The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-22
BISHOP BECKER'S SUCCESSOR.
FIRST STEP TO a SELECTION TAX
EN- BY CONsULT0RS.

Consulting Priests of the Diocese
Met Yesterday and Agreed Upon
Three Names to lie Submitted to
the Bishops of the Province. Who
VIII in Turn submit Three Names
to the Propaganda at BOme-NO
Information Given - to the Ac-
ton of the COnsuItOrs, But Vicar
General keiIey's Name Believed tO
Have Been Among Those Sub
mitted.
a conference of the consultors of the
Roman Catholic diocese of Savannah was
held yesterday al The Episcopal residence.
Bishop Nor,hrop Of Charleston, presided.
The consultors present were Rev Father
Balm of Atlanta and Rev. Father
Schlencke of Columbus. The third con
sultor, Rev. James O'Bnen Of Washing
ton. was absent on account Of Illness
The consullors of the diccese are APP
pointed by the bishop during his lifetime.
it is their business 10 meet as soon Is
possible after the bishops death, having
ascertained the wishes of the pr ests Of
the diocese, for the purpose of recommend
ing three names of priests as suitable per
sons to succeed to the bishopnc. TIE
consultors are not Hmited IN their choice.
All three Of the priests named may be
residents of the diocese or they may be
non-residents. Naturally, however The
priests of the diocese usually prefer that
the bishop shall be named from among
their number.
The cousultors are bound to secrecy and
there is no way of ascertainiug their
choice. 1t is generally believed here how
ever, that Rev. Father Kefey, vicar
general and acting bishop, is among those
mentioned and thar he is the one who is
most likely 10 receive favorable consider
alton. This belief is founded in the fact
that Father Kelley is held in high esteem,
both by the clergy and the laIty Of the
diocese. He is also well known through
out the province and is on friendly terms
with the bishops who have considerable in
fiuence in determining the succession 20
the vacancy. The three names selected
by the consultors win 90 before a council
of the bishops of the province, which will
be called by Cardinal Gibbons. The bish-
ops viii consider the three names submit
ted and viii in turn submit three names to
the propaganda at Rome The bishops
are not required to select any of the three
names submitted by the clergy Of the do
cese, but are unlimited as TO their choice
Their selections viii also be X pit secret and
the name of the new bishop of Savannah
viii not be known until it has been an
nounced from Rome through the regu ar
channels. Some time is usually occupied in
making the selection Of a bishop, as the
propaganda proceeds with deiiberation in
these matters, and 1t may be several
months yet before the name of the new
bishop of Savannah is made known
THE meeting of the consultors is held
in accordance with canonical law" said
Rev. Father Schlencke, when seen yester-
day Their duty is to ascertain the wishes
of the priests of the diocese and 10 select
the names of three persons to be submit
led for bishop. These names may be of
priests within or without the diocese. No
preference is expressed in submitting these
names, the impression TO this effect being
an error All three are submitted upon
the same basis. 1t does not necessarily fol-
low that any one of the three viii be
named as bishop"
Father Schlencke said he could give no
information as to the choice of the consult
ors, this being one of the things which it is
required to keep secret Bishop Northrop
returned to Charleston during the day, car
rying with him the names recommended
by the consuitors. These win be submitted
to a meeting of the bishops of the province
10 be held shortly