The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-07

tSonuenbeu from tho caVaDnAn 4oWo
, TIE goth of April, 1876, will be 9
. diocese of Savannah, a. that upon whic
: was formally dedicated, with imposin
ceremonies, their magnificent new catht
dral to the services of Almighty God. /
/ view of the Importance of the event, an
: the interest to our Catholic friends, it wi
be an appropriate introduction to the dedi
cation ceremonies to give
sYNoPTICAL HISTORY
of the Catholic diocese of Savannah, to
gether with brief description of the edi
fee:
Towards the decline of the last centur,
the few Catholics who were living in Sa
vannah-and they were, in truth, then bu
little band-were visited by clergyman
of their own persuasion from Aucusts
(whose name we have been unable to ascer.
taip), who tended to their spiritual welfare
Some years of the present century, how
ever, had elapsed before the Catholics here
had a resident pastor whom they might
rely upon as their own. The Diocese of
| Savannah. which compries the whole of the
State of Georgia, formed a part Of the Do,
cese of Georgia, under the illustrious
Bishop England and his successor, the
Right Reverend Aloysins Reynolds, and it
was only in the year 1850 that it was erect
ed into separate Diocese by the reigDing
Pontiff, Pope Plus.
THE FIRST BISHOP OF SAVANNAH,
appointed by Plus TX, was Right Reverend
Francis Xavier Garland, who was conse-
Grated November, I6, 1850, and died Sep
tember 20, 1854.
The See of Savannah being then widow
ed of it's chief pastor, a worthy admiHis-
traitor was found in the person of the Right
Reverend Dr. Barry, who struggled for
nearly three years lest he should be raised
to the Episcopacy, but finally yielded to
the DO9iE1va mann nf ha Hn1v To
and received the Episcopal conservation on
the I'd of August, 1857. This was a prac-
tical evidence of the innate modesty of
Father Barry, who was fearful he would
not be able to fill the important position as
he considered it should be. He died in
Paris on the Goth of Novemb Der, 1859, but his
honored remains were brought to this coun-
try by sainted and learned prelate, and
having reposed for some years in the Cattle
oral Cemetery in this city, were finally re-
moved, about five years since, to Augusta,
to find last resting place.
THE THIRD PRELATE
who ruled the Catholic Church in GEORGIA
was the Right Reverend Augu tine Verot,
d. D., who was cosecrated on the 25;h of
April, 1853, as Vicar Apostolic of Florida,
and translated to the See of Savannah in
July, 1861, where he remained for nearly
Ten years, being appointed in March, 1870,
Bishop of ST. Augustine.
His successor, and the fourth Bishop who |
presided over the destinies of the Catholic
Church in this State and Diocese was Right |
Reverend lgnatius Persico, d. D., conee-
rated in Bombay, East IRdia, by the Right
reverend Anaetatius Hartmann, d. D., on
June 4th, 1854, Bishop of Grantianapolis,
n partibus and translated to this See March
lth, 1870. Bishop Persico, during his in
.umbency, endeared himself greatly to his
lock, aud accomplished mnch for the bene-
it of their temporal and spiritual welfare,
md rendered himself popular in the entire |
community by his enlarged ideas, practical
and charity. AS is known he
vas compelled to resign his pastoral charge |
N account of failing health, which event
occurred in 1872.
THE PRESENT BISHOP
9 Right Reverend w. II. Gross, of the |
Who, before his elevation to the Episcopate, |
vas we'll known and admired throughout |
his and several of tho neighboring States |
IN account of the success attending his |
labors. Bishop Gross was con-
ecrated in Baltimore on Sunday, April 81, |
day. He was installed on Sunday, May, |
til, 1873, the Feast of the Patronage of St,
Joseph.
THE CATHEDRAL
8 strictly Gothic in style, and presents an
IMPOSING exterior, althouga the finishing
ouches are yet to be given. r., interior,
owever, is really magnificent, al 4! far ex-
eeds the anticipations of grandeur of
lyle that had been entertained. The altar
3 a marvel of beauty, and even in a partly
niShed state excites the admiration of
very beholder. 1t Was found impossible
0 complete it's erection on Saturday night,
nd there are some six feet to be ad ded.
{ was, however, set off with numbers of
andes, aud adorned with choice boquets
f flowers.
EICURsIoNIsTS.
The morning trains on the Central, At
antic and Gulf, and Savannah and Charles
on Railroads brought number of excur-
ionists, the largest party, some two
undred, being from Charleston. Macon,
augusta, Atlanta, Dalton and Columbus,
nd Jacksonville, Florida, were repre-
ented, but the crowd was not so great as
ad been expected. The great majority of
be excursionists, after visiting the Cathe-
raj and witnessing the outside ceremonies,
improved the opportunity of their visit by
troll through the city.