Evening journal., 1896-11-05
BISHOP THOMAS
Rev. c. F. Thomas Appointed
Bishop of Wilmington.
BISHOP CURTIS WILL RETIRE

BISHOP CURTIS WILL RETIRE.
HE FOUND THE CARES OF THE
DIOCESE TOO GREAT AND RE
QUEsTED THE POPE TO RE-
LIEvE HIM OF THEM
Right Rev. c. f. Thomas, rector of
the Cathedral OF Baltimore. has been
appointed by the pope bishop OF VIII
mington, 10 succeed Bishop Curtis.
Father Thomas was born in Balti-
more in 1858. He spent FIVE years at
ST. Charles College, in Howard county,
finishing his classical studies there.
Then he entered st. Mary's Seminary
in 1878, and was ordained four years
later He was appointed assistant priest
at st. Patrick's Church, Washington,
and afterward was assistant at St
Stephens Church. in the same city.
Later he was transferred to st. Peters,
Baltimore, where he remained a short
time, and was then made pastor OF the
Church OF the Sacred Heart, at Mt
Washington. He was there until about
three years ago. when he was trans
ferred to the Cathedral as chancellor
OF the archdiocese. On the elevation
OF Father Donahue to the episcopate Of
Wheeling Father Thomas was ap-
pointed by Cardinal Gibbons rector OF
the Cathedral.
Bishop Curtis. the retiring bishop.
was born in Somerset county, Nd, in
1888. He began his studies for the
Protestant Episcopal priesthood in
1854, was ordained a deacon in 1856
and sent 10 ST. Johns parish, Wor-
cester county; was ordained a priest In
1853 and was sent TO Catoctin Furnace
parish. While there he accepted a call
MS assistant rector at st. Luke's, Balti-
more. where he remained until 1864,
when he went 20 Chestertown, Md. The
same year he was called to Mount Cal
vary Church, Baltimore, where he re-
manned until 1870.
He went to England in 1871, where
he was received into the Roman Catho-
lie Church by Cardinal Newman. Upon
mis- return he went to st. Marys Semi
nary, where he studied for a time and
was ordained by Archbishop Bayley in
1874. being appointed his secretary and
assistant at the Cathedral He was
created bishop of Wilmington in 1886.
The Diocese OF Wilmington COM
prises the State of Delaware and the
Eastern Shores of Maryland and Vir-
ginia. Itcontains thirty-seven churches
twelve stations and five chapels be-
sides a number OF schools, seminaries
and asylums.
A reporter of the Evening Journal
called on Bishop Curtis this morning
but his reverence was absent, and vi
car-General Lyons was seen instead.
Father Lyons said: I'VE have not
yet received any confirmed news in re-
gard to the appointment from Cardi
nal Gibbons, and will not until the OF
fetal papers arrive from Rome. l hav,
no reasons to doubt the authenticity oi
the appointment
you can also say that there is nC
truth in the report that Bishop Curtis
will become rector OF the Cathedral
the position made vacant by Father
Thomas"
The Catholic bishops Of the province
OF Baltimore met at the cardinals
residence, North Charles street, Balti
more, on September "a, to select tn,
names OF three priests, which, Will
three selected by the priests OF the dio
cese OF Wilmington, were sent to Rome
from which six names a successor I,
Bishop Curtis was selected.
The three names selected by tn
bishops were Rev ]. Monaghan, o
Charleston. S. c.; Rev. C. f. Thomas
OF the cathedral and Rev. p. McEalC
president OF Niagara University, an
former rector OF Immaculate Concep
tion Church, Baltimore.
Cardinal Gibbons presided at tn
meeting. The bishops present were:
Rt. Rev. III. p. Northrop, bishop {
Charleston, S. c.
Rt. Rev. A. Van de vyver, bishop {
Richmond, Va
Rt. Rev. John Moore, Of st. Angus
tine. Fla.
Rt Rev. p. j. Donahue, bishop {
Wheeling, W. Va.
The reporter asked Father Lyons th
bishops intentions He said: "Bisho
Curtis will relieve Cardinal Gibbons
the laborious work connected with h
duties in and about the diocese of Ba
timore Furthermore, he will have n
jurisdiction only in matters episcopal
IL is also said that the rector of II
Catholic University at Washington wi
be Rev. Thomas Conaty, of Boston. ID
Conaty was the head of the Cathol
Summer School. held the last two SCI
sons at Plattsburg. n. Y.