The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-28

preconized his successor. and assumed
control OF the Georgia see IN $50.
Or. Perslco differed from ali his pre-
decessors in the fact that. at che time
Of his appointment. he had already been
"a bishop for many years. having been
consecrated Bishop OF Bombay. India. In
the sos which ne resigned owing TO i'm
paired health and the climate OF
tha, country. He connected him
self with she see OF Charles
ton, as missionary at EieeneId
In 1851. and for several years was a valued
auxiliary 20 che late Bishop Lynch: who
Ike al the prelates OF the South after
me Civil War. which ragged 80 nercely
from 81 to o.. had much uphill work
10 do IN rebuilding his fallen temples and
ruined institutions. around the stones OF
which time had wrapped the moss aud ivy
with manifest conjunction. Bishop Per
s.co was an Italian Of commanding pres
ence. who made his mark as Bishop OF
Savannah and who won the respect and
affection OF all with whom ne came IA
contact. The greatest work OF his incum-
bency was no doubt the commencement
OF a cathedral which ranked for many
years among the noblest fancs. but which
like numerous fabrics reared hy mortA
arms. was destined 10 fade away in IRE
aud smoke. leaving no yestige Of its love
illness behind except dlsmanilcd walls and
columns.
Desiring 20 return once more 90 the
scenes Of his childhood and spend his de-
clining years IN Italy. Bishop Persico re-
signed his diocese IN 1872. and was sue
ceedcd rs Rev william Henry Gross. C..
So. r.. n member OF the Redemptorist
Order then stationed az Boston Mass.
hut by birth q Baitimorean. on April q.
1873. this celebrated churchman was con-
secrated At the Cathedral Of Baltimore.
ana Il IL a noteworthy fact that one OF
his assistant consecrators" was the late
Bishop Becker, then the incumbent OF
Wilmington Del who was transferred 70
Savannah thirteen years afierward
For thirteen years. Bishop Gross name
was household word among the Catho-
lies Of Georgia as their beloved prelatc.
during which he moved time and again
among them; opening churches. schools
and institutions az Savannah. Atlanta.
Augusta and various other points. besides
preaching on numerous occasions at mis-
sious confirmation services and similar
festivities His merits 49, self-sacrincing
pastor gained recognition at Rome. and
when the Metropolitan See o. Portland.
Ore. became vacant IN 1855 Pope Leo XIII
appointed him ~ archbishop. A. such he
died two years uEo. while VISITING haAU-
more. his native city: where no sleeps
among his religious brethren. HIS imme-
date predecessor. persico. had died nj
Rome ns cardinal IN 1895.
The fame OF the proate. whom Rome
declared Bishop Gross successor March
Is. 1856. had long been known 20 the
priests OF Georgia. as wei ~ 20 many of
the Catholic iaity. Tho Bishop 81 Della
ware from 1858 until 1855 Right Rev
Thomas A Becker deservedly took rank
among the greatest members OF the Amer
lean hierarchy a native 81 PiUsburg.
pa born IN 1898, and formerly a presby-
terrain. he had embraced the doctrines Of
cathollcity IN early life during a vish 70
Rome where he afterward entered the
propaganda College as a sacerdotai stu
d.rt Ordained priest IN its shadow. he
returned home IN 1855. and thence until
ria appointment 20 govern the See Of
Wilmington zen years later, he labored
in the ministry at Winchester Va.
plehmond and Baltimore Both himself
ard the present Cardinal we're consocrat-
"a bishops together on Aug IS. 1858. az the
baltimore Cnthedral-ihe latter as tituloI
gishop Of North Carolina
ptshop Rockers busy life as priest and
rroiafe thus extended over forty cventfu
wears When Pope Leo. approaching hh
I .orth and excellence, removed him from
Delnware 20 Georgia IN the spring q isse
,ne bond OF friendship which had bound
h,mself and his vicar general al Whining.
Ton together FOR dozen years, was ~ &c