Evening journal., 1897-05-03
THE BISHOP EXPLAINS.
Old Age and Laborious Work
the Real Cause.
HIGH TRIBUTE TO THE CLERGY

M1NGTON HEAR THE TRUTH |
AND THEIR INQUIsITIvENEss
is ALLAYED BY THEIR BISHOPS
PATHETIC SERMON.
Bishop Alfred A. Curtis told the
Catholic Of this city yesterday why he
resigned the bishopric of Wilmington.
There has been much speculation as to
his reason for doing so among both
Catholics and Protestants, and now
their curiosity is allayed.
During the bishops sermon many in
the congregation were moved to tears,
and as he told the story of his retire
ment, his approach to old age and
death. and the weakened condition of
his throat and memory, he himself was
visihly affected.
The bishop said in part 81 want to
say, dearly beloved that the ugly ru
mors started elsewhere that | am dis
satisfied and disgusted with the clergy
of this diocese are false. / have no
reason to complain of the loyalty OF the
clergy and laity of Wilmington. In
making the present explanation and
apology for myself | am giving the peo-
pie OF Wilmington a proof of esteem
and affection which have never in all
my life bestowed upon any other peo-
| pie.
First, l do not go because | prefer
| to reside elsewhere. l know, and am
sure, that cannot be better Off or more
content anywhere than / am in Will
mngton. Besides, all places are to me
now nearly the same Again did not ask
for release because was dlsappoint-
ed or disgusted with the clergy OF this
diocese ] have always said. and still
say that the clergy of Wilmington will
not suffer in comparison with the
clergy OF any other diocese In the coun-
try. | have the respect of them all and
in most. II not I'm ALL / find affection as
we'll as respect Your pastor In par
ticular has been more to me than ! can
undertake to express. In behalf OF my
efficiency as bishop OF Wilmington, he
has spared not time, strength nor any
thing else at his command.
you know what has been done for
/ the church itself, and we know the ac-
, curacy and sumptuOusness of all our
, functions, ordinary and extraordinary
All OF this is due to him alone, / think,
/ and the Lord will reward him. AS |
: am not and never have been at war
: with the clergy of Wilmington, still
! less am disappointed in the laity. Not
p only at home. but everywhere else |
p have never mentioned them, save TO ex-
press my admiration Of their docility,
% and my surprise at their large and
/ persevering generosity. have uni
k formly said and ] now repeat that
& would not exchange them for any Other
n people on the face OF the earth.
d once more, ! do not 90 hence be-
n cause / have found myself frustrated
as TO my designs and expectations and
because / regard my work here as an
utter failure. On the contrary, more
has been done during my episcopate
than / ever ventured to promise my
: self would be accomplished. AS my
2 predecessor, by his signal ability and
his long and hard labor, made It pos
slble that / should effect something
! so under God. / have, / trust, rendered
u II practicable that my successor may
4 effect a great deal more than / have
= done or could do. SO much, then, as OF
= the things most likely to be falsely
!. imagined as to the causes OF my retire
a ment
Now the real cause First, age.
= am nearer seventy than sixty / am fai
= down the other side Of the divide and
!. every day accelerates the descent In
!, particular my throat is simply and IT.
retrievably worn out. After a long res
u, may be able to preach now and then
!, but am not equal to the incessan
u public speaking required OF all bishops
!. and very especially necessary TO th'
- bishop OF Wilmington.
. Next, / am older in soul than ! an
a I'm body. / forget and become bewild
s cred. / am no more fit for anything
u save to enscOnce myself in some still
y nook, there to think a little, pray lit
tie and prepare thus for the death
=, which cannot now be long coming.
= but why cannot you stay and TAX
things more easily?' you ask. If at
tempted this / am sure you would al
be very patient with me and very IA
from accusing me of taking advanta8
OF your esteem. But in the first plac
T | simply cannot stay here and spar
n myself. Next / ought not to do this
r even were / equal to doing 1t. II
- we're a question of myself or no one a
IS all in my place, of course / should re
10 main with you, as perhaps ! might b
A, somewhat better than nobody at all.
o, "But this is not the question. IL Il
re shall / stay, thereby barring out on
a. IN every way ulOIt eulcltlti VI nhAii
g. regard the diocese more than mysel
he and so go whittier / shall not be absc
IN lutely useless, at the same time max
10 ing room for successor, fully an
r happily, / am sure, meeting the need
OF the diocese? II would be very goo
he In YOU to let me stay and want me
al stay. having become what | am, but
X would be bad in me to use your pa
rs. tience and your affections TO the injur
r. OF the whole diocese. Therefore, m
b. part is plainly to go.
n "But be sure that wheresoever l go
in shall carry my interest in you, m
at gratitude to you and my duty to pra
for you, and besides my obligations
" further the welfare of Wilmington /
every way in the future / may I'm
within my power and in return be
that you will all continue to pray fc
re me, living and dead. -
n The tickets for the conservation
al Rishon-elect Monaghan will be issue