The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-04
BISHOP KELLEY OF SAVANNAH.
HIS CONSIDERATION MOST IMPos-
ING CEREMONY.

ING CEREMONY.
An Impressive Service Conducted by
Cardinal Gibbons with Numerous
Assistants-Friends From savan-
nah ana Other Cities Present on
the Occasion of This Great Event
of His Life-CeremOnies Lasted
Four Hours.
Richmond, Va, June 3.-With much
pomp and ceremony, Very Rev. Benjamin
j. Kelley was elevated to the Episcopacy
at ST. Peters Cathedral in this city this
morning.
The conservation of a Bishop of the
Holy Catholic Church, Is one of the most
august of church ceremonials, and that
to-day was, if anything, more imposing
than usual.
Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore, the most
distinguished prelate of the Catholic HER
archy, in this country, was the conse-
orator, and he was assisted by no less
than five bishops and about forty priests
from various dioceses between New York
and Savannah.
The ceremonies began at 1880 O'Clock,
and lasted for four hours. Very few lay
persons present had ever seen a bishop
consecrated, and the ceremony was i'm
pressive and instructive, and one that will
long live in the minds of those who wit
messed it.
st. Peters Cathedral is not large edi-
fee, though it is famous sanctuary
and admittance to the ceremonies was
only by ticket. Bishop Keiley's friends
from Georgia, who came ON to attend the
conservation, had been provided in ad-
vance with seats, and they were accord
ed Hhe best pews In the church, which
was uncomfortably crowded.
Features of the Service.
The musical features of the service were
very beautiful and were given by a choir
of twenty-seven voices, accompanied by
an organ and orchestra The three altars
of the church were lighted with innumer-
able caRdelabra and decora ted profuse edly
with flowers.
The vestments worn by the attending
clergy were rich and elaborate and the
sanctuary was a magnificent sight, show
ing the red and gold of the Cardinal, the
purple of the bishops with the sombre
black of the priests as a hack ground.
Half a hundred altar boys attired in
purple cassocks and white surplices, as
sisted
Father Robert s. Kennedy, chancellor
| of the Diocese of Savannah, was master
/ of ceremonies. Among the other priests
| from Georgia, were father McMahon from
Augusta, Father NWinkbried from Macon,
| Father McKie from Brunswick, and
| Father Gum from Atlanta.
! When Bishop Kelley passed down the
! center aisle and back again, giving his
! blessing just after the ceremony had been
concluded il was a beautiful sight to see
the congregation kneei to receive his sol
| emn blessing and when he reached the
| first pew on his return to the sanctuary,
| he stopped to allow his brother 10 receive
| his blessing and kiss his ring.
After the ceremonies, when the process
sion had passed from the church TO the
Episcopal residence, Bishop Kelley, after
partaking of slight refreshments, held a
general reception at the Episcopal resi-
dence where he received for an hour.
Bishops Friends Present.
Bishop Kelley was naturally in his hap
piest vein, and it is evident that the pres
ence of his friends from Savannah and
other cities was very gratifying to him.
Maj. John ID. Kelley of New York, a
brother of Bishop Kelley, with a dist n
guished party from New York. was pTes-
ent, and there were parties from Augusta
ana Atlanta, DeSiueS lrIenCS OF the B1S5OD
from New York and other cities. Amoag
those who were present from Savannah
were Mr.. and Mrs. j. j. McDonough, NJ.
A. O'Byrne, p. F.. Gleason, Jonn W.
Golden. j. B. Maddox. Arthur j. OHara,
Joseph j. Higgins, Edward Hartfelder, II. .
I. OConnor, c. J. Mccarthy and Joseph
w. Heffernan.
Father Mclaughlin of New. York, who
has lectured and sung in Savannah sew
eral times, came down and assisted In
the conservation.
This afternoon Maj. Kelley gave a din
ner at one of the hotels, at which were
present the delegation from Savannah and
several of the visiting clergy.
At the same time, in another room, Car
dinal Gibbons and some of the more emf
nent of the prcates were dining, and at
its conclusion, the visitors were invited in
and were present when the eminent car
dinal, brilliant and distinguished, even
in his feebleness,, made some congratula-
tory remarks about the newly consecrat-
ed bishop, and there were other pleasant
things said by those present.
Bishop Kelley will leave here with his
party in a private car attached to the
regular Southern train at noon to-mor-
row and will arrive in Savannah early
Tuesday. He has been deluged with con-
gratula tory telegrams to-day from every
where.