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DECEMBER 21. 1937 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA i nnCit Father Cairns Describes Christmas in China m - i Century Mark Reached by Historic Parish of Saint Anne, Sumter, S. C., This Year Priest From U. S. Is Pastor of Island Mission on Which St. Francis Xavier Labored Sancian Island Missionary Was Visitor in Southeast in Recent Years FIRST CHURCH THERE DEDICATED IN 1838 BY BISHOP ENGLAND Father Clancy Now Pastor. Present Church Was De dicated May 11, 1911 (Special to The Bulletin) SUMTER, S. C.—St. Anne's Church completes a century of parish life this year an event which is being appropriately marked this week by the historic congregation, the first edifice of which was dedicated in 1838 by the great Bishop England. From that day to the present time, under the direction of its present pastor, Father John P. Clancy, the history of the parish is one of in tense interest. During the summer of 1849 the old Methodist Church, on what is now West Liberty Street was bought by the pastor and dedicated under the patronage of Saint Laurence, Martyr, by Bishop Reynolds. In 1875 the old church building was torn down and a “handsome and substantial struc ture" was built to replace it. This church building served the Catholic congregation of Sumter until 1906, when it was torn down because of its condition From that year until May, 1911, the parishioners used the chapel of Saint Joseph's Academy for their parish church. On May 21, 1911, the new and pres ent church building was dedicated under the patronage of Saint Anne. The new church was made possible by the generous legacies of Alice W. Poole and Elia B. Tuomey. It was built under the able direction of the Right Reverend Monsignor Charles D. Wood. The supplement of Saint Anthony’s Guild, a monthly publication of Msgr. Wood's while he was pastor of Flor ence, gave a very beautiful and com plete description of the new Saint Anne’s Church. Excerpts read: “The ground plan of the building is that of a Latin Cross. The church building, interior and exterior, is English Gothic m every particular of architectural design. Church archi tecture. as is well known, is symboli cal of divine worship in each feature —the outline plans contemplate that the building should represent a per fect cross—symbol of the Cross of Christ. “On entering the church through the main portal, one passes seven steps, which represent the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost—Wisdom, Under standing. Counsel, Knowledge. Forti tude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. “The two towers are emblems of the two natures, divine and human of Jesus Christ—He was God and Man. “The large triple window of the front gable depicts the mystery of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “At the left of the door, in the in terior. stands the baptismal font, re minding you of the first sacrament the faithful receive on their recep tion into the Church. While on the opposite side is placed the Confes sional, another important sacrament of the Catholic Church. The windows on each side o f the nave are emblems of the seven sacraments.” The chief feature of the interior of the church is the beautiful altar of Italian marble. The side shrines are made to conform to the main altar and are surmounted by statutes of the Blessed Virgin and of St. Jo seph. On the main altar of this sacred edifice is offered each morn ing. for the glory of God and the sal vation of souls, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the ancient Christian Sacrifice, the offering of Jesus Christ Himself, foretold by the prophet Malachias. and institutedvby our Lord at the Last Supper. BY FEV. ROBERT J. CAIRNS It is because St. Francis Xavier lived on Sancian in the year 1552, that a Maryknoll missioner is appointed to live on this island 15 miles off China's mainland, difficult of access and seem ingly a stronghold of the Devil of which Xavier himself spoke. Physically, the Mission Church- House-School is the most pretentious building on the island, a large white washed building whose bellry tower, surmounted by a cross, extends 60 feet into the sky and thus by comparison with the low village dwellings is a landmark which can be seen many miles at sea. We are situated at the apex of a horse-shoe bay whose smooth w’hite beach extends for a half-mile on either side of us. SUMTER, S. C. FIRMS Unique among the beautiful stain ed glass windows is one dedicated: •TO THE CONFEDERATE DEAD”. This is in the corner of the east transept, and “displays the battle flags of the Southern Lost Cause. This memorial is a beautiful design that lias no duplicate in the South. It is inscribed as follows: “Sacred to the memory of our Soldiers who fell in the War of 1861-'4>5” “Erected by the Guild of Saint Anthony. Florence, S. C.” No history nor outline of history of St. Anne's Parish would be com plete without something of Saint Jo seph’s Academy being mentioned. In 1864 the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy came to Sumter to establish their convent. The parish and convent were given a decided impetus during the War Betw'een the States, when large numbers of people came in land from the coast, tc avoid the devastation of -the- war. St. Joseph’s Academy was the first educational institution in the City of Sumter. In 1867 a new building was erected for the convent and academy and the new chapel was dedicated Novem ber 22. 1896. On the Northern end of the beach about a mile around a circuitous path is the second largest building on the island, the Shrine Church of St. Fran cis Xavier. It is situated on the side of the hill on which, several hundred feet above the Church, is a bronze statue of Xavier, cross in hand, look ing toward the China mainland which was the object of his coming to San cian. This^statue, covered with gold- leaf, glitters in the sun to attract any strangers who happen to pass our is land. It is Christmas Eve, dark, stars bright and glittering, seemingly closer to us than ever they were in America, one "Stella Maris” brighter than its fel lows, seems poised above the Shrine of Xavier, the outline of which can barely be discerned. The star, like the one which led the Three Wise Men on their journey to Bethlehem, beckons us across the shimmering waters: "Come, let us adore Him.” -O Sancian Island, where Father Cairns, the author of the ac companying story, is laboring, has hern taken over by the Jap- anes in the current hostilities, werd received by tnc Rev. John J. Ceij-ifline. M. M., of the Maryknoll Fathers at Mary knoll, N. Y., has been advised. Father Cairns, a native of Scot land, reared in Worcester, Mass., and educated at Holy Cross College and St. Mary’s Seminary, is well known in the Southeast, where he and the Rev. John Toomey, M. M.. visit ed a few years ago, speaking in many parishes. They also at tended the Lakeland convention cf the St. Augustine Diocesan Council of the National Council of Catholic Women. O- -O cd for the salvation of us men. Xavier, the great hero of God, died on this island on December 3, 1552 and was buried in this very earth as attested by this stone slab erected in 1G39 and never disturbed, since. We are few in numbers, we San- cianites, but we are a privileged few. We are in Xavier's shadow, we walk behind him, we are his. "Behold, this is the place where they laid him.” Be hold the.spot where took place thq first miracle after his death, when slacked- lime had no efficiency because its pow er was withheld by God Who did not want the body of his great Apostle corruped so quickly. Here, in Feb ruary. 1553, over two months after his burial when the coffin was opened no lime was found and instead of the ex pected mere skeleton of bones, the Portuguese sailors found the body as fresh as though Francis has just died. (Continued on Page 14) Eleven o'clock: to the strains of mandolin accompaniment, carolling young men march around the mission grounds where several families of catechists and servants are peacefully slumbering in their respective houses. "Heiligen Nacht. " "Venite adoremus" resound within the compound, wake the few. then the Chiistmas carollers move to the adjoining Chinese villages on their way to Xavier's Shrine. The mandolinist leads the way for the Chinese voices, followed by the schoolboys, a few sturdy men and some valiant women. But again there is a change in the processional march, the rising tide has covered the path with water two feet high so that we cannot cross except by wading. This is easy for most ot the parishioners have no shoes anyway. But the priest- mandolinist, four altar boys, shod and clothed in long gowns for this special occasion, the wee Chinese songbirds, shall go by boat: and thus necessity adds a romantic touch to the scene of getting to the Shrine for Midnigiit Mass. Established 1923 Sumter Electric Rewinding Co. “Honestly Rebuilt Products” W. E. BRUNSON, Jr., Mgr. SUMTER, S. C. Gallagher & Foxworth “Where Good Clothes Cost Less” SUMTER, S. C. Steam Heat Garages VILLA MARIA SUMTER, S. C. Comfortable Rooms foe Overnight Guests U. S. Highway No. IS 330 North Mam Phones 400—66 MITCHELL'S DRUG STORE Drugs—Sodas— Candies—Cigars Most Popular Place in Town R. T. TIRE CO., INC. 110-112 N. Main St. SUMTER, S. C. Lawson's Pharmacy Phone 568 38 North Main Street SUMTER, S. C. FATHER GLANGY NOW PASTOR AT SUMTER m He Formerly Served Charleston and Taught at Bishop England High The Rev. John P. Clancy, pastor of St. Anne's Church, Sumter, is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y.. was educated at St Francis Xavier Col lege. New York, Belmont Abbey Seminary, North Carolina, and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. Ordain ed for the Diocese of Charleston, his priestly life until his appointment to Sumter was in Charleston, where in addition to his parish work, he was a member of the faculty of Bishop England High School. After his ordination he did graduate work at Johns Hopkins University. Balti more. His splendid work in Charles ton led to his appointment to Sum ter, where in a short time, he has made himself beloved by the people of the city, Catholic and non-Catholic. He served as administrator before be coming pastor, succeeding Father William G. Mulvihill. Father Timothy J. Sullivan was the first resident pastor; Father A. J. Neal served in that capacity for 47 years, succeeded by Father Charles Dubois Wood, now Prothondtary Apostolic, Father L. E. Forde. Father N. A. Murphy Father D. F. Lanigan, Father J. F. Mahoney and Father J. D. Quinn, whose untimely death two years ago is still fresh in the mem ory of the city. Father Mulvihill served the parish until ill health made it necessary for Father Clancy to be appointed to relieve him. SUMTER, S. C. We put into service an "Old Town Canoe" of all things on this remote island. Father Sandy’s brother sent the light canoe from Worcester, Mass., and it was first launched for and used Christmas Midnight Mass. Inside the Shrine-Church six can dles are burning on the altar bringing into relief the Tomb of St. Francis Xavier in the cei.*.er of the Church. Nearby, the tastefully decorated Crib recalls the .first Bethlehem; providen tially the small figures had just ar rived from London, the gift of a pool Irish soldier and his "Lennon Lads and Lassies ’. They had been placed in a shipping box covered with pine branches, cotton flakes for snow (which the Chinese on Sancian have never seen) and crumpled dark paper to resemble rocks. After all have knelt at the Crib, two gasoline lanterns are brought into the Church and make the small edifice bright and cheery. Confessions are heard; then, the four altar boys jn readiness, we five walk up the aisle, past the Tomb of St. Francis Xavier, and begin High Mass, for which the organless choir, two men catechists, furnishes the music. The Gospel story has a deeper sig nificance on a dark hill so much in keeping with the watches of Bethle hem's first Christmas night when the angels appeared to the shepherds on the lonely hillsides and told them of the birth of Jesus. To the few people gathered around me at Midr.ight Mass for benefactors of Maryknoll and Sancian, this mo ment of preaching is a thrilling orte. Here at my hand is the place where Xavier was first buried. Here in this Tomb, now empty, lay the body of him who had crossed continents and oceans, pioneered into unknown lands and seas, learned new languages and cus toms, fearlessly went with the Cross of Christ before him, merely to tell of Jesus Christ Who is about to be born on the altar, and about to be sacrific- U.HILL Plumbing aiid Heating Quaker Burn-Oil Heaters Refrigerators Radios 7 West-Hampton Avenue PHONE 11 SALES and SERVICE