The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-09
BISHOP KEILEYS RECEPTION.
HIS SAVANNAH FRIENDS GREETED
HIM IN THE NEW CATHEDRAL.

Clergy and Mr.. p. j. O'COnnOr in
Behalf of the Laity-The Purse
Presented quite a Handsome One.
In Responding to the Address the
Bishop Said He Had Become "A
Complete Convert to savannah.
Dismissed the Crowd with Tsis
Blessing.
The Rt Rev. Benjamin J. Kelley,
Bishop of Savannah. returned to the city
yesterday afternoon from Richmond,
where his conservation as bishop took
place last Sunday. The Bishop was re-
ceived with a hearty demonstration by
the Catholics of the city, the enthusiasm
of which was none the less because the
train upon which he arrived was some
three hours late.
The train was due at AIS, city time. 1t
was after o'clock when it arrived. The
Reception Committee gathered az the
Bishops residence at 3A5 p. m, but when
the members found that the train was
greatly behind time, they dispersed 10
meet again at $50 O'Clock. The recep-
ton was scheduled TO begin at o'clock,
and quite a large number of Catholics
gathered at the Cathedral between the
hours of and 6 o'clock. They were dis
appointed to find that the train was great
~ behind time and that there seemed TO
be no certainty as to the time of its ar
rival. Many went away to return again,
while others waited the Bishops arrival
1t was the first time that many of those
present had had the opportunity of view
Cathedral, and they found that this alone
was worth the visit.
Shortly after the ringing of the large
new bell in the south tower of the Ca
thedral announced that the Bishop had
arrived and the scattered crowds gath
cred rapidly. The Reception Committee
was at the depot with carriages waiting
to receive the Bishop. The committee
consisted of the following gentlemen:
Henry Blum. John Flannery. William Ke-
hoe. John Lyons, j. J. McDonough. Dan
iel Hogan, J. Z. Grady, jeremiah Cronin,
]. j. MCGOWAN, p. Barrett, +. Hart,
Thomas Nugent. DR.. NJ. T. Dunn. Hugh
Logan p. J. O'Connor, NJ. j. O'Leary. NJ.
j. Barrett, Lawrence Kelly, c. L. Prem
dergast, j. /. Brooks, j. r. Dillon, j. j.
Horrgan.
The Catholic clergy of the city also &c
companied the committee. In the first
carriage were Bishop Kelley and Vicar
General Bazin, accompanied by Capt.
Henry Blum and Capt John Flannery.
The trip TO the Cathedral was quickly
made, the party being warmly received
by the crowds gathered there. Disem-
barking a the Bishops residence the party
spent only sufficient time there 10 allow the
Bishop to robe himself in his Yestments.
1t was already growing late, and there
being no lights in the Cathedral, the re-
| ception there could wait but little longer.
The crowd in the church gathered at the
| sanctuary, as it was announced that the
Bishop and his party were coming. The
members of the committee came first and
took seats which had been arranged for
| them in a semi-circle. A moment later
| Bishop Kelley came in, accompanied by
| Capt. Blum and others and took his seat
at a table within the semi-cirCle. He was
| arrayed in the handsome purple vest
ments of the bishops office and was re-
| ceived with murmurS of applause. Capt
Blum, as chairman of the committee, call
ed for order and then introduced Vicar
| General Balm, who addressed the Bishop
in behalf of the clergy. Father Balm said:
| Fright Reverend Dear Bishop: In the
| name of the priests of the diocese of Sa-
vannah, both secular and regular, and IN
my own name, I extend to you a hearty
| welcome as our Bishop.
I'VE trust Right Reverend Sir that the
heavy weight of the EpscOpate viii fall
lightly on your shoulders. for we will eX-
ert all our endeavors to help you bear it,
| We will all strive to work with you for
the spiritual welfare of this diocese We
| love SO well. We are no strangers to
you, nor are you a stranger to us. Hence.
we trust that our mutual relations Will
harmonic from the beginning. you viii
find us loyal and true to you, and Ill
ways ready to labor with you, so that re-
ligion may flourish in the dear old diocese
of Savannah. Our aim will be 10 make
this diocese the foremost in the South,
because Georgia, over which the diocese
| extends, ranks proudly as the Empire
State OF the South.
1--WE will be TO you dutifui and loving
sons, as, we sincerely believe you will be
to us all an afecGonate and tender
father.
But as all our endeavors would be
futile without the assistance and blessings
of God, we viii continue to pray the
Father of Mercies, and the God of all
consolation to shower down upon you.
His choicest benedictions. and to animate
and enlShten us with His Holy Spirit.
81 now, once more, welcome you as our
new Bishop and present to you a small,
but spontaneous testimonial of our kindly
feelings towards you"
Capt. Blum, in introducing the speaker
for the laity, said:
| Dearly Beloved Bishop: To me has
been assigned the craftsmanship of an as
sembly of the several congregat tons of the
Roman Catholics of this city and to ex-
press to you, our beloved Bishop, our feel
ings and regards for you personally Your
predecessor was a priest of eruditiou a
man great and good, his equals are few.
As his SUCCESSOR We know you will illus
trate like him the faith you profess
The work intrusted to you by the Holy
| Father is one of great responsi Utilities. and
we are proud to know our Bishop aided
by corps of priests who have the inter-
ests of this diocese at heart will fully
come up TO the great trusts.
Il will not detain the large audience
of your friends by any lengthy remarks,
and take the liberty of introducing the
Honorable p. J. O'COnnor, who has been
intrusted with the duty of presenting to
your lordship a testimonial of the appre-
citation for your services by your friends
of the several congregations of the city.
on this suspicious occasion allow us to
offer sincere congratulations, not alone Of
the Catholics of Savannah, but of also tho
many friends of other denominations here
and elsewhere"
In responding for the laity, Mr.. O'Con-
nor said in part: Fright Reverend Bish-
op: l have been requested by the laity
OF this diocese, to make some expression
of their feelings upon this momentous
occasion. While I feel that I cannot do
the subject justice, l shall endeavor in
my feeble way, to convey some idea of
our feeling toward you. Ever since your
] ~ In f,h 4