Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-03
A NEW BISHOP COMING.
Bishop Becker to be Transferred 10
the See of Savannah.


Ever since the great plenary counci
which was held in Baltimore, last spring
and presided over by Archbishop Gibbons
there have been rumors upon rumor
about elevations and changes among tn,
clergy. There is movement on foot il
ecclesiastical circles whose center is Bal
timore, by which the diocese of Whining
ton will doubtless be affected. The new
from Rome that Archbishop Gibboni
would be made cardinal in the coming
autumn was enough to Indicate thai
o number of changes must be made tc
accommodate and fitin with the new order
of things. In this city there have beer
reports current for some time as to the
probability that the bishop of Whining
ton would be affected in some way by the
general movement, although these reports
have not been very definite. Bishop
Becker's name has been used in connec.
tion with the bishopric of Savannah,
Georgia, and also with the Catholic uni
versity which is to be built, probably at
Washington.
A definite turn has been given to the
reports by dispatch from Baltimore last
week, which states that it is an
nounced that the Right Rev. Thomas A.
Becker, Bishop of Wilmington, will be
transferred to the see of Savannah, to
take the place made vacant by the eleva-
tion of Bishop Gross to the Archbishopric
of Oregon. The dispatch does not state
when the transfer is to be made.
AS to Bishop Becker's place, it is stated
that it is to be given to the Rev. John
Foley, d. D., now pastor of st. Martins
Church, in Baltimore, who will be elevated
to the dignity of bishop in consequence.
Father Foley is a brother to the late
Bishop Thomas Foley of Chicago, who
died several years ago. He has been pas
tor of st. Martins Church, Baltimore, for
ten years. In his early priesthood he
was connected with the Cathe-
dral at Baltimore, and at the
last plenary council he was one
of the public secretaries. It is stated that
Father Foley was recommended by Arch
bishop Gibbons for the see of Savannah,
but declined it. There is also talk of the
appointment of coadjutor to the arch
bishop of Baltimore and it is said to be
more than likely that the new Bishop
Foley would be chosen for that capacity,
as he is u favorite with the primate. In
thnt case the bishopric of this diocese
would become vacant and have to be
supplied anew.
No member of the Catholic hierarchy
of this country is more widely known OF
better liked than Bishop Becker. In this
city, where he has done so much for his
church, he is popular alike with Pro-
testants and Catholics, and his loss will be
felt very much. Durng the late plenary
council he took lnusl prominent part in
al H,,l,
OF ihe leaders. Hisscrmon ON .'rhe Church
and Science" was great effort, and drew
together perhaps the largest congregation
ut amy of the public sessions of the
synod. He is the only Catholic bishop
Wilmington has ever had, having been
appointed to that see in March, 1868.
Previous to that time he was stationed al
the Cathedral in Baltimore as assistant
priest under the late Archbishop Spalding
and at Mount St.Mary's College, Emmitts-
burg, Nd, as professor of dogmatic
theology and sacred scripture. At the
second plenary council he was one of the
IL secretaries. His personal appearance
is prepossessing and his manners calcu.
lated to inspire confidence. Being the
first bishop of Wilmington, the duties
attending his jurisdiction were at first Of
q startling character, but his well-knowI
integrity and prudence have made his
career an eminently successful one. In
Savannah he will have much wider field
of labor, as the see is almost unlimited
embracing, as.it does, besides the city
named, a large area of southern territory
Much of his work will be among the col
ored people, with whom Bishop Gross
his predecessor, was a favorite. Bishop
Becker was consecrated to the bishoprit
by Archbishop Spalding.
DIR. Foley is said to have declined the
bishopric of the see of Savannah because
he did not want to leave his present
agreeable pastorate and Baltimore. Ii
Wilmington, however, he will be within
easy reach of Baltimore. In speaking
with reporter yesterday he said he had
heard nothing of any changes, but the
reporter inferred from his manner that
his appointment would not be surprise
to him. Bishop Becker and DIR. Foley
have been colaborers in the past, and
have always been most intimate friends
The impending changes cause the greatest
interest in the Catholic community Of
Wilmington.