our sublime mission as ministers of the Gospel of Christ.
Our country has liberty without license, and authority without
despotism. She rears no wall to exclude the stranger from
among us. She has few frowning fortifications to repel the
invader, for she is at peace with all the world. She rests se
cure in the consciousness of her stength and her good will
toward all. Her harbors are open to welcome the honest emi
grant who comes to advance his temporal interests and find a
peaceful home.
"But, while we are acknowledged to have a free government,
perhaps we do not receive the credit that belongs to us for
having, also, a strong government. Yes, our nation is strong,
and her strength lies, under the overruling guidance of Provi
dence, in the majesty and supremacy of the law, in the loyalty
of her citizens and in the affection of her people for her free
institutions. There are, indeed, grave social problems now
employing the earnest attention of the citizens of the United
States, but I have no doubt that, with God s blessing, these
problems will be solved by the calm judgment and sound sense
of the American people, without violence or revolution, or any
injury to individual right.
"As an evidence of his good will for the great republic in
the West, as a mark of his appreciation of the venerable hier
archy of the United States, and as an expression of his kirid
consideration for the ancient See of Baltimore, .our Holy
Father has been graciously pleased to elevate its present incum
bent, in my humble person, to the dignity of the purple. For
this mark of his exalted favor 1 beg to tender the Holy Father
144 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
my profound thanks in my own name and in the name of the
clergy and faithful. I venture to thank him also in the name
of my venerable colleagues, the bishops, as well as the clergy
and Catholic laity of the United States. I presume also to
thank him in the name of our separated brethren in America,
who, though not sharing our faith, have shown that they are
not insensible indeed, that they are deeply sensible of the
honor conferred upon our common country, and have again
and again expressed their admiration for the enlightened states
manship and apostolic virtues and benevolent character of the
illustrious Pontiff who now sits in the Chair of St. Peter/ *
The speech was read in Europe and America with intense in
terest. It was characteristically American, they said in Rome.
Here was a cardinal, barely out of his first consistory, daring
to assert, in the very citadel of the Church, that separation in
the United States did not mean hostility by the state to the
Church, but protection, and that in the air of perfect free
dom, unhampered by political bonds, the Church could work
out her Divine mission better; that union of church and
state often meant interference, and that American liberty
meant the opportunity to win men to the faith free from the
vexations of human complications. The message which the
Cardinal had sought to convey, as he often said, was that
"our duty is to preach the Gospel and save souls ;" that it is
wisest to separate entirely the ministry of Christ from poli
tics, unless some great moral question is involved; that this
course is better for the Church everywhere. He felt that in
time comprehension of the American system would grow at
Rome; but some one must be considered radical in launching
the first official declaration of it, and he did not shrink from
fulfilling this trying mission.
In the twentieth century, Europe understands America as
never before, and not only tolerates, but imitates it in many
* Catholic Mirrer, April 2, 1S87.
AMERICA BETTER UNDERSTOOD. 145
things. Two great influences have chiefly contributed to this :
The speech of Cardinal Gibbons in the Church of Santa Maria
in Trastavere, and the victories of thellnited States navy in the
Spanish- American Wan The turning point was in getting the
world to understand that liberty in America does not mean
license; nor authority, despotism. Rome, the center of Cath
olic thought, was the best place in which to plant the idea, and
Europe rubbed its unwilling eyes and saw.
CHAPTER XL
KNIGHTS OF LABOR QUESTION.
When the new Cardinal was boldly raising his voice for
the institutions of his country in the ancient Church of Santa
Maria in Trastevere, he had but recently penned a document
which had the remarkable effect of causing the Congregation
of the Holy Office the "inquisition" to reverse its attitude
of opposition to the Knights of Labor. Foremost of the
"grave social problems" to which he had alluded in that ad
dress and in the settlement of which he had expressed his
complete faith, was the labor question. Mr. Cleveland was
then President, and both the Executive and Congress were
principally concerned with the urgent demands of labor. The
law against bringing workingmen under contract from abroad
had just been passed; the Interstate Commerce Act, a meas
ure almost forced on the Government by labor organizations,
and an extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act, were being
debated and were soon to be adopted. The Administration
had committed itself to the establishment of a Department of
Labor as a unit in its executive system at Washington. The
anarchist riots in Chicago, with their bloody climax, had
shocked the nation but a few months before.
European pessimism, not yet fully awake to the truth, began
to predict the downfall of America. It was believed that a
government which maintained a standing army scarcely large
enough to man its coast defenses, and a navy which at that time
was archaic, could not withstand the shock of a popular tumult.
Political equality, it was feared, had no corrective within
itself for a sudden rising from the bottom. If the laborer were
the equal of the capitalist before the law, would he not rave in
146
GRAVE LABOR PROBLEMS. 147
an orgy of unrestrained power as soon as he was able to com
prehend what his opportunities really meant? In the earlier
days of the United States the labor question had adjusted
itself. There was land enough for all; work for every hand;
the laborer of today became the millionaire of tomorrow.
Capital was unorganized, and labor had felt no special need
to band together for its own protection.
In the carnival of energy which had subdued half of a vast
continent in a century, building teeming cities on virgin soil and
establishing new Commonwealths in bewildering succession
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, men had been too busily
employed in constructive labor to debate the ethics of the
problem. But the work had now advanced far, and there was
time to pause. Railroads spanned the continent and radiated
in every direction. Civilization had carried its banner up the
Rocky Mountains and to the shores of the Golden Gate, The
army of workingmen was still here, but there was not so much
work to do. Nearly all the lands opened by the Government
to free settlement had been taken up. The economic pendulum
was beginning to swing, and times of scarcity succeeded eras
of plenty.
American workingmen were not prepared for this. They were
no more ready to meet a sudden economic change than were
the rural colonists to face the mouths of British cannon in
1775. Anarchy, imported from Europe, had found here what
its apostles believed to be fertile soil for the propagation of it$
ideas. Socialism swept across the ocean and began its preach
ments in the great cities. The genus tramp, in some respects
peculiarly an American development, was spreading the cuk
of idleness and the industrial code of the leech. The tariff
laws had built up vast industries, whose captains controlled
politicians and legislatures. Before them dangled the gilded
prize of monopoly, and in a short time a few men were beg^im
ning to aggregate to themselves the lion s share of the fruits Of
the earth.
148 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
It was now possible for the first time in the United States
for one man to raise his hand and thousands would be without
bread. Workingmen might crowd to the polls, intoxicated
with tlie dreams of the Declaration of Independence, and find
their ballots nullified by the insidious influences of corrupting
wealth. At heart, the body politic was healthy; these were
merely sores that did not reach the organism, though they
grievously affected the surface. In time, their poison might
penetrate to the heart. None could telL It might be that once
again men would take arms in their hands to work out the
problems of a free government amid the crash of battle.
The growth of labor organizations in America in the decade
preceding the election of President Cleveland had surpassed
anything of the kind which the world had known. Wrongs
needed a remedy ; half uncertain, the toilers banded together to
act, if they could find a way. Chief among these organizations
was the Knights of Labor, a secret order which, from a small
beginning, had suddenly increased its membership by tens of
thousands, and, like a great storm-cloud, overspread the po
litical as well as industrial structure of the country. Its head,
Terence V. Powderly, seemed to the toiling masses a Peter the
Hermit called to lead them on a new crusade. Bearing the
modest title of "general master workman," he wielded greater
power than the Governor of a State. He possessed many of
the traits of successful leadership, and was inspired by a fer
vent belkf in the justice of his cause. Men thronged from the
workshops to hail him when he went from city to city, pro
claiming his evangel. In 1886 the order had a membership of
500,000, "although," as Mr. Powderly said to a committee of
Congress, "we have been credited with 5,000,000."*
Simultaneously with this movement, Henry George s eco
nomic theories were fast winning converts, particularly in New
York, his home, where the influence of his powerful person
ality was naturally strongest.
* Carroll D. Wright, Industrial Evolution of the United States, p. 24&
CONFERENCES WITH POWDERLY. 149
In Canada the ecclesiastical authorities adjudged the Knights
a forbidden organization, and the Holy Office sustained the
condemnation. They were classed with secret societies work
ing against religion. Under the decrees of the Third Plenary
Council of Baltimore, they could be condemned in the United
States only by unanimous action of the archbishops; and, in
case the archbishops disagreed, the question was to be referred
to Rome. The critical aspect of the problem made action im
perative ; Mr. Powderly, himself a Catholic, came to Baltimore
several times and conferred with Cardinal Gibbons; on one
occasion he appeared before a committee of the archbishops at
a meeting at the Cardinal s house and pleaded the cause of the
Knights. He offered to amend any order or rule of the or
ganization to which the ecclesiastical authorities might object.
The obligation of secrecy, he pointed out, was a simple pledge
and not an oath. Its purpose was to keep the knowledge of
the organization s business from enemies or strangers, and it
was not such as to hinder Catholics from manifesting every
thing to competent ecclesiastical authority, even outside of
confession. When the archbishops came to consider the ques
tion, only two out of twelve Kenrick, of St. Louis, and Sal-
pointe, of Santa Fe voted for condemnation.
In his consideration of this grave question, Cardinal Gibbons
conferred with President Cleveland, and was in active corre
spondence with Cardinal Manning, his close friend, the Church s
apostle of labor in England. He found both in full sympathy
with his own views, and Cardinal Manning was ready to assist
actively in the program to which he had resolved to commit
himself to urge the Holy Office not to forbid the organization
of the Knights. By not a few who were unable to see in ad
vance of the moment, his views were considered too far-reach
ing. The Knights were even regarded as socialistic; and, in
truth, they might have become such had a program of repres
sion been adopted against them.
150 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Rome heard the echoes of these doubts and fears, and the
delicate susceptibilities of conservatives were jarred by the
assertion that Cardinal Gibbons had turned radical and was
attempting to engraft his views on the Church. This cloud of
misunderstanding made his task all the more difficult. He ex
plained his views fully in several interesting letters to Cardinal
Manning,* who fully concurred with him and rejoiced to find
his own ideas on the relations between capital and labor shared
by one occupying such a distinguished position in the Church
in the United States. Manning considered that Cardinal Gib
bons was doing a great and needed work in America in advanc
ing the position of the laboring classes, and wished ardently
that he might have as much success in England.
Several bishops in France, and not a small number of Cath
olic writers, expressed alarm at the advanced and liberal views
of these two eminent men. The element in England which
was unable to understand thoroughly the great purposes of
Cardinal Manning was also willing to cry, "Beware!"; but in
America, as the task of Cardinal Gibbons developed and the
real significance of what he was doing came to be more clearly
seen, the general tone of comment, in and out of the Church,
was one of praise and enthusiastic support.
When Cardinal Gibbons sailed for Europe in January, 1887,
to receive the red hat, a part of his mission was to present the
plea of organized labor. The atmosphere which he was about
tp enter was hostile to his views on this question. One of
his companions on the voyage was Cardinal Taschereau, on
whom also the red hat was to be bestowed and who was going
to urge adherence to the judgment condemning the order in
Canada; while to Cardinal Gibbons fell the far more difficult
task of appealing to Rome to recognize the order as one not to
be forbidden.
He presented his views vigorously in the Eternal City, with
the active assistance of Archbishop Ireland, Bishop Keane and
* Purcell, Life of Cardinal Manning, Vol. II, pp. 680-51.
APPEAL FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR. 151
Monsignor O Connell. Under date of February 20, 1887, he
addressed to Cardinal Simeoni, Prefect of the Propaganda, for
presentation to the Holy Office a report on the whole subject,
which was marked by broad statesmanship, searching logic and
enlightened foresight perhaps the strongest document he ever
wrote.
This letter, a milestone in the Church s journey toward the
hearts of the American people, is of sufficient importance to be
quoted in full. Following is the translation of it as published
in the Moniteur de Rome, the official organ of the Vatican.*
"To His Eminence Cardinal Simeoni, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation
of the Propaganda:
"Your Eminence In submitting to the Holy See the conclusions
which, after several months of attentive observation and reflection, seem
to me to sum up the truth concerning the association of the Knights of
Labor, I feel profoundly convinced of the vast importance of the conse
quences attaching to this question, which ia but a link in the great
chain of the social problems of our day, and especially of our country.
"In treating this question I have been very careful to follow as my
constant guide the spirit of the encyclical letters, in which our Holy
Father Leo XIII has so admirably set forth the dangers of our times
and their remedies, as well as the principles by which we are to recog
nize associations condemned by the Holy See. Such was also the guide
of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in its teachings concerning
the principles to be followed and the dangers to be shunned by the faith
ful either in the choice or in the establishment of those various forms of
association toward which the spirit of our popular institutions so
strongly impels them. And, considering the evil consequences that
might result from a mistake in the treatment of organizations which
often count their members by thousands and hundreds of thousands, the
council wisely ordained (n. 225) that, when an association is spread
over several dioceses, not even the bishop of one of these dioceses shaU
condemn it, but shall refer the case to a standing committee consisting of
all the archbishops of the United States ; and even these are not author^
ized to condemn, unless their sentence be unanimous ; and in case tiey
fall to agree unanimously, then only the supreme tribunal of the
See can impose a condemnation; all this in order to avoid erro>r
confusion of discipline.
* A copy of the letter in French is in the Cathedral Archives, Baltimore.
152 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
"This committee of archbishops held a meeting towards the end cf
last October, at which thfe association of the Knights of Labor was
specially considered. To this we were not impelled by the request of
any of our bishops, for none of them had asked it ; and I must add that
among all the bishops we know of but two or three who desire the con
demnation. But our reason was the importance attached to the ques
tion by the Holy See itself, and this led us to examine it with all possi
ble care. After our deliberations, the result of which has already been
communicated to the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda, only two
out of the twelve archbishops voted for condemnation ; and their reasons
were powerless to convince the others of either the justice or the pru
dence of such a condemnation.
"In the following considerations I wish to state in detail the reasons
which determined the vote of the great majority of the committee-
reasons whose truth and force seem to me all the more evident after
this lapse of time; nor will I fail to do justice to the arguments
advanced on the other side :
"1. In the first place, though there may be found in the constitution,
laws and official declarations of the Knights of Labor things that we
would not approve, still, we have failed to find in them those elements
so clearly pointed out by the Holy See, which would class them among
condemned associations:
"(a) In their form of initiation there is no oath.
"(b) The obligation to secrecy by which they keep the knowledge of
their business from enemies or strangers is not such as to hinder Catho
lics from manifesting everything to competent ecclesiastical authority,
even outside of confession. This has been positively declared to us by
their chief officers.
"(c) They make no promise of blind obedience. The object and laws
of the association are distinctly declared, and the obligation of obedience
does not go beyond them.
**(d) They not only profess no hostility against religion or the
Church, but their declarations are quite to the contrary* The third Ple
nary Council commands (n. 254) that condemnation shall not be passed
on any association without the previous hearing of its officers or repre
sentatives. Now, their president, when sending me a copy of their consti
tution, declared that he is a devoted Catholic ; that he practices his reli
gion faithfully and receives the sacraments regularly ; that he belongs to
no Masonic society or other association condemned by the Church ; that
he knows nothing in the organization of the Knights of Labor contrary to
the laws of the Church ; that, with filial submission, he begs the pastors
of the Church to examine their constitution and laws, and to point out
APPEAL FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR. 153
anything they may find objectionable, promising to see to its correction.
Assuredly, there is in all this no hostility to the authority of the Church,
but, on the contrary, a disposition in every way praiseworthy. After
their convention, held last year in Richmond, he and several of the
principal members, devout Catholics, made similar declarations concern
ing the action of that convention, the documents of which we expect
to receive shortly.
"(e) Nor do we find in this organization any hostility to the authority
and laws of our country. Not only does nothing of the kind appear in
their constitution and laws, but the heads of our civil government treat
with respect the cause which such associations represent. The President
of the United States told me personally, a few weeks ago, that he then
had under consideration a proposed law for the amelioration of certain
social grievances, and that he had had a long conversation on these
topics with Mr. Powderly, the President of the Knights of Labor. The
Congress of the United States, in compliance with the views presented by
President Cleveland in his annual message, is at present engaged in
framing measures for the improvement of the condition of the laboring
classes, in whose complaints they acknowledge that there is a great deal
of truth. And our political parties, far from considering them the ene
mies of the country, vie with each other in championing the evident
rights of the workingmen, who seek not to resist or overthrow the laws,
but only to obtain* just legislation by constitutional and legitimate means.
"These considerations, which show that in these associations those
elements are not to be found which the Holy See has condemned, lead
us to study, in the second place, the evils which the association contends
against and the nature of the conflict
"2. That there exist among us, as in all other countries of the world,
grave and threatening social evils, public injustices which call for strong
resistance and legal remedy, is a fact which no one dares to deny a fact
already acknowledged by the Congress and the President of the United
States. Without entering Into the sad details of these evils, whose full
discussion is not necessary, I will only mention that monoplies, on the
part of both individuals and of corporations, have everywhere called forth
not only the complaints of our working classes, but also the opposition
of our public men and legislators ; that the efforts of monopolists, not
always without success, to control legislation to their own profit, cause
serious apprehensions among the disinterested friends of liberty; that
tae heartless avarice which, through greed of gain, pitilessly grinds not
only the men, but even the women and children in various employments,
makes it clear tp all who love humanity and justice that it is not only
the right of the laboring classes to protect themselves, but the duty of
154 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
the wliole people to aid them In finding a remedy against the dangers
witli which both civilization and social order are menaced by avarice,
oppression and corruption.
**It would be vain to dispute either the existence of the evils, or the
right of legitimate resistance, or the necessity of a remedy. At most,
a doubt might be raised about the legitimacy of the form of resistance
andtorthe remedy employed by the Knights of Labor. This, then, is the
next point to be examined.
**3. It can hardly be doubted that, for the attainment of any public
end, association the organization of all interested is the most effica
cious means a means altogether natural and just. This is so evident,
and besfdes, so comformable to the genius of our country, of our essen
tially popular social conditions, that it is unnecessary to Insist upon it.
It is almost the only means to public attention, to give force to the most
legitimate resistance, to add weight to the most just demands.
"Now, there already exists an organization which presents innumera
ble attractions and advantages, but with which our Catholic workingmen,
filially obedient to the Holy See, refuse to unite themselves ; this is tbe
Masonic Order, which exists everywhere in our country and which, as
Mr. Powderly has expressly pointed out to us, unites employers and em
ployed in a brotherhood very advantageous to the latter, but which num
bers in its ranks hardly a single Catholic. Nobly renouncing advantages
which the Church and conscience forbid, our worklngmen join associa
tions in no way in conflict with religion, seeking nothing but mutual pro
tection and help, and the legitimate assertion of their rights. Must they
foer$ also find themselves threatened with condemnation, hindered from
their only means of self-defense?
"4. Let us now consider the objections made against this sort of
organization :
w {a) It is objected that In such organization, Catholics are mixed
with Protestants, to the peril of their faith. Naturally, yes ; they are
mixed with Protestants at their work ; for, in % mixed people like ours,
the separation of religious creeds in civil affairs Is an impossibility.
But to suppose that the faith of our Catholics suffers thereby is not to
know the Catholic working men of America, who are not like the
working men of so many European countries misguided children, es-
traiaged from their Mother, the Church, and regarding her with sus
picion and dreadbut Intelligent, well-instructed, and devoted Catholics,
ready to give their blood, if necessary, as they continually give their
iiard-eamed means, for her support and protection. And, In fact, it Is
not here a question of Catholics mixed with Protestants, but rather
Protestants are admitted to share in the advantages of an associa-
APPEAL FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR. 155
tton, many of whose members and officers are Catholics; and. In a
country like ours, their exclusion would be simply impossible,
(b) But it is asked, instead of such an organization, could there not
be confraternities, in which the working men would be united under tho
direction of the clergy and the influence of religion? I answer frankly
that I do not consider this either possible or necessary in our country.
I sincerely admire the efforts of this sort which are made in countries
where the working people are led astray by the enemies of religion ; but,
thanks be to God, that is not our condition We find that in our country
the presence and direct influence of the clergy would not be advisable
where our citizens, without distinction of religious belief, come together
in regard to their industrial interests alone. Short of that, we have
abundant means for making our working people faithful Catholics; and
simple good sense advises us not to go to extremes.
"(c) Again, it is objected that, in such organizations, Catholics arc
exposed to the evil influences of the most dangerous associates, even
of atheists, communists and anarchists. That is true ; btit it is one of
those trials of faith which our brave American Catholics are accustomed
to meet almost daily, and which they know how to face with good sense
and firmness. The press of our country tells us, and the president of
the Knights of Labor has related to us, how these violent, aggressive
elements have endeavored to control the association, or to inject poison
into its principles; but they also inform us with what determination
these machinators have been repulsed and beaten.
"The presence among our citizens of those dangerous social elements,
which have mostly come from certain countries of Europe, is assuredly
for us an occasion of great regret and of vigilant precautions; it is a
fact, however, which we have to accept, but which the close union be
tween the Church and her children which exists in our country renders
comparatively free from danger. In truth, the only thing from which we
would fear serious danger would be a cooling of this relationship be
tween the Church and her children; and I know nothing that would
be more likely to occasion it than imprudent condemnations.
"(d) A specially weighty charge is drawn from the outbursts of
violence, even to bloodshed, which have accompanied several of the
strikes inaugurated by labor organizations. Concerning this, three
things are to be remarked first, strikes are not an invention of the
Knights of Labor, but a means almost everywhere and always resorted
to by the working classes to protect themselves against what they con
sider injustice, and in assertion of what they believe to be their just
rights; secondly, in such a struggle of the poor and indignant multi
tudes against hard and obstinate monopoly, outbursts of anger are al-
156 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
most as inevitable as they are greatly to be regretted; thirdly, the laws
and the chief authorities of the Knights of Labor, far from encouraging
violence or the occasions of it, exercise a powerful influence to hinder it,
and to retain strikes within the limits of good order and of legitimate
action.
"A careful examination of the acts of violence accompanying the
struggle between capital and labor last year leaves us convinced that It
would be unjust to attribute them to the association of the Knights of
Labor; for this association was but one among the numerous labor
organizations that took part in the strikes, and their chief officers used
every possible effort, as disinterested witnesses testify, to appease the
anger of the multitudes, and to hinder the excesses which, therefore,
in my Judgment, could not justly be attributed to them. Doubtless,
among the Knights of Labor, as among the thousands of other working
men, there are to be found passionate or even wicked men who have
committed inexcusable deeds of violence, and have instigated their as
sociates to the same; but to attribute this to the association would, it
seems to me, be as unreasonable as to attribute to the Church the
follies or the crimes of her children against which she strives and
protests.
"I repeat that, in such a struggle of the great masses of the people
against the mail-clad power which, as it is acknowledged, often refuses
them the simple rights of humanity and justice, it Is vain to expect
that every error and every act of violence can be avoided ; and to dream
that this struggle can be hindered, or that we can deter the multitudes
from organizing, which is their only hope of success, would be to Ignore
the nature and forces of human society in times like ours. Christian
prudence evidently counsels us to hold the hearts of the multitudes by
the bonds of love, in order to control their actions by the principles of
faith, justice and charity ; to acknowledge frankly what Is true and just
in their cause, In order to deter them from what is false and criminal,
and thus to turn into a legitimate, peaceable and beneficent contest
what might easily, by a course of repulsive severity, become for the
masses of our people a dread volcanic force like unto that which society
fears and the Church deplores In Europe.
"Upon this point I Insist strongly, because, from an Intimate acquaint
ance with the social conditions of our country* I am profoundly convinced
that here we are touching upon a subject which not only concerns tbe
rights of the working classes, who ought to be especially dear to the
Church which our Lord sent forth to preach His Gospel to the poor, but
With which are intimately bound up the fundamental interests of the
APPEAL FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR. 157
Church and of human society for the future. This is a point which I
desire, in a few additional words, to develop more clearly.
"5. Whoever meditates upon the ways in which divine Providence is
guiding mankind in our days can not fail to remark how important is
the part which the power of the people takes in shaping the events of
the present, and which it is evidently destined to take in molding the
destinies of the future. We behold, with profound regret, the efforts of
the prince of darkness to make this power dangerous to the social weal
by withdrawing the masses of the people from the influence of religion,
and impelling them towards the ruinous paths of license and anarchy.
Hitherto our country has presented a spectacle of a most consolingly
different character that of a popular power regulated hy love of good
order, respect for religion, by obedience to the authority of the laws ; not
a democracy of license and violence, but that true democracy which aims
at the general prosperity through the means of sound principles and
good social order.
"In order to preserve so desirable a state of things it is absolutely
necessary that religion should continue to possess the affections and
thus rule the conduct of the multitudes. As Cardinal Manning has well
written, A new task is before us. The Church has no longer to deal
with Parliaments and princes, but with the masses and with the people.
Whether we Tyill or no, this is our work; we need a new spirit and a
new law of life. To lose influence over the people would be to lose the
future altogether ; and it is by the heart, far more than by the under
standing, that we must hold and guide this immense power, so mighty
either for good or for evil.
"Among all the glorious titles which the Church s history has deserved
for her there is not one which at present gives her so great influence as
that of Friend of the People/ Assuredly, In our democratic country, it
is this title which wins for the Catholic Church not only the enthusiastic
devotedness of the millions of her children, but also the respect and
admiration of all our citizens, whatever be their religious belief. It is
the power of this title which renders persecution almost an impossibility,
and which draws towards our Holy Church the great heart of the
American people.
"And since it is acknowledged by all that the great questions of the
future are not those of war, of commerce or of finance, but the social
questions the questions which concern the improvement of the condition
of the great popular masses, and especially of the working people It is
evidently of supreme importance that the Church should always be found
on the side of humanity of Justice towards the multitudes wbo compose
the body of the human family. As the same Cardinal Manning has
158 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
wisely written, I know I am treading on a very difficult subject, bnt
I feel confident of this, that we must face it, and that we must face ft
calmly, justly, and with a willingness to put labor and the profits of
labor second the moral state and domestic life of the whole working
population first I will not venture to draw up such an act of Parlia
ment further than to lay down this principle. * * * These things
(the present condition of the poor in England) can not go on; these
things ought not to go on. The accumulation of wealth in the land, the
piling up of wealth like mountains, in the possession of classes or indi
viduals, can not go on. No Commonwealth can rest on such foundations.
(Miscellanies, YoL 2, p. 81.)
"In our country, above all, this social amelioration is the inevitable
programme of the future, and the position which the Church should
hold towards it is surely obvious. She can certainly not favor the ex
tremes to which the poor multitudes are naturally inclined; but, I
repeat, she must withhold them from these extremes by the bonds of
affection, by the maternal desire which she will manifest for the con-
cession of all that is just and reasonable ih their demands, and by the
maternal blessing which she will bestow upon every legitimate means
for improving the condition of the people.
"6. Now let us consider for a moment the consequences which would
inevitably follow from a contrary course from a course of want of
sympathy for the working class, of suspicion for their aims, of ready
condemnation for their methods.
"(a) First, there would be the evident danger of the Church s losing,
in popular estimation, her right to be considered the friend of the people!
The logic of the popular heart goes swiftly to its conclusions, and this
conclusion would be most pernicious both for the people and for the
Church. To lose the heart of the people would be a misfortune for
which the friendship of the few rich and powerful would be no com-
pensation.
M (b) There would be a great danger of rendering hostile to the
Church the political power of our country, which has openly taken sides
with the millions who are demanding justice and the improvement of
their condition. The accusation of being un-American that Is to say,
alien to our national spirit is the most powerful weapon which tho
enemies of the Church can employ against her. It was this cry which
arouse^ the Know-Nothing persecution thirty years ago, and the same
would be used again If the opportunity offered. To appreciate the
gravity of this danger it is well to remark that not only are the rights
of the working classes loudly proclaimed by each of our two great politi
cal parties, but it is not improbable that, in our approaching national
APPEAL FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR. 159
elections, there will be a candidate for the office c*f President of the
United States as the special representative of the popular complaints
and demands.
"Now, to seek to crush by an ecclesiastical condemnation an organiza
tion which represents more than 500,000 votes, and which has already
so respectable and so universally recognized a place in the political
arena, would, to speak frankly, be considered by the American people
as not less ridiculous than rash. To alienate from ourselves the friend
ship of the people would be to run great risk of losing the respect
which the Church has won in the estimation of the American nation,
and of forfeiting the peace and prosperity which form so admirable a.
contrast with her condition in some so-called Catholic countries. Angry
utterances have not been wanting of late, and it is well that we should
act prudently.
"(c) A third danger and the one which most keenly touches our
hearts is the risk of losing the love of the children of the Church, and
of pushing them into an attitude of resistance against their Mother.
The world presents no more beautiful spectacle than that of their filial
devotion and obedience; but it is well to recognize that, in our age antl
in our country, obedience can not be blind. We would greatly deceive
ourselves if we expected it Our Catholic working men sincerely believe
that they are only seeking justice, and seeking it by legitimate means.
A condemnation would be considered both false and unjust, and, there
fore, not binding. We might preach to them submission and confidence
in the Church s judgment ; but these good dispositions could hardly go
so far. They love the Church, and they wish to save their souls; but
they must also earn their living, and labor is now so organized that
without belonging to the organization, it is almost impossible to earn
one s living.
"Behold, then, the consequences to be feared. Thousands of the
Church s most devoted children, whose affection is her greatest comfort f
and whose free offerings are her chief support, would consider them
selves repulsed by their Mother and would live without practicing their
religion. Catholics who have hitherto shunned the secret societies
would be sorely tempted to join their ranks. The Holy See, which h^
constantly received from the Catholics of America proofs of almost un
paralleled devotedness, would be considered not as a paternal authority,
but as a harsh and unjust power. Surely these are consequences whidi
wisdom and prudence counsel us to avoid.
"7. But, besides the dangers that would result from such $ condemna
tion, and the impracticability of putting it into effect, it is also very
important that we should carefully consider another reason against
160 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
condemnation, arising from the unstable and transient character of the
organization in question. It is frequently remarked by the press and by
attentive observers that this special form of association has in it so
little permanence that, in its present shape, it is not likely to last many
years. Whence it follows that it is not necessary, even if it were just
and prudent, to level the sole condemnations of the Church against so
evanescent an object. The social agitation itself will, indeed, last as
long as there are social evils to be remedied ; but the forms of organiza
tion meant for the attainment of this end are naturally provisional and
short-lived. They are also very numerous, for I have already remarked
that the Knights of Labor is only one among many labor organizations.
"To strike, then, at one of these forms, would be to commence a war
without system and without end ; it would be to exhaust the forces of the
Church in chasing a crowd of changing and uncertain spectres. Tua
American people behold with perfect composure and confidence the prog
ress of our social contest, and have not the least fear of not being able to
protect themselves against any excesses or dangers that may occasionally
arise. Hence, to speak with the most profound respect, but also with
the frankness which duty requires of me, it seems to me that prudence
suggests, and that even the dignity of the Church demands, that we
should not offer to America an ecclesiastical protection for which she
does not ask, and of which she believes she has no need.
"8. In all this discussion, I have not at all spoken of Canada, nor of
the condemnation concerning the Knights of Labor in Canada; for we
would consider it an impertinence on our part to meddle with the eccle
siastical affairs of another country which has an hierarchy of its own,
and with whose social conditions we do not pretend to be acquainted.
We believe, however, that the circumstances of a people almost entirely
Catholic, as in lower Canada, must be very different from those of a
mixed population like ours; moreover, that the documents submitted to
the Holy Office are not the present constitution of the organization in
our country, and that we, therefore, ask nothing involving an incon
sistency on the part of the Holy See, which passed sentence localiter et
juxta, exposita.
"It is of the United States that we speak, and we trust that we are
not presumptuous in believing that we are competent to judge about the
state of things in onr own country. Now, as I have already Indicated,
out of the seventy-five archbishops and bishops of the United States,
there are about five who desire the condemnation of the Knights ot
Labor, such as they are in our own country; so that our hierarchy
are almost unanimous in protesting against such a condemnation. Such
a fact ought to have great weight in deciding the question. If there are
APPEAL FOR KNIGHTS OF LABOR. 161
difficulties in the case, it seems to me that the prudence and experience
of our bishops and the wise rules of the Third Plenary Council ought
to suffice for their solution.
"Finally, to sum up all, it seems to me that the Holy See could not
decide to condemn an association under the following circumstances :
"1. When the condemnation does not seem to be justified either by
the letter or the spirit of its constitution, its law and the declaration of.
its chiefs.
"2. When the condemnation does not seem necessary, in view of the
transient form of the organization and the social condition of the United
States.
"3. When it does not seem to be prudent, because of the reality of
the grievances complained of by the working classes, and their acknowl
edgment by the American people.
*4. When it would be dangerous for the reputation of the Church in
our democratic country, and might even lead to persecution.
"5. When it would probably be ine t . cartons, owing to the general con-
viction that it would be unjust
"6. When it would be destructive instead of beneficial in its effects,
impelling the children of the Church to disobey their Mother, and even
to enter condemned societies, which they have thus far shunned.
"7. When it would turn into suspicion and hostility the singular
devotedness of our Catholic people towards the Holy See.
"8. When it would be regarded as a cruel blow to the authority of
bishops in the United States, who, it is well known, protest against such
a condemnation.
"Now, I hope that the considerations here presented have sufficiently
shown that such would be the effect of condemnation of the Knights of
Labor in the United States.
Therefore, I leave the decision of the case, with fullest confidence,
to the wisdom and prudence of your Eminence and the Holy See.
"J. CABD. GIBBONS,
"Archbishop of Baltimore."
Rome, February 20, 1887.
The report, as will be observed from its perusal, was a
complete exposition of the labor question involved in the
organization of the Knights and an analysis of the rela
tion between the Church and the social and economic situa
tion in the United , States. The principles and methods^pf
the order were the same in the United States as in Canada ; but
162 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
with an adroitness which he knew well how to use when occa
sion warranted it, the Cardinal gave the Holy Office an open
ing for reversing itself by pointing out differences in the gen
eral conditions of the two countries. In person, as well as by
formal appeals, he carried his case to the other members of
the Curia. In the face of what seemed like a stone wall of
opposition, his aggressiveness was aroused. He made an ener
getic appeal to the commissary of the Holy Office, declaring
vehemently that he would hold him responsible for the loss of
souls in America through his attitude; at the end of this
interview, that important official promised to consider the
question. Only those hostile to the Knights had previously
been heard at Rome. Opinion, fixed and deliberate, had to be
assailed in its powerful citadel. Cardinal Gibbons boldly de
clared that if the condemnation were allowed to stand, it would
be ruinous to the financial support of the church in the United
States ; that it would turn into doubt and hostility the marked
devotion of the people to the Holy See, and would lessen the
contribution of Peter s pence.
The Cardinal s letter to the Propaganda had not been in
tended for the public eye ; but a newspaper correspondent hav
ing contrived to get possession of a copy, it was published in
America and Europe. The Cardinal was surprised one day to
receive cablegrams of congratulation from home, and in a
short time learned that the argument he had framed for the
Curia alone was a theme of discussion throughout the world.
The case was won. Not only did Rome decide not to forbid
the organization of the Knights in the United States, but the
ban was lifted in Canada. Labor rejoiced that it had gained a
signal victory; the Church was still the champion of the poor.
Said the Moniteur de Rome:
"His Eminence s document has been widely commented upon by the
newspapers throughout the United States. They have unanimously
j*eco#nized in it not only a great benefit conferred upon the millions at
worMngmen who compose the great mass of people in America and i
HIS VICTORY ACCLAIMED. 163
every otter country, but also a victory for the Catholic Church, whi<%
in showing itself the friend of the people, naturally secures their
affections. * * * As a matter of course, a few journals organs of
the monopolies have uttered their protests ; hut their voice has scarcely
been heard amid the general applause."
England echoed the acclamation. "I have read with great
assent," Cardinal Manning wrote, "Cardinal Gibbons docu
ment in relation to the Knights of Labor. The Holy See will,
I am sure, be convinced by his exposition of the state of the
new world. I hope it will open a new field of thought and
action. * * * The Church is the mother, friend and pro
tector of the people. As the Lord walked among them, so
his Church lives among them."*
In the acuteness of the labor question at the time, Cardinal
Gibbons declaration was criticised and lampooned in some
quarters. Puck caricatured him as imparting a blessing, with
uplifted hands, to a body of riotous working people pursuing a
non-union man. He faced denunciation and received praise
with equal calmness. The tumult was soon stilled and the ad
justment of the relations of labor and capital proceeded, for
the most part, on natural and orderly lines.
Throughout the remainder of his pontificate -Leo retained
vividly the views of the labor question which Cardinal Gibbons
had helped to impress upon him. He rejoiced at thfe oppor
tunity to put the Church in touch with the times on this .prob
lem of vast and fundamental importance to the spread of re
ligion among the working people of America and Europe.
His mature thought was embodied in an encyclical on "The
Condition of Labor," which he addressed to the bishops of the
Catholic world a few years later. Considering the subject
from its elements, he warmly defended the dignity of labor,
as Cardinal Gibbons had done before him; dwelt upon
Christian interdependence of capital and labor, and
* Taylor, The Cardinal Democrat, p.*, ISO.
164 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
that no perfect solution of this question would ever be found
without the assistance of religion and of the Church.
Dealing with the cult of the Socialists, who were beginning
to carry local elections in Europe, and who even threatened to
gain control of several governments by alliance with wings of
other political parties, he declared that they were working on
the poor man s envy of the rich and were endeavoring to de
stroy private property. He pronounced their proposals clearly
futile for all practical purposes, and held that if they were car*
ried out, the workingman himself would be among the first to
suffer. More than that, he found them emphatically unjust,
because they would rob the lawful possessor, bring the state
into a sphere not its own and cause complete confusion in the
community.
The Church, he set forth, was not so occupied with the spir
itual concerns of her children as to neglect their temporal inter
ests. Her desire was that the poor should rise above poverty
and wretchedness. Christian morality was the key to the situ
ation; if practiced by employer and employee, it would always
find part of its expression in the attitude of the state toward
social questions. While the state should safeguard private
property, it should also protect the rights of the laborer, and
-special consideration was due to the poor as the weaker mefa-
bers of every community. He warned against the employ
ment of child labor, and emphasized the moral obligation rest
ing tin employers to pay fair wages, Both employers and em
ployees, he held, had a right to combine, and it was highly im
portant that workingmen should multiply their associations. In
lawful combinations for -their own betterment, he found not
only justice, but in imperative necessity, if workingmen were
to improve their condition. As far as practicable, he desired
these organizations founded on the principles of religion. He
instructed the bishops to take into their purview the condition
of labor in their dioceses, and, without interfering with the
state, to aid the workingmen in every lawful way to promote
ENCYCLICAL ON LABOR. 165
their own just interests without resorting to violence and with
out recourse to revolutionary doctrines, which, by upsetting the
foundations of the world s economic system, would bring suf
fering upon themselves.*
* Encyclical Letter of Leo XIII., May 15, 1891 (Cathedral Archive*).
CHAPTER XII.
EARLY YEARS OF CARDINALATE.
After the almost fierce conflict of the winter in Rome, Car
dinal Gibbons found relaxation in a leisurely trip homeward,
studying the religious, social, economic and political condition
of the countries through which he passed. In Paris he was
the guest of the Sulpicians, who had founded in Baltimore the
first seminary for the training of American priests and thus
laid the foundation of a native priesthood. Another stop was
made at the University of Louvain, and in May he was the
guest of Cardinal Manning in London. In Manning s study,
the workshop of a marvelous mind, he found the floor char
acteristically piled high with books and strewn with papers;
and these two eminent champions of human rights passed de
lightful hours together. The English Cardinal often spoke,
even in ordinary conversation, with a precision of logic that
was almost resistless, and his conclusions struck with the force
of a battle axe. For this compressed and formal habit of
thought, the easy graces and ready versatility of Cardinal
Gibbons were an admirable foil.
Manning again congratulated him, as he had done in writ
ing, on the victory in the Knights of Labor question. They
found common ground in the belief that the time had come
when the dynasty of the masses, and not of the classes, was
ruling, and ought to rule; that public opinion was the domi
nating force of the enlightened world, and that in the atmos
phere of freedom the great results of the future were to be
worked out. They talked of the dignity and rights of labor;
agreed that social betterment must come from the bottom,
rather than the top; and that the Church, as the friend of the
166
VIEWS OF NEGRO QUESTION. 167
helpless, the champion of the poor, must be in touch with the
spirit of the age and continue to prove the universality of her
mission. Naturally akin in sympathy and view, these two
had been drawn closer by the struggles through which they
had passed, and each was an inspiration to the other.
Cardinal Gibbons had long been interested in missionary
work among the negroes, and he took advantage of his visit
to England by studying the methods of the Josephite Fathers,
at Mill Hill College, near London, where students are trained
for this field. He spent part of two days at Mill Hill, care
fully observing the work of the college, and made an address
to the students, expressing great gratification at what was
being done. Cardinal Manning entertained him at dinner
with a company which included Canon Benoit, rector of Mill
Hill, and other persons deeply interested in the conversion of
the negroes.
Cardinal Gibbons had particularly good opportunities for
studying the condition of the colored race in the United States.
Most of his life had been spent in the South; and his experi
ence in North Carolina during Reconstruction times had given
him additional light on this momentous problem. While al
ways regretting that the slavery question, or any other ques
tion, should be worked out by the Bismarckian treatment of
blood and iron, he felt and frequently expressed a deep and
benevolent sympathy for the negro race in its unfortunate
position of contiguity with the superior whites. Like almost
all Americans, he was glad to see slavery abolished in the
end; but he viewed with alarm the consequences of thrusting
the ballot into the hands of millions of black men, unfitted by
history or training to comprehend its meaning. The best
solution of the negro question, he felt, was in diffusing among
the race the gentle and uplifting, influence of Christianity
training the character as a groundwork and building upon ti|$
as much of the superstructure of education as it might oe
found possible to add with benefit. He felt that the whole
168 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
problem in its aspects at that time was social rather than
political; that the negro must be trained to habits of industry
and thrift, to understand the sacred relations of family life and
of duty as a member of the community, however humble.
He had shared at no time the expectations of extremists,
who had believed the negro capable of developing in a few
years what the white race had obtained by centuries of sacri
fice, toil and evolution. But, since the blacks were here, and
since as far as men of his generation could foresee, they would
remain in the United States indefinitely, they must be consid
ered as a weak and helpless people to whom the ministrations
of religion were more necessary than to the stronger race. He
did not know how far it would be wise to -extend the plan of
ordaining negro priests for work among their own kind ; but
he felt that the special character of the negro s needs required
a priesthood particularly trained for supplying them.
The fathers of Mill Hill welcomed with enthusiasm the deep
and discriminating interest which he showed in their work
and*its possible extension to America. Soon after his return*
his investigations bore fruit in the opening of Epiphany Apos
tolic College, an institution of the Josephites in Baltimore,
founded as an offshoot of Mill Hill, and since the nucleus of a
successful work.
The Cardinal sailed from Queenstown, arriving in New
York June 4, 1887. A Baltimore committee, including the
venerable Monsignor McManus and other friends from among
the clergy, gave him a warm welcome at the steamer. He tar
ried a few days in New York, where he celebrated pontifical
mass in St. Patrick s Cathedral, and was greeted by a host of
visitors ; and then proceeded, on June 7, to Baltimore, whose
committees were in a fever of final preparation for a public
reception.
As the train arrived at Union Station, the streets were
thronged with an acclaiming crowd, as if it were a municipal
* November, 1889.
WELCOMED ON HIS RETURN. 169
festival.* Mayor Hodges, Charles J. Bonaparte, a grand-
nephew of Napoleon I, and a guard of honor greeted him in
behalf of the city.
The Mayor could not permit the opportunity to pass without
eulogizing one who had conferred so much honor upon Balti
more abroad. "Your gradual rise from the ranks of the
people," he said, "to scholarship, usefulness and popularity,
and then to eminence, and now to pre-eminence, although
achieved within the ecclesiastical division of life, is so thor
oughly an American experience that fcvery self-made man, and
others who admire meritorious advancement, must regard your
promotion as well earned and well deserved. Those of your
fellow-townsmen whose religious faith is in harmony with
your own, and who are justly proud of the successful adminis
tration of this ancient see for nearly one hundred years, are
doubtless gratified to know that you are so worthy a suc
cessor of the eight illustrious primates, from Carroll to Bayley,
who preceded you as archbishops of Baltimore. They are also
gratified to know that you are qualified by learning, good
works and religious zeal to be a member of the Sacred Col
lege of Rome. * * * Few American citizens during their
visits to Europe have been welcomed with more sincere cor
diality or made more agreeable impressions on the people they
met than you have; and as this effect was produced by the
exercise of a rare congenial intelligence, Christian piety,
moral worth and gentleness of manner and speech, it is rea
sonable to surmise that it will be lasting,"
Mr. Bonaparte, a leader of the laity, expressed the joy of
Catholics.
The Cardinal was, naturally, full of emotion at such an
earnest and overwhelming tribute. His warmth of heart
and the closeness of his ties with the people among whom his
lot had been cast made neighborliness one of the most pro
nounced traits of his disposition. No matter how great might
* Catholic Mirror, June 11, 1887,
170 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
be the problems engrossing his mind and occupying his labors,
he could turn from these to the purely personal side of his life
with a simplicity that was no less charming than rare among
men whose work is mingled with so much of the formalism of
the world. As he gazed out upon the great crowd he could
see men of his own faith, who had often knelt when he cele
brated the mass; men of other faiths, who greeted him on the
street, in public halls where they met for a common purpose,
in the pleasant diversions of social gatherings, and all of
whom were proud to call him friend as well as leader.
He began his response to the addresses by saying that he was
overcome by a sense of gratitude for this "splendid ovation
and this great outpouring of the clergy and people of Balti
more, who have come to bid me welcome on my return to the
city which I love so well." It had always been his disposi
tion to shrink from public demonstrations, and on several pre
vious occasions of his return from Rome he had uniformly
declined them; "but/ he added, "there are times and circum
stances and the present is one of them when the individual
is sunk in his representative capacity, and personal prefer
ences should yield to the wishes of others.
"I thank you most cordially, Mr. Bonaparte, for the beauti
ful and chaste address you have delivered in the name of the
Catholics of Baltimore, and I have to thank you also, honored
Mayor, for your excellent remarks, which I appreciate the
more as you stand before me as the highest representative of
the city and speak for the entire community, without reference
to religion or nationality. I beg to assure you both, and the
citizens of Baltimore, that the beautiful sentiments of kind
ness and fraternity you have so well expressed are most
heartily reciprocated on my part.
"While traveling in Italy and on the Continent it was al
ways a source of pleasure to me to meet someone who spoke our
mother tongue; still more gratifying to me was it when I saw
one who hailed from America ; but how great was my delight
ESCORTED BY GREAT PROCESSION. 171
when I had the pleasure of meeting one who could claim
Baltimore as his home! Your kindness will bind me still
more strongly, if that is possible, to my fellow-citizens, and
to this city, where I \Vas born, where Providence has cast my
lot, and where I hope to die."
Greetings being over, the Cardinal took his place in a pro
cession which stretched from the station to the archiepis-
copal residence, a mile distant. With this long escort he pro
ceeded, in a handsome carriage, surrounded by a guard of
honor selected from the members of Catholic societies. Com
panies of religious knights in handsome uniforms, city officers
in carriages and divisions of organizations from all parts of
the city took part in the parade. Red badges were every
where ; and as the guest of honor passed, bowing and smiling,
like a President of the United States at his inauguration, the
crowds on the streets, in characteristic fashion, raised their
hats in respectful salute.
Arriving at the archiepiscopal residence, there was a brief
interval, and then the Cardinal entered the Cathedral, where,
after prayer, the Vicar-General, Mgr. McColgan, made an
address on behalf of the clergy. He spoke of the services
wnich the Cardinal, their bishop, had performed for religion
while in Rome, and of their gratitude for the honors which
had come to him. "You have exposed to the view of Euro
pean nations/ said the Monsigtior, "the blessings which civil
and religious liberty bestow on the citizens of America, where
the rights of all are guaranteed, where political and social dis
tinctions are open to all, where freedom reigns for all without
license, and authority is recognized and maintained without
despotism. Your patriotic love for your native country has
obtained for you a national character. Your memory, like
that of the illustrious Carroll, first Archbishop of Baltimore,
will be treasured and enshrined in the hearts of your people/
Again the Cardinal felt the touch of personal association,
for no bishop was ever closer to his clergy than he.
172 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
"Since my departure from Baltimore/ he said in reply, "I
have, indeed, received marked favors in the countries through
which I have passed. In Rome and throughout Italy, in
France, Belgium, Holland, Scotland and Ireland, many kind
attentions have been shown me, which I shall never forget;
but, while fully appreciating the courtesies which have been
paid me in foreign lands, I value immeasurably more than all
the words of greeting which have fallen from your lips. For
what would a father care for all the honors that might be lav
ished upon him abroad, were he not revered and loved by his
own children and in his own household?"
On the Sunday following, at the services in the Cathedral,
the Cardinal spoke in detail of his European trip.* Fresh
from contact with Leo XIII, he naturally thought first of that
pontiff, who had inspired and upheld him in the trying circum
stances through which he had passed,
"Though he is deprived of his temporal possessions," said
the Cardinal, "it can be safely said that today he exercises
more power over the civilized world than any king or poten
tate; and, although he has no military force to back him, his
words are more conducive to peace than the actions of all
the standing armies of Europe. In his case it can be truly
said that his voice is mightier than the ^xvord. He enjoys the
love of two hundred and fifty million of Catholics, scattered
throughout the length and breadth of the world; and he has
the respect and esteem of our separated brethren, who have
not failed to recognize his many personal virtues, his benevo
lent character, and his broad, statesmanlike views. He has a
special regard for this republic of ours and the citizens of the
United States, which was amply demonstrated during my
sojourn in Rome. At the time there was a large number of
Americans in the city, all of whom very naturally wished to
see the Holy Father. I mentioned the fact to him at the first
opportunity, and in reply he said he would, indeed, be much
* Catholic Uirrer, June 18, 1887.
LEO S LOVE FOR AMERICANS. 173
pleased to see them. When the visitors were afterward pre
sented, they were charmed by his presence and went away
favorably impressed with all that he had said and strengthened
with God s benediction upon them. Another illustration of
his love for Americans was shown on Easter Tuesday, when
all the cardinals then in Rome paid their respects to his Holi
ness. He took that occasion to again speak of his great love
for this country."
The Cardinal proceeded to describe in colloquial fashion to
his congregation his experiences in some of the countries of
Europe which he visited. At Louvain he had been impressed
with the strength of its ancient university, and within him had
been born the wish that the new university at Washington
would some day be its equal. Speaking at a time when the
skies of labor in the United States were full of clouds, when
men accustomed to think calmly and speak judiciously were
predicting that those clouds might break into a terrible storm,
he expressed without hesitation his own clear faith that the
people would be equal to the responsibilities thrust upon them.
"Whatever may be the grievances of the laboring classes
here/ he said, "I believe our men are better paid, better
clothed, better housed and have fairer prospects than those of
any other nation I have visited. * * * As we all have
a share in the blessings of the republic, so should we all take
an active and loyal part in upholding the Commonwealth,
which gives liberty without license and wields authority with
out despotism. The man who would endeavor to undermine
the laws and institutions of this country deserves the fate of
those who laid profane hands on the Ark of the Lord. There
are some misguided men in our country thank God, they are
very few who are appropriately called anarchists and nihi
lists. They are so infatuated, not to say ungrateful to their
country, that, like Samson, they would fain pull down the
constitutional temple which shelters them, even though they
should perish in the ruins. May Almighty God, by whom
174 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
rulers reign and lawgivers decree just things, preserve OUT
country for the peace and prosperity of our generation and for
the happiness of countless peoples yet unborn!"
Seeing not the slightest conflict between allegiance to church
and allegiance to country, he alluded to a sight he had recently
witnessed in the parade held in his honor the flags of the
United States and of the papacy carried by marching Ameri
cans. "I always wish to see those two flags lovingly en
twined/ he said, "for no one can be faithful to God without
being faithful to his country. Render unto Caesar the things
that are Caesar s, and to God, the things that are God s/ "
It had not been customary for Catholic prelates to take part
in civic events in America. During the first century of the
nation s existence this would have been misunderstood, and at
times would have been positively dangerous. But when Phila
delphia decided to celebrate in 1887 the centennial of the
American Constitution, it was felt that the occasion would be
incomplete without Cardinal Gibbons, so strong a place had he
won in the affections of the nation. He was invited to offer
the closing prayer on September 17, the anniversary of the
signing.
President Cleveland, his Cabinet and a host of distinguished
men were there. Many of these the Cardinal knew personally,
aftd others were eager to meet the churchman who had done
so tmidi for his country at home and abroad. His red robe,
&n "unfamiliar sight in America, invested his presence among
the crowds with a half-mystic interest; and they found that it
a man as typically American as any, alert, active,
to the core, sharing keenly the enthusiasm and pride
fe tile institutions of the country.
His prayer was based on one written by Archfiishop Carroll,
and was, modified to suit the occasion. It was as follows :*
"We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom
IB rightly administered, laws are enacted and judgment de-
Mirr or, September 24, 188?!
CENTENNIAL OF THE CONSTITUTION. 175
creed, to assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the Presi
dent of these United States, that his administration may be conducted
in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he
presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion, by a faith
ful execution of the laws in justice and mercy, and by restraining vice
and immorality.
"Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Con
gress and shine forth in all their proceedings and laws framed for our
rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace,
the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety
and useful knowledge, and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal
liberty.
"We pray Thee for all judges, magistrates and other officers who are
appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled by
Thy powerful protection to discharge the duties of their respective
gtations with honesty and ability,
"We pray Thee especially for the judges of our Supreme Court, that
they may interpret the laws with even-handed justice. May they ever
be the faithful guardians of the temple of the constitution, whose con
struction and solemn dedication to our country s liberties we commem
orate today. May they stand as watchful and incorruptible sentinels at
the portals of this temple, shielding it from profanation and hostile
invasion.
"May this glorious charter of our civil rights be deeply imprinted on
the hearts and memories of our people. May it foster in them a spirit
of patriotism ; may it weld together and assimilate in national brother
hood the diverse races that come to seek a home amongst us. May the
reverence paid to it conduce to the promotion of social stability and
order, and may It hold the aegis of its protection over us and generations
yet unborn, so that the temporal blessings which we enjoy may be
perpetuated.
"Grant, Lord, that our republic, unexampled in the history of the
world in material prosperity and growth of population, may be also,
under Thy over-ruling providence, a model to all nations in upholding
liberty without license, and in wielding authority without despotism.
"Finally, we recommend to Thy unbounded mercy all our brethren
and fellow-citizens throughout the United States, that they may be
blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy mo$t
holy law, that they may be preserved in union and in that peace which
the world can not give, and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be
admitted to those which are eternal
176 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
"Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy king
dom come ; Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven ; give us this
day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil. Amen."
At the conclusion of the prayer the Cardinal invoked a bene
diction in the following words :
"May the blessings of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
descend upon our beloved country and upon all her people, and abide
with them forever. Amen."
He had never visited the fast-developing West, which, ac
cording to the signs of the times, was about to take on far
greater importance in the outlook of the United States and
the Church. With something akin to eagerness, he accepted
the invitation to confer the pallium at Portland, Ore., on
Archbishop Gross, his long-time friend, "born nearly in the
same street," as he said, and a brother of that faithful priest,
Rev. Mark S. Gross, with whom he had shared privations and
labors in North Carolina. As a student of history, he felt
that such a large portion of his country, in whose beginnings
adventurous missionary priests had performed such heroic
service, should share in eminent degree the benefits of Catholic
effort in its fuller development along the pathways of civiliza
tion and material progress. Was not a cardinal of the Roman
Church at home in the country watered by the great river
which De Soto had discovered and named in honor of the
Holy Ghost; which Marquette and Joliet, boldly trusting them
selves to an Indian canoe, had explored for thousands of miles
and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception ; which Hennepin
had ascended to the falls he had named in honor of St. An
thony of Padua? Was he not at home in the new States
created from the vast region which Coronado had penetrated
with his adventurous Spaniards, carrying the cross and cele
brating the mass on prairie and desert and by the sides of
A HOMOGENEOUS AMERICA. 177
great rivers which flowed into the still greater "Father of
Waters ?"
In the whole region won from Mexico, the Catholic CHurch
retained the affections of the people. Germans, Irishmen and
Italians, and the peoples of other European countries who had
been children of the Church in the land of their birth, were
helping to make the prairies blossom with their industry, and
mine and factory rang with the sound of their labor.
The Church would follow them, as, centuries before, she had
gone in advance of them. She would try to train them to build
American homes to take the places of those which they had
had left in Europe- Some day a thousand men would dwell
where one now cultivated a township farm or ranged his cattle
over half a county. A city would grow where a house now
stood ; and men with a mission to the whole nation would arise
from among the sons of these pioneers, who as yet toiled only
at the foundations of what, as far as human foresight went,
would one day be a magnificent structure.
Above all, the Cardinal desired that these new peoples, tak
ing root in new soil, should one day be homogeneous with
their brothers in the forests of Maine and the cotton fields of
Louisiana. If America were to integrate instead of disinte
grate, these people must be one not one in individuality, but
sharing a common respect for the rights of others, a com
mon faith in the perpetuity of their institutions, in the liberty
which gave every man a chance, a common aspiration for a
greater America, that would be an example and a blessing to
the remainder of the world. Whatever their origin, all were
now brothers in the citizenship of the same great republic.
While treasuring the memory of the brave stocks from which
they sprang; while never forgetting the good that was behind
them, yet, their future would be in the United States ; and no
trace of antagonism, of racial differences, of political ideals
born in diverse surroundings must prevent the consummation
of their proper destiny.
178 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
In the Cardinal s view, the foreigner who was populating
the West must be brought as rapidly as possible into intimate
touch with his new environment; must be made to feel that
his children would look to the men of 76 as the authors of
the political system under which they lived, a system of free
Commonwealths, retaining local self-government in a large
sense, and yet bound by unity of purpose and a common aim
for the realization of a grand destiny. Assimilation was,
after all, one of the most vital problems to be solved by Ameri
cans of the last half of the nineteenth century and the begin
ning of the twentieth. It would never do for the people of
European nationalities that were pouring over here in thou
sands to cling together longer than might be necessary to
enable them to adapt themselves to new conditions. They
might be Germans by ancestry, as were thousands of the first
citizens of the growing West; they might be Italians, Swedes
or Poles; but the work of the Church, no less than of the
political authorities, must be to make them, as soon as possible,
Americans.
All Americans were foreigners by descent, except the In
dians reduced to the helpless condition of wards of the nation;
but had all retained the spirit born in other lands, had there
been a clash of systems instead of a union of thought, America
would never have gotten far in the realization of the possi
bilities opened by the devoted men who had explored it, point
ing the way to the peoples who were to come in the future
generations. The Catholic Church, which had been the guide of
most of the new-comers, in which they had been baptized and
taught, in which they had found the means of access to Divine
truth this Church could perform a great service to the nation
hy leading them forward to that community of language, social
custom and political idealism which were essential to their
own welfare and the nation s safety.
Leaving Baltimore late in September, Cardinal Gibbons
went to Chicago, where he was the guest of Archbishop Fee-
WELCOMED IN ST. PAUL. 179
han; then to Milwaukee, a center of German Catholicism,
where he was entertained by Archbishop Heiss. The city of
St Paul, the see of Archbishop Ireland, his ardent champion,
was busy with preparations to receive him. A great reception
was given there September 20, and a banquet was held, at
which the Archbishop spoke in eulogy of his distinguished
guest.* The tone of all the speeches was one of pride in the
new Cardinal as an American citizen and a prince of the Cath
olic Church. Judge William L. Kelly, speaking for the laity,
recalled what had happened only recently at Philadelphia.
"But yesterday," he said, "at the invitation of your fellow-
citizens, irrespective of religious faith or political association,
you, priest, archbishop, cardinal, raised your hand above the
assembled multitudes and, in the name of your sacred office,
invoked the blessing of Almighty God upon the Constitution of
these United States. In that particular, illustrious sir, your
voice, it seems to me, was not merely that of the priest, but of
the prophet of God as well * * * The old lines that have long
kept us apart from our brethren without the fold are, thank
God, well nigh obliterated here. On all great questions, social
and political, we stand in St. Paul side by side. We are staunch
in our religious faith, and they in theirs, and the honesty of
neither is questioned ; and no one has done more to bring about
that cordial catholic condition of things than the man who sits
at your side. To name him is to do him honor John Ire
land/
Responding to the addresses, the Cardinal could not forbear to
refer to his colleague in so many struggles. "For many years,"
he said, "I have been closely watching Archbishop Ireland s
career. It was my pleasure to be associated with him at the
last Plenary Council of Baltimore. For three weeks I studied
him, and the more I studied him, the more I admired and loved
him. Archbishop Ireland came to you as a Providential
* Catholic Mirror, October 8, 1887. Subsequent Issues contain further ctettjt*
of the Cardinal s Western trip.
180 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
senger sent to you by Almighty God, He has done untold
good through the temporal blessings which he has helped to
bestow upon society.
"You were pleased/ he added, "to mention my pride in
being an American citizen; it is the proudest earthly title I
possess."
Referring to the movement, then much discussed, to incor
porate the name of God in the national Constitution, he re
marked : "For my part, I have not desired to see that venerated
name used in this respect, so long as it remains inscribed on
the tablets of the hearts of the people and the rulers of the
nation. I would rather speak with the living captain than
with the figure on the prow of the ship/
Helena, Montana, the seat of Bishop Brondel, was another
city which greeted him with an outpouring. With a touch of
the spirit of the West, he ventured to predict that the time
was likely to come when the city would be a community of a
hundred thousand souls. Again, he spoke of his pride in being
an American citizen, saying that it was as great a title as the
one of which the ancient Romans were fond of boasting. His
travels abroad had enhanced his love for his own country, and
he declared that he felt a pride and a faith in its destiny which
upheld him in the trials through which he passed.
On Sunday, October 9, he officiated in Portland at the in
vestiture of Archbishop Gross, a splendid ceremony, attended
by all the prelates of the Northwest. The next day there was
a public reception, at which EL E. McGinn, in an address to
the Cardinal in behalf of the citizens of Portland, took occa
sion to pay this tribute :
"As long as men are compelled to labor; as long as they feel
called upon to unite for their own protection ; as long as the
Divine mandate remains true, that In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread/ so lone shall the name of Cardinal Gib
bons be venerated among men."
REVIVING AN ANCIENT CUSTOM. 181
The earnestness of the speaker was in part due to the fact
that the labor question was then acute on the Pacific Coast,
and the Cardinal took occasion in Jhis own address at the re
ception to refer to it. He pleaded, as he had so often done
before, for peace between capital and labor.
He continued his travels to San Francisco, where he was
hospitably entertained by Archbishop Riordan, and to Los
Angeles, where a public address of welcome was made to him
by Lieut-Gov. Stephen M. White, afterward United States
Senator. At Fort Vancouver Gen. John Gibbon, the com
mander, entertained him. When he arrived there by boat Lieu
tenant Anderson, who commanded the squad sent to meet him,
said:
"Your Eminence, it was customary in ancient times, when
a prince of the realm traveled, for the governors of cities to
release some prisoners in honor of his visit. As you are a
prince of the Church, I propose to* release some men confined
here/
He then summoned six private soldiers from the prison in
the fort and said to them : "Soldiers, consider yourselves free
in honor of Cardinal Gibbons."
Everywhere the Cardinal was received as an eminent citi
zen, no less than as a prince of the Church; and through the
welcoming speeches ran the thread of his bold and patriotic
attitude in Rome but a few months before.
Proceeding homeward by way of New Orleans, where he
had spent part of his youth and where his family still resided,
that city hailed him as its own. In behalf of the Catholics
there, he was presented, at a public reception, a gold ring aijd
chain and a diamond cross. An address of welcome was made
to him by Edward Douglas White, afterward Chief Justice of
the United States Supreme Court. The Cardinal returned
from his transcontinental tour with new vigor and inspiration.
182 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
The year 1887 marked the close of half a century s labors
in the priesthood by Leo XIII, the friend of America and of
America s Cardinal. The rulers of European nations, and
even the Sultan, were sending to Rome gifts expressive of
their felicitations, not only to the earthly head of a Church of
250,000,000 people, but to a man who had been the balance-
wheel of Europe. What would be America s part in such an
occasion? The Holy See had intimated to Cardinal Gibbons
that an expression from the United States would be welcome.
One day after his return from his Western tour he was con
sidering how to bring this to President Cleveland s attention,
when the following letter arrived, in the handwriting of the
President :
"EXECUTIVE MANSION.
"Washington, Nov. 17, 1887.
"Hi* Eminence Cardinal Gibbons:
/My Dear Sir I have thought that you would send to the Pope your
congratulations on the occasion of the approaching Jubilee.
"Remembering with much gratitude and satisfaction the kind words
you brought from the Holy Father upon your recent return from Rome,
I should be very much pleased if you could, without impropriety on your
part, convey to him my congratulations and felicitations.
"Hoping that you are quite well after your extended travel, I am,
"Yours very sincerely,
"GBOVEB CLEVELAND."*
The Cardinal paid another of his visits to the White House,
BOW growing frequent, and thanked Mr. Cleveland for the
fetter. He expressed at the same time his hope that the Presi
dent wotlld not be content with a formal communication, but
would send some memento to the Pontiff indicative of his
sentiments. As the centennial of the Constitution had just
been commemorated, he suggested that a copy of that instru
ment would be one of the most appropriate of gifts.
* Cathedral Archives,
CLEVELAND S GIFT TO LEO XIIL 183
"None can question the fitness of such a present/* said the
Cardinal, "for the dissemination of the principles of our gov
ernment abroad would be above criticism. 3
Mr. Cleveland assented with eagerness. The Cardinal
offered to have a copy of the Constitution bound if the Presi
dent would furnish one unbound.
"I will do nothing of the kind/ rejoined the President, "but
will insist on having a copy bound in a costly and beautiful
manner, if you will tell me how to do it."
The Cardinal suggested white silk or satin as appropriate.
Jlr. Cleveland then asked what should be the form of presenta
tion, and the Cardinal dictated these words :
"Presented through his Eminence Cardinal Gibbons to the
Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII, on the occasion of the golden
jubilee of his Holiness, with the profound regard of Grover
Cleveland, President of the United States."
"How much time is there to have the book prepared?" asked
the President.
"Ten days," said the Cardinal.
On the tenth day afterward there arrived by express at the
archiepiscopal residence, in Baltimore, from a noted New York
jeweler, a superb volume of the Constitution printed in old
English characters on vellum, bound in white and red, and
bearing the presentation inscription from President to Pope.
Col. John T. Morris, of Baltimore, was selected to carry it to
Rome, for presentation at the jubilee festivities.
The presentation, in the throne room of the Vatican, was
marked by an exchange of warm sentiments. Archbishop
Ryan made an appropriate address, and Mgr. O Connell read^
a letter to the Pope from the Cardinal, conveying the Presi
dent s personal congratulations,
"As an archbishop," said the Pontiff in reply, "you enjoy
in America perfect freedom. That freedom, we admit, is
184 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
highly beneficial to the spread of religion. * * * Toward
America I bear especial love. * * * Your government is
free, your future full of hope. Your President commands my
highest admiration."
Leo was so much delighted that for a long time he exhibited
the gift in his private apartment, with the presentation page
open, that favoured visitors might see. That the pleasure was
mutual is indicated by the fact that when the cardinal called on
the president to show him the letter from the pontiff acknowl
edging the receipt of the gift, the president, after hearing the
translation read, was so much pleased with it that he asked the
cardinal to give him the original, a favor which was readily
granted.
The letter of the Pope, which Mr. Cleveland retained, was
addressed to Cardinal Gibbons, and charged him with the duty
of conveying his warm thanks to the President. "In fulfill
ing this duty/ Leo wrote, "we desire that you should assure
the President of our admiration for the Constitution of the
United States, not only because it enables industrious and en
terprising citizens to attain so high a degree of prosperity, but
also because, under its protection, your Catholic countrymen
have enjoyed a liberty which has so confessedly promoted the
astonishing growth of their religion in the past and will, we
trust, enable it in the future to be of the highest advantage to
the civil order as well."*
All the churches of the diocese of Baltimore observed the
papal jubilee January i, 1888, the Cardinal delivering the ser
mon in the Cathedral. His heart must have been full to over
flowing as he arose to speak on the career of this illustrious
Pontiff, to whose enlightened comprehension of modern condi
tions he owed so much of what he had been able to accomplish ;
*A copy of tlie letter is In the Cathedral Archives.
JUBILEE OF THE PONTIFF. 185
and whose fatherly interest in himself had so often overcome
him with gratitude. At the outset he dwelt on the perpetuity of
the papacy, and the mission it had worked out, under God, for
mankind. While a great conservative force, it had turned
progress and invention into the service of Christianity, and at
great crises in the world s history had guided events in the
direction of civilization.
"What means/ 1 he asked, "can be employed to overthrow
an institution which for nineteen centuries has successfully
overcome every opposition waged against it? Is it by the
power of kings and emperors and prime ministers that the
papacy can be destroyed? They have tried, and tried in vain,
from the days of the Roman Caesars to our own times- Many
persons labor under the false impression that in former times
the Church was leagued with the princes of this world for the
purpose of overthrowing the liberties of the people; that the
altars were sustained by the thrones, and that they would
crumble if this protection were withdrawn. The truth is.
that, with some honorable exceptions, the most unrelenting
enemies of the Church and the papacy have often been the
princes of this world, and so-called Christian princes, too.
They chafed under the salutary discipline of the Church and
wished to be rid of her yoke, because she was the only power
on earth that could stand between the princes and the people
and tell the former that, if the people have their obligations,
they have their rights, too.
"But can the Church cope with modern inventions and the
great discoveries of the nineteenth century? Rest assured the
Church will not hide her head, like the ostrich in the sand, at
the approach of these modern inventions and discoveries. For,
if Christianity was propagated to the uttermost bounds of the
earth at a time when we had no other ships but frail canoes,
no other compass but the naked eye, no other roads but eternal
snows and virgin forests and desert wastes, how much more
now can we effect by means of railroads and steamships? Yes,
186 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
we bless you, O men of genius. We bless your inventions and
discoveries, and will press you into the service of the Gospel,
and we will say: "Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord; fire
and heat, bless the Lord ; all ye works of the Lord, bless the
Lord, praise and exalt Him above all forever/
"But may not the light of Christianity grow pale and be
utterly extinguished before the intellectual blaze of the nine
teenth century? Have we not much to fear from the arts
and sciences and literature? We have nothing to fear, but
everything to gain, from intellectual development. The Church
has always been the patroness of literature and the fostering
mother of arts and sciences. At no period of the history of
Christianity did the popes wield a greater power than from the
twelfth to the sixteenth century. They exercised not only
spiritual power, but also temporal jurisdiction, and had great
influence with the civil rulers of those days. Now, at no period
did the human intellect revel in greater freedom in the pursuit
of speculative knowledge of every kind than in those days. It
was emphatically the age of universities. Forty-one universi
ties sprang up during those four centuries in France, Ger
many, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Spain, England and Scotland.
There can be no conflict between science and Christianity, for
the same God is the author of all revealed truth and all scientific
truth. Science and religion, like Mary and Martha, are sis
ters, because they are the daughters of the same Father only
they serve the Lord in a different manner; science, like Martha,
is laboring among the things of material creation; religion,
like Mary, is kneeling at the feet of the Lord.
"But has not the papacy much to fear from the progress of
liberty? Give us liberty, this is all we ask a fair field and
no favor. The Church is always hampered in her operations
wherever despotism casts its dark shadow. She always blooms
and expands in the genial air of liberty. Amid the changes
in human institutions the papacy is one institution that never
changes. It has seen the birth of every existing government
LEO S .COMPREHENSION OF THE TIMES. 1ST
in Europe, and it is not improbable that it may witness the
death of some of them and chant their requiem. It was 1,400
years old when Columbus discovered America, and our own
Government is but of yesterday as compared with it,
"The present illustrious Pontiff, Leo XIII, is a worthy suc
cessor of the Gregories, the Innocents, the Piuses, and of the
long line of Leos that have preceded him. For ten years he
has occupied the chair of Peter, a spectacle to the world, to
angels and to men ; and during all that time he has excited the
admiration of the civilized world by his luminous intellect,
his broad statesmanship, his strong judgment, his ken appre
ciation of things; by his conciliatory disposition, his personal
integrity and purity of life, and by his great benevolence of
character.
"Leo XIII is today, perhaps, the most popular man in Eu
rope, if not in the world, and this i the secret of his popularity :
He understands the times in which we live; he appreciates
the fact that we are living in the nineteenth century, and
not in the ninth ; he understands the wants of the people, and
sympathizes with their legitimate aspirations, while at the
same time he is always the promoter and vindicator of law
and order and legitimate government everywhere. He has
found the key to the hearts of the people, and has entered there.
Let us hope and pray that this great luminary, whom the Lord
has set over His Church, may long linger above the horizon to
enlighten us by his wisdom and to cheer us by his example;
and when his course is run and his light on earth is extin
guished, may he shine for all eternity in the kingdom of our
common Father, the source of all light and the author of all
justice/ *
In November, 1888, the Cardinal issued a Thanksgiving cir
cular, in which he drew a lesson from the Presidential eleqti@ji
* Catholic Mirror, Jan. 7, 1888.
188 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
a few weeks before at which General Harrison had been chosen
to succeed Mr. Cleveland.
"In other lands," he wrote, "the times for choosing the rulers
of the nation are often occasions of political convulsion, of the
interruption of all peaceful pursuits, and sometimes even of
strife and bloodshed. The recent contest between ten millions
of voters of this republic, representing sixty millions of people,
has been settled peaceably and constitutionally, without the loss
of a single life or even any interruption in men s ordinary avo
cations."*
During 1888 and part of 1889 ^ e was niuch engaged in writ
ing his second book, "Our Christian Heritage." Authorship
naturally had a powerful appeal for a devourer of literature
like himself, and the success of "The Faith of Our Fathers"
had led to many offers from publishers. From early manhood
reading had been a large part of his recreation theology,
philosophy, history and civics, with now and then a novel at
night in the quiet of his study to draw his mind away from the
absorbing events of the day. In his first book he had been the
priest preaching to the people; but from the pages of "Our
Christian Heritage" shines the character of citizen as well as
priest It may be described, in brief, as an argument in behalf
of Christianity addressed to the average busy man of the time,
accustomed to be guided by material considerations in his daily
work and doubting, from force of habit, conclusions whose
premises he cannot clearly comprehend The Cardinal aimed
to demonstrate the fundamental truths underlying Christianity
by the unaided reason, which, he declared, was sufficient,
though "they are made still more luminous by the light of
Christian revelation."
The book is not sectarian. The author stated positively
that he was glad to acknowledge that "most of the topics dis
cussed have often found, and still find, able and zealous advo-
* Cathedral Archive*
FAC-SIMILE OF CARDINAL. GIBBONS* HANDWRITING
(EXTRACT FROM "OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE")
"OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE." 189
cates in Protestant writers. * * * I would gladly hold
out to them the right hand of fellowship, so long as they unite
with us in striking the common foe."
Having concluded a searching and logical examination of
the elements of Christian truth, he proceeded to argue that
religion is the essential basis of civil society. He showed how
it has been interwoven in the thread of events throughout the
history of the United States, and sought to apply it as a remedy
for the "dangers that threaten our American civilization."
These he enumerated as five
"Mormonism and divorce, which strike at the root of the
family and society;"
An "imperfect and vicious system of education, which un
dermines the religion of our youth;"
"Desecration of the Christian Sabbath ;"
"Gross and systematic election frauds;"
The "unreasonable delay in carrying into effect the sentences
of our criminal courts."
A chapter was devoted to the "dignity, rights and duties of
the laboring classes," which, he argued, found their best guide
in the wholesome influence of religion.
In and out of the pulpit he was fond of quoting lessons
from the life of Washington, whom he considered the greatest
American. At the hundredth anniversary of the first Presi
dent s inauguration April 30, 1889 h e issued a pastoral
letter directing the ringing of all the church bells half an
hour and a special service in every Catholic house of worship
in the Diocese of Baltimore. In this letter he expressed "pro
found satisfaction that the citizens of the United States, with
out regard to race or creed or previous allegiance to any flag
whatsoever," were about to recognize the life and achievements
of Washington, "a gift of Almighty God to his own age, and
an exemplar to all the ages to be." The Cardinal himself was
present at the mass celebrated in the Baltimore Cathedral in
honor of the event.
CHAPTER XIII.
CENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN HIERARCHY.
In an era of centennials, the Catholic Church in America
could not forget the origin of her own hierarchy. John Car
roll, a cousin of that signer of the Declaration of Independence
who survived last to receive the grateful plaudits of his fellow-
countrymen, had been appointed November 6, 1789, first
Bishop of Baltimore and head of the Church in the then infant
republic. The total population of the United States was then
less than 4,000,000, including4O,ooo Catholics ; in 1889 the pop
ulation had grown to 65,000,000, of whom 9,000,000 were of
the Catholic faith. From Carroll as a corner-stone, the hier
archy had risen in a hundred years to the proportions of
13 archbishops and 71 bishops, the spiritual overseers of 8,000
priests, 10,500 churches and chapels, 27 seminaries for train
ing the clergy, 650 colleges and academies for the higher educa
tion of youth, 3,100 parish schools and 520 hospitals and
asylums.
The nation had marshalled its strength with pride in the
unexampled rapidity of its achievements; might not the Cath
olic Church do the same, exhibiting not only her own great
ness, but her thorough identification with the spirit of the
people and the Government?
Cardinal Gibbons had been accustomed to works of organi
zation, and when it was decided to hold a great celebration in
Baltimore to mark the hierarchy s centennial, he began the
undertaking with characteristic energy and skill Aided by the
staff of priests attached to his household and to the Cathedral,
h soon had under way the beginnings of a project of far-
reaching scope. Surrounding him at the time were Rev. P. J.
190
A GREAT CELEBRATION. 191
Donahue, an undergraduate of his "School of Bishops/ after
ward head of the Wheeling Diocese; Rev. John T. Whelan, his
secretary, a man of rare energy, tact and capacity for detail;
Rev. Thomas S. Lee, rector of the Cathedral, and Rev. Wil
liam A. Reardon, assistant. They called to their aid Rev. J. A.
McCallen, of St. Mary s Seminary, who had long been recog
nized as a master of Church ceremonial, and who had man
aged some of the most imposing events that had taken place in
the Cathedral and elsewhere.
The celebration included five days crowded with ambitious
events. For the opening, on Sunday, November 10, there
was a solemn pontifical mass, at which, as far as possible,
the American hierarchy were assembled, as well as representa
tives of the Church in other countries on both sides of the At
lantic. After this was, a dinner at St. Mary s Seminary, at
which the principal foreign delegates spoke. On Monday and
Tuesday a congress of laymen was held, and on Tuesday night
a torchlight procession. On Wednesday the School of Sacred
Sciences at the new university was dedicated. On Thursday
the visiting prelates were escorted in carriages to the principal
places of interest in or near Baltimore, and there was a recep
tion at the City Hall.
Cardinal Gibbons had written to the Pope, outlining the plans
for the celebration. The Pontiff encouraged it with lively
interest.
"That great love for country and for religion," wrote Leo,
"which you and our brethren the bishops of the United
States, have so often and so nobly manifested, is again strik
ingly illustrated in the letter which you have recently ad
dressed to us. From it we learn that pastors and people are
about to assemble in Baltimore to celebrate the one hundredth
anniversary of the establishment of the hierarchy of the United
States. On the same occasion you propose to dedicate the
Catholic University, which, with the generous help of the faith*
192 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
ful, yott have founded in Washington as a happy presage of
future greatness for the new era upon which you are about to
enter,
"It Is truly worthy of your faith and hope thus gratefully to
recall the blessings bestowed upon your country by Divine
Providence, and at the same time to raise up in memory of
them a monument which will be an honor to yourselves and a
lasting benefit to your fellow-citizens and to the country at
large. We gladly unite with you in returning thanks to God,
the author of all gifts. At the same time, we cordially congrat
ulate you on the zeal with which you emulate the example of
your glorious predecessors, faithfully treading in their foot
steps, whilst ever widening the field opened by their apostolic
labors.
"Most joyfully have we welcomed the expression which
you and the other bishops convey to us of your loyalty and
devotion to the Apostolic See. We desire, in return, to assure
you that, like our predecessors of blessed memory, we, too,
bear an especial love toward you, our brethren, and the faith
ful committed to your care, and that we pray frequently for
your prosperity and welfare, gathering comfort meanwhile,
no less from the readiness of your people to co-operate in all
manner of good works than from the examples of sacerdotal
virtue which are daily set before them.
"In regard to your wish that some representative from this
city should, in our name, be present at your celebration, we
readily assent to it, the more willingly because his presence will
be an especial mark of our esteem and benevolence, and of that
bond of affection and charity which unites pastors and people
to the supreme head of the Church.
"In conclusion, we earnestly pray to God, protector and
guardian of the Catholic cause, that under the excellent and
favored public institutions by which you are able to exercise
with freedom your sacred ministry, your labors may redound
ARRIVAL OF ARCHBISHOP SATOLLI 193
to the benefit of Church and country; and as a pledge of our
especial affection we lovingly impart apostolic benediction to
you, to our venerable brethren, the bishops of the United
States, and to the clergy and faithful committed to your
charge. 5 *
Mgr. O Connell brought this letter from Rome to Cardinal
Gibbons. He was soon followed by the representative whom
the Pope had promised to send, Francesco di Paola Satolli,
Archbishop of Lepanto, an Italian theologian of deep learning
and wonderful eloquence, who was destined to play a great part
in the relations between the Holy See and the Catholics of the
United States. Satolli s first impression of the people was
amazement at the proportions of the celebration; and, though
he could speak no English, he soon showed, after the manner
of De Toqueville and Bryce, a faculty for understanding the
true spirit of American institutions beyond the capacity of
most men born here.
Cardinal Manning was invited with a special warmth, and,
had he come to Baltimore, would have shared with his friend,
Cardinal Gibbons, the honors of the occasion; but age had at
last interposed its relentless barrier against that iron will, and
he was forced to decline, sending Bishop Virtue, of Ports
mouth, and Mgr. Gadd in his place.
From Canada came Cardinal Taschereau and six archbish
ops; from Mexico, Bishops Gillow and Montez D Oca; and
Archbishop Croke sent a fervent letter from the prelates of
Ireland. Nearly all the bishops and archbishops of the United
States gathered in Baltimore for the event.
A prelude to the main celebration was the observance,
February 20, 21 and 22, 1889, f ^ e one hundredth anniver
sary of Georgetown University, the first Catholic collegiate
institution in the United States. This, too, was one of the
* Letter of Leo XIII to Cardinal Gibbons, Sept. 7, 1889 (Cathedral Archives)
194 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
fruits of the ministry of John Carroll, who had founded it to
meet a great need then existing, and who would have been its
first president had he not been raised to the episcopate in the
same yean At the celebration the two most conspicuous fig
ures were Cardinal Gibbons and President Cleveland, who,
following the example of nearly all his predecessors, from
Washington down, visited this widely known Jesuit institution.
In the presence of an assemblage more largely representative
of the true spirit of the Church in America than any other
which had gone before, the splendid ceremonies of the hier
archy s centennial began November 10 with the pontifical
high mass at the Cathedral.* Every American prelate was
there, except the aged Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis, who
was too feeble to make the trip halfway across the continent.
Besides these, four hundred priests, the same number of semi
narians and several organizations of laymen took part in the
procession. Archbishop Ryan, then in the prime of his powers
as an orator and celebrated far and near for the eloquence and
force of his pulpit utterances, preached a masterly sermon.
While they were celebrating the first centennial of the Church
in the United States, he pointed out, the beginnings of Catho
licity in America reached back to a much earlier period. He
recalled that a Catholic discoverer, representing a Catholic na
tion, "had first planted the all-civilizing Cross on these shores"
in 1492. He rejoiced to welcome the Mexicans, representa
tives of "that older Catholicity/
/^The fathers of this republic," he said, "had to form a cot
stitution and government for a people of every race, language,
Color and nationality, who, they foresaw, would inhabit this
laiiit. They had to combine a political Catholicity with a po
litical uftfty, aftcHo hold the most discordant elements together
Volume, Centennial Celebration and Catholic Congress, published by
Hughes, Detroit, 1889, (This boot and Kelly s Collections In the Life
gad .Times of Cardinal Gibbons, Vol. I, the files of the CathoUo Mirror and the
Baltimore newspapers are the authorities for most of the facts cited to tbe
jp^iKQt .chapter.)
BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS. 195
by force of law. So also before the establishment of the Cath
olic Church in this world, religions were national in their or
ganization, though universal in their fundamental principles,
and were adapted to particular peoples of the same race and
language. But the Church was destined to embrace within
her government the peoples of every nation under heaven, to
combine the most diverse elements and firmly to unite them and
hold them for all time; and in no one country of the world
had we to exercise this power so much as here, for nowhere
else were they found together/
Sketching the labors of Carroll, Archbishop Ryan pro
nounced him an American patriot as well as a Christian bishop.
"Love of country and race," he remarked, "is a feeling planted
by God in the human heart, and, when properly directed, be
comes a wall of virtue."
Outlining the history of the Church in the century that had
just passed, Archbishop Ryan pointed out that "since the Civil
War there is a great change in popular sentiment in relation to
the Catholic Church. In addition to this, it must be remem
bered that Catholics and Protestants now associate more freely
and intimately and understand each other better. Intelligent
Protestants are gradually being dispossessed of the old notion
that Catholics exalt the Blessed Virgin to a position equal to
that of the Sop, that priests can forgive sins according to their
own wish, that images may be adored after the fashion of the
pagans, that the Bible should not be read, and other absurd
supposed doctrines and practices of the Church, Because of
this enlightenment, and because of the high character of Ameri
can converts in the past men like Dr. Brownson, Dr. Ives,
Father Hecker and many others it is possible that some of
the ablest defenders of the Church in this coming century may
be men who are atfpresent in the ranks of her opponents, * * *
"A wonderful future is before the Church in this country,
if we are only true to her, to the country and to ourselves.
She has demonstrated that she can live and move and widea
196 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
without state influence, that the atmosphere of liberty is most
congenial to her constitution and most conducive to her prog
ress. Let us be cordially American in our feelings and senti
ments, and, above all, let each individual act in his personal
life and character the spirit of his Catholic faith."
At pontifical vespers the same day Archbishop Ireland
preached in his characteristic vein on "The New Century : Re
sponsibilities, Hopes and Duties/ He boldly voiced his own
aspirations and those of others who thought the same way, men
to whom progress was the breath of life, development the coun
tersign of duty.
"The past," he said, "our fathers wrought; the future will
be wrought by us. The next century in the life of the Church
in America will be what we make it. Our work is to make
America Catholic. If we love America, if we love the Church,
to mention the work suffices. Our cry shall be God wills it/
and our hearts shall leap with Crusader enthusiasm. * * *
"The Catholic Church will confirm and preserve as no hu
man power or human church can, the liberties of the republic.
The importance of the position of America to the cause of
religion can not well be overestimated. It is a Providential
nation. How youthful, and yet how great! How bright in
glorious promise! * * *
"The movements of the modern world have their highest
tension in the United States. The natural order is here seen
at its best, and here it displays its fullest symmetry. Here
should the Church, unhampered by the government or by
despotic custom, come with the freedom of the son of Issai,
choose its arms, and, marching straight for the opposing foe,
bring the contest to a speedy close.
"Of inestimable value to us is the liberty the Church enjoys
under the Constitution of the republic. No tyrant here casts
chains around her. No concordat limits her action or cramps
her energies. She is as free as the eagle upon Alpine hills
THE CHURCH IN AMERICA. 197
free to spread out in unrestricted flight her pinions, to soar to
vast altitudes, to put into action all her native energies. The
law of the land protects her in her rights, and asks in return
no sacrifices for those rights; for her rights are those of
American citizenship. * * *
"There is needed a thorough sympathy with the country.
The Church of America must be, of course, as Catholic as in
Jerusalem or Rome ; but, so far as her garments assume color
from the local atmosphere, she must be American. Let no
one dare paint her brow with foreign tint or pin to her mantle
foreign linings! There is danger; she receives large acces
sions of natives from foreign countries. God witnesseth it,
they are welcome ! I will not -enter upon their personal affec
tions and tastes; yet, should those be foreign, they shall not
encrust upon the Church. Americans have no longings for a
church of foreign aspect. It would acquire no influence over
them. In no manner could it prosper ; exotics have but sickly
forms. I would have Catholics be the first patriots in the
land.
"This is an intellectual age ; it worships intellect. All things
are treated by the touchstone of intellect, and the ruling power,
public opinion, is formed by it. The Church will be judged
by the standard of intellect. * * *
"We have a dreadful lesson to learn from certain Euro
pean countries in which, from the weight of tradition, the
Church clings to thrones and classes and loses her grasp upon
the people. Let us not make this mistake. We have here no
princes, no hereditary classes; still, there is the danger that
there may be in religion a favorite aristocracy upon which we
lavish so much care that none remains for others. What, I
ask, for the multitude who peep at us from gallery and vesti
bule? What of the thousands and tens of thousands of nomi
nal Catholics or non-Catholics who seldem or never open a
church door? What of the uncouth and unkempt, I ask, of
198 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
the cellar and the areaway, the mendicant and the outcast? It
is time to bring back the primitive Gospel spirit, to go out into
the highways and byways, to preach on housetops and in mar
ket places. * * * Save the masses! Cease not planning
and working for their salvation. * * *
"Seek out social grievances; lead in movements to heal them.
Speak of vested rights, for this is necessary; but speak, too, of
vested wrongs, and strive by precept, word and example, by
the enactment and enforcement of good laws to correct them.
Breathe fresh air into the crowded quarters of the poor."
Cardinal Gibbons presided at the dinner held at St. Mary s
Seminary. A cablegram from the Pope, expressing his joy
at the triumphs of faith which the occasion commemorated,
was read; and Archbishop Satolli, whose Latin eloquence was
then heard for the first time in America, predicted that Leo
or some future pontiff would visit this country. Greetings to
the American Church were conveyed by Cardinal Taschereau
for Canada; by the Mexican bishops, for their country, and
letters were read from English and Irish prelates.
The congress of laymen had been proposed by Archbishop
Ireland. It was a plan which had been tried to some extent
in Europe, but never before in America. Had such a gathering
been suggested in one of the periods of religious storm to which
the country had been subject before the Civil War, it would
have been rejected at once as impracticable ; but in the altered
temper of the times it was at least worth considering, and
Cardinal Gibbons finally adopted it.
For centuries the followers of the Catholic religion in the
United States had been the victims of groundless distrust. In
Virginia, the oldest colony, which shared the religious preju
dices of England, they were regarded with suspicion ; and in
Massachusetts, during the earlier days, they were considered
to be only a little less dangerous than the witches of Salem.
Even in Maryland, founded t>y a Catholic Lord Proprietor
and dedicated by him to religious liberty, the later Calverts,
LOYALTY OF CATHOLICS. 199
turned Protestants, had assented to the imposition of double
taxes on Catholics and to depriving them of the suffrage. A
petition to Governor Sharpe, in which they pathetically recited
the origin of the province and the full freedom which they
formerly enjoyed, bears eloquent testimony to the patience
with which they bore their burdens.* No Americans were
more sincerely loyal in the preliminary days of the Revolution
and, during the progress of that intense struggle, in forum
and on battlefield. It was even said that "every Catholic was a
Whig." Debarred before the war from holding even a com
mission in the militia, a number of them speedily rose to high
rank in the army led by Washington. Of the members of the
Continental Congress, a considerable number were Catholics.
John Carroll went to Canada with Franklin on the vain mis
sion designed to win that country to the cause of independence.
Catholics had shared with their Protestant brethren, know
ing no discrimination in public life, the burdens of citizenship
in the formative days of the republic. In the War of 1812
they had again proved the mettle of their patriotism. Andrew
Jackson, victorious over Packenham, was welcomed to New
Orleans by the Catholics of that city, headed by Bishop Du-
bourg, who celebrated in the Cathedral a solemn service of
thanksgiving for the triumph of American arms. Catholics
were active in Congress and in State Legislatures, accepting
prejudice with equanimity and losing no fraction of their pub
lic spirit under the sting of calumny. In Know-Nothing times
they had conducted themselves with singular moderation ; and
in the Civil War they had divided in sympathy like their
brethren of other faiths.
Still, there was a lingering remnant of prejudice that came
down from other days. How could it be met? Perhaps the
time had come for them to follow collectively where Cardinal
Gibbons had led. None doubted his patriotism. No Protest-
* Maryland Historical Society Manuscripts.
200 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
ant cleric was half so conspicuous in the eyes of his country
and of the world as an advanced and liberal champion of the
American idea.
Nevertheless, there was danger of immature discussion at
the congress of laymen, which the Cardinal had prudently
considered. In the atmosphere of American freedom, unrep
resentative men are prone to utterances which may be misin
terpreted. It was decided that the bishops should appoint the
delegates to the congress, and that the program should be sub
mitted to episcopal authority beforehand, so that, as far as
possible, tendencies to individual extremism might be checked
The congress met in the Concordia Opera House, and was
presided over by John Lee Carroll, a former Governor of
Maryland, and a great-grandson of Charles Carroll of Car-
rollton. The range of discussion included the opportuni
ties of the laity, state and religious education, temperance,
Sunday observance, social questions, church music, the Cath
olic press, and the independence of the Holy See. In the
main, the atmosphere of the congress proved to be one of
sound ideas and patriotic spirit. When a false chord was
struck by Daniel Dougherty, of Philadelphia, the opinion of
his associates revolted and gave a more effective demonstra
tion of the healthy tone of the congress than would have
been possible had complete unanimity prevailed. Dougherty,
whose gifts of oratory had won for him the name of "silver-
tongued/* made an address concerning the colonial persecu
tions of Catholics, long forgotten by nearly everybody else.
He went so far as to declare that there was even yet a disposi
tion to exclude them from public office. The highest honors
of the republic are denied us/ he exclaimed, "by a prejudice
which has all the force of a constitutional enactment/
The offices held by many of the delegates, in state and na
tion, formed the most effective answer to his criticism. Dough
erty himself had been selected to make the nominating
CONGRESS OF LAYMEN. 201
speeches for Hancock in 1880, and Cleveland in 1888, in the
national conventions of the Democratic party; surely, there
was no great discrimination in his case. It was true that there
had been no Catholic President; but no man of sufficient politi
cal prominence to be eligible to that exalted office had been
rejected because he was of the Catholic faith.
In contrast to Dougherty s pessimism, the general spirit of
the congress was one of buoyant hope, and his gloomy retro
spection found no echo in any other part of the proceedings.
Resolutions which were adopted on the closing day expressed
the views and aspirations of the laity. They set forth that
there was no conflict between the Church and the institutions
of the country; denounced Mormonism, the tendency to di
vorce, nihilism, socialism, communism, and declared that "we
equally condemn the greed of capital/ As was to be ex
pected, a school system which included a course of religious
training was advocated. An outgrowth of the current agitation
for a "Continental Sunday" was found in a clause favoring
the Sunday closing of saloons. The absolute freedom of the
Holy See was held to be necessary for the peace of the Church
and the welfare of mankind.
The Cardinal addressed the congress, expressing the view
that it had not been convoked in vain. "It will form an ad
mirable school," he said, "for enlightening and instructing the
members and preparing them for holding a more elaborate
convention at some future day. This congress, by the mere
fact of being called together, emphasizes and vindicates the
important truth that it is the privilege as well as the duty of
our laity to co-operate with the clergy in discussing those great
economic, educational and social questions which affect the
interests and well-being of the Church, the country and society
at large. I confess that the desire of my heart for a long time
has been to see the clergy and the laity drawn more closely.
They have, perhaps, in some respects been much and too long
apart; for, if the clergy are the Divinely constituted channels
202 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
for instructing the laity in faith and morals, the clergy, on
their part, have much to learn from the wisdom and discretion,
the experience and worldly sense of the laity.
"And in no other country on the face of the earth should
the clergy and the. laity be more united than in our own. The
laity build our churches; they erect our schools; they volun
tarily and generously support our clergy; the salaries of our
clergy are not ceremoniously handed to them by Government
officials on a silver salver, but come from the warm hands and
warm hearts of the people."
Archbishop Ireland inspired the delegates with one of his
short and vigorous addresses.
The congress ended with a torchlight parade, in which
30,000 men and boys took part. The streets were brilliant
with illumination as this great procession passed. Cardinal
Gibbons reviewed it from his residence, and enthusiastically
joined in the applause. It was nearly midnight when the last
men in line passed his bay-window. The utmost good humor
prevailed, and in the dense throngs on the streets there was
not the slightest disorder. The parade, in which nearly all
who took part were Marylanders, was as much a tribute to the
Cardinal as to the visiting prelates and laymen. It took the
form of a popular demonstration in his honor as it wound
along picturesque Charles street and thousands gazed upward
for a word of approval from the head of the Church in
Apiecica.
The dedication of the School of Sacred Sciences at the new
university on the fourth day of the celebration marked the tri
umph of an Idea. The project was close to the Cardinal s
beait, and, he said in later years, it had given him greater con
cern than anything else he had undertaken. It had been born
in hopes at the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore; clothed
with reality at the Third Council, where Bishop Spalding s
zeal and Miss Mary Gwendoline Caldwell s gift of $300,000
the prelates to authorize it as a practical undertaking; and
ORGANIZING THE UNIVERSITY. 203
now, with the Pope s blessing and with the prayers of the
clergy, the university was about to begin its mission of instruc
tion. Miss CaldwelFs gift had been increased by $50,000
from her sister, Lina; and through the energetic efforts of
Bishop Keane and others the amount had been gradually
swelled to $800,000. Bishop Keane, the first rector, traveled
throughout the country with the zeal of an apostle, pleading
as few men could plead for the substantial help of the laity.
His saintly life, his winning personality, the fervor of his mis
sion and the direct vigor of his appeals opened the way readily.
He seemed never to tire; and, when the results of his labors
were summed up, it was found that progress had been made
beyond the dreams of the project s most sanguine promoters.
The question of a site for the university was much dis
cussed ; but all finally agreed on Washington as the best place
for the capstone of the Catholic educational system. The wis
dom of this choice was confirmed in a few years by the Meth
odists, who laid the beginnings of the American Methodist
University in the same city; and the Protestant Episcopal
Church a little later raised Washington to the dignity of an
independent bishopric. When Carroll decided to found his
academy at Georgetown, in 1789, he had no idea that the
capital of the country would be established there. In this, as
in other things, he "builded wiser than he knew. 11
It had been projected to start the university with a Divinity
course, and gradually develop it as means were obtained.
With American buoyancy, some of the bishops dared to hope
that it would spring, like Minerva, full armed from the brow
of Jove. Others, more cautious, pointed to the history of the
European universities, which had gradually developed for cen
turies from small nuclei ; but the great majority were united
in the desire to go ahead with the work.
The cornerstone of the School of Sacred Sciences, the fi?st
of the group, had been laid May 24, 1888, in the presence of
President Cleveland, members of his Cabinet, Cardinal Gib-
204 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
bons and other distinguished persons. Early the next year
the Pope addressed a brief to the American bishops, declaring
that, "as the See of Baltimore is the chief among the apostolic
sees of the United States of North America, to the Arch
bishop of Baltimore and to his successors we grant the priv
ilege of discharging the office of supreme moderator or chan
cellor of the university/
Nearly all the great assemblage of prelates went over from
Baltimore to attend the dedication, in the midst of a pouring
rain, which soaked the spongy soil of the suburban estate on
which the university had been planted, as yet unresponsive to
the magic touch of the landscape gardener. Archbishop Satolli
celebrated mass, and Bishop Gilmour, of Cleveland, preached.
He pointed out that it was fitting to begin with a Divinity
course, for, from the Catholic point of view, "all true educa
tion must begin in God, and find its truth and direction in
God. * * *
"There is a widespread mistake/ he continued, "a rapidly
growing political and social heresy, which assumes and asserts
that the state is all temporal and religion all spiritual. This is
not only a doctrinal heresy; but, if acted upon, would ruin
both spiritual and temporal. No more can the state exist
without religion than the body without the soul ; and no more
can religion exist without the state, and on earth carry on its
work, than can the soul on earth, without the body, do its
work. The state, it is true, is for the temporal, but has its
substantial strength in the spiritual ; while religion, it is true,
is for the spiritual, but in much must find its working strength
in the temporal. In this sense it is a mistake to assume that
religion is independent of the state, or the state independent of
religion. As a matter of fact, religion must depend upon the
state in temporalities; and, vice versa, the state must depend
upon religion in morals; and both should so act that their
conjoint work will be for the temporal and moral welfare of
society/ 1
SERMON OF BISHOP GILMOUR. 205
But, the Bishop proceeded to show, he did not mean that any
form of direct or legalized partnership between church and
state was necessary or desirable. "In this country/ he said,
"we have agreed that religion and the state shall exist as dis
tinct and separate departments, each with its separate rights
and duties; but this does not mean that the state is inde
pendent of religion or religion independent of the state."
The Bishop remarked that it was perhaps the first great
university of the world "begun without state or princely aid,
but originating in an outpouring of public thought, and founded
and provided for by the gifts of the many, rather than by the
offerings of the few. It bespeaks the widening character of
American ideas and the existing conviction of the public mind
that higher studies are clearly needed/ 1
A brilliant banquet in one of the halls of the university was
made notable by the attendance of President Harrison, Vice-
President Morton, and nearly all the members of the Cabinet.
Archbishop Satolli s Latin eloquence flowed again. "God
loves America/ he said. "It is Leo s feeling that this is
true; and he believes, therefore, that in America nothing is
impossible."
A cablegram from the Pontiff, conveying his blessing and
sending congratulations, was read.
Secretary of State Elaine, in a speech, said he had come to
the banquet to represent the United States, "not in a political
sense, much less a partisan one, and not in a sense in any way
in conflict with any church or sect or principle of religion.
Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the United States, and
this is one of our greatest blessings. I have spoken thus often
in Protestant assemblages, and it gives me pleasure to repeat
it to a Catholic audience. * * * Every college in the
United States increases the culture of the United States. We
have the criticism of an English professor, who admired
America as the most intelligent land in the world and the
206 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
least cultivated. Universities will, in time, give us a greater
excellence in learning/*
Cardinal Taschereau spoke in French, saying that the time
was a troublous one for the Church abroad, because of the
"intense opposition of the potentates of Europe/ "In the
United States," he pointed out, "there is full freedom; and
there is great comfort in the universal confidence placed in
Cardinal Gibbons as the glorious representative of the Church
In America. The Pope has always had unbounded faith in
him, and he has often been spoken of by the Holy Father as
the first priest in America/ 1
After President Harrison had briefly expressed his thanks
for the reception accorded him, Cardinal Gibbons spoke of the
"Hierarchy of the United States/ "We have all been more
than anxious/ he said, "for the visit of the President, the Vice-
President and members of the Cabinet, who have honored the
university by their presence. They assure us of their sym
pathy for every cause to promote the religion and morality of
the people in the United States. Though there is no union of
church and state, in any sense, the people have always upheld
religion. * * * In olden times the Church admonished
obedience to rulers when they were even obnoxious. How
much more can she do so now, when salutary laws are made
to foster the home and better society? A government is
pleasing to God when it is in harmony, and how good it is
when both clergymen and laymen, working in an individual
capacity, bring about harmony."
Vicompte de Montalembert made a lengthy address in
French in behalf of the universities of Paris and Lyons. There
were many other speeches ; and after the banquet the university
course was formally opened by an oration in English by
Bishop O Farrell, of Trenton, and a Latin address by Mgr.
Schroeder, the new professor of dogmatic theology. The
ceremonies were elaborate and prolonged. Surely no univer
sity was fotinded under more notable auspices.
A SURPRISE FOR FOREIGNERS. 207
The reception at the City Hall of Baltimore on Thursday
given by Mayor Latrobe to the visiting prelates and laymen
was a revelation to many of them. These men, shut off in
many cases from direct contact with the world in the solitude
of ecclesiastical life, were amazed to see Cardinal Gibbons ap
parently on terms of familiar acquaintance with nearly every
body present, from the Mayor down to the little children who
came with their parents. What surprised them almost as
much was the fact that the crowd, with singular unanimity,
seemed to look upon him as the foremost citizen of Maryland,
rather than as a churchman, and appeared to take this view as
if from the force of long habit. For not a few of the distin
guished prelates this was a sermon in itself more powerful
than any to which they had listened during the week. If an
archbishop were in the community, of the community, and a
leader of the community, what need to fear a misunderstand
ing, a lack of common purpose? The foreigners found an
especial lesson in this. The formality, the diplomatic restraint
between the churchmen and public men in Europe was lost in
the fusing of American life within the crucible of freedom and
co-operation. Neither had favors to ask, but both felt the
impulse of a united object. Delicate forms of ceremony, de
signed, perhaps, as much to uphold prerogative as to promote
cordiality, were notably lacking. The Mayor and the crowd
met on terms of simple friendship, greater in its potency than
documents stamped with official seals or precedent brought
down from mediaeval days.
When the great gathering broke up, what had been accom
plished? The Church, through her laity as well as her bish
ops, had set her face against socialism, and the other trans
planted political organisms whicih had threatened to grow in
the virgin soil of America; had condemned the prevalent hos
tility between labor and capital; had entered a militant con
flict against social evils, like divorce; had sent forth cham
pions in pulpit and pew with new inspiration, with co-ordi*
208 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
nated ideas, to begin aggressively the work of a new century
of Catholic effort.
Simultaneously with the congress, "Our Christian Herit
age" appeared in print. The delegates found a guide for their
own labors in the Cardinal s vigorous declarations on current
evils.
Leo XIII turned again to the American hierarchy for con
solation in the European difficulties which were accumulating
around him. Cardinal Rampolla, writing to Cardinal Gib
bons, conveyed the "liveliest satisfaction" which the Pontiff
had felt in the events of the centennial. "His Holiness also,"
he wrote, "spoke of yourself in terms of the highest praise for
all you did on that occasion, and said at the same time that he
approves most fully the prudent line of conduct you pursue in
your management of every work undertaken to promote the
greater development of your young and illustrious Church/ *
With characteristic readiness to turn everything to practical
use, Cardinal Gibbons presided over a mass-meeting held in
the Baltimore Academy of Music on the Sunday following the
celebration, which resulted in the adoption of a high-license
law regulating liquor selling in Maryland. This meeting had
been hastily arranged by his secretary, Rev. John T. Whelan,
who wished to take advantage of a golden opportunity to strike
a blow for temperance ; and the Cardinal willingly acquiesced
in the plan when it was presented to him a short time before
the meeting was to be held. It was at a moment when Arch
bishop Ireland s temperance crusade was reaching the zenith
of its activity, and the ardor of the prelate from St. Paul
was also aroused by the opportunity. One of the conspicu
ous visitors to the centennial exercises had been Rev. James
Nugent, of Liverpool, called "the Father Mathew of Eng
land," a lion in the cause of temperance in his own country.
Some of the most prominent laymen in Maryland, Protestant
as well as Catholic, sat on the stage to lend the encouragement
^Cathedral Archives.
VIEWS OF LIQUOR QUESTION. 209
of their presence to this new movement for the social better
ment of the community.
"The blow we strike tonight^ the Cardinal said, "is for the
benefit of the laborer, and as such it must and shall be suc
cessful/
The enactment of the proposed law by the Legislature soon
afterward could not have been accomplished without this
demonstration, which marshalled public opinion in an irre
sistible phalanx. The Cardinal, while not so radical as the
Archbishop of St. Paul in his views on the liquor question,
was thoroughly committed to a reduction of the evils arising
from drink. He had been a moderate user of light wines at din
ner, in which he found partial relief from the pangs of indiges
tion. Had he believed prohibition practicable of enforcement,
he himself would have been the first to exemplify total absti
nence; but, in his view, statutory abolition of the use of liquor
would defeat its own object. It would lead, he believed, to
wholesale violations of the law, and, therefore, to a growing
disrespect for the law. He had not been able to find encour
agement from the object-lessons in communities which had at
tacked the problem by this means. Example and judicious
restriction, it seemed to him, were the best means of contend
ing with the situation.
Violent methods in the solution of the temperance question
always excited his disapproval. When Mrs. Carrie Nation, of
Kansas, began a campaign of open destruction of saloon prop
erty, which for a time was a sort of national sensation, he
remarked :
"Nothing, in my opinion, can warrant Mrs. Nation and her
followers in taking the law in their own hands and wrecking
the property of saloonkeepers."
For many years he has made a practice, when he confirms at
the altar, to obtain a pledge of abstinence from intoxicating
liquors by the young until they reach the age of twenty-one
years ; and the addresses on temperance which he has made on
210 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
such occasions would fill volumes. His steady adherence to
this plan must have had a tremendous effect; and, whether due
in part to his example and precept or not, there has been a
steady and pronounced decrease in the evidences of intoxica
tion in Baltimore. Scarcely ever is a drunken man seen on the
streets, and the good order which prevails in the city is a com
mon subject of surprise to strangers.
Not only in this direction, but in many others, he has exer
cised a continuous and powerful influence for the social welfare
of the city in which he lives ; but he is not prone by nature to
radicalism in such questions, and is always inclined to allow
for the rebound of human nature from the strain of extreme
restriction.
CHAPTER XIV.
APOSTOLIC DELEGATE: THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
By the year 1890 the Catholic Church had assumed a new
aspect in the eyes of the American people as a result of the
liberalizing policy of Cardinal Gibbons, powerfully supported*
as it was, by the far-sighted Pontiff who sat in the chair of
Peter. A Pentecostal wave of accessions to the Church was
the natural result. Not only was she able to retain within
her fold a host of the immigrants who were arriving from
Catholic countries in Europe, but conversions were numerous,
and dioceses were springing up everywhere. To be a Catholic
was no longer to be an object of suspicion in an ultra-Prot
estant neighborhood. Protestant ministers were inclined to
welcome a Catholic Church in their vicinity in the same spirit
in which they would welcome one of a non-Catholic denomi
nation. It was amazing how the old lines of religious preju
dice were disappearing. Catholic and Protestant pastors
worked together in movements for the moral and social better
ment of the communities in which they were thrown.
A militant evangelism was building new edifices where the
mass might be celebrated in areas to which population was
flocking. With the increased wealth of the country, it was
easier to erect churches, parish halls and schools, and to sup
port the clergy in their ministrations.
This awakening of Catholic activity had the effect of accen
tuating differences of view that had been gradually arising
and of thrusting upon the hierarchy the necessity for a solu
tion of problems which had not hitherto reached a climax.
Chief among these were the school question and the so-called
question of Americanism the nationalization of the diverse
211
212 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
foreign elements introduced by immigration; but around them
clustered a multitude of lesser problems upon which opinion
was dividing with increasing definiteness of demarcation. It
was difficult, under the circumstances, to get these great ques
tions settled promptly at Rome. The United States, being
still a missionary country in the organization of the Church,
was under the jurisdiction of the Propaganda, already over
crowded with the tremendous undertaking of managing Cath
olic mission movements throughout the world. There was a
feeling among some American bishops and priests that a
method should be provided for a prompter determination of
ecclesiastical questions arising in this country.
Archbishop Satolli had gone back to Leo with glowing ac
counts of what he had seen in America. The strength and
freedom of the Church had powerfully impressed him. In
Washington he had been cordially received by President Har
rison ; and had become amazed no less by the vast possibili
ties for the advancement of the Church than by the material
resources of the nation.
The advisibility of more direct relations between the Vatican
and the Government at Washington had long been considered
at Rome. As early as 1885 Cardinal Gibbons received a letter
from Cardinal Simeoni, asking his opinion about the expedi
ency of the Holy See entering into diplomatic relations with
the United States. In his answer he deprecated the idea, giv
ing many reasons why, in his judgment, such an undertaking
.would be imprudent and might compromise the pontiff as well
as the Catholics of America. The only circumstance, he wrote,
puder which such a communication should be made would be
on an occasion of sympathy or congratulation regarding a pub-
Ik calamity or a signal blessing to the nation.
Later inquiries of the same character were made of the
American archbishops, but all except Mgr. Ireland replied that
such a step would be inadvisable. Cardinal Gibbons reason
THE VATICAN AND THE UNITED STATES. 213
for doubting the wisdom of appointing an apostolic delegate
was based on his well-known views of the respective func
tions of church and state. It had so long been one of his
favorite themes that the Church prospers most when wholly
divorced from political entanglements, that he conceived the
result of the experiment to be at least doubtful. Misinterpre
tation would be apt to arise ; it might be held in some quarters
that the appointment of an apostolic delegate, though his func
tions might be confined to an adjustment of purely ecclesias
tical questions, would be an entering wedge for the opening of
full diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the White
House. He knew that this last was impossible and not in ac
cord with the spirit of American institutions. It would harm,
not help, the Church, and the justification of great need was
lacking. The Church had no difficulty with the Government
of the United States. The national administrations had not
only not been repressive, but had shown no disposition to in
terfere with Catholic interests in any place over which the
American flag floated. Ecclesiastical authorities were gener
ally sustained in their legal property rights before the courts,
and the Cardinal felt that they could always obtain justice.
There was no discrimination in chaplaincies in the army and
navy, nor in anything else that the Government had to take
within its purview. The Vatican, even when it controlled the
states of the Church, before the spoliation by Victor Emanuel,
had never had a minister at Washington, though it is interest
ing to note that the United States was long represented at its
court by an accredited member of the diplomatic corps, ap
pointed by the President. The first of these ministers was
James L. Martin, of North Carolina, appointed in 1848; his
successor was no less a personage than Lewis Cass ; and the
position was abolished in 1868, when Rufus King was niw-
ister.
Leo was so far moved by the objections that he decided to
take no final step at that time; but an opportunity presented by
214 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
the approach of the World s Fair, soon to be held at Chicago,
prompted him to make a test of the situation.
Secretary of State Foster, in September, 1892, requested
Cardinal Gibbons to confer with him regarding a letter to be
addressed to the Pope, through Cardinal Rampolla, asking for
the loan of maps and other relics relating to the discovery of
America, which were in possession of the Vatican.* The
Cardinal went to Washington, where Mr. Foster gave him a
letter, which he promptly transmitted.
The letter of Mr. Foster began with a request for the loan
of the relics. "I need not assure you," he wrote, "that the
greatest care will be taken of them from the moment of their
delivery into the hands of the agent of this Government who
may be authorized to receive them ; or, should his Holiness see
fit to entrust them In the care of a personal representative who
will bring them to the United States, I am authorized by the
President to assure his Holiness that such representative shall
receive all possible courtesy upon his arrival and during his
sojourn in this country.
"The intimate association of the Holy See with the Colum
bian enterprise and its results has so linked the memory of
Rome and her pontiffs with the vast achievement of Colum
bus and his competitors in the work of discovery and coloniza
tion, that an exhibit such as by the President s direction I
have the honor to suggest could not fail to be among the most
noteworthy contributions to this International celebration. By
co-operating to this end, his Holiness will manifest for our coun
try a regard which will be highly appreciated, not only by the
manager^ of the exposition, but by the American people.
* < His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, with whom I have con
ferred on the subject, has very kindly agreed to convey this
letter to your Eminence/ f
* Cathedral Archives.
t letter of Secretary Foster to Cardinal Rampolla, Sept. 18, 1892.
SATOLLI SENT AS DELEGATE. 215
Cardinal Rampolla responded promptly, acknowledging the
transmission of Secretary Foster s letter through the Cardinal*
and stating that it had been presented to the Pope.
"His Holiness has learned/ wrote Mgn Rampolla, "how
great was the gratification felt by the President of this great
republic at the prospect of receiving the Columbus records,
which will be sent by the Holy See to the exposition which is
to be held next year at Chicago in honor of the immortal dis
coverer of America. The august Pontiff felt certain that the
United States Government would spare no pains to preserve
the various objects that are to be intrusted to it from any mis
hap, and he returns his thanks for the kind offer that has been
made for their transportation.
"In the meantime, his Holiness, who has so many reasons to
entertain special regard for the United States Government on
account of the liberty which is enjoyed in those States by the
Catholic Church, and who justly admires the enterprise and
progress of that country, has decided to be represented* at the
public demonstrations which are to be held there in honor of
the Genoese hero on the fourth centenary of his memorable
discovery, by a person who is no less distinguished by his per
sonal qualities than by his grade in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
This person is Mgr. Francesco Satolli, Archbishop of Lepanto,
a prelate who is as highly to be esteemed on account of his
virtues as for his profound scholarship, of which he has given
many evidences in his writings.
"His Holiness does not doubt that this decision of his will
be received with pleasure by the Government, and feels sure
that your Excellency will welcome the prelate with your accus
tomed courtesy/ *
In the following November, the Pope commissioned Arch
bishop Satolli as temporary apostolic delegate to the Americati
Church with plenary power. In addition to this, he was the
* Letter of Cardinal Rampolla to Secretary Foster, Sept 28, 1892.
216 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
representative of the Pontiff at the public demonstrations of the
World s Fair; but he was not accredited to the Government of
the United States, and had no diplomatic status. Before leav
ing Rome its the custodian of the relics, he conferred at length
with the Pope regarding the ecclesiastical problems with which
he was to deal on this side of the Atlantic; and, full of the
spirit and purposes of the head of the Church, sailed for
America. Leo said to him at parting that he looked with
flowing tears on the steadily failing Orient, but his heart and
soul were filled with great joy in seeing the progress of liberty
in the great Republic of the West.
His first conference in this country was with Cardinal Gib
bons, with whom he spent some time at the archiepiscopal resi
dence in Baltimore, absorbing from the Cardinal views of the
situation which would aid him in the successful transaction of
his mission. Perhaps it was fortunate that the first apostolic
delegate had not been trained in the diplomatic school of the
Vatican. Although a man of remarkable breadth of view and
sympathies, he was essentially a theologian, and had no im
pulse to concern himself with political questions. A native of
the Diocese of Perugia, he had studied in the seminary of that
city, which was presided over at the time by Joachim Pecci,
archbishop of the diocese, destined to be elevated to the pon
tifical chair as Leo XIII. When Cardinal Pecci became Pon
tiff, he called Satolli to Rome, in whose atmosphere he broad
ened. He filled with success important professorships in the
College of the Propaganda and the Academy of Noble Ecclesi
astics, In his early studies he had been fascinated by the
Thomistic philosophy. His commentary on the Summa of St.
Thomas, in five volumes, established clearly the profundity of
his intellect, and other works of his pen procured the honor of
a special brief of commendation from the Pontiff.
In appearance, he suggested the thinker. Slight and of
medium height, his brilliant dark eyes were capable of great
expression. Surmounting them was a broad and intellectual
THE SCHOOL QUESTION. 21T
forehead. Mingling with the expression of the scholar were
strong traces of strength and self-repression, which indicated
that he was cast in a mold adapted to great affairs.
Foremost of the problems with which Satolli was to concern
himself was the school question. It was by no means new.
From the beginnings of the public school system in the United
States, Catholics who were taxed for its support and yet who
sent their children, from conscientious conviction, to the paro
chial schools, had felt the desire to be rid of the double burden.
The special interest of Cardinal Gibbons in education from the
days when he was a parish priest in Baltimore had brought
him in intimate touch with the situation. He could not bring
himself to believe in any form of intellectual training of youth
in which there was no religious teaching. He feared that a
secularized childhood would mean an atheistic manhood.
Abroad, he had noted the spirit of agnosticism and other forms
of denial of the supernatural in religion. His hope was in the
American home; if religion and morality did not enter there,
what of the future of his country? Was it safe to trust the
children to a form of daily instruction in which they would
not be taught the elementary religious and moral precepts
which lie at the foundation of character ?
He had no wish to use the funds of the state for forcing
the Catholic religion on non-Catholics; but wherever youth
was to be trained, much as he valued the development of the
mind, much as he desired a cultured citizenship, his belief was
that religion was the foundation of true culture, and that with
out it at the base, the superstructure would topple of its own
weight.
In his view, it was desirable that the state should contrib
ute to the support of Catholic schools only to the extent to
which the parents of the children in those schools were citi
zens. State supervision commended itself to his judgment, if
it were properly applied. His idea of a public school for
Catholic children was one under the supervision of the local
218 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
examiner, no matter what his religious faith, subject to regu
lation in the use of text-books the same as other schools; in
discipline, class work, sanitary regulation, and other points
conforming to the standard set by the public authorities; the
teachers to be appointed on certificate, subject to the tests pro
vided for instructors in the public schools. But, apart from all
this, he desired that the teachers should be Catholics, and that
for a portion of the day, perhaps before or after the regular
school hours, they should instruct the children in the principles
and practice of religion. An American of Americans, he
could see nothing un-American in this.
His interest in education had led him to issue a pastoral let
ter on the subject to the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese
of Baltimore in 1883.* In this he had pointed out how the
Catholic Church has been the "f ostering mother and munificent
patroness" of secular education. He admonished parents to
develop the "minds and hearts" of their children. "Then can
they go forth into the world/ he wrote, "gifted with a well-
furnished mind ana great confidence in God/ He advised
that the history of the United States, with the origin and prin
ciples .of the government, and the lives of the eminent men who
had helped to found and preserve it, should be an especial ob
ject of study, in order that the children might grow up "en
lightened citizens and devoted patriots/ 5
"But it is not enough," he insisted, "for your children to
have & secular education; they must also acquire a religious
Indeed, religious knowledge is as far above human
as the soul is above the body; as Heaven is above
; as eternity is above time. The little child who is famil
iar vrflh Ms catechism is really more enlightened on truths that
should come home to every rational mind than the most pro-
fotmd philosophers of pagan antiquity, or even than many so-
called philosophers of our own time. He has mastered the
great problems of life; he knows his origin, his sublime des-
o
2
5
CD
PASTORAL ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. 219
tiny, and the means of attaining it a knowledge which no
human science can impart without the light of revelation."
While a knowledge of bookkeeping was valuable for elemen
tary pupils, he showed, it was not enough, unless the child were
taught how to balance his accounts daily between his con
science and his God. "What profit," he asked, "would it be to
understand the diurnal and annual motions of the earth, if the
pupil did not know and feel that his future home is beyond the
stars in heaven ?" While it was important to be acquainted
with the lives of heroes who had founded empires, of men
of genius who had enlightened the world, it was still more
necessary to learn something of the King of Kings, who cre
ated all those kingdoms and by Whom kings reign. If the
soul were to die with the body, then, secular education would
be enough ; but was it wise to train the young for the compara-
tfvely brief time to be spent in earthly existence and leave them
without training for the infinite future beyond this life?
"Our youth," he wrote, "cherish the hope of becoming one
day citizens of heaven as well as of this land; and, as they can
net be good citizens of this country without studying and ob
serving its laws, neither can they become citizens of heaven,
unless they know and practice the laws of God."
He declared as a fundamental principle that the religious
and secular education of children can not be divorced from
each other "without inflicting a fatal wound upon the soul"
A high development of the intellectual without a corresponding
expansion of the religious nature, he believed, would often prove
a curse instead of a blessing. His idea of religion was to make
it an every-day affair, not something to be put on, like a holi
day dress, on Sunday. The religious and moral training of the
young should be interwoven with the thread of daily life- At
every step, as far as possible, their feet should be guided in the
paths that would lead to the higher life, which he considered
the most precious position they could attain. Church and
Sunday-school were not enough. "They should, as far as pos-
220 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
sible," he wrote, "breathe every day a healthful religious atmos
phere in these schools, where not only their minds are enlight
ened, but where faith, piety and sound morality are nourished
and invigorated."
He also feared that the children of Catholic parents, if they
did not lose all religion in purely secular schools, might lose
their own distinctive faith. To him, this was a jewel which
should be preserved. With all his remarkable liberality, it
would have been absurd to say that he considered "one church
as good as another," any more than a minister of the Meth
odist, or some other Protestant faith, would have considered
the Catholic faith "as good as" his own. To his mind, the
Catholic Church was the divinely appointed agent for the spread
of the Gospel on earth, and the custodian of the deposit of
heavenly truth. None ever heard him say a word in reproach
of any religious denomination or of its members, individually
or collectively. He could recognize as truly good men who
differed from him in religious conviction, acknowledging their
entire sincerity and the common brotherhood of all as the
children of God. But he considered that it was desirable to
exercise the utmost efforts, without encroaching upon the rights
of others, to retain within the fold of his Church all children
born of Catholic parents.
The same privilege and duty he freely conceded to Prot
estant denominations. They, as far as they desired, might im
part religious instruction to children of their own faith in con
nection with the branches of profane learning. The greatest
danger of all, in his view, was the rearing of the young with
out the guidance of any church, without moral instruction,
without character-building apart from the cultivation of the in-
teUect Without parochial schools, he saw danger that the
parishes would languish in the midst of the corrupting ten
dencies of modern life. He did not, for a moment, question
the sincerity or underrate the zeal of those who believed in
secular education in the schools; as far as their view extended,
A MOVEMENT WHICH FAILED. 221
he sympathized with it. But his contention was, that the
system did not go far enough and embrace religious training
also.
Some priests and laymen in Baltimore set on foot a move
ment, in 1893, to obtain from the public authorities an appro
priation for Catholic schools.* A circular embodying their
views was distributed, and preparations were made to intro
duce in the Maryland Legislature a bill in conformity with
them. This proposed bill provided that denominational schools
be incorporated by the State; that the trustees of such schools
should have the right of selecting their own teachers ; that the
teachers should be required to pass the regular examinations
provided by the public authorities as tests for competency ; that
the schools should be subject to inspection and regulation by
those authorities; that the denominational school buildings
should be rented to the city or State at the nominal sum of one
dollar a year each, which, it was urged, would save the State
from an expense of some hundreds of thousands of dollars;
and that the teachers be paid from the public funds.
The preamble to the bill declared with emphasis that its
adoption meant no form of union of church with state. "As
the state is not united to any particular religious denomi
nation/ it declared, "the state is not expected to teach re
ligion; but it can be supplied by public denominational
schools/*
If the support of Cardinal Gibbons to this program could be
enlisted, it was intended to launch the project. But he firmly
refused to countenance it, and his influence was sufficient to
crush the movement before it had been directly brought to the
attention of the Legislature. He was persuaded that the time
was not yet ripe for an annual concession by the Legislature
of an appropriation for the support of Catholic schools. He
made it clear that the circular which had been prepared did not
* Belly, Collections in the Life of Cardinal Gibbons, Vol. Ill, p. 200 et
222 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
emanate from him, and was not drafted or published with his
authorization, and the movement in Maryland soon subsided.
He approved the reading of the Bible in the public schools,
if no other form of religious instruction could be provided* A
year later, addressing the president of the Chicago Women s
Educational Union, he wrote :
"The men and women of our day who are educated in our
public schools will, I am sure, be much better themselves, and
will also be able to transmit to their children an inheritance
of truth, virtue and deep morality, if at school they are brought
to a knowledge of Biblical facts and teachings. A judicious
selection of Scripture readings; appropriate presentation of
the various Scripture incidents, born of reflection on the pas
sages read and scenes presented can not but contribute, in
my opinion, to the better education of the children in our pub
lic schools, and thus exercise a healthy influence on society at
large, since the principles of morality and religion will be
silently instilled while instruction is imparted in branches of
human knowledge/ *
He clung to the hope that the problem would be worked out
without excitement or injustice. Speaking at the dedication
of a handsome building for St. Joseph s school of the Balti
more Cathedral, in September, 1892, he said:
"I trust that the Catholic schools will one day become in
some way connected with the public school system/
Throughout the United States, Catholics held about the
same views regarding the proper method of public education.
The decrees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, over
which Cardinal Gibbons had presided, plainly and forcibly
urged the development of the parochial schools, but refused to
impose any penalty upon parents who thought it best for their
children to attend the public schools.
An experiment which Archbishop Ireland undertook at the
towns of Faribault and Stillwater, Minnesota, served as a
* Belly. Collections In the Life of Cardinal Gibbons, Vol. Ill, p. 1T&
THE "FARIBAULT PLAN." 223
storm center for a great controversy which sprang up because
of the personality of the St. Paul prelate himself rather than
from the novelty of his methods. To such an extent was atten
tion focused upon him that when the question became suddenly
inflamed in the early nineties, the designation "Faribault Plan"
was often bestowed upon the whole problem. As far as gen
eral questions were concerned, the Plenary Council had settled
them ; but as the temper of the times seemed to make a test case
necessary, the controversy in the Diocese of St. Paul was car
ried to Rome itself.
The hostility directed at Archbishop Ireland was not alone
founded upon the school system which he introduced, but was
interwoven with other questions that were beginning to force
themselves upon the consideration of the Church in America.
It seemed to be his fate to draw fire wherever he went A
crusader by nature, nothing would have pleased him better
than to die fighting on the sands of the desert, in full armor,
stricken down by the blow of a Mameluke scimitar. His pow
erful convictions could hardly be repressed on any occasion.
He never acted hastily; but once his conclusion was formed,
and fortified by the verdict of his conscience, merely temporal
considerations had no weight with him. According to his view,
the American people were fair, and would in* time see that jus
tice was done, no matter how fierce might be the storm of popu
lar misunderstanding.
The situation at Faribault and Stillwater, where Arch
bishop Ireland made an arrangement with the public authori
ties, was buried under a cloud of misunderstanding. So many
exaggerated accounts were given of its nature and purposes,
that an impartial consideration of it in the public mind was,
for a time, impossible. When the archbishops assembled in
St. Louis, in 1891, at the celebration of Mgn Kenrick s episco
pal jubilee, this was among the topics which they considered in
council. Cardinal Gibbons, in virtue of his primacy, presided,
224 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
and asked Archbishop Ireland to explain in detail what had
been done.
Mgr. Ireland made an explanation with simplicity and
frankness. He went so far as to say that he was happy to
submit his action to the cognizance of his colleagues, and ready
to retrace his steps if they thought he had passed the limits of
right and prudence. The agreement between himself and the
School Commissioners of Faribault and Stillwater he stated
as follows :
"I, The school buildings remain the property of the parish. They are
leased to the school commissioners during the school hours only that Is,
from 9 A. M. to 3.45 P. M. Outside these hours they are at the sole dis
posal of the parish; the pastor and the Sisters who teach can hold In
them such exercises as they deem proper. The lease Is for one year
only; at the end of the year, the archbishop may renew the lease or
resume the exclusive control of the buildings.
"2. The teachers must hold diplomas from the State, and the progress
of the pupils is determined, as to the various branches of profane learn
ing, by parochial examinations held in conformity with official require
ments. The class rooms have been furnished and are kept by the
school commission, and the Sisters receive the same salaries as are
paid to the ordinary teachers.
"3. During school hours, the Sisters give no religious instruction;
but as they are not only Catholics, but also members of a religious
order, they wear their religious habits, and do not alter their teachings
In any respect The schools, although under the control of the State,
are, In respect to instruction, precisely what they were before the ar
rangement was made. The Sisters teach the catechism after school
hours, in such a way that the pupils notice merely a change from one
lesson to another. Besides t at 8.30 A. M., that Is, before the regular
school hour, the children attend mass; and on Sundays, the school
buildings are at the exclusive disposition of the parish.
W 4. The public schools are scattered in various parts of Minnesota
cities, and children are required to attend the school in the district
wherein they live. Faribault and Stillwater are excepted from this
rule. Catholic children can attend the schools in question from all parts
of the cities; the Protestant children living In the districts where our
schools are situated may do so, but are not obliged. The result is that
almost all the Catholic children of the two cities attend these schools,
APPROVED BY THE ARCHBISHOPS. 225
whereas there are very few Protestants, and the Influence is almost
wholly Catholic."
After Mgr. Ireland s explanation and his answers, not one
of the archbishops offered a word of blame; many were ex
plicit in approval. Archbishop Williams, of Boston, did not
hesitate to say that he congratulated his colleague on the result
obtained; that his own wish would be to submit the schools of
his diocese to a similar arrangement, and that he hoped to suc
ceed, at least as to some. It was pointed out in the discussion
that the teachers were paid more highly than the parish could
afford to pay them ; Catholics had no longer to pay the double
tax to the public school and the parochial school, and the pas
tor no longer had to worry to find the necessary money to
carry on the school money often impossible to procure with
out recourse to means inconvenient for more than one reason,
and sometimes gravely so. Almost all the Catholic children
of these two cities were under religious influence.
In placing these two schools under the school boards, which
were only local or municipal organizations, Mgr. Ireland did
not intend to invalidate the principle of the parochial school,
though he had been accused of so intending. His plan was to
save two schools which were perishing, and to procure for the
large number of children in Faribault and Stillwater the re
ligious influence of which they were deprived in the public
schools.
It was also true that Archbishop Ireland had not even made
an innovation; that many schools were under similar rule in
different dioceses; for example, in New York, Milwaukee,
Albany, Buffalo, Erie, Harrisburg, Pcoria, Rochester and Sa
vannah.
"No one," Cardinal Gibbons remarked, "had dreamed of rais
ing objections and of accusing the bishops and priests of these
dioceses of unfaithfulness to their mission and of treason to
the* Church; but the passions were stirred up the instant Mgr.
Ireland had acted."
226 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
Archbishop Ireland, with characteristic boldness, carried his
own case to Rome, leaving St. Paul early in January, 1892, on
that mission. He won at every point. At a special congre
gation of the Propaganda held April 21, a decision was
reached that "Without derogating from the decrees of the
Councils of Baltimore on parochial schools, the arrangement
entered into by Archbishop Ireland concerning the schools at
Faribault and Stillwater, taking into consideration all the cir
cumstances, can be tolerated."
In an audience held the same day, the Pope approved this
action; and in July Cardinal Ledochowski, Prefect of the
Propaganda, addressed letters* to Cardinal Gibbons advising
that the archbishops at their next reunion search with care for
a means of supplying the religious needs of Catholic children
who, outside the* system of the parochial schools, frequented
in great numbers the public schools.
The archbishops met in New York November 17, 1892.
Archbishop Satolli, who had recently arrived in this country,
was present, and spoke with authority as Papal Delegate re
garding the general lines for working out the school question.
He outlined fourteen propositions, basing them upon the de
crees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, which were
still in force. He quoted from these decrees the declaration
that all care must be taken to erect Catholic schools, to enlarge
and improve those already established, and to make them equal
to the public schools in teaching and discipline. When there
was no Catholic school, or when the one that was available was
little fitted for giving the children an education in keeping with
their condition, he pointed out that the Council had decreed
that the public schools might be attended with a safe con
science. In cases where it was necessary for Catholic children
to attend the public schools, measures to provide for their re
ligious instruction were to be taken by the parish priest.
DECLARATION BY ARCHBISHOP SATOLLL 227
The Papal Delegate called attention to the decree strictly
forbidding anyone, whether bishop or priest, either by act or by
threat, to exclude from the sacraments, as unworthy, persons
who chose to send their children to the public schools, or the
children themselves.
"The Catholic Church in general/ 5 he continued, "and espe
cially the Holy See, far from condemning or treating with in
difference the public schools, desires rather that by the joint
action of civil and ecclesiastical authorities there should be
public schools in every state, as the circumstances of the
people require, for the cultivation of the useful arts and the
natural sciences; but the Catholic Church shrinks from those
features of public schools which are opposed to the truths of
Christianity and to morality; and since in the interest of society
itself, these objectionable features are removable, therefore,
not only the bishops, but the citizens at large, should labor to
remove them, in virtue of their own right and in the cause of
morality/
The Archbishop went on to say that public schools bore
within themselves approximate danger to faith and morals,
because in them a purely secular education was given, and also
because teachers were chosen indiscriminately from every sect,
"and no law prevents them from working the ruin of youth,
in tender minds/ 5 He also considered it a serious objection
that in many of such schools children of both sexes were
brought together for their lessons in the same room.
But the Archbishop proceeded to say that "if it be clear that
in a given locality, owing to the wise dispositions of public au
thorities, or to the watchful prudence of school boards, teach
ers and parents, the above dangers to faith and morals disap
pear, then, it is lawful for Catholic parents to send their chil
dren to these schools to acquire the elements of letters and art s,
providing the parents themselves do not neglect their most seri^
otts duty, and the pastors of semis put forth every effort to in-
228 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
struct the children and train them in all that pertains to Cath
olic worship and life/ 5
The Archbishop touched on the Faribault plan by saying
that it was greatly to be desired and would be a most happy
arrangement, if the bishops should agree with the civil authori
ties or with the members of school boards to conduct the
schools with mutual attention and due consideration for their
respective rights. He urgently advised that steps be taken to
raise the standard of instruction in Catholic schools, and that
normal schools should be established for the preparation of
teachers.*
The declaration of Archbishop Satolli was an official one as
a representative of the Pope; and the archbishops closed their
sessions with an expression of gratitude and satisfaction with
the way he had fulfilled his commission. After the meeting
Leo took the additional precaution to secure from each of them
a private letter fully opening his mind on the subject. From
these, he gathered that there was still a doubt on the part of
some as to whether the decrees of the Council of Baltimore
had not been abrogated, in part, by the Archbishop s interpre
tation. He took the opportunity to settle the whole question
Jby a letter, which he addressed to Cardinal Gibbons, and which
decided the controversy by final authority.
The Pontiff began by announcing his intention to establish
permanently an apostolic delegation at Washington. He ex-
prcSsfed his satisfaction with what Satolli had done, declaring:
"The principal propositions offered by him were drawn from
the decrees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore ; and
especially declare that Catholic schools are to be most sedu
lously promoted, and that it has been left to the judgment and
conscience of the Ordinaty to decide according to the circum
stances when it is lawful and when unlawful to attend the
public schools. 3 *
* Satolli, Loyalty to Church tnd State, p. 27 * teg.
LEO XIII ON THE SCHOOL QUESTION. 229
These decrees, the Pontiff stated, were to be faithfully ob
served, so far as they contained a general rule of action.
Although the public schools were not to be entirely condemned,
since cases might occur, as the council itself had foreseen, in
which it was lawful to attend them; still, every endeavor
should be made to multiply the Catholic schools and to bring
them to perfect equipment. "Wherefore/ concluded the Pon
tiff, "we confidently hope (and your devotedness to us and to
the Apostolic See increases our confidence) that, having put
away every cause of error and all anxiety, you will work to
gether, with hearts united and with perfect charity, for the
wider and wider spread of the Kingdom of God in your im
mense country. But, while industriously laboring for the glory
of God and the salvation of the souls entrusted to your care,
strive also to promote the welfare of your fellow-citizens and
to prove the earnestness of your love for your country, so that
they who are entrusted with the administration of the govern
ment may clearly recognize how strong an influence for the
support of public order and for the advancement of public
prosperity is to be found in the Catholic Church.
"And as to yourself, beloved son, we know for certain that
you will not only communicate to our other venerable brethren
in the United States this our mind, which it hath seemed good
to us to make known to you, but that you will also strive with
all your power that, the controversy being not only calmed,
but totally -ended, as is so greatly to be desired, the minds
which have been excited by it may peacefully be united in mu
tual good-will."*
Along these lines the settlement of the school question was
worked out. In time, the flames of controversy which had
sprung up around the personality of Archbishop Ireland and
his experiments in Minnesota subsided. His enemies had
made use of the situation for a twofold purpose: some, to
* Letter of Leo XIII to Cardinal Gibbons, May 31, 1893 (Cathedral Archives),
230 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
make it appear that he was compromising Catholic principles
of education by submerging them in his own diocese, and
accepting the principle of purely secular schools ; others, that
he was making war upon the public schools by insidiously at
tempting to undermine them by the introduction of sectarian
influences.
Archbishop Satolli, the warm friend of Cardinal Gibbons
and of Archbishop Ireland, lost no opportunity of defending
the motives and prudence of both; and, in time, the questions
which were agitating the Church found new foci.
The controversy regarding religious influences in education
spread far beyond the cities and towns of the United States,
and out over the great prairies, where stood the isolated mis
sion schools erected by the Church for the instruction of the
Indians. Cardinal Gibbons had been deeply interested in these
outposts of Catholic missionary endeavor, and when a general
assault upon them was begun, he girded himself for the de
fense. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions had been origi
nated in 1874 by his predecessor, Archbishop Bayley, for the
purpose of carrying on a work begun by the zealous priests
of Spain and France who followed in the wake of Columbus
and Champlain. When President Grant, deciding that it was
"better to Christianize than to kill," inaugurated his "Peace
Policy/ the Catholic and Protestant denominations were urged
to maintain schools on the reservations, the teachers and other
employees, though in effect appointed by the various denomi
nations, being put on the Government payroll. Later, the
practice was adopted of making formal contracts with religious
bodies conducting schools for the tuition and support of Indian
pupils who could be induced to attend them. This was called
the "contract system," and under it the Government appro
priations to Catholic Indian mission schools reached a maxi
mum of $397,756 in 1892. These schools multiplied greatly
in numbers and efficiency. The heirs of Francis A. Drexel, of
Philadelphia, gave largely from their great wealth to the cause,
THE INDIAN SCHOOLS. 231
and one of them Mother M. Katharine Drexel consecrated
her life to the welfare of the Indians and negroes, founding
for their special benefit the missionary congregation of the
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.*
Simultaneously with the development of the school contro
versy elsewhere, hostile public sentiment was aroused, chiefly
through the efforts of the "American Protective Association/ 1
and strong pressure was exerted on Congress to abolish all
aid to sectarian schools. In time this had its effect. Congress
began in 1895 to curtail the appropriations for the contract
schools, and two years laterf declared it to be the settled
policy of the Government u to make hereafter no appropriation
whatever for education in any sectarian school." In 1900 it
made what it termed the "final appropriation" for this pur
pose; but the Catholic Bureau, though staggering under its
burden, kept up the work by means of funds obtained largely
through Lenten collections in the churches and the generosity
of Mother Drexel.
The bureau was incorporated in 1894, and two years later
Cardinal Gibbons was elected its president, -which office he con
tinues to hold. So strongly did he feel on the question, that
he addressed a petition to Congress December 5, 1898, in be
half of himself and the other archbishops of the United States,
urging a reopening of the contract school question, and an
inquiry concerning the whole subject of Indian education.^
He took the ground that an impartial investigation by a com
mittee of Congress would show the great benefits of Catholic
Indian education, and that only harm could come to the Indians
by abandoning it. He declared the system "an essential ele
ment in the solution of the Indian problem a system which
could not be called sectarian, and yet did actually put the
* "Our Catholic Indian Missions," a paper read before the Catholic Missionary
Congress In Chicago, November 16, 1898, by Rev. Wm. H. Ketcham, director of
the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions.
t Act of June 7, 1897.
J Records of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions.
232 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
spirit of Christianity into the educational work of the Govern
ment and enabled the Government to use the indispensable
factor of Christianity in the effort to elevate a race below us
in civilization." From the beginning of the work he traced
the labors which had been undertaken, the obstacles met, the
successes obtained.
"Certainly we are justified/ he wrote," in saying that the
well-informed on the subject cannot escape the conclusion that
the mission school is better adapted to the civilization of the
Indian than any other. In the mission school are engaged
men and women set apart for its special work ; men and women
who, through noble inspiration, have chosen this field in which
to do life work in the cause of humanity and to the glory of
God. They are selected for the work by the several denomina
tions employing them, not only because of their scholastic at*
tainments, but also because their devotion to the Christian
religion has been evidenced by the purity of their lives."
Even after Congress had ceased its appropriations, the
bureau did not accept defeat. It took the ground, with the
Cardinal s hearty support, that appropriations for the contract
schools could still be made out of the tribal funds of the In
dians, which were their own property and not public moneys
of the people of the United States. President Roosevelt, after
chaining from the Attorney-General an opinion that this view
Was legally correct, sanctioned new contracts in cases where
the Indians expressed the wish, by petition, to have a portion
of their funds so used. Although a determined effort was
Mad to secure the enactment of legislation prohibiting the use
of tribal funds for the support of religious schools, the influ
ence of the "A. P. A." had waned, and Congress refused to do
so. By a decision of the United States Supreme Court, the
course of President Roosevelt was fully sustained.* Congress
also ordered a resumption of the distribution of rations to the
* May 18, 1908.
SYMPATHY WITH DEPENDENT RACES. 233
children in mission schools, which had been withheld by the
Indian Office for five years.
Cardinal Gibbons sympathy with the dependent races in
habiting his country was so strong that it took the form of a
personal characteristic; and none felt greater anxiety than he
during the period of grave trial through which the Bureau of
Indian missions passed. He adhered to the Catholic view
that when the Indian s faith in his own pagan creed is shattered
by education, it will not do to turn him adrift without any
creed, but that something must be put in the place of what has
been taken away. To all denominations he conceded equal
rights in the field of missionary labor, but to him it seemed
indefensible that the light of Christianity should be shut out
from the eyes of the young Indian in the schoolroom where
his steps were to be guided up the steep path that led from the
darkness of aboriginal savagery,
CHAPTER XV.
AMERICANISM : THE CAHENSLY QUESTION.
Simultaneous in its development with the school controversy
was the question of "Americanism/ which embraced within
itself, to a greater or lesser degree, all the other problems of the
Church in America in the last two decades of the nineteenth
century. It directly involved the nationalization of the for
eign elements which were crowding into the population of the
country; and, indirectly, the broader consideration of whether
the Church in the United States should retain the distinctive
character in which she had been clothed by Cardinal Gibbons
and other apostles of progressive thought, or whether she
should become responsive to the reactionary influences develop
ing in Europe. The latter was in conflict with all that Cardinal
Gibbons had done or hoped to do. His steady purpose had
been to bring the Catholic Church out into the brilliant sunlight
of public opinion and display her as a tremendous and benevo
lent power, closely in touch with the political and economic in
stitutions of every country, but entangled with none.
His plans would fail if the Church were to mingle in for
eign politics. He had asked no favors from the Government,
and desired no discrimination. In his view, the Government
existed for the purposes decreed in the Constitution which he
admired so much, and it was not one of those purposes to con
cern itself about questions directly concerning religion. All
forms of religious belief had the same opportunities under the
234
RELIGION AND PATRIOTISM. 235
American flag.* Catholics in their faith adhered, without
fraction of modification, to the universal Church as founded
by the apostles and transmitted through ages of struggle by the
fathers from generation to generation. This concerned only
their religious belief; it had nothing to do with questions of
language or race or politics. Catholics were citizens or sub
jects of the country in which they lived. Upon the basis of
their spiritual and moral natures as developed by the minis
trations of the Church might be found fruitful soil for the
flower of patriotism. An American was no more and no less
an American because he was a Catholic ; no more and no less
a man because his supreme spiritual shepherd on earth was the
Pope.
In America, separated by 3,000 miles of ocean from Europe,
the Church could lend herself to nothing of a political or social
nature which might be at variance with the ideals of the
nation. There could be no divided allegiance; the Catholic
was either an American or a foreigner. If an American, he
must be an American in every sense, and cast in his lot without
reservation among the people who were his fellow-citizens.
Apart from the public policy of this, apart from the broad-
minded wisdom which inspired it, it comported with the cardi
nal s own aspirations as a man and a citizen. He regarded the
institutions of his country as the best in the world. With sor
row he saw them sometimes perverted to base uses ; and when
occasion presented itself, he never failed to raise* his voice
against abuses that crept into the body politic. He knew the
dangers of popular government; but he also knew the perils of
less liberal systems. In the atmosphere of freedom he found the
best final solution for all merely material questions which af-
* Dr. Philip Schaff, in Church and State In the United States, p. 9, defines the
American system as "a free church in a free state, or a self-supporting and self*
governing Christianity In independent but friendly relation to the civil govern
ment."
236 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
fected mankind. His political ideals clustered around the
fathers of the republic, in whom he found exemplars for the
men of his own generation. He maintained that the duty of
the Catholic, which was nothing more nor less than the duty
of the citizen, was to identify himself, without thought of
religious discrimination, with all that concerned the best that
was in American institutions, setting his face firmly against
corruption, the evils of partisan politics, economic wrong and
social disorder.
Foreigners who came to these shores he welcomed as Cath
olics, if they happened to be such ; but, at all events, as Ameri
cans of the future; men of the same origin, either directly or
remotely, as all who had peopled the country; men who would,
in time, share In the responsibilities, the burdens, the honors of
citizenship, and become as thorough upholders of the Ameri
can idea as were those whose ancestors had come earlier from
the Old World to seek better opportunities in the New.
He deeply realized that the most effective argument, how
ever absurd, which had been used against the Church in periods
of religious intolerance, from Colonial days down through
the first century of American independence, had been that she
possessed, in some measure, a foreign tinge. He had thrown
the whole fervor of his being into a battle of years to dissipate
this view. His success had been amazing ; and it would have
crushed him, had the results been snatched away at the last
moment.
He had the sympathy, the approval and the ready support
of Leo XIII ; a large majority of the archbishops of the United
States were one with him in spirit and purpose ; the American
laity hailed him as the pattern of citizenship; and non-Catho
lics, without distinction of creed, regarded him as an American
of Americans. No wonder, then, that when an assault was con
templated upon the corner-stone of his characteristic policies,
he should throw himself into the struggle with all his energy.
THE CAHENSLY QUESTION. 237
The widespread agitation about "Americanism/ which be
gan in the late eighties, was attributed in part to Herr Peter
Cahensly, secretary of the Archangel Raphael Society for the
Protection of German Emigrants, and was often referred to as
"Cahenslyism." This society had been formed for the laudable
purpose of promoting the spiritual welfare of settlers in for
eign countries. It had done a notable work, when its aims sud
denly widened so as to include within its scope the preservation
of the nationality and language of those who emigrated from
Europe. It had caught a breath from the gust of militant
Pan-Germanism, which, starting on the banks of the Elbe and
the Weser, swept through the Teutonic realms and the diverse
peoples embraced within the Austrian empire, spread into
Russia, thence to the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and
wherever a German might go from his native town or farm to
begin life anew.
Pan-Germanism was a vivid dream, springing from natural
causes that took their root in the unification of the Empire by
Bismarck and its closer welding by Wilhelm II. From the
time of the Napoleonic wars, when the German principalities,
divided against themselves, lay crushed and humbled at the feet
of the conqueror, the national spirit of Germania had slept
until awakened by the magic touch of the man of blood and
iron. Now rising from its slumber, it shook itself like a lion,
and, half uncertain of its real destiny, wrestled with its own
fierce energy. Pan-Germanism had its prototype in the Pan-
Hellenism of the ancient world. It was an aspiration which
any race might justly cherish. The hope was not so much to
promote a political object, as to spread and consolidate through
out the world Teutonic ideals of character and culture; but, in
time, this might be made to serve political and commercial
ends. If the German emigrants who were pouring at the rate
of 400,000 a year into America, Africa, and even into Asia,
could be made to retain their national spirit and customs, their
race solidarity, some day there might be a greater Germany,
238 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
which, like a very Colossus, would bestride the world. Ger
man influence might predominate throughout the hemispheres.
Should the Fatherland be threatened by another Napoleon, or
should Russia and France carry an alliance to the extent of
closing in with their united power upon the new empire, an
army might spring up across the seas that would defy the
power of any who might seek to despoil the temple of their
ancestors.
It was felt that Germany was losing all the time by the with
drawal of some of its best and strongest elements to seek a
new start in life under conditions more propitious to material
prosperity. When they left they were none the less Germans,
and they cherished the ideals of their ancestors, as Teutons
have done since the days of the great Hermann; but they were
soon absorbed across the seas by the peoples among whom they
settled, and in a few generations all trace of their origin was
lost.
Though the Germans were the backbone of the Cahensly
movement, Italians, French, Poles, and others became involved
in it to some extent. In Italy, the Marchese Volpi Landi, and
in France, the Abbe Villaneuve, championed the same cause.
After years of agitation, the Archangel Raphael Society car
ried the case to Rome itself. At an international congress
held at Lucerne in December, 1890, it decided to address a
memorial to the Holy See, setting forth its petition.
This memorial began by declaring that the losses which the
Church had sustained in the United States amounted to more
than ten millions, caused by immigrants and their descendants
falling away from the faith. As a remedy, it proposed the
formation of immigrants into separate parishes, congregations
or missions, according to nationality, and that the direction
of these parishes should be confined to priests of the same
nationality. "In this wise," the memorial set forth, "the sweet
est and most cherished relations of the fatherland would, be
NATIONALITY AND THE EPISCOPATE. 239
constantly brought to the immigrants, who would love the
Church all the more for procuring them these benefits,"
In parts of the country where immigrants of different nation
alities had settled in too limited numbers to form a separate
parish for each, the memorial asked that a priest should be
selected for the care of each group who would be conversant
with the respective languages spoken, and use in his ministra
tions to each the distinctive tongue to which the parishioner
had been accustomed. It was recommended that parochial
schools be provided, in which instruction should be given in
the native language of the parents. The organization of
Catholic societies founded on nationality was also advised.
The core of the question was summed up in this wise :
"It would be most desirable that as often as might be judged
feasible, the Catholics of every nationality should have in the
episcopate of the country to which they have emigrated some
bishops of their own race. It seems that such an organization
of the Church would be perfect. Every different nationality
of immigrants would be- represented, and their respective inter
ests and needs protected or cared for at the meeting of bishops
in council."
The real object of those in America, as well as in Europe,
who advocated the Cahensly movement, was to have the bish
ops appointed by nationality, according to population; if, for
instance, the Germans formed one-sixth of the Catholic popu
lation, it was desired that one-sixth of the bishops should be
chosen from those who spoke that language and would use it in
the transaction of their official duties.
In conclusion, the memorial begged special protection for
the seminaries and other schools instituted in Europe for the
education of missionaries to work among the emigrants, and
help for the Archangel Raphael societies was invoked. The
Pope was urged to appoint a cardinal protector as a. guardian
for these societies,*
* Belly, Collections in the Life of Cardinal Gibbons, V6L III, part 3, pp. 7, ,
240 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
In a subsequent memorial, from the same source, presented
to Leo in June, 1891, the demands of the Cahensly element
were presented with even more vigor, and with considerable
amplification of argument. It was set forth that "the current
which is carrying away to America populations of different
nationalities is already formidable. In the future, it is likely
to become irresistible/ Statistics were appended, stating that
439,400 Catholics had left Europe for the American continent
during the year 1889; of these, 178,900 came to the United
States. It was declared that calculations based on authorita
tive statistics showed that Catholic immigrants and their chil
dren ought to constitute in the United States a population of
26,000,000, though the number of Catholics irk the country did
not much exceed 10,000,000. "Catholicity, therefore," asserts
the memorial, "has sustained, up to the present date, a loss of
16,000,000 in the great American republic."
Causes for desertion of their faith by Catholics were enu
merated. These included lack of sufficient protection for the
immigrants at the time of their departure from home, during
the voyage, and on their arrival in America; insufficiency of
priests and parishes of their own nationalities ; pecuniary sac
rifices "often exorbitant" that were exacted of the faith
ful; the public schools; insufficiency of Catholic societies based
on nationality and language, and lack of representation for
different nationalites of immigrants in the episcopate. It was
vehemently argued that immigrants and their descendants who
forgot their language also forgot their religion. Regarding
all-important question of bishops, the memorial declared:
>"Bishops who are strangers to the spirit, character, habits and
of otter nations can not, in the required measure,
e their virtues, knowledge and zeal, appreciate and effec-
attend to the wants of these nations. Again, the har-
ijipny and concord between the different nationalities are
affected. If the episcopate be handed over almost exclusively
to one, nationality to, the detriment of others, a feeling of.tm-
REPLY TO FATHER ABBELEN. 241
easiness, of general discontent, is created among these last a
feeling which assumes the proportion of disastrous interna
tional rivalries. It is desired that concord and harmony
should reign among the different nations that go to make up
the Church of the United States. Nothing is more desirable;
nothing more esential. The only way to attain this end is to
give to every one of these nations bishops of their own, who
will represent their respective nations in the episcopal body,
just as those nations are represented among the parochial clergy
and^ among the faithful/ 5 *
From the viewpoint of Germans in America who sympa
thized with the Cahensly agitation, the question had been em
bodied in a pamphlet prepared by Rev. P. M. Abbelen, Vicar-
General of the Diocese of Milwaukee, which was submitted to
the Propaganda in November, 1886. Archbishop Ireland and
Bishop Keane were in Rome at the time, having gone there to
discuss with the Propaganda plans for the establishment of the
Catholic university; and they availed themselves of the oppor
tunity to make a vigorous reply. They repudiated the idea that
there was any question between German and Irish Catholics, and
insisted that the only question which could be considered was
that "between the English language, which is the language of
the United States, and the German language, which emigrants
from Germany have brought to the United States." They in
sisted that there was not even a sign of a conflict of races in
America. They pointed out that there were no Irish parishes,
and no efforts had been made to establish them ; that the Irish
readily assimilated with the rest of the population, and were
second to none in their devotion to American ideals.
Proceeding with their argument, they showed that there
were many diverse nationalities in addition to the Germans;
and that if bishops were allowed to each in proportion to
* Belly, Collections In tlie Life of Cardinal Gibbons, Vol. Ill, part 3, pp. 9 to 18,
242 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
ulation, unity of Church government would be at an end. They
pronounced as reprehensible the complaint which had been
made at a reunion of Bohemian societies in a previous year,
that up to that time there had been no Bohemian in the Ameri
can episcopate.
Regarding the Germans, they declared that the people of
that nationality were not, by any means, a unit in support of
the Cahensly point of view. There existed "what we may
call the active party, whose object seems to be to preserve in
tact the German spirit among immigrants and their descend
ants, and to prevent them from changing their language for the
English language, and to give a preponderating position to
German influence in the Church in America." This was the
party for which Father Abbelen spoke, and in behalf of which
he was even then in Rome. They denied that he had in any
way a representative character. The project of establishing
a permanent Germany in America, it was shown, was approved
only by a comparatively small proportion of immigrants, the
great majority of whom desired complete and early identifica
tion with the institutions and language of their adopted
country.
It was conceded that the German immigrants should have
facilities for themselves and for their children to practice their
religion in the language most familiar to them. To this end,
the American bishops had been multiplying churches for the
benefit of different nationalities. Yet, it was the tendency of
the immigrant to get away from such a church as soon as pos
sible, and to identify himself with the great mass of the people.
German children who were taught their native language in the
school spoke English by preference when they entered the
recreation yard. The churches established for foreigners, and
in which foreign languages were spoken from the pulpit and
In the confessional, were constantly losing by the departure of
parishioners to English-speaking parishes, though gaining,
naturally, through the arrivals from Europe.
OPPOSITION TQ CAHENSLYISM. 243
"The Church will never be strong in America/ 5 they con
tinued; "she will never be sure of keeping within her fold the
descendants of immigrants, Irish as well as others, until she has
gained a decided ascendency among the Americans themselves.
Thank God, the time seems favorable for their conversion;
prejudices are disappearing; there is a distinct movement
toward the Church. To accelerate it, the Church naturally
must, as far as it can be done without danger to other interests,
be presented in ,a form attractive to Americans. The great
objection which they have until now urged against her an
objection which at certain periods of their history they enter
tained so strongly as even to raise persecution is that the
Catholic Church is composed of foreigners; that it exists in
America as a foreign institution, and that it is, consequently,
a menace to the existence of the nation.
They insisted that there was no desire to exclude Germans
from the American episcopate; but that only those should be
bishops who knew the language of the country well, who un
derstood the needs of the Church, and who could eradicate
from themselves foreign nationalism.*
Cardinal Gibbons wrote to the Pontiff, fully stating his own
views on the question. These were subsequently adopted at a
meeting of the archbishops in Philadelphia, by whom a strong
protest against Cahenslyism was drawn up and sent to the
Propaganda. They urged three basic principles :
First, there should exist among all the parishes of the United
States, without distinction of nationality, a perfect equality,
and each should be independent of the other.
Second, it is not necessary that any privilege be accorded tp
any nationality in the administration of dioceses and parish!!
* Letter of Archbishop Ireland and Bishop Keane to Cardinal SimeonJ, Prelect
of the Propaganda, Dec. 6, 1886.
244 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS,
Third, it is the plain duty of every bishop to do his utmost
that all the faithful of all languages who may be in his diocese
be taken care of with the same charity.
Cardinal Gibbons felt that there was great danger that the
harmony and fraternal affection which had existed among the
prelates of the United States would be broken. He insisted
that the only way to arrest the evil was to refuse to recognize
any distinction in the government of the Church; for, if one
nationality were accorded special privileges, others would de
mand them also.
The Germans would have been glad to obtain the assistance
of Cardinal Gibbons in behalf of the Cahensly movement.
Throughout their agitation, most of them spoke of him with
respect and even filial affection, because his conduct in the Dio
cese of Baltimore had been such as to remove any ground for
charges of discrimination on account of nationality. The
largest congregation in the city St. Michael s was German,
presided over by Redemptorist Fathers, who conducted their
ministrations in their own language. There were admirable
church facilities for all German immigrants to be instructed
in their own tongue. Poles, Bohemians, and other nationali
ties were similarly provided for. The Cardinal frequently
visited these churches and co-operated with the pastors in the
care of their flocks. The religious and material welfare of the
immigrants was a subject close to his heart ; and in his case as
a bishop, criticism was disarmed before the fight began.
But, in the country at large, he saw great danger from
Cahenslyism. He lost no suitable opportunity of openly de-
daring his own sentiments.
One of the characteristically bold acts of his life was the
delivery of a strong sermon on this subject in Milwaukee,
when he conferred the pallium on Archbishop Katzer in St
John s Cathedral, August 20, 1891. This ceremony was
marked by the presence of more than 700 prelates and priests,
"GOD AND OUR COUNTRY." 245
coming from almost every State in the Union and embracing
every nationality represented among the American people.
The Cardinal began his address by saying, after contemplation
of the remarkable scene before him, that the Catholic Church
in America was a family derived from many nations. He
compared it to the heterogeneous multitude which assembled
on the day of Pentecost, each person of whom heard in his own
tongue the works of God proclaimed by the Apostles. He
pointed out that a large proportion of the American bishops
were natives of different countries in Europe ; yet he ventured
to say that in no country in Christendom were the members of
the hierarchy more united and compact. "Woe to him, my
brethren," he said, "who would destroy or impair this blessed
harmony that reigns among us ! Woe to him who would sow
tares of discord in the fair field of the Church of America!
Woe to him who would breed dissension among the leaders of
Israel by introducing a spirit of nationalism into the camps of
the Lord! Brothers we are, and brothers we shall remain.
* * * God and our country! this be our watchword.
Next to love of God, should be love of our country. * * *
Let us glory in the title of American citizen. To one country
we owe allegiance, and that country is America. We must be
in harmony with our political institutions. It matters not
whether this is the land of our birth or our adoption. It is
the land of our destiny."*
The training of a native clergy thoroughly in touch with
the institutions of their country was one of his great objects.
While the subject was at white heat, he made an address at the
centennial celebration of St. Mary s Seminary, Baltimore, in
October, 1891, in which he used these significant words:
"We can never, indeed, be sufficiently grateful for the apos
tolic labors of the clergy who have come to us from Europe in
the past century. Without them, tens of thousands would
Belly, Collections in the Life of Cardinal Gibbons, Vol. II, p. 145 et cq.
246 LIFE OF CARDINAL GIBBONS.
have died of spiritual starvation. But if the Church is to
take deep roots in the country and to flourish, it must be sus
tained by men racy of the soil, educated at home, breathing
the spirit of the country, growing with its growth, and in har
mony with its civil and political institutions."
Leo XIII took formal note of the agitation for the selec
tion of bishops according to nationality, and on July 4, 1891,
addressed to Cardinal Gibbons, through Mgn Rampolla, Pa
pal Secretary of State, a letter setting forth the views of the
Apostolic See on this question. The Pontiff declared that the
existing laws for the selection of bishops were to be observed
without modification, and that no toleration could be accorded
to certain practices which had arisen in opposition to it. He
announced his determination not to grant the petition of Herr
Cahensly asking that national bishops be appointed for the
United States. The cardinal sent copies of the letter to all the
archbishops.
President Harrison was walking at Cape May a few days
later with his little grandchild, "Baby McKee," when he met
the cardinal. He invited the prelate into his cottage, and there
they talked at length about the Cahensly question. The presi
dent showed a rather broad comprehension of questions affect
ing the Church in the United States, remarking that it seemed
to him to have grown sufficiently strong to be regarded no
longer as a missionary jurisdiction. The attempt to introduce
the question of nationality in selections for the episcopate
appfc&ml to him to have great potency for harm, and he ex-
pressfed his unbounded satisfaction that the movement had
been checked. He said he had sometimes thought of writing
to the Cardinal on the subject, but hesitated lest he might be
interfering,
The Cardinal told the President that he was much pleased to
hcar his views, and suggested that, as he had contemplated
witing a letter on the subject, it might not be too late even yet
COMMENDED BY PRESIDENT HARRISON. 247
to express his views in that form. General Harrison replied
that, while he feared "burning his fingers" by meddling in ec
clesiastical questions, he had no objection to the Cardinal stat
ing his views in a letter to the authorities in Rome. The Car
dinal transmitted to Mgr. Rampolla a full account of the con
versation, and received a prompt reply, expressive of the satis
faction which these facts created at the Vatican.
As the agitation continued, Cardinal Ledochowski, Prefect
of the Propaganda, addressed a letter to the American primate
in May, 1892, in which he used this language :
"You are certainly 1 well aware that on the occasion of vacan
cies in episcopal sees in the United States divers commotions
very often arise among both clergy and people, which the event
shows are growing more serious and frequent as time goes on.
The effects which usually result in such cases are neither trivial
nor hidden, nor are they of such a nature that this Sacred Con
gregation can pa 
