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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
FIVE
NOVEMBER 27, 1937
Cornerstone of Hospital in Columbia Laid
Holy Father and the President Felicitate
^Lonsignor O’Brien on His Silver Jubilee
CHARLESTON HONORS
BELOVED EDUCATOR,
PASTOR AND AUTHOR
Bishop Walsh, Monsignor
May, Judge Keenan and
Other Notables on Program
(By N C W. C. NEWS SERVICE)
CHARLESTON, S. C.— The Apos
tolic Blessing of His Holiness Pope
Pius XI and the well wishes of
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
were conveyed to ihe Rt. Rev. Msgr.
Joseph L. O'Brien, S. T- D., rector
of Bishop England High School, pas
tor of St. Patrick's Church here,
and noted author and orator,
when the twenty-fifth anniversary ol
his ordination was observed with a
testimonial dinner at the Francis
Marion Hotel
Addresses were delivered by the
Most Rev. Emmet M. Walsh, Bishop
of Charleston; Joseph B. Keenan,
Assistant to the Attorney General;
the Rt. Rev. Msgr. James J. May,
Vicar Genera] of the Diocese of
Charleston, who assisted Monsignor
O'Brien in erecting Bishop England
High School; the Rev. Henry F
Wolfe, Moderator, and James P. Fur
long. President of the Bishop Eng
land High School Alumni Associa
tion, and by Monsignor O’Brien him
self.
The alumni association presented
a bronze tablet bearing the scriptur-
ed portrait of Monsignor O'Brien,
whicli is to be set up in the high
school building. Dan Healy _^,of the
Catholic Actors’ Guild, . New York,
also • took part in the program.
The Holy Father's blessing was
conveyed to Monsignor O’Brien in
the following cablegram from His
Eminence Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli,
Papal Secretary or State:
“On the occasion of the twenty-
fifth anniversary of the ordina
tion of Monsignor O'Brien, the
August Pontiff gladly imparts to
the Jubilarian the Apostolic Ben
ediction implored."
President Roosevelt’s letter to the
Jubilarian reads as follows:
‘I have learned with much in
terest that you are about to cele
brate the twenty-fifth anniver
sary of your ordination to the
priesthood, and it gives me great
pleasure to join with others of
your friends who are honoring
you upon the attainment of so _
notable *a milestone.
“It must give you a real sense
of duty well performed when
you look back upon your
a. .ievements as a parish priest,
as Rector of Bishop England
’ School and in general education
al work in the Diocese of
Charleston. I wish you great hap
piness on your anniversary, and
length of days to continue your
devoted labors in the Master s
Vineyard."
In an editorial. The NewS and
Courier of this city speaks in part
as follows:
“Celebration of Monsignor
O’Brien's silver jubilee interests the
community irrespective of church
lines, for here is a man who has
wrought in and for the town of his
adoption. His works speak for him
and the men ami women who have
learned at his feet speak for him.
Not yet is Monsignor O'Brien abating
his efforts in behalf of parish, diocese
and school, nor will he ever abate
them- He moves upon his course
steadfast in his purpose, assured of
achieving more greatly thill he has
achieved, and that is much.
“The News and Courier joins in
the felicitations to the community
for its acquisition of Monsignor
O'Brien and to Monsignor O'Brien
for his shining record in this com
munity.’’
Charlotte*s Junior
C. D. of A. Initiation
Bishop, Governor and Mayor
Speak at Cornerstone Laying
at New Columbia Hospital
Monsignor Tracy of Cleveland, Representing Bishop
Schrembs, President of Chamber of Commerce and
Former Senator Christy B enet Also Assist in Program
(Special To The Bulletin)
COLUMBIA, S. C.—The corner-
stone of Providence Hospital, the
third hospital erected in the Diocese
of Charleston through the efforts ot
the Most Rev. Emmet M. Walsh,
D.D., Bishop of Charleston, was laid
here November 14 with ceremonies
and exercises which will ever make
the day memorable in the religious
and civic history of the city and sec
tion.
Bishop Walsh officiated at the lay
ing of the cornersttne, assisted by
the Very Rev. Martin C. Murphy,
V-F pastor of St. Peter’s Church,
and local and visiting clergy. Per
haps the largest gathering exer to
attend a Catholic ceremony in Co
lumbia was present. A large corps
of state and local police handled
the cars which brought the people to
the scene of the ceremony and ex
ercises.
After the ceremony, the Very Rev.
Martin C. Murphy, V.F., opened the
exercises by presenting Bishop
Walsh, who presided. The speakers
and distinguished guests were seated
on a platform erected before the new
hospital, the steel structure work of
which has been completed, and one
of the four floors of which has been
bricked. An amplifier carried the
words f the speakers t the farthest
rachs f th erwd, and the mam parts
f the program were broadcast over
Station WIPT
Mother M. Mechtildes of Cleve
land. Mother General of the Sisters,
of Charity of St- Augustine, and
other officials and Sisters of the or
der, were guests of honor at the
ceremony and exercises, as were the
resuline Nuns, the Dominican Sisters
and members of other religious or
ders of women. Speakers repeatedly
referred to the Sisters of Charity of
St. Augustine, and their great work
of charity, and they were finally
requested to stand to be presented
to the gathering.
jBuilding Without God Vain
Governor Says at Columbia
Hospital Cornerstone Laying
CHARLOTTE, N. C.—Junior Court
Charlotte of the Junior Catholic
Daughters of America held its annual
initiation November 12, at O’Dono-
ghue School under the direction of
Miss Anne Zeman, counsellor. Special
guests of the evening were the Rev.
Maurice McDonneel, O. S. B., Junior
Court chaplain, and Mrs. W. A. Jar
rell, Grand Regent of the Senior Court
Charlotte. Short talks on “What It
Means to eB a Junior” and the “Poetry
of the Honor Tests” were addressed to
the Juniors hy Father Maurice, Mrs.
Jarrell, Miss Helen Ray and Miss Mar
garet Harriss. Refreshments were serv
ed at the close of the intiation by
Troop Three under the direction of
Miss Medora Kaminer, Counsellor. The
following candidates were initiated:
the Misses Helen and Margaret Black,
Dsresa Galloway, Dorothy Heinz, Bar
bara Libby, Madeline Moeller.
(Address of Hon. Olin D. Johnston,
Governor of South Carolina, at lay
ing of cornerstone of Providence
Hospital, Columbia, S. C.)
“The importance of this occasion
today cannot be easily estimated in
words, though seriously spoken. Any
dedication ceremony reflects the
progress of the centuries and indi
cates the advancement of civilized
society.
"The builders show to what extent
the people of an era have made use
of their talents. They take the ex
periences of the past, mould them ac
cording to the rules of the present
for future needs. Though the past
might have been rich in tradition and
worth-while accomplishment, we can
not live in the revery of what has
been done, but must build for the fu
ture.
“Nothing else tells more dramati*-
cally the advancement of human
progress than does the work of those
who are engaged in building. We
see it even in the change which has
been wrought in man’s habitation,
from the dugout to the cliff dweller
to the comfortable homes of the pres
ent. We see it in the passage of
messages by wireless and radio which
outmode the crude drum-beating sig
nals of the ancient cave man. We see
it in the fleet and streamlined air
plane, which is nothing but a con
crete example of how the members
of the present civilization have made
use of the knowledge about them in
improving the slow methods of their
ancestors.
“It is incumbent upon any people
to be alert- to new ideas and to ex
plore new fields of endeavor and to
experiment for new inventions un
known to those who precede them.
Those who came before us presented
us with a heritage of knowledge and
experience not to be used and enjoy
ed but to be. improved upon for those
who follow.
“This building we dedicate today
for years to come will stand as a
monument to this enlightened period.
The sick who will have access to its
conveniences and its sheltered walls
will be aware of just how we of to
day have made provision for the
comfort of the future- Though this
edifice is beautiful in design and
workmanship, and though architec
turally it is something to be admir
ed, the motive prompting its build
ing and the purpose for which it is
to be used will indicate to those who
are unborn, that we of today thought
not only of ourselves, but unselfish
ly lent our efforts in consideration
of the wants and needs of our fel-
After the presentation of Bishop
Walsh by Father Murphy, who told
of the Bishop’s efforts over a period
of years to give Columbia this hos -
pital, Bishop Walsh asserted that love
of their neighbors for the love of God
is responsible for the Sisters giving
their lives for the service of others.
“An eternal companionship with God
is the inspiration of true Christian
charity,” Bishop Walsh said, ’This
brings tl se Sisters of Charity here.
They have come to serve us and to
give their lives for the sick. These
good Sisters have come to work with
the medical profession and citizens
of this county. I welcome them to
this Diocese and hope that the
people of South Carolina will join
in extending a hearty welcome and
express their appreciation _ for their
genuine Christian service.”
Mayor L. B. Owens, himself a
member of the medical profession,
extended a warm welcome to the
Sisters in the name of the city, and
he told what the hospital means and
will mean to Columbia. Many new
enterprises have come to the city,
he said, but none is more welcome
than Providence Hospital, he said-
The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Tracy
director of the Society for the Propa
gation of the Faith in the Diocese of
Cleveland, representing Bishop
Schrembs of Cleveland, and Bishop
McFadden, his auxiliary, who were
unavoidably detained, recalled the
services of the Sisters in the Diocese
of Cleveland, and he said that when
the Diocese of Cleveland sent the
Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine to
Columbia and South Carolina, it was
sharing with the Diocese of Charles
ton one of its most prized assets.
“I place'the Sisters of Charity at
the heights of those serving human
ity,” Monsignor Tracy said; "the
Diocese of Cleveland sends you its
most cherished daughters, its best
blood, brains and soul. The Very Hev.
Msgr. Vincent B. Balmat, S. T- !>.,
Ph, D., accompanied Monsignor
Tracy to Columbia from Cleveland
to represent Bishop McFadden.
Hon. James H. Hammond, presi
dent of the Chamber of Commerce,
felicited the city of Columbia on its
good fortune in securing the hospital
and the Sisters of Charity of St.
Augustine to conduct it. The location
is ideal, he said, midway between
two flourishing sections of Columbia,
which are now blending. Columbia
should be the medical center of the
state Mr. Hammond said, and he said
that the Catholics of the community
are showing the way by giving Co
lumbia this magnificent institution.
He expressed his own happiness as
president of the Chamber of Com
merce and as a citizen at the happy
culmination of the efforts for the
hospital, efforts he said the Chamber
of Commerce is proud to have aia-
°Hon. Christie Benet, former United
States Senator from South Carolma,
was introduced as a kinsman of the
Haskell family, which owned the site
of the hospital for generations, and
as one of South Carolina s niost dis
tinguished sons. Senator Benet re
called the part that the Catholic
Church has always played the work
of Christian charity and said that
Providence Hospital is merely a con
tinuation of that work. He thanked
Bishop Walsh and Father Murpny for
their efforts, and recalled that Bishop
Wash, in thus aiding Columbia was
aiding the capital city of his native
state, since the Bishop is a native
of Beaufort. “Speaking for the
Frotestants,” Senatoh Benet said,
“we welcome the Sisters of Charity
and the building of this great hos
pital. We look forward to that great
er cooperation it will occasion in
spreading Christian love and chanty.
Governor Johnston, whose address
is recorded elsewhere in this issue
of The Bulletin, said that during his
two years of service in France he
had learned to know and love the
Catholic Church more because of
what he saw there of the unselfish
service to the suffering needing as
sistance there. The Governor said
that the people of Columbia nre
proud of the hospital today, and they
will be even prouder of it tomor
Bishop Walsh said he had no great
er desire than to have his fellow -
citizens know the Catholic Church as
she really is, “and I know they will
love her. There, is no better way to
make her known and loved in South
Carolina than to bring here the work
of the Sisters of Cnarity.”
lowmen. They will know that we
were possessed of motives of unself
ish service and that there was in us
a humanitarian spirit,
“I am proud to have a part in a
ceremony which so nobly portrays
the ideals of the age in which we
live. la:t us dedicate then, this fine
new hospital to the relief of the suf
fering of our fellowmen; let us dedi
cate it to the ideal that pain will
be eased; that health will be restor
ed; and that death will be prevented.
“It is noteworthy that this hospital
is .founded by religion to relieve hu-
-manity and I am prompted to quote
from the Psalmist, who says: ‘Unless
the Lord build, ye labor in vain, who
build’.”
Governor Johnston paid tribute to
Bishop Walsh and the Sisters of
Charity of St. Augustine in his ad
dress, which was broadcast over Sta
tion WIP, Columbia, emphasizing the
debt Columbia owes them and the
others responsible in bringing the
hosnital to the city and state-
Bishop Walsh thanked all who had
any part in making the hospital pos
sible and the exercises a success- Be
fore the ceremony and exercises the
Columbia High School band enter
tained with a program,
tained with a program of music.
Bishop Walsh presided at the Mass
at St. Peter’s Church in the morning,
the Rev. Lawrence Sheedy being
celebrant. Donald Hamburger was
master of ceremonies; Monsignor
Tracy, Monsignor Balmot and Father
Murphy assisted at the Mass.
On the platform at the exercises
following the laying of the corner
stone were Bishop Walsh, Governor
Johnston, Father Murphy, Senator
Benet, Mayor Owens, Mr. Hammond,
Dr. McKissick, president of the
University of South Carolina, Rich
ard Reid, editor of The Bulletin,
Hon John P. Grace, former Mayor
of Charleston, Monsignor Tracy,
Monsignor Balmot, the Rev. L- E.
Forde, the Rev. J. J. McCarthy,
Charleston, the Rev. John P. Clancy,
Sumter, the Very Rev. Paul Hatch,
Cong- Orat., Rock Hill, the Rev,
Maurice Daly, the Rev. Lawrence
Sheedy, the Rev. Wm. T. Condon, O.
P„ Columbia, the Rev. Joseph H*
Driscoll, L.S.3.R.. Orangeburg,
Father Carey, the Rev. George J.
Dietz, Aiken, the Rev. Alexander
Calner, Ward, and the Rev. Michael
Mclnerney, O. S- B., Belmont, N. C.
Committees assisting Father Mur
phy in arranging the program in
cluded the Rev. Thomas J. Mackin
and the Rev. Maurice Daly, cere
monies; the Rev. Lawrence Sheedy,
and Richard Maher, publicity and
photos; Major Jos. R. Allen, ampli
fiers: James Cantwell .transportation
and police; John Park, arrangements
and band; Marc McDonald, singing,
and Frank Maher and Miss Bessie
Sanders, invitations.
F. B. Pope Cashier
of Georgia R. R. Co.
AUGUSTA, Ga.—F| B. Pope, widely
known member of St. Mary's parish,
and for many years an official of
the Georgia Railroad Bank and Trust
Company, succeeding the late Samuel
Martin. Mr. Pope is a leader in Au
gusta financial circles, and is treasurer
of the Richmond County Tuberculosis
Association.