The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-07-17
CHURCH IN THE WEST.
Death of Leo May Cause Highly I'm,
portant Changes in This Section.

portant Changes in This Section.
Washington, July 9.-The announce
ment Of the death of Leo Kill, which
is expected in high ecclesiastical cir
cles In this city, means much for Cath
olics OF the United States. 1t will af-
feet the interests of the church west of
the Mississippi rier in manner wholly
undreamed of. When Archbishop Keane
Of the archepiscopal see Of Dubuque,
Ia, left New York last week for Neu-
helm. Germany, where he goes to take
the baths, he stated before he left the
states that he hoped to see his prov
1nce divided into two parts with met
ropolitan located at Omaha For
great many years Omaha has had
hopes Of having erected within its do
minions an archepiscopal see that
would relieve the archbishop to the
east Of that city. When 1t considered
that Archbishop Keane controls and
has spiritual Jurisdiction over $4,000
square miles Of territory. including the
states OF Nebraska, Iowa, Montana,
Wyoming and the Dakotas. with the
the vastness OF the archepiscopal see
Of Dubuque is astounding when one re-
calls how closely the Catholic church
looks after Its people Archbishop
keane. who sailed last week for Neu-
helm. stands pledged to urge the d.
vision Of his province, in view Of his
inability to completely cover the same,
and he hopes in the near future TO
present to Bishop Scannell the pallium
Of an archbishop, with Omaha as his
see. Before leaving New York the
archbishop, who is recognized as one Of
the very ablest men in the Catholic
church, his years Of service at the
Catholic university In this city and his
mastery conduct of affairs Of that uni
versity giving him a broad insight into
the affairs of men, said in speaking of
his desire to divide the province Of Du-
buque:
Wishes a Division.
"Far from being jealous Of division or
my province, believe that this Is what,
should be done and I shall use my in
f1uence to this end hope to see the
province Of Dubuque divided in short
time. Dubuque Is the center Of the prov
ince west of the Mississippi and I hope
the day Is not far distant when Omaha
will be a similar province west of the
Missouri"
The archbishop is on the ocean. AS con-,
dittons now appear he will learn Of the
death of the pontif whose work and
whose influence extended through two
centuries, when he lands at Liverpool.
unless Leo's condition should very vitality
change within the next few hours. Should
Archbishop Keane learn Of the death Of
the pontf, it is expected he wAl hasten
to Rome at once, and at least be a wit
ness at the making Of the new pope
Mgr. Falconio, papal ALLOCATE, who is
remaining in Washington pending ad-
vices from Rome as to the death OF the
pontiff, said that he knew nothing about
Archbishop Keane's intention relative to-
the division Of his archepiscopal see. He,
stated further that he was new to the
interests Of the church In the United,
States. and that while thoroughly in SYM
pathy with every movement that looked
to the advancement Of the church, he
knew nothing of the interests which.
might or would obtain in bringing about
DIVISIONS of provinces or the creation Of
new metropolitans.
Tho New Bishoprics.
With the creation Of new bishoprics.
such as the bishopric of Sioux City and
others included In the archepiscopal see
of Dubuque there has gone out to high
ecclesiastic circles of the church petitions
for new metropolitan for part of the
territory which Is now represented bv
Archbishop Keane OF Dubuque
Rome last year learned Of the sugses-
ton that new metropolitan province be
erected west OF the Missouri river with
Omaha as his headquarters, but for some
reason the suggestion was not adopted.
although it was favorahly considered by
the college Of cardinals. However, in
view Of Leo's death, it may be some time
before any definite action Ia taken look
ing to the division Of the Dubuque prov
ince. 1t may be set down as fact that
Just as soon as the new pontifr is clothed
with his high office the recommendation
to create a new archepiscopal see west of
the Missouri river, with headquarters at
Omaha, will be an accomplished fact