The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-20
ITS GOLDEN JUBILEE DAY.
CATHOLICS DID NOT CELEBRATE
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF DIOCESE.

The Dedication of the New Cathedral
in October VIII Mark Instead the
Passing of the Jubilee Year-Fam-
Gus PreIates who Have Presided
over the Destinies of the Diocese
for Half Century.
Yesterday was the ffdeth anniversary
of the Roman Catholic diocese of Savan-
nah-its golden jubilee. There was no pub
lie celebration of the anniversary. Bishop
Kelley is absent from the diocese, though
he will return tomorrow. and no prepar-
alton having been made to commemorate
the founding of the See. The dedication
OF the new Cathedral-the domus of the
diocese-will take place in October and in
a sense that occasion will mark the pass
ing of the golden jubilee year.
The diocese of Savannah was founded by
Pope Plus TX, July 10, 1850. OF the seven
bishops who have presided over its desti-
MES one received a cardinals hat at
Rome, and another rose to the pinnacle
of priestly power as Archbishop of Ore
gon. But it is not generally known, that
the priest who was originally chosen TO
govern the diocese, Rev. John P. O'Dwyer,
o. S. A. a member of the great Augusta
nian order, never saw its boundaries; be-
cause, strange to say his mind collapsed
a few days before the time set apart for
his conservation; and thus. instead of
mounting the throne at the Savannah Ca
thedral as its first incumbent,
he found tomp in the earth
of old st. Augustine's Church at
Philadelphia, where the stone that covers
him may yet be traced Such are human
hopes. doomed so frequent to dust and
ashes.'
Bishop Persico afterwards Cardinal, was
the prelate who planned the building of
the noble Cathedral from the ruins of
winch have risen the present edifice.
Bishop Persico was from South Caro-
lima and assumed control of the See in
1870. He differed from all his predecessors
In the fact that at the time of his appoint
ment he had already been a bishop for
many years, having been consecrated
BISHOP of Bombay, India, in the Sos.
which /he resigned owing TO impaired
health and the climate of that country
He connected himself with the See of
Charleston, as missionary at Edgefield
in 1867, and for several years was valued
auxiliary to the late Bishop Lynch, who
ike all the prelates of the South after
the Civil War, which ragged so fiercelv
from 81 to IS, had much uphill work.
TO do in rebuilding his fallen temples and
ruined institutions, around the stones of
Which time had wrapped the moss and
IVY with manifest compunction. Bishop
Perslco was an Italian of commanding
presence, who made his mark as Bishop
OF Savannah and who won the respect and
dIlectloh of all with whom he came in
contact The greatest work of his incum-
oehcy was no doubt the commencement
OF a cathedral, which ranked for many
years among the nobest fanes. but which
Ike numerous fabrics reared by mortal
arms was destined to fade away in fire
ana smoke, leaving no vestige of its love
mess pehlnd except dismantled walls and
| columns. SaVannah's late cathedral
stood unexceled amid the churches of the
| SOUTH as it will yet stand unexcered
! among them after its restoration is com
! pleteA Bishop Persico was its founder
out his successor. Bishop Gross. finished
It's massive proportions and dedicated it
10 God-an event indelibly written upon
! the annals of the See
Desiring to return once more to the
scenes OF his childhood and spend his de-
cllhlns years in Italy Bishop Persico re-
signed his diocese in 1872, and was suc-
Ceeueu by Rev. William Henry Gross. c.
| %. H., a member of the RedemDtorist
| Oroer, then stationed at Boston Mass
! Dpt by birth Baltimorean. On Anril 81
1878. this celebrated churchman was con-
secrated at the Cathedral of Baltimore
| ana II Is noteworthy fact that one Of
ms assistant consecrators'' was the late
Blshop BECKER, then the incumbent of
Wilmington, Del, who was transferred IN
Savannah thirteen years afterward ma
who was the predecessor of the nreeon+
| Bishop Kelley. =