Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-28
SURPRISE FROM ROME.
Tho Rev. Felix Hintemeyer. = Benedictine
Monk, to Succeed Bishop Curtis,

Tho Rev. Felix Hintemeyer, q Benedfctine
Monk. to succeed Bishop Curtis.
cablegram Thursday night from thu
Baltimore Suns special correspondent
at Rome states that the Pope has made
the following selections TO fill the
bishoprics of Wilmington aud Mobile
The VERY Rev. Felix Hintemeyer OF
the Beneuictine Order, vicar general
OF the vicariate. apostolic of North
Carolina, to he bishop of Wilmington,
Del. as the successor OF Bishop Alfred
A. Curtis, who last year forwarded his
resignation to Rome.
The Very Rev. Edward r. Allen, d.
D., president of Mt ST. Mary's Semi
nary and College. at Diminishing. Md,
TO he bishop OF Mobile, as successor to
Bishop Jeremiah O'Sullivan, who died
August 10th last
1t had been generally expected by
the clergy OF the province OF Baltimore.
the Sun says, that the Rev. c. f.
Thomas, rector OF tho Cathedral in
that city and for number Of years a
member of the Cardinals ecclesiastical
household, would be the priest ap.
pointed to be bishop of Wilmington.
Bishop Curtis was anxious to return
to Baltimore and resume pastoral
duties, and it was thought that the
elevation of Father Thomas would
easily accomplish this charge.
Father Thomas was one of the three
candidates named by the bishops Of
this province, of which Baltimore is
the metropolitan head. The method
followed in the Catholic Church Of
suggesting names of priests deemed
suitable to ill vacant sees is, first, 10
have three names selected by the con-
| suffers and immorable rectors Of the
| diocese, then to have these names ap.
proved by the bishops Of tine province,
| or In event of non-approval. the adj
| dition of three names FROM the bishops.
The bishops of Baltimore province
did not approve of the selections made
in secret session by the Wilmington
| priests, and though these three names
were not given to the public, it was
announced last fall that the bishops
had nominated Father Thomas, the
Rev. Johu }. Monaghan of Charleston,
S. c., and the Rev. Patrick McIlale
| of Niagara City, N. V, who was
formerly pastor of the Church Of the
| immaculate Conception, in baltimore.
1t is stated rhat the Propaganda, in
selecting tine successful priest for the
| papal nomination, very rarely ignores
the names suggested by the diocesan
priests or the bishops of the province.
| This caused the statement OF the
appointment of Father Felix Hinte.
meyer to be received with surprise and
doubt by those priests of Baltimore to
| whom it was impaired last night.
Very little is known of the new
bishop of Wilmington by the Baltimore
| priests. He is monk of the Bene.
| dictine Order, which is mainly com.
| posed of natives OF Germany and
Switzerland. 1t has entered largely
into the missionary work Of the Catho-
lie Church in North Carolina within
the past 10 years. The vicar apostolic,
Bishop Leo Haid, is prominent mem
Der of the order in this country. His
residence is at the abbey of st. Mary
| Help, at Belmont, CASTOR county, N.
| c., of which he is also the mitred
abbot. Father Hintemeyer has been
one of his chief assistants, being
within the past eight years prior Of
the abbey, professor Of theology and
| philosophy there, castor of the abbey
church, secretary and chancellor of the
| vicariate apostolic and one of the
bishops consultors.
II is stated that the appointment of
Father Hintemeysr to the bishopric of
Wilmington will give general salts
faction to the large element of German
Catholics in the church of the United
States.
1t is expected that Bishop Curtis as
soon as he is relieved of the Diocese OF
Wilmington by The conservation of his
successor, will go to Baltimore to assist
Cardinal Gibbons in the episcopal
work of the archdiocese of Baltimore,
preaching, ordaining and confirming,
and relieving the Cardinal of other
| duties.