Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-01
nrannr or wIrmrnaror.
The ItSp. Alfred A. Curtis OF Bnitt-
more Appointed BishoP BecSer's
Successor.

Il
The rev. Alfred A. Curtis OF Esaitt-
Successor.
The Rev. Benjamin j. Kelley, who is at
present in charge of the temperatures of |
the diocese Of Wilmington, Tuesday morn |
ing received a cablegram from DIR. d. j.
O'Connell, rector Of the American College |
at Rome, informing him that the Rev, |
Alfred A. Curtis of Baltimore had been |
nominated BY the Pope as bishop of Will
mington.
The cablegram was dated Monday
and the nomination was therefore decided
upon, in all probability, only Sunday.
Father Kelley telegraphed his congratula-
tions TO Bishop Curtis this morning and
received prompt response.
The new bishop was born AZ Chester
town, in Kent county, on the eastern
shore of Maryland. He became mem-
Dor of the Episcopal church and entered
the ministry of that denomination. He
was for number of years rector Of Mt.
Calvary Episcopal church, on Eutaw
place, Baltimore, and IL was while
holding this position that he
became convert to the
Roman Catholic faith and entered the
priesthood of that church. This was 10
or II years ago. He was assigned as mn
assistant priest at the Cathedral in Balti-
more and has held that place without in
remission until his present elevation. He
is also secretary TO Cardinal Gibbons.
Bishop Curtis is described by an ac-
quaintanre as tall man of sandy COM
plexion and commanding appearance.
| He is distinguished as fine orator, and
is about 58 years of age. 1t is believed
that he will accept the nomination when
it is officially communicated to him.
The probable time of his conservation
| cannot now be named. Nothing will lie
done until the arrival of the bulls from
| Rome, after which the necessary prepare
tions for conservation will he made with
out undue haste.
It is now learned that the three names
sent to Rome by the oonsistory which met
ut Baltimore at the time Bishop Becker
removed from Wilmington were those of
Bishop Curtis, the Rev. DIR, John /.
Foley aud the Rev. h. j. Kelley of this
city.
Father Foley had been much spoken Of
but Father Curtis was not mentioned, AMI
his nomination is n genuine surprise to
the people of the diocese.
The nominee is much beloved among
the people to whom he ministers IN Bnlti-
more, and it is believed lac will make au
acceptable bishop TO the people of the see
of Wilmington.
In speaking of the nomination Of the
Rev. Alfred A, Curtis as bishop Of Viii
mington the Baltimore Herdh has the
following
Father Curtis was shown telegram
from Wilmington stating that the news Of
his elevation had come. He said that he
had received no information regarding
the matter himself, and could scarcely
credit it. He had nothing to say.
| The news is n surprise to everybody, Us
the name of the modest Father Curtis had
been completely overlooked by all who
have been guessing at the name of the
successful appointee.
The Rev Alfred A. Curtis was born in
Somerset county, Md, and is now abont
55 years of age. lie was educated foi
the Protestant ministry in 1856. lie re.
manned on the Eastern Shore rs assistant
pastor there until 1853. when he was
, transferred TO this city and made assistant
pastor of st. Luke's i. Z. Church, q
Carey street near Lexington. He remaintC
there two years. At the end Of that tim,
I
was stationed at Chestortown as rector
B Subsequently, the Rev. Mr.. Curtis re
3 turned to Baltimore and took charge o
4. Mount Calvary Church, Mt the corner %
' Eutaw street and Madison avenue lIei,
he remained as rector until the Christina
of 1871, when he gave up the rector4hiI
. of Mount Calvary, after holding it nil
years.
In April, 1872, he visited England AM
a met the celebrated DIR. Newman. nos
O Cardinal Newman, of England Fatht
a Curtis had been examining the dogmas i
the Catholic church for many months
= and applied for advice to the cardinal il
'. Birmingham. Shortly afterward, in th
same month of April, Father Curtis sd
y Cardinal Newman at the oratory in Egbai
st ton, Just outside of Birmingham.
is Father Curtis gave up lis church i
n Baltimore in December 1871, and left fl
N England in the following February. o
! returning to Baltimore, over IL yeai
u ago, Fcthcr Curtis was statipsr
Mt the Cathedral ~ ass mt, mi
1t has been there ever since. He is
n very pious priest, and is inuch b.
10 loved by the people of the Cathedrl
1
,e friends among the congregation which Il
-, left, who have visited him regularly ,
the Cathedral since he has been stutione
u there.
u Bishop Nottingham of the p I
Church, who was stationed over Fntht
le Curtis during his connection with til;
8. denomination, never forgot the youn
in priest after he had gone to the cathedrn
"a but correspondent with him until HI
ar death. During the Rev. Mr. Curtis COZ
= nection with Mount Calvary Church d
- rector he abolished the system Of ne
D. rents and made the church free TO al
81 His love for the poor has always bee
" very great, and he has always been fouu
10 ready to help them. During his stay ,
" Mount Calvary he took great interest
the llored people in his parish He e
-. tablis he'd st. Phillips mission in II
's second story of house on Howard sire,
u near where the Academy of Music no
OF stands. The mission grew until it n
70 sumed large proportions, and il now III
10 chapel Of st. Mary the Virgin, on Orchnr
street opposite Mount Calvary Church.
N is mission Of the hitter church au
IA accommodates the colored pant of Ii
congregation. In changing his fait
Father Curtis did not change his syInpi
thies He stlll takes much interest in ii
lie welfare Of the colored race.
10 lie is described by the Baltimo,
Il papers as follows: Bishop Curtis
rather tai, very stout, and of command
~ ing appearance. He il a decided fayorit
with the Catholics, among whom he is re
haps the best known priest in the CITY. Il
has deep stentoriau voice, and is Yer
logical in all his arguments During ID
h. late plenary council he filed the pqyt.t
II one of the public secretaries with niue
a, ability, aud also acted ~ one OF NJ
- theologans of the gathering. Athonr
4 he has meyer resided in Delaware. BisbG
;ss Curtis Is we'll known there from freuurr
" trips through the state when be- was
young man. No one viii be m,rual 4.
n his position, as secretary Of tbcarrhdIueos
=. OF Baltimore, until after His transfer A
II the relnti Fes of the new bishop W ,r4I.lp /
tie Protestant Episcopal Church
-----s -
IS Fahen 90 Maryland for Trini.
u The Cambridge correspondent Of Oh
= Baltimore SUHot TuesdGy writes Depuf
~ Sherf T.. I. Mace returned from GcGra,
= town, De-, on Saturday, WHITTIER he ba
~ gone with q retluisiti0n fram tic yoyeri,n
l- Of Delaware, for Mrs. Srlhe jeifer4or
2 charged with committing deadly aAsnrij
n upon her husband, John Jefferson, me-,
Is CTotehers Ferry, this county, in Mare
n last' The assault was made with al lyf
u and It WIS sail NJ the time that Jefferson
N NE was lespairra Of. George 4. Rrya
OF Delaware, q brother Of the prisoner
| ( FGtufur4 IIitH h.r opJ ,.iII e.. - ,