The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-13
WILL HAVE NO JUBILEE.
Bishop Becker Desires no DemOnStTa-
ton on His 25th Anniversary.

The Customs Which Usually Prevail
on Such Ocoasions-Bishop Becker
Does Not Like Demonstration OF any
Kind-His Services Among Both
Union and Confederate Soldiers Dur
ing the war-His Work in Savannah
and Georgia.
The 25th anniversary of the consecra-
ton as bishop of the Right Rev. Thomas
A. Becker will be next Wednesday, Aug
ust l6, that having been the date Of his
conservation as bishop of Wilmington,
Delaware, in 1868.
Such anniversaries are usually made
the occasion Of a jubilee, or celebration,
which is INDUCED in by the priesthood
and friends Of the bishop of whom the oc-
casion is in honor In the morning SOL
emn pontifical mass is usually held, and all
the priests in the diocese who can attend,
| together with the friends of the bishop,
are usually present. Then, too, it is Gus
tomary to make some presentation to the
recipient of these honors, and the priests
usually send him an address BETTING the
occasion.
These celebrations are entirely informal
and form no part of the required obser-
vances of the Catholic church. They are
given, when given at all, only in honor Of
the long and devoted service to the church
of the beneficiary and such occasions are
often noteworthy in the history of
Catholicism.
BISHOP BECKER WILL HAVE NO JUBILEE.
Although next Wednesday, August
1. -. 4. u Il.
Becker, who is naturally transformations
and retiring would not hear to any such
celebration being given him.
The priests of Savannah and through
out the diocese had intended to tender
him q celebration in honor of the occasion,
but he very promptly and positively de-
clined, and his 25th anniversary will pass
unnoted, except by the greetings of the
| priests around him and his friends in the
church on the morning of the 10Th.
Right Rev. Thomas A. Becker was
born in Pittsburg, Pa, December 30, 1882.
He made his studies in Propaganda col
| lege, Rome, having been ordained priest
! in that city June IS, 1859. On his return
to America he was assigned to Richmond,
Va, whence he was sent to Martinsburg
and Berkeley Springs.
Returning to Baltimore at the end of
the war he was stationed at st. Peters,
| and afterwards became professor of theol-
ogy and ecclesiastical history, and sacred
scriptures in Mt. St. Mary's college, En-
mitsburg He acted as one of the chief
| secretaries of the second plenary council,
being stationed at the cathedral when it
| assembled. Afterwards DIR. Becker was
at the Richmond cathedral until his APP
pointment in March 1858 to the new diocese
at Wilmington for which he was conse-
Grated in the Baltimore cathedral, August
10, 1868.
/ h. l.
| strong southerner, was stationed at Mar
tinsburg, which is just a few miles from
Harper's Ferry, and which was also in his
parish He was the priest who had
charge of Harper's Ferry and tended the
sick and wounded on both sides in that
capacity. His ministerial services were
bestowed upon both union and confeder-
ate soldiersalike, and as a consequence he
was greatly beloved by both sides.
HIS WORK IN GEORGIA.
Right Rev Thomas A. Becker was in
stalled as bishop of Savannah, May 16,
1886, about year after the elevation of
Bishop Gross to the archipiscopate of
Oregon, having been appointed by the
sovereign pontiff of the church, Leo
XIII, to succeed Archbishop Gross.
Since the assumption of his work in
this diocese Bishop Becker has devoted
himself entirely to the progress, advance
ment and Improvement of the church in
| Georgia. Upon his installation he found
debt Of over Sl2, 600 upon the cathedral,
which, with his Characteristic energy
and determination, he saw paid up within
few months.
His next work was the building of the
beautiful and elegant Episcopal residence
just in the rear of the cathedral, which
is occupied as the residence of the bishop
and priests of that parish. He was the
founder of the institution known as the
Little Sisters of the Poor on Perry and
DraytOn streets, one of Savannah's fore
most benevolent institutions, the good of
which has been apparent throughout the
city and county
Through his instrumentality and hard
work twas built the colored Catholic
church on East Broad street, a church
well and favorably known in
the community, and he has
begun the establishment of
an orphan asylum for colored female
children. He is now working on this
latter institution, which, when completed,
will stand as another of thelnonuments of
Catholicism in Georgia and the name of
the bishop who founded it.
Bishop Becker visits various sections
of his diocese, which includes the entire
state of Georgia, at periodic intervals, and
his work and influence away from Sa.
vannah is felt no less than it is here at
home. He has built a church near
Sharon and is contemplating the erec-
ton of others in different
parts of the diocese. His
twenty-five years of service as a bishop
have been marked by a devotion and
loyalty which have everywhere had their
effect, and but for the fact that he dis
likes demonstration of any kind, he
would be rendered jubilee and recep-
tion by the priest, and his friends which
would be long remembered.
/ &c Co !,
AT present, and may not be back before
the middle of September. He may have
jubilee, Notwithstanding his opposition
to one. The laity have made a move in
the matter, and there may be a jubilee
after all. If there is one it will take
place about November 49,
NANCY,s CASE GOES nrrR