190 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS acoonnt of his youth he considered it his duty to listen and learn rather than to express his opinions on the subjects of deliberation. In the vote on the definition of the papal in- fallibility his ballot was^ cast in the affirmative. In 1872 he was made Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, and four years later Coadjutor to Archibishop Bayley of Baltimore, witii the right of succession. Before he had time to enter upon the duties of his new office the death of Archbishop Bayley made him Archbishop of Baltimore and first prelate of the Catholic church in America. He had been well matured for this high position in the severe school of experience, and it was with joy and pride that the people of Baltimore welcomed him back to his native city. The first notable work of the new archbishop was the or- ganization and guidance of the Third Plenary Council of Bal- timore, held in 1886, over which he presided by papal appoint- ment as apostolic delegate. The chief work of the council was to regulate in detail the discipline of the church in this country, and the complete success of the undertaking was due in great measure to the constructive ability and efficient lead- ership of the presiding prelate. It was at the silver jubilee of his priesthood, June 30, 1886, that the crowning dignity came to the worthy archbishop when he was made a prince of the universal church. Pope Leo Xm had observed long and carefully the work of the humble Gibbons, and he thought it now time to reward his merit and enlarge his opportunity by raising him to the Col- lege of Cardinals. The whole country was loud in praise of this appointment and in felicitation of the honored prelate. When the archbishop heard the first rumor of promotion he expressed what has ever been his characteristic sentiment regarding the successive dignities that have been heaped upon him: ** 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. ' ^ The degree to which the Cardinal has advanced in the es- teem of his countrymen was well evidenced by the great cavic
