The Washington times., 1901-09-21
Or. STAFFORD APPOINTED.
Cardinal Gibbons Makes Him Per-
manent Rector of st. Patrick's.

| After Examination by a Board in
baltimore the Selection Was An
| nounced Ycsterday-HistOry of the
Church and Its New Priests Career
| After having passed a difficult examina-
| ton with the highest honoTs tsumma cum
| laude), the Rev. Dr. d. j. Stafford was
| appointed yesterday the permanent rec
| tor of St. Patrick's Church. The honor
| was conferred on him by the Archbishop
| of Baltimore, Cardinal Gibbons. The
board of examiners whom Dr. Stafford
| according to the rules of the church, had
to satisfy to his knowledge and con-
| ception of the canons and laws of the
church and other sciences, consisted of
| the Rev. DR.. Dessez, s. S. D. D., president
| of the board; the Rev. DR.. Tarre, profes-
| sor at seminary, Ellicott City; the Rev
| DR.. Fletcher. rector of the Cathedral
| Baltimore; Father Donovan, of st. Pat
| rick's Church. Baltimore, and Father
| Starr, of the Church of Corpus Christi.
| Baltimore. The list of subjects in the eX-
| animation included dogmatic theology,
moral theology, literature. canon law,
| scripture and church history. The writ
| ton examination took place Thursday,
| while the oral examination was held yes
| to O'Clock d. m. The result was an
| nounced to DR.. Stafford yesterday after
noon, and he was made the happy recip
lent of the hearty congratulations of his
Eminence the Cardinal and the board of
examiners. DR.. Stafford returned to this
city yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock.
a large number of the members of his
congregation and many of his personal
friends of all churches who had heard of
his success called ard offered their con-
gratulations
The concursuS. examination had
originally been called for September 10,
but on account of the death of the Presi-
dent 1t was postponed by the Cardinal un-
til yesterday. The idea had always been
entertained by the greater part of st.
Patrick's congregation that DR.. Stafford,
being doctor of divinity would not have
to undergo the prescribed examination.
They thought that he thereby had estab-
lished his qualifications for the high and
responsible Office. Holders of this opin-
ion, however. probably lost sight of the
fact that Cardinal Gibbons invariably OBJ
serves all the formalities and require
ments of the church and that the con-
cursus which he called in this case was
| made necessary by the action of the
Third Plenary Council.
The church of which DIR. Stafford was
made rector is one of the wealthiest in
this city. 1t is stated by persons who are
supposed to know that it owns more val
| liable real estate than any other church
In this city and that its income by far
outreaches that of any church in the dio
cese. To the management OF the affairs
of st. Patrick's, DR.. Stafford will bring
not only ripe judgnen, and wise fore
sight. but the advar6sse cf life long ex-
perience with Washington and it's steady
and rapid growth II. devotion to the
work of his parish las restrained him
time and again from accepting ailuring
offers that would have taken him away
from Washington. To all of these offers
DR.. Staffords answers have always been
decided No
Dr. Stafford was born in Washington
in 1850. His father was a well-known con-
tractor, who was engaged in a great deal
of public work under Governor Alexander
Shepherd. DR.. Stafford's early education
was received in this city, after which
he attended the Niagara University. He
was orde1ned at Cleveland. Ohio. In 1885.
Returning 10 Washington, he took n spe-
cial course at the Georgetown University.
and secured the degree of doctor of di-
vinity.
The fact of Dr. Stafford's elevation to
the pastorate of st. Patrick's will be re-
by Catholics hut among Protestants and
others who admire and esteem him for his
high qualities as a man and as citi-
zen. The congregation of st. Patricks,
as is well known; requested Cardinal Glib
bons to make Father Stafford the sue
cessor of Father Gloyd shortly after
death removed the latter from his field
of usefulness.