The herald., 1896-07-21
BISHOP MORA RESIGNED
The Aged EccIesiastic Will Soon
Leave His Present Work
FROM THE OLDSPANISH DAYS
The Right Reverend Father Has Ioi'ed
In the Vineyard
The News Unofficial but Considered reliable.
Bishop Montgomery VIII Succeed Him.
Church Property

Bishop Mora, the venerable ecclesias-
tic of the Catholic church, has resigned
his position as head of the diocese of
Monterey and Los Angeles and will.
within the course of a short while, retire
from the field in which he has labored for
10 many years. The resignation of
Bishop Mora is an affair of moment to
the church on this coast. The matter
has not been officially announced yet,
but there is no question of its authent-
city as the information is supplied by one
In position to know whereof he speaks.
He was one of the old-time ecclei-
astisc of Spanish California and has
been Invaluable to the church A Span
lard himself he at once, on taking his
office mary years ago, affiliated closely
with that nationality here in the south
before thesdays of one-lung pilgrims ana
booms. With the changed customs of
late years the bishop round that his
duties had become extremely onerous
and the result was that about three
years ago Rev. Father Montgomery of
San Francisco was appointed coadJutor.
Shortly after the installation of Bishop
Mohtgomduy, Bishop Mora turned the
conduct of affairs over to his coadJutor
and made an extended tour through
GuLOPt. IlS was iStClNSu III Il HdteSii ms
manner by the pope. AT the time of
Bishop Mora visit it was commonly re-
ported that he had rendered his resigna-
tioif but ftile pope had declined to ac-
cept 1t. e.
1t has been about year since Bishop
Mora returned and some time after his
arrival in Los Angeles he decided that
his request for a cessation of duties
must be acted upon. Six weeks ago the
news arrived that the pope had accep
ted his resignation and that Coadjutor
Montgomery would in future have
charge of the diocese.
The public announcement of the ac-
ceptance of the resignation has not yet
been made and may not for some time
to come, but there is no possible doubt
as to its accuracy. Just why the matter
is being guarded so secretly is not known,
though it is surmised that 1t is on ac-
count of the vast amount of property
that is to be transferred, all Of the real
estate of the church in this diocese being
In Bishop Mora's name, and as this
amounts to hundreds of acres and many
other church properties of great value,
the transfer in the legal shape requires
care and time. 1t is also possible that
time is required to arrange the ceremon-
les consequent to the change. The prop
erty Is scattered all along from Mon
terey to San Diego, and besides the land
and churches accumulated of late years
includes the remnants of the princi-
palities that formerly were the property
of the church about the missions and the
crumbling old piles themselves that have
outlasted the race they We're built to
save.
1t is also said that there has not been
the best of feeling between Bishop Mora
and some of the northern dignitaries of
the church; that his methods have been
too much intwined with the spirit of the
past. In the progress and prosperity of
his church in the SOUTH Bishop Mora
has won great credit for himself and
all of the old Spanish Catholic families
will receive his departure with regret.
1t is understood that he may possibly
visit Europe; anyway he has decided to
return to his place of nativity in Spain
for a residence. I'll Is thought that he
is amply provided with resources as his
Investments were judiciously made