The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-23
ATLANTA PRIEST |S ID BE CONSECRATED Rev. Father Gum Becomes
 Bishop at Natchez RICH PARTING GIFT Eyes of Southern Catholics Will Be On Atlanta Next Week, When
 Many Leaders Will Be
 Present

Atlanta, Ga. August 22.-(SpeciaD. .-Ihe eyes of the Catholics will be centered on Atlanta next week, when the eonsecra- ton of Father John E. Gum, pastor oi the Sacred Heart church, as bishop oi the diocese of Natchez, Miss, takes place.
 Many of the leaders of the Catholic church will be here for the ceremony which will be held at the Sacred Hear church on August 29 beginning at o'clock in the morning and lasting unti 12 o'clock.
 Arrangements are being made for thu accommodation of at last seven bishops and 50 priests, and a number of other will probably be added to this list.
 The Catholics of Atlanta, reluctant a the idea of losing pastor who has beer a leading figure in the ministerial field
 in this city for Il years. and who has come to be looked upon as one of the ablest divines in the south. are making rreparations to give him a royal present as farewell gift.
 The committee having In charge the sut scription is headed by Jack Spaidlng well known lawyer, and Peter F. Clarke. ID to date over $3500 has been raised. and it is believed the total sum will be considerably In excess Of SoV0 when the presentation takes place. This money will be used in the purchase of the various costly vestments of, the bishop ard in other presents for him.
 Owing to the fact that the Sacred Heart church is a small one, there will be few outside the specially invited guests, and the members of the congregation pres ent at the ceremony. Admission will be by card, and practically all the cards were given out on the opening day. Hun el eds of non-Catholics, warm admirers oi Father Gum, have been anxious to sec the services, but they will not be ac- commodated on account of lack of space Four rows of seats have been reserved for church dignitaries, and for persona friends of Father Gum who will flock to the city from all parts of the south
 Tn order that all may have an oppor. tunity to see the new bishop and tt congratulate him and to meet the visit irg prelates, two receptions have beer arranged for, one in the afternoon o1 the day of the ceremony for the child ren, and the second in the evening foi the adults.
 Arrangements are now being made foi ire entertainment of the visitors. Prom inent Catholics will see to it that their stay of three days here, Monday Tues day and Wednesday, will be made as pleasant as possible. The automobiles ot the majority of the members of the Sa- cred Heart church will be placed unre- servedly at their disposal.
 Father Gunn's departure will be loss to Atlanta He came to Atlanta about Il years ago as the successor here oi Father Gibbons, who established the church.
 In the Il years he has builded up g splendid congregation, which has paic off all debts He has brought to At lanta the Marist college, a college prep aratory school for Catholic boys, but supported largely through the patron age of the non-Catholics. He has seer to il that the funds of the Marist so- ciety were wisely used, whenever put al the disposal of the church authorities in this city. He has started a parochia school for the Catholic children of the city. which is maintained by the Cath clics, and to which no tuition is charg- ed The sisters were brought to Atlanta by Father Gum.
 His successor will in all probability be Father Rapier, the son of the manager oi the New Orleans Picayune. and a priest of culture, tact and wide knowl edge of books He is an excellent teach CT. and has been president of the Marist college for a number of years. His ser irons are marked by thoughtfulness, and remarkable for their depth.