Exhibit D.

Leo the Thirteenth, Supreme Pontiff. Venerable brother, health and apostolic benediction.

Desirous, with the divine assistance, to discharge usefully the duty [Page 396] of the apostolic ministry entrusted by God to us, although unworthy, whereby we by Divine Providence preside over the government of all churches; whenever there may be a necessity of providing for the government of these churches, we are solicitous and careful to appoint such pastors as are qualified to instruct the people entrusted to their care, not only by inculcating sound doctrine but also by their good example, pastors who with the Divine assistance are willing and able to rule and govern judiciously and to maintain in peace and tranquillity the churches committed to their charge. Also, since we have reserved to ourselves the appointment to all churches at present vacant or likely to be vacant at any future time, we declare as null and void any appointment which may be made knowingly or ignorantly by any other authority. But now the Titular Episcopal Church of Pieropolis in Phrygia, subject to the archbishop of Synnada, being in a certain sense destitute of the comfort of a pastor, and in making provision for it, in which duty no one except us is able or will be able to interfere, by reason of our aforesaid decree and reservation, we, in our paternal zeal, after diligent deliberation with our brothers, the venerable cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, appointed to superintend the propagation of the faith, have turned our attention to you, venerable brother, who has willingly resigned into our hands the church of Monterey and Los Angeles.

Wherefore, freeing you from the charge of this resigned church, and, as far as there is need, by the plenitude of our apostolic authority absolving you and wishing on this account that you be absolved from all excommunications, interdicts, and ecclesiastical censures, judgments, and penalties, if by chance any be incurred, we, by our same authority and by these presents, transfer you to the abovesaid church of the Hieropolis, and by committing you to the care, government, and administration of this same church, in spirituals and temporals, appoint you its bishop and pastor, relying on the assurance that you will discharge all the things for the greater glory of God and the eternal salvation of souls. However, we grant that, as long as the abovesaid church of Hieropolis remains merely a titular one, you will not be obliged to go to it and personally reside there. Apostolic constitutions and ordinances, also those of the said churches of Monterey and Los Angeles and Hieropolis, even those approved by oath, apostolic confirmation, or by any other power, and all statutes, and customs whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.


[l. s.]
C. Cardinal de Ruggieno.

To our venerable Brother Francis Mora,
Retired Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles.

I, the undersigned, Joachim Adam, being duly sworn, depose and say: I understand and am versed in the Latin and English languages and I have carefully compared the foregoing document marked “Exhibit A” with the original letters of Pope Leo XIII dated January 26, 1894, appointing George Montgomery coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles with the right of succession, and [Page 397] said Schedule A is a full, true, and correct copy of said original. I have also carefully compared the foregoing document marked “Exhibit B” in English with the said original letters of appointment in Latin and find that the said Exhibit B is a full, true, and correct translation of said original letters of appointment. I have also carefuly compared the foregoing document in Latin marked “Exhibit C” with the original letters of Pope Leo XIII dated May 6, 1896, accepting the resignation of Rt. Rev. Francis Mora as bishop of said diocese, and find said Exhibit C to be a full, true, and correct copy of said original. I have also carefully compared the foregoing document in English marked “Exhibit D” with the said original document in Latin, and find the same to be a full, true, and correct translation in the English from the Latin of said original.

Joachim Adam.

[notarial seal.]
William R. Burke,
Notary Public in and for Los Angeles County,
State of California
,

I, the undersigned, George Montgomery, bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, being duly sworn, depose and say: I have read the foregoing declaration and statement and know the contents thereof, and the same are true of my own knowledge, except as to the matters therein stated on my information and belief, and as to these matters I believe it to be true.

[corporate seal.]
George Montgomery.

On this 13th day of September, A. D. 1896, before me, William R. Burke, a notary public in and for said Los Angeles County, duly commissioned and sworn, personally appeared George Montgomery, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to this instrument, and also known to me to be the Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, otherwise called the diocese of Monterey, a religious corporation sole, that executed the within instrument and acknowledged to me that such corporation sole executed the same.

[notarial seal.]
William R. Burke.

I, J. D. Kalar, county clerk of said Monterey County, and ex officio clerk of the superior court in and for said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of the original letters of succession, etc., relating to the succession of Rt. Rev. George Montgomery to the office of bishop of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles as successor of Rt. Rev. Francis Mora, resigned, as the [Page 398] same appears on file and of record in my office, and the same has been compared by me with the original.


[seal.]
J. D. Kalar, Clerk,

By ________ ________, Deputy Clerk.

(Endorsed:) No. 159. Original. Documents relating to the succession of Rt. Rev. George Montgomery to the office of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, as successor of Rt. Rev. Francis Mora, resigned. Recorded at the request of Wells, Fargo & Co., Oct. 17th, 1896, at 22 minutes past 9 a.m., in Vol. 50 of deeds, page 36, records of Monterey Co., Cal. W. H. Pyburn, county recorder, by _______ ______, deputy. Recorder’s fees, $4.50. Filed Jul. 9, 1902. J. D. Kalar, clerk, by ______ _______, deputy. Filed Nov. 8, 1899. C. W, Bell, clerk, by Sam Kutz, deputy.