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AUGUST 16, 1924. THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA 7 The Cathedral At Charleston By J. Gilmore Smith, President of the Charleston Board of Trade, Author of “The Life and Times of a South ern Prelate, “The Fruit of the Loom,’’ etc. Of the group of monumental churches of South Carolina, the Ca thedral of St, John the Baptist, if not admittedly the most- beautiful Gothic edifice in all the state, needs but little qualifying comment. It has a preeminence which has been gen erally conceded, and even elaborate ly endorsed by most observers qualified to pass opinion thereon. Lofty, and not closely hemmed in by surrounding structures, it looms, from any adjacent view-point, above the general skyline round about. While the Charleston Cathedral cannot be compared with the Cathe dral of Rlieims, which is the peer of any existing Gothic fabric, it is nevertheless a fine example of Gothic art. As in the case of Rheims, however, that vast symphony in stone, which begun with the modest church built in 401, the stately St. John’s also had its . humble begin ning in the frame chapel of St. Fin- bar’s on Friend street. St. John the Baptist Cathedral follows the lines of the old St. John’s and Finhar’s destroyed by fire in 1861, being built upon the same foundations and is identical in all important particulars as the former edifice. It has a massive elegance and a soberness of dignity and presents an imposing and graceful exterior. •■ But the eye unconsciously searches somewhat restlessly over the huge pile, for a finished tower, or for some imposing turret, or spire, whose spring and lightness will float the mass and lilt it into the sky. The tall and graceful spire, which rose, in the sunset like a prayer, has not yet been restored; but the splendid lines of the edifice all pleasing in themselves, and ar ranged with strict regard to their relative harmonies, and also to the prevailing spirit of the whole struc ture—the buttressed walls, the high pointed arch windows, with their exquisite pictures; the threefold en trance, the portals of which are reached by a bold and massive ar- . rangement of steps and platforms which offer a finish to the whole frontfi and by easy gradations con nect it with the pavement; the sculptured crocheted pinnacles and ornamentation—bring hack the former structure to the old inhab itants who pass or pause here; and raise within the mind of the’ humb lest believers and unbelievers as sense of personal pride. The material used in the construc tion is a brownish free-stone, and each and every stone has been chisl- *ed in the design of stars. This stone ^has proven very enduring; the church has therefore, suffered very little from time, and the chiseled and carved material, after so many years of exposure to the elements, retains the sharpness of outline it had when the "walls were first finished. The architectural plan has been to conform throughout to the pure Gothic taking the trend of the four teenth century as a general theme. This close adherence to the most beautiful of architectural schools is the clef by which the whole har mony of the edifice is sounded. There is no mixture or con fusion of style in design or decora tion. There is no show, no glare, no little paltry detail, to catch the attention and take from the grand eur of the whole—all is subservient to the general effect. The pointed arches of windows and doors are of the accepted best manner, and the heavy detail is placed low and rises gracefully. Here each archway, each string-course, and each cornice has been made to bloom under the builders inspired chisel into rhyth mic waves of ornament. A good pic ture is necessary to give even a — faint impression of the richness and harmonious proportions of this won derful structure which commem orates the gentle and and beloved Northrop. Religion and art have joined hands in this masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The view from Broad street upwards, is the apogee of Gothic ornament—at once the ad miration and pride of all Charles ton. The building of the Cathedral is the consummation of a wish born over a century ago in the heart of the first Bishop of the See and Apostolic Delegate to Haiti. John England, a prelate of international reputation, who sleeps’ today under the cloistered arches of his Gothic dream. Within the same sacred pre- 1 cinct sleeps his distinguished suc cessor, Henry Pinckney Northrop, i the fourth bishop of Charleston who i made Bishop England’s dream a reality. , It is noteworthy that each of the last four bishops of Charleston, built a cathedral, in keeping with his time; England, the frame build ing on Friend street; Reynolds, the classic brown-stone edifice on the corner of Broad and Friend streets; Lynch, the spacious brick pile on Queen street; and Northrop, the Gothic masterpiece' on Broad street; the St. John the Baptist cathedral. In death each prelate, was laid in state in the cathedral which he built.- Enshrined in the cathedral are the tombs of the four deceased bishops of the see: John England, who died in J842; Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds, in 1855; Patrick Niesen Lynch in 1882; and Harry Pinckney Northrop, in 1916. Their bodies rest beneath the high altar of the classic sanct uary above. These illustrious pre lates loved Charleston throughout their lives, and it is fitting that they should be sleeping within the sound of the street cars. The cathedral presents in its in terior arrangements a most sym metrical and harmonious ensemble. The beautifying of the interior was a matter of careful consideration on the part of the architects Keeley and Barbot, who designed the edi fice to Monsignor Quigley who ably managed the work of reconstruc tion, to Henry Oliver, who supervis ed and directed the work on the inside after the death of the faith ful builder, Henry L. Cade; and to Bishop Northrop, Father Budds, Father Lanigan and Monsignor Duf fy, and the lay gentlemen associat ed with the bishop, and the result can be seen in the perfect harmony, not only in the magnificent stain ed glass windows, displaying doc trine and life, and_ pouring a glor ious flood of light more subdued and richer than the common light of day, making the 1 walls seem like ra diant picture books of sacred story; but also that of the altars pontifi cal throne pulpit, confessionals and other furnishings throughout the entire building. The main idea con stantly in view by Bishop Northrop was to have all the ornaments and furniture in perfect taste and keep ing with the Gothic archftecture of the edifice. That Bishop Northrop admirably succeeded in carrying out this idea an inspection of the cathe dral will show. Entrance to the edifice is through either of the three portals. Passing tlirougtj swinging double doors, en trance is made through the marble tiled vestibule. Once within the cathedral one is only conscious of an overwhelming delight and ad miration. No one who has ever stood within the twilight of a great cathedral, at once hushing and up lifting will need to have his feelings described, and no one who has not done so can ever be told in words what those feelings are. The same perfection of finish that character izes the exterior is found in the in terior. The halls of a palace could not be more consummately radiant in their perfection. Right and left of the main en trance are the confessionals ex quisitely, carved in Flemish Oak. Looking upward and towards the north end we find the interior com prising a wide central aisle, the great nave being flanked on either side by two slender, graceful, Cotliic aisles which terminate in a lofty chancel connected by lower chapels on either side. The high altar is of marble selected from the Vermont hills and is carved into Gothic pin nacles which make it appear a parj of the edifica itself. Within the sanctuary at the left of the bishop s throne is a superb marble statue of the Saviour, a copy of “The Inviting Christ,’’ by Thorwaldsen, the first sculptor of modern times. The statue is larger than life and is in the heroic style. The Everlasting Arms outstretched speaks the di vine invitation: At appropriate in tervals on the walls along the side aisles are the “Station of the Cross” of Roman mosaic work, dedicated to Father Joseph Dalton Budds late rector of the cathedral, as a fitting memorial to him who walked in the footsteps of the Master. Time would fail us to describe minutely this imposing edifice, or refer ;n detail to the numerous and yet harmonizing points and features which go to make up its effect as expressed and embodied in the de light and approbation of the specta tor, we might mention however, that over tlie three entrance doors in an ■exquisite mosaic of stained glass, are the Armorial Courts of Arms' of the pope; the Bishop of the See; and the State of South Carolina. The visitor on first looking at the cathedral will be impressed with the idea that no two stones in the walls are of the same dimensions. A care ful inspection will however, show that each stone in each buttress, and in each arch, and in each panel of the walls, has its exact counterpart in very other buttress, arch and panel, and is laid in exactly the same position. It is altogether a most artistic and wonderfully sym metrical piece of work. The cathedral has charms and beauties which are simply winning. You will come again and again and it is the glory of the cathedral as a whole—its expressive, noble char- St. Stanislaus’ College The editorial in the Macon Telegraph urging the Jefsuit Fathers to rebuild St. Stanislaus’ College, the Jesuit novitiate, in Macon where it stood for de cades before the firq which de stroyed it three years ago, brought the following letter from a subscriber of The Tele graph, a letter which was pub lished in the July 19, issue. To the editor of The Telegraph: It was my exceeding great pleasure to read in the columns of The Tele graph of Wednesday last a most excellent editorial under the cap tion, St. Stanislaus. Well conceived, most happily expressed, it cannot fail to find welcome in the minds and hearts of all true Maconites. of loyal Georgians of genuine Ameri cans of good old Anglo-Saxon stock, from Maine to Florida, from Cali- ornia to Massachusetts. Of course we want St. Stanislaus here, and we want it in exactly the same locality, on the identical spot, as of old, if it suits those noble men. tlie Jesuit Fathers, to build there. And out from the classic hails of this grand institution will go as have gone in the past, men of the most profound learning, of the most consecrated lives, lives of selfdenial and of heroism, to serve the altars of their ancient and beautiful faith —a faith “ever ancient, ever new”— to teach the young to carry the Gos pel to heathen lands, perchance there to suffer martyrdom, and to point all, sinners and saints alike, to a loving Savior who has said: “Thou shalt lovo thy neighbor as thyself.” Yes, of course we want St. Stan islaus here. As long as we love learning, as long as we emulate vir tues at once gentle and heroic, so long will Macon’s cultured people, Jews, Catholics. Protestants, join hands and hearts in saying: “Macon for St. Stanislaus! St Stanislaus for Macon 1” Long may The Telegraph wave! And may the spirit that reigns in the soul of the knightly champion who gave us the fine editorial on “St. Stanislaus,” take possession, likewise, of every he»rt in Macon. Then when the gentle Jesus comes how gladly He will sav: “Co’™s ye blessed of my Father!” Yours for St. Stanislaus. EMMA L. ROSS. Macon Ga.. July 17, 1924. A Soldier Bishop By Rev. J. F. Gallagher, North Carolina. When a noble soul, freed from the cares of liTe takes the trail leading to the sunset, the twilight shadows fall sadly upon many hearts. 'This was especially 1- of the late Rt. Rev. Leo Haid. jf^ S. B„ whose death caused a wa. of sorrow to spread throughout the entire South where he was widely known among all classes. There was. one characteristic of the late prelate which caused him to be known as the Soidier-Bishon —he never acknowledged defeat. It is the mark of the true soldier never to say die, hut to keep on fighting till the last blow is struck in the cause of right and justice. Such was the late Bishop Haid Though in failing health for years he stood by his post and valiantly fought back the powers of evil as he found them in the Old North State. He died as he planned to die —fighting to the end. Now it is all over. The warfare ended, the victory won, and, with the sword still clasped in his nerve less fingers, the fallen Chieftan lies —dead upon {he battlefield! His epitaph might be written in a line: “Those who knew him loved him most. God rest his soul! Amen.” JAMES F. GALLAGHER. Florida’s Martyr Priests Rev. John T. Goldt; Former Brunswick, Georgia Marist Father, Narrates in the Ecclesiastical Review Heroic Deeds of Pioneer Missionaries—Article No. HI. Drake destroyed all the Spanish settlements along the cost, dealing out the same treatment to all, and thus the Mission of Santo Domingo on St. Simon’s disappeared. After that there is no record of any Do minicans coming to Florida. Franciscans Evangelize Indians Meanwhile the sons of St. Francis had come into the Held, probably in 1577. During the first years they restricted their work to the Indians in the northern part of Florida. These were called the Timuquanans. Father Francis Pareja, one of the twelye who arrived in 1593, in 1612 published a catechism in their lan guage, the first book ever printed in an Indian dialect. In 1592 five Franciscans are found along the coast of the present State of Florida, Father Francis Marro, Peter de Corpa. Antony Bajadoz, Diego Perdomo, and Bias Rodriguez, the following year the “Council of the Indians granted permission to twelve Franciscans to enter Florida.” They are Fathers John de Silva, Michel de Aunon, Peter Fernandez de Chozos. Peter de Aunon, Bias de Montes, Peter Ruiz, Peter Bermejo, Francis Pareja, Peter de San Gre gorio, Francis d Velascola, F’rancis de Avila, and a lay brother, Peter Viniegra. At once the islands along the coast of the present State of Georgia were added to the territory Peter de Avila established the mis sion of San Bueventura at Ospo, at present Jekyl Island; Velascola re built that of Sanio Domingo at As- soa or St. Simon’s; Fathers Aunon and Bajadoz, began Santa Satalina de Guale; Rodriguez went to Torpi- qui, and Corpa to Tolomato, prob ably on the mainland north of the Altamaha river, among the Yamas- sees. Some of the missionaries pene trated 150 miles inland, among them Father Peter Fernandez de Chozas who in 1595 founded a mission at Ocute, the present city of Pensacola beginning the evangelization of the interesting tribe of the Apalaschees, who set their teepees from the banks of the Suwanee River to the terri tory west of the Apalacricola. Fray Lopez registered the baptism of eighty Indians in 1595. On the islands along the coast the missionaries found tribes of Indians who worshipped sun and fire and practised polygamy freely. The mis sions had not been entirely aban doned after Drake’s destructive pas sage; the forts had increased in number and in each a resident priest belonging to the secular clergy had charge of the soldiery. They made some conversions amtfng the Indi ans too. Thus the Friars found the ground prepared and the evangeliz ation of entire tribes could at pres ent be attempted successfully. Yamassee Uprising A few years pass and around ! every mission we have a nucleus of converts when a distas'rons cloud appears on the horizon breaking in to a storm that might have engulfed the Spanish domination on the con tinent. It^ was the Yamassee upris ing of 1597 when five Franciscans on the islands were slain and one made prisoner. Father Corpa, one of the first Franciscans, when the work of evangelization was taken up along the coast of Georgia, he and Fathers Rodriguez and Bajadoz had been changed to northern posts. The experience gained bv their missio# work, their knowledge of Indian dialects and Indian character were assets that could not be overlooked in a task as difficult as the conver sion of the wild Yamassecs. Father Corpa was stationed at Tolonmato, not very distant from Santa Cata lina, as we see from the punitive expedition organized by Adelantado Canco after the massacre. acter, its breadth and grandeur, the poetry of its dusky aisles, and the play of the rich shadows about its massive buttresses, topped with the sculptured crocketed pinnacles—that charms and enchants you. It is one of the few American cathedrals that possess the old-world continental charm, the charm of perpetual en tertainment, and whose beauty has just the right quality of richness and completness. It was Stevenson, was it not who wrote of the satis faction with which one always looks upon a cathedral. He says, of no ca thedral in particular, “where else is to be found so many elegant pro portions growing one out of the other, and all together in one?” And continuing he says: “Though I have heard a considerable variety of sermons. I have never yet heard one that was so expressive as a cathedral.” And Stevenson was right! ‘Tis the best Preacher itself, .preaches day and night, not only telling you of man's art and aspira tions in the past, but convicting your own soul of ardent sym pathies; or rather, like all good preaches, it sets you preaching to yourself—and every man is his own doctor of divinity in the last re sort. We follow here, as far as it seems to us accurate, John Gilmary Shea’s touching narrative; “In September, 1597, Father Cor pa found it necessary to reprove publicly the cacique’s son. whose unbridled licentiousness had long grived the missionary’s heart. One of the earliest converts, he had after a short period of fervor plunged into every vicious excess. Vain bad been all entreaties and remonstrances which de Corpa ad dressed him in private. A public re buke was the only means of arrest ing a scandal which had already ex cited the taunts of unbelievers. En raged at the disgrace, the young chief left the town; and repairing to a neighboring village, soon gathered a body of braves as eager as himself, for a work of blood. In tbe night he returned with his fol lowers to Tolomato. They crept si lently up to the chapel; its feeble doors presented too slight an ob stacle to arrest their progress. The missionary was kneeling before the altar in prayer, and there they slew him; a single blow of a tomahawk stretched him lifeless on the ground. When day broke, the Indian village was filled with grief and terror; but the young chief well knew the men with whom he had to deal. ,-pealing to their national feeling, he hade them take heart. The chronicler records the young chief’s entire harangue, in which we can clearly read the religious mo tive for which the five missionaries were slain: “Now the father is dead, but he would not have been if he had al lowed us to live as we did before We became Christiants. Let us re turn to our former customs, and prepare to defend ourselves against the punishment which the governor of Florida will try to inflict upon us, for if he succeeds in it, he will be as rigorous for this one father as though we had made an end of them all, for he will surely perse cute us for the father we Lave kill ed the same as for all.” They decided to do away with the remaining Franciscans along the coast and the chief continued: “They take away our women, leav ing us only one in perpetuity, and prevent us from trading her; they interfere with our dances, banquets, foods ceremonies, fires and wars, in order that, for lack of practice, we shall lose our ancient valor and skill inherited from our ancestors; they persecute our old men, calling them magicians; even our work troubles them, for they try to order us to lay it aside on some days; and even when we do everything they say, they are not satisfied; all they do is reprimand us, op press us, preach to ns, insult us, call us bad Christians and take away from us all the happiness that our forefathers enjoyed, in the hope that they will give us beaven.” “Enough joined,” Shea tells us, “to overawe those who remained faith ful. The missionary’s head was cut off and set on a spear over the gate, while his body was flung out to fowls of the air. “The camp of Torpiqui was the next point to which they hurried . . . Bursting unheralded in the chapel of Our Lady, the insurgents informed Father Rodriguez of the fate of Corpa, and bade nim prepare to die. Struck with amazement at their blindness and infatuation, the missionary used every argument to divert them from a scheme which would end in their ruin; he offer ed to obtain their garden for the past if they would abandon their wild project.” They told him not to' weary himself preaching to them hut to call on God to help him. Finding all his eloquence useless, he asked leave to say Mass before dying. Strange to say, this request was granted. He recommended to them the burial of his body, dis tributed his few belongings to some faithful and began Mass. His execu tioners lay grouped on the chapel floor awaiting anxiously, but quiet ly, the end of the sacrifice which was to prelude his own. The august mysteries proceeded without inter ruption and when all was ended the missionary came down and knelt at the foot of the altar. The next mo ment it was bespattered with his brains. They drew the dead body in the open for the vultures to devour it. But strange to say, of the scavengers of the coast, so numer ous in these marshy regions, not one hovered over the slain mis sionary; but a dog, according to the chronicler “ventured to touch it and fell dead.” They then sent word to the chief of tbe Island of Guale to join them in their insurrection and kill the two missionaries stationed at Asso- po. Instead,, the chief sent a mes senger to tbe Fathers to warn them of their imminent danger and ad vise them to seek safety in flight. The messenger, frightened, never saw the two missionaries but re turned with a fictitious reply. The chief sent word to the priests three days in succession; but they never left the island. The insurgents, seeing that the chief remained faithful to the priests, became so incensed that they would have killed him had he not found plausible excuses. This time he sent no messenger, but went to see the missionaries him self. He said to Father Aunon: “It would have been better if you had believed me, and had put yourself in safety, but you did not wish to take my advice and it will not be possible to defend you from these people who have come to kill yon.” The missionaries replied that they had been ignorant of all that; and that he should be troubled, as they were willing to die. Tlie chief then bade them' farewell, saying that he was going away to weep for them and that he would return to bury their bodies. Father Aunon “then said Mass 'and gave Holy Communion of his companion, Antonio de Bajadoz, After a few moments devoted to si lent prayer, the tramp and the wild yell of an angry crowd announced the coming of the insurgents. Calm ly had the FTanciscans lived; calm ly they died. Kneeling, Bapadoz reW ceived one. Aunon two blows of x club and both sank in death. The * 1 chapel now seemed to be filled with awe, for the murderers retired as if in flight, leaving the bodies to be interred by the friendly cacique,