The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-09
THE COADJUTOR MONTGOMERY.
Something About His Charac-
ter and Career.
His Successful Crusade Against the
Dives in San Francisco.
A Petition for an Offender who Mar
rowly Escaped a Very vigor-
Gus Expression of
Opinion.

The appointment of the Rev. Dr..
George Montgomery of San Francisco as
coadjntor bishop with the right of suc-
cession to Bishop Francis Mora of the
diocese OF Monterey and Los Angeles is
one that will meet the approval OF not
only those OF his own religious faith,
but of thousands who are not in the pale
of Catholicism.
DR.. Montgomery is perhaps as well
and as favorably known in California as
any minister within her borders, but it
is in San Francisco, where he has been
located for many years. chat he is best
known. There his friends are among
those of all religious denominations,
who, by direct contact in good works,
have come to revere and love him. 1t
was while speaking at a public meeting
last year in one of the public halls of
San Francisco, held by the Society for
the Prevention OF Vice, of which he is
member and which is composed of
prominent citizens, including many of
the ministers of that place, Protestant,
Catholic and Hebrew, he arraigned the
ries without gloves, and related an Incl
dent where person came to him at his
house asking that he should encourage
dive that the society had proclaimed
against by withholding his influence
against it.
1.-THE fellow declared that he was
Catholic" said DR.. Montgomery, land
had he not been an aged man and a
cripple, in spite of my cloth 1 would
have kicked him into the street."
DIR. Montgomery is slightly past 40
years. and is man who would attract
attention 10 any congregation. 1t is
not generally known that while he
comes from an old American family,
having been born in Maryland in the
early tiftles, his ancestors hail from
France, wnere they were established as
early as the sixteenth century.
The selection of such man means
much for the administration of Biahop
Mora, which stands out in marked de-
gree as one OF constant toll, consdera-
ton for his charge and financial success.
When the good bishop was invested with
the purple in Los Angeles 81 years ago
there was but an atom before him COM
pared to the broad field of his jurisdic.
ton OF today, all owing to that spirit of
constant labor and self denial which has
prompted him from the beginning. and
which has resulted in many churches,
school houses, hospitals and asylums,
besides an enormous increase in the
church property of the diocese and it's
improvement whenever within his abil-
ity,
Notwithstanding the most remarkable
financial successes OF Bishop Mora, he
has nothing in his own right, claims
nothing and is as modest az child.
Not long since, during conversation
with friend upon the desire for chow
in the world. he said, "all such things
are flirting they soon pass away. 1t is
what man sccomplishes for good, and
not what he wears, that he is finally
Judged by. For instance, would rather
build schools for orphans and colleges
for deserving boys without means and
wear this suit OF clothing, and these
shoes, for which l paid $14 more than
one year ago, than own the costliest
garments in existence"
Bishop Mora has long been an ardent
admirer of DR.. Montgomery and that the
appointment was eminsntly satisfactory
to him is we'll known. The official no.
tic6 of his elevation to the coadjutor-
ship will be received, it is thought. some
time the present month. AS yet only
unofficial advices have been received by
means OF the cable from Rome; but the
proper authorities have been commune
Gated with in this way which indicates
the arrival of DR.. Montgomery in Los
Angeles in short time, when his sterl-
ing abilities will be put forth to assist in
tightening the cares of Bishop Mora,
who, it ia to be hoped, will thus be en-
ablec to regain in part, at least his
health. the impairment OF which caused
MIN to ask for an assistant more than
three years ago.