The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-06
PoPE'S REscRIPT HAS COME.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FORWARDED
TO DIR. KELLEY.


sent to Him Direct by Archbishop
MartineIIi - His Appointment as
Bishop of Savannah Considered
One of the Most Important Ever
Made by tile Pope-His COnsecra-
tion TO Take Place Probably in
baltimore Cathedral.
Washington, May 5.-Formal notice OF
one % the most important appointments
ever made By Pope Leo XIII, was re-
ceived a. the papal legation here to-day,
when the Official brief preeonizing Very
Rev. benjamin Kelley d. D., as Bishop
OF Savannah, Ga, arrived.
Archbishop Mardnelh. the papal dele
gate in Washington, has long been con-
yersant with the peculiar conditions con-
corning the succession to the see Of Sa-
vannah, and when the Pope's rescript
reached him to-day, he at once forward
ed il to the Bishop-elect of Savannah.
who has been administrator of that do
cese since the last incumbent, Bishop
Becker, died on July %, 1899.
1t is customary for the papal delegate
to send the official brief of a prelate's
appointment direct to the Archbishop in
charge of the province where a vacancy
occurs; but by reason of the fact that
Cardinal Gibbons jurisdiction includes the
District of Columbia, Mgr. Martinelli IN
variabiy sends the official papers directly
to the prelate appointed in this province,
without any previous inspection by the
Archbishop of Baltimore.
In view of the fact that almost a year
hnc eli ho Of RigltOn
Becker, the present appointment derives
additional interest AS far back as 1916
Rev. DR.. Kelley had joined the late Bish-
op at Wilmington, Del, where he was
then stationed, in which diocese both Ia
bored until the transfer of DR.. Becker
20 Savannah in March, 1886. Both were
lifelong friends, and 1t was the dying wtch
of the late incumbent that DIR. Kelley
should be appointed administrator of the
diocese after his death, and that the sue
cession to the see should deyolve upon
him.
Despite those instructions, however,
three candidates were named by the bish-
ops of the Baltimore province, which en-
braced besides DIR. Kelley, Rev Cornelius
f. Thomas, rector of the Baltimore Ca
thedral, and Rev. Patrick McHale, c. M,
of Niagara University, at Buffalo N. Y,
who was formerly connected with this
dIcDQlCEeEe.
Precedence to DIR. Kelley.
After carefully inspecting their respect
ed claims. Pope Leo has given precedence
to DR.. Kelley, whose Endorsements not on
ly by the late Bishop, but also by the
priests of Georgia, formed factor in Sc
curing his elevation to the hierarchy. He
is a native of Petersburg, Va, born in 1s52
and educated at Rome, where the secreta-
ry of the papal legation here DIR. Rocker,
was intimately acquairted with him. while
serving as vice rector of the American
college
The conservation Of Bishop Kelley viii
probably occur in this archdiocese at an
early date. This Is he golden jubil.
year of The Savannah diocese, which was
founded July 10, 1850, and of the six
bishops who have ruled its desinies four
Bishops Barry Verot, Gross and Becker
have been consecrated in the Baltimors
Cathedral. On this account, il is expect
ed that Bishop Keiley's conservation will
transpire at the same historic church.
Archbishop Martinelli the papal dele
gate, and Rev. DR.. Rocker. his secreiary
leave this week for Port and, Ore. where
the former will confer the pallium, or
badge of metropolitan, upon Archbishop
Christy. During their absence the audi
tor of the papai legation Rev. Francis
Marchetti. d. D.. who is expected from
Rome tomorrow, will have charge of the
legation.