The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30
BISHOP OF SAVANNAH DEAD.
Continued from Eighth Page.

Of the diocese. He mas not only carried
forward the iTmed .ale work of the ulo
cese, but has encouraged The deve.opmeh'
ct the various ORDERS WITHIN the dioct-r-
70 Mono College, ar Macon, was stfus-
Cling institution when Bishop Becker camt
10 Georgia. le transfs rred The college 10
the Jesui-s. VINO established there a no.
whale of their order, which has since
been successfully conducted.
At the time Of Bishop Becker's arrival
i'm Savannah The b shops es.Gence was az
The southwest corner Of Perry and Dray-
ton streets. shop Becker devoted MIN
self 10 securing "a more suitable residence
and as a result Of his efforts The large ana
commodious residence in the rear OF the
Cathedral was completed In 1883. The OH
residence was turned over to the Lllle
Sisters Of the Poor VINO were brought TO
Savannah by Bishop Becker and occupied
by them until the compile ton Of their
handsome building on Seventh street The
good work done by these noble WoIne'
since the esta bl shment OF their order in
Savannah requires no commentator The
handsome quarters now occupied by the
Catholic Library Associa lion on Dray ION
street were completed within a few years
after Bishop Becker's arriVa. at Savannah,
as was also the parochial residence OF 81,
Patrick's Church St Benedict's Colored
Church was established, as was also the
cCl0red orphauage. The work of Ccmplet-
ing the Cathedral towers was one in which
Bishop Becker took an especial interest.
These tan spires were damaged by fire
with the rest of The Cathedral building in
the spring of 1893. While Bishop Becker :
i'll heath prevented him from taking az
active part as he would have wished in
the rebuilding of the Cathedral he was
deeply interested in the work and it is
subject for sad comment that he should
have passed away without being able to
behold the renewed structure rising from
the ashes of the Old
Bishop Becker was equally successful
in his work throughout the state. The
beautiful church of the Immaculate Con-
ccption in Atlanta. now presided over by
Father Bazin, was completed within re-
cent years and another handsome edifice,
now occupied by the Marist fathers, was
completed in that city about a year ago.
The magnificent church building of the
JesuIts, known of as the Sacred Heart,
is now nearing completion in Augusta.
The large Catholic orphanage of St. Jo-
seph's and the convent school at Wash
ington received much of Bish-
op Becker's time and at
tentiOn. The work of both has been
greatly enlarged and quite extensive i'm
provements have been made there in re-
cent years
Bishop Becker was man of eminent
piety. He stood high as a theoogau and
was distinguished among his brother pre-
idltS lOT MS Oeep learning. his eminent
ditainments well as his pety, won
him the respect and the confidence of the
authorities of the church and he was high
in the Catholic hierarchy. He had more
than once been mentioned for promotion
to an archbishopriC and had he lived out
his fun term of life this expectation would
doubtless have been realized. He was a
man who was averse to notoriety to the
furthest degree and on this account his
reputation was not so generally extended
as that of many men of lesser note. He
was frank and outspoken in his views
and often abrupt in speech, but those who
were nearest to him knew that he was
possessed of a warm heart and many ad-
mrable personal traits. Those who were
associated with him feel his death keenly
and viii mourn the loss to the diocese.
The blow is an especially heavy one to
Father Benjamin Kelley vicar general Of
the diocese, who had been associated with
the bishop for a quarter of a century.
Father Kelley was ordained to the priest
hood by Bishop Becker served under him
In the see of Wilmington and accompanied
him to Savannah, having charge of the
parish at Atlanta until recent years, wnen
he was brought TO Savannah to succeed
the Very Rev. Edawrd Caferty as vicar
general. il was a melancholy pleasure TO
Father Kelley TO be with his lifetime
friend and spiritual superior in the hour
Of death and to administer to him the last
consolation of the church.
Bishop Becker had made two visits to
Rome since assuming charge of the Savau-
nah diocese His last visit was made
about three years ago when he made a tour
of the Holy Land before returning home
On his return to Savannah Bishop Becker
told an incident of his leave taking of the
Pope. In bidding the holy father goodby
he remarked that as he was now an old
man he would probably never have the
i'm In
How old are you?" inquired his holt
ness.
II am now GA and can hardly expect TO
live another ten years" replied Bishop
Becker
only c." exclaimed his holiness. why
l am over so and / do not feel Old"
The wonderful old man of the Vatican
is still discharging his great duties, but
the fear which Bishop Becker expressed
in his last interview with him proved 10
be oniv too well founded.
So far as known Bishop Becker has no
relatives in this country. His brother,
who was professor of distinction in one
of the Catholic colleges, died a few years
since He is said TO have a niece, grand
niece and grandnephew in Germany.
Further informal on as to the arrange
ments fer the funeral will doubtless be
received to-day. ST. Patrck's Church wif
be altogether too small to receive The great
tribute of respect TO the deceased prelate.
1t will me a source of regret to the many
Catholics of the city that the Cathedral