The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-28

tle creation OF the see Of savannah have
orded a great advance IN the history
q Catholicism. both Ia the state ana enc
country. From a few scattered and thin
ly populated sees the church has increased
to seventy-oight sees. with fourteen arch
shops ana cardinal archbishop at Bal
tmore. while les adherouts ia this coun-
10y are Conservatively estimated as ex-
,eeding 100000. The growth OF the
that Of the state. gradual but secure.
Every advance made has been retained
ana there have been no backward steps.
During the fifty years Of its history the
Roman Church IN Georgia has had the
good fortune TO be served as leaders by
men OF distinguished eminence in their
p.ous calling. The six bishops who have
g-asped its crozier since Pope Plus TX
founded Savannah as an Episcopal See.
on July ~. 1850. have been singularly gift
81 men without exception. one OF whom
afterwards received a cardinals hat al
Rome ana another OF whom rose 90 the
pinnacle OF priestly power as Archbishop
q Oregon But Il Is not generally known
that the priest who was originally chosen
% govern this diocese Rcv. John l.
oDwyer. o. S. A.. a member OF the great
Augusunian order. never cav rs boun-
darief because, strange TO say. his mind
collapsed a few days before the time set
apart for his conservation. ana thus, in
stead OF mounting a throne al the Sa-
vannah Cathedral as lbs first incumbent,
he found a tomb in tho earth Of old st.
Augustine's Church az Philadelphia, where
me stone that covers him may yet be
traced. such are human hopes. doomed 80
frequent to dust and ashes"
After this melancholy episode. II became
necessary, OF course, 10 appoint another
PRIEST for the vacancy, and the Pope
choice was made again from the ranks OF
Philadelphias clergy in the person OF
Very Rev. Francis Xavier Gartland.D. D.,
pastor Of 81. Johns Church, and vicar
general OF that diocese. who was oonse-
Grated Bishop OF Savannah. at his paroch-
ial temple. Thirteenth street, near Chest
nut on Nov 10 1850.
native OF Philadelphia who had al
ready gained ripe experience In the min
iftry Bishop Garland brought hther all
ilcsc sterling qualities OF mind and heart
that make successful missionary. The
Pore had long been convcrsant with MS
Worth. for he acted as sheologian several
umes 40 the councils Of Baltimore, ana
hglred especially ~ the sixth provincial
council Of May. 1919. which separated
Georgia from the See OF Charleston. TO
which q belonged from 1890. As a matter
q fact. the Catholics Of Georgia scatter
- over a vast territory. for the most part
destitute Of churches. chapels ana schools
"ers classified as members Of the diocese
q South Carolina from 1870. when Bisnop
''nn England. a native OF ireland. be
came FIRST preiale OF Charleston. until $50
when Bishop Francis Garland. was m
tAIei AZ Savannah az its earliest sur
Nagan II may be added. that both these
sets together with Richmond, Va
wheeling. W. Va. Wilmington. y. G, 81
Augustine. Fla. and Wilmington, Del
lr' belong 90 the Archiepiscopal Province
q Baltimore. which once covered the
Nncls country.
While tracing the expansion Of saVah-
nan as see. Il may be well to observe
..A' IN the providence Of Col every
lthop OF Georgia. except the two las''
-1 hit brief lncumbency; thus. during
haif century Of It's existence, hair
Y'-'n pre.ates have been called to rule
' dhcase. the majority OF whom van
from earthly scenes just when the
''4 they watered with their sweat was
1menclnr TO fructify. The frsi beloved
iiai0. Bishop Garland. died from ihe
..shlnt Ecourge OF yellow fever. sept
iNH after a short administration re-
&c Win deeds of love ana mercy, and
"e ot those strange Condolences N
"Al-a az TINES evoke comment, re-