Newspaper Page Text
FOURTEEN
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
JANUARY 31, 1936
Aiken Mission Church in Golden Jubilee Year
EDGEFIELD EDIFICE
DEDICATED IN 1860
BY BISHOP LYNCH
Father Bermingham, For
merly Pastor at Columbus,
6a., Erected It Before the
War Between the States
Aiken, S. C., of which the Rev.
George J. Dietz is pastor, and the
Rev. A. W. Gainer assistant, is not
only a tourist city of national and
internaitonal fame, but it is a mission
center with a territory larger than
many dioceses of the United States.
The old church at Aiken was built
about 1868 by Bishop Persico, of Sa
vannah, while he was serving as a
missionary in the Diocese of Charles
ton; he later was Bishop of Savan
nah, Bishop of Aquino in Italy,
Titular ArchbishoD of Dametto and
a Cardinal at Rome. This little
church, of the diminsions of a small
chapel, still stands by the present
commodious church, built a genera
tion ago largely through the interest
of the late Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock
and other Aiken residents.
CONVERT CONGREGATION
AT MINE CREEK
Some thirty miles or more from
Aiken is Mine Creek, near Ward,
where a convert congregation is
ministered to by Father Calner, who
is resident there, and by the Sisters
of Our Lady of Mercy, who conduct
St William’s School. The story of
this unique congregation, started by
the good example of one man, has
been told in previous issues of The
Bulletin.
This is a historic year on the Aiken
missions, for it is the diamond jubilee
year of the church at Edgefield, in
the neighboring county of that name,
and famous in the history* of South
gp. Carolina and the South especially in
reconstruction days.
CATHOLICS IN EDGEFIELD
AS EARLY AS 1828
In Bishop England’s as early as
1828. there were Catholics in Edge-
field. and Father John Barry, later
the second Bishop of Savannah, was
among the priests who ministered to
them through periodical visits.
When the Diocese of Savannah was
created in 1850, Bishop Reynolds of
Charleston, invited Father Timothy
Bermingham, pastor at Columbus,
Ga., to the mother diocese, giving him
the parish at Columbia, however, ac
cepted St. Andrew’s Church, Barn
well. where no priest had ever re
sided, and made it his headquarters
to care for Edgefield, Graniteville,
Clinton, Dr. Burt’s, Dr. McDonald’s
and General Jones’, to whose homes
he went once a month to say Mass.
DR BERMINGHAM LIVED
WITH GENERAL JONES
A year later he accepted the press
ing invitation of General Jones of
the Edgefield-Graniteville District to
become a member of his household, a
happy arrangement terminated only
by the appointment of General Jones
by the State of South Carolina to
superintend the construction of the
new State Capitol at Columbia, Gen
eral Jones was not a Catholic, but
was a great benefactor of the Church
at Edgefield. Father Bermingham
henceforth resided at Charleston with
Bishop Lynch.
Father Bermingham, like other
priests before him first officiated ni
the courthouse and in other public,
semi-public and private places. Dr.
John H. Burt, a convert living eight
miles from Edgefield Courthouse,
then erected a chapel. where
numrous non-Catholics joined Ca
tholics in attending. One such reg
ular attendant, Dr. Elbert Bland, of
Edgefield, was so impressed that he
opened and headed a subscription list
for the building of a Catholic Church
at Edgefield Courthouse, a movement
assisted not only by the members of
the congregation but by not a few
non-Catholics. The amount collected
was $2,000, a large sum in those
days.
Father Bermingham purchased a
four-acre lot for the sum of three
thousand dollars, and set off on a
collecting tour for funds to pay for
it, reserving the original fund for the
erection of the proposed church. He
returned within a few months with
the three thousand dollars. He set
otu on a second tour to New Orleans
and Canada to supplement the build
ing fund. On his return, work start
ed at the quarry January 2, 1858, and
the cornerstone was laid February
** 4th by Father P. N. Lynch, then
administrator of the Diocese of
Charleston.
DR. BERMINGHAM VISITS
CHARLESTON AND BAHAMAS
The following January Dr. Ber
mingham went to Charleston and to
Havana on a collecting tour and to
the Bahamas as “Vicar Foreign”, the
Bahamas then being under the juris
diction of the Diocese of Charleston.
He was received kindly everywhere
and on his return he was able not
only to pay off the debt of $5,000.
but to complete the churqh owing but
$1,400. The church at the time, was
0 said to have no peer apart from the
Cathedral at Charleston south of the
Potomac; although not notable for
size, it was famed for its beauty and
for the excellence of its appoint
ments.
Of Norman style of architecture,
it was designed by Major John R.
Pastor of Aiken, S. C.,
Parish and Missions
REV. GEORGE J. DIETZ
Mrs. Grady’s Speech
on Press Is Lauded
The January issue of Catholic Ac
tion, tbe official organ of the Na
tional Catholic Welfare Conference
and its constituted units, features an
address on “The Apostolate of the
Written Word”, made at the Fort
Wayne national convention of the
National Council of Catholic Women
by Mrs. Roberta Shriver Grady. Mi
ami. Fla., president of the St. Au
gustine Council of the National Coun
cil of Catholic Women. Mrs. Grady
not only advocates assistance to the
Catholic Press, but she has consist
ently p it this advice into practice in
her assistance to The Bu’.letin. the
only Catholic newspaper in the South
Atlantic States.
Nierensie, the architect of the State
Capitol at Columbia. It is of massive
rock granite, quarried four miles
away. It was dedicated October 21,
1860 by Bishop Lynch who, as ad
ministrator of the Diocese, laid the
cornerstone two years before. Father
Felix J. Carr, the Bishop’s secretary,
accompanied the Bishop and acted as
master of ceremonies; Father Thomas
Murphy, of Wilmington, N. C., was
deacon of the Mass, Father J. J.
O’Connell, Columbia, sub-deacon, and
Father Bermingham assistant priest.
Louis Barbot, famed architect, who
remodeled the courthouse at Charles
ton, Miss Hermine Petit and Miss
Elizabeth O'Gorman of the Charleston
Cathedral choir, traveled the 150 or
more miles to Edgefield for the
occasion, sang for the Mass.
EDGEFIELD CLERGY IN
WAR BETWEEN STATES
The clouds of war were beginning
to gather over the land when the
church at Edgefield was being ded
icated. Father Charles Croghan, a
subsequent pastor of the Edgefield
territory, was a chaplain in the Con
federate Army with the rank of
major, a4 was Father L. P. O’Con
nell, military chaplain to the Sisters
of Our Lady of Mercy from Charles
ton, who were in charge of the Con
federate Hospital at Greenbrier,
White Sulphur Springs, Va. Bishop
Lynch, who laid the cornerstone of
the church and dedicated it, went to
Europe at the request of President
Davis on a diplomatic mission for the
Confederacy, as Minister Plenipoten
tiary.
Father Bermingham was always
most grateful to the editors of the
Edgefield Advertiser for their court
esy and kindnesses to him; they were
Col. A. Simpkins, D. R. Diriscoe and
E. Heese, khose “kindly editorials
and artistic appreciation cheered and
encouraged him”. Emily Caroline
Dozier was the first child baptized
in the church, and the first children
baptized there after its dedication
were the children of John A. and
Sally A. (Watson! Bland, namely
Arthur Simkins, Avory, Elbert,
Sophia, Alice and Catherine Smiley
Bland—a ceremony doubly interesting
because at the time, Mr. and Mrs.
Bland, their parents, were not Ca
tholics. Mrs. Bland became a Ca
tholic August 22. 1869.
Other names of interest in the earl
iest days of the Edgefield congrega
tion were those of Charles Mathis,
Francis O’Connor, James Mathis,
Louis Jones, Emmet Sibals and Gen
eral James Griffin, all of whom not
only contributed genferously but
rendered actual service in the con
struction of the edifice.
Such is the story of the beginning
of the Edgefield congregation, which
is today as in the early days served
by selfsacrifieing missionaries and
composed of members who are
worthy successors—in cases succes
sors—of the pioneers. The cities 'of
South Carolina and Georgia have
drawn a number of the Edgefield
families to them, and descendants of
the members of the congregation
which built the church three-quarters
of a century ago may be found espe
cially in the Columbia, Charleston
and Augusta parishes, but the Edge-
field congregation continues to keep
alive and increase the flame of faith
for the day when in God’s good time
it will light the way for the whole
Carolina country side.
Mrs. E. J. Cosgrove
85, Dies in Augusta
Follows Her Husband in
Death in Less Than Two
Years
AUGUSTA, Ga.— Mrs. Catherine
Murphy Cosgrove, one of the oldest
and most beloved Catholic woman in
Augusta, died here January 28 after
an illness of five days. She was 83
years old.
Mrs. Cosgrove was bom in Augus
ta October 14, 1850, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Murphy, and had
lived in Augusta all her life. She
was married nearly 65 years ago to
Edward J. Cosgrove, a classmate of
Bishop Haid at St. Vincent College
in Pennsylvania in his younger 1 days;
Mr. Cosgrove died October 1, 1934,
some time after he and Mrs. Cos
grove observed their diamond wed
ding anniversary they then being
both in good health. On October 5 of
last year her son Edward J., Jr., died
on a business trip to Jacksonville;
these losses were a severe shock to
Mrs. Cosgrove, who nevertheless was
active until her final illness despite
a serious accident in recent years.
Surviving Mrs. Cosgrove are three
daughters, Mrs. James A. Blainey,
Flushing, Long Island, Mrs. R. W.
Gerald, Sumter, S. C., and Miss Jane
Cosgrove, Augusta; five sons. C. H.
Cosgrove, Raliegh, N. C., J. E. Cos
grove, Baltimore, Md., H. H. Cos
grove, Augusta, Ga., William Cos
grove, Augusta, and Louis G. Cos
grove, New Orleans; one sister, Miss
Anne Murphy, Atlanta; eighteen
grandchildren and four great grand
children.
The funeral was held from Sacred
Heart Church, of which Mrs. Cos
grove was a devout member since
its early days, the Rev. M. A. Cronin
S. J., officiating, assisted by the
clergy of the city. Interment was in
Westover Cemetery.
FUNERAL IN AUGUSTA
OF MRS. W. T. BRITTON
Mrs. Carolyn Deween Britton,
widow of the late William T. Brit
ton died at her residence December
29 after an illness of several months
Mrs. Britton was the daughter of
the late M. J. Deween and Jane
Frances Boatwright Deween, and a
member of St. Patrick’s Church.
Funeral services were held at St.
Patrick’s Church, with the Rev. J. J.
O’Hara officiating. Interment was
in Magnolia Cemetery. Surviving
Mrs. Britton are two brothers, Mark
B. Deween, and Clyde A. Deween,
one sifter, Mrs. H. E. Fourcher and
several nieces and nephews.
MRS. MARY F. DONOHUE
DIES AT AUGUSTA
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary
Josephine Fitzgerald Donohue, wife
of John J. Donohue, who died at her
home December 29 were held at
Sacred Heart Church, with the Rev.
M. J. Cronin officiating. Interment
was in Magnolia Cemetery. Mrs.
Donohue, who was a native of Co
lumbia County, Georgia, had resided
in Augusta for the past 46 years.
Surviving Mrs. Donohue are her
husband, two sons, Dan F. Donohue,
Mrs. Gertrude Daly, all of Augusta;
seven grandchildren; three sisters,
Mrs. Fannie Henry, Decatur, Ga.;
Mrs. J. D. Little, Middletown, N. Y.;
Mrs. Beulah Prescott, Augusta and
two brothers, H. B. Fitzgerald, Har
lem, Ga., and A. C. Fitzgerald, Co
lumbia County.
J no.Graham Honored
by Supreme Court
Chief Justice Russell De
livers Court’s Tribute to
Late Atlanta Layman
(Special to The Bulletin)
ATLANTA, Ga. — The Supreme
Court of Georgia and the Georgia
Bar paid tribute here January 21
to the memoir of the late John M.
Graham, distinguished member of
the bar and of the Catholic Lay
men’s Association of Georgia, who
died several weeks ag- after a long
and brilliant record as associate edi
tor of the Supreme Court Reports.
The tribute of the court was de
livered by Mr. Graham’s friend and
associate, Chief Justice Richard B.
Russell, father of U. S. Senator R. B.
Russell, Jr. The committee appoint
ed to prepare the memorial included
a number of the leading lawyers in
Georgia, including Jack C. Spalding,
K. S. G„ K. M„ and John B. Mc-
Callum of Atlanta, under the chair
manship of Col. W. E. Kay of Jack
sonville.
A. A. BAUMSTARK, and B. J.
Keiley were the principal speakers
at the January meeting of the At
lanta Chapter of the National Asso
ciation of Cost Accountants.
MISS DOROTHY MAGILL was
elected president of the Phi Sigma
Alpha Sorority at the recent elec
tion; Miss Magill, the daughter of the
late Richard A. Magill, is an alumna
of Sacred Heart School.
ST. ANTHONY’S CLUB entertain
ed with a dance at the Atlanta
Woman’s Club January 8, with the
members of the Young People’s Club
of Sacred Heart Church and of the
Immaculate Conception Church as
special guests.
PRIESTS OFFICIALS OF
EDUCATIONAL GROUP
Father Jerome, O.S.B., Fath
er Flanagen Elected
(Special to The Bulletin)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev.
George J. Flanagen D. D„ principal
of Father Ryan High School, was
elected secretary-treasurer and the
Rev. F. Jerome, O. S. B., of St. Leo
Academy, Florida, was elected vice-
president of the newly organized
Southern Association of Private
Schools at a recent meeting in Louis
ville. Major Roy Wonsan, headmas
ter of Staunton Military Academy,
was elected president.
REV. JOSEPH LEPPERT of the
faculty of Father Ryan High School
was named rector of the Cathedral
here in one of the last appointments
made by the late Bishop Smith. He
succeeds the Rev. Dr. Albert Siener,
who becomes pastor of St. Thomas
Church, Memphis^ succeeding the late
Father Lorigan. Father George
Donovan succeeded Father Leppert
as administrates: of St. Ann’s parish.
Fr. Harkins Chaplain
at St. Genevieve’s
Succeeds Late Father Albert
Goetz, O.S.B., at College
(Special To The Bulletin)
ASHEVILLE, N. C.—The Rev. Her
bert A. Harkins arrived at St. Gene-
vieve-of-the-Pines late in December
to fulfill the chaplaincy at St. Gene
vieve’s left vacant by the death of
Father Albert Goetz, O.S.B.
Miss Katharine Zimmerman, a
sophomore in the Junior College, won
the distinguished honor of first place
in a state-wide Latin translation
contest conducted recently. The con
test celebrated the 2000 Anniversay
of the birth of Horace and the trans
lation was his eleventh ode in Book
II.
On Sunday evening, December 15,
the pupils of all three departments of
S.G.P. gathered around a beautiful
ly decorated Christmas tree. Love
ly carols were sung, and then the
many presents surrounding the tree
were distributed.
“The First Christmas Night”, a
play given by the Academy students
was a decided success. This inspir
ing mystery play consisted of three
scenes—the first occurred at an inn
in Bethlehem, the second showed
the shepherds watching their flocks
on the hillside, and the third center
ed around the Christ Child in the
stable.
The Holy Family, Angels, travelers,
and shepherds made up the cast
which acted their parts with marked
talent. Behind, the choral classes
sang beautiful carols, songs, and
hymns in keeping with the produc
tion. Those who witnessesed the play
experienced a little of the joy felt
by those who participated in that
first holy Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, Solemn High
Mass was celebrated at Midnight in
the Chapel. Fath Harkins officiat
ed and the Gregorian Mass was sung
by St. Genevieve’s choir. The altar
was beautifully decorated with poin-
setta and banked with palms and
ferns. The crib, piously arranged, oc
cupied a prominent place near the
sanctuary.
The students of the three depart
ments resumed classes January 8, and
work has been started seriously in
preparation for the mid-year exami
nations.
The Auditorium Fund Drive has
been officially launched and all ac
tivities and entertainments contribute
to this end. A list of donors is post
ed and all additions are inscribed on
the poster.
On January 15, Miss May Jo De-
Nardo, a student of the Academy and
a youthful musician of much talent
will give a violin and piano recital,
the proceeds will be May Jo’s con
tribution to the Auditorium Fund.
Mr. Walsh’s Address
at Civic Reception
i
(Continued From Page Seven)
have had the love, respect and co
operation of our laity.
As Catholics, we were, of course,
prepared to receive as our new
Bishop anyone who. by the Grace of
God and favor of the Holy See, was
found worthy of the office. However,
actuated by a natural human curios
ity. we sought to learn as much as
possible concerning Your Excellency
after we had heard of your appoint
ment. What we have learned as
sures us that Your Excellency, bless
ed with youth, energetic, able, just
and kindly, is a man to who we can
pay our homage not only dutifully,
but with great happiness and pleas-
u~ and for whom we sincerely wish
tenure replete with successful work
in the cause of Christ in our poor—
put not so poor— Diocese. Ad multos
Annos is our wish to you.
MANILA’S International Eucharistic
Congress is but a year away, Feb
ruary 3 to 7, 1937, and steamship com
panies are completing plans for
accomodations. The Japanese Liner
Tatsuta Maru will sail from San
Francisco January 2, and the Cana
dian Pacific’s Empress of Russia
goes out of Vaconver January 9.
MRS. MARY BOUHAN
DIES IN SAVANNIAH
Was Mother of John J. Bon
han, Leading Savannahian
(Special to The Bulletin)
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Mrs. Mary
Egan Bouhan, one of the most widely
known and beloved Catholic women
in Savannah, and the mother of John
J. Bouhan, for many years city at
torney of Savannah, died here early
in January at the age of 84. Mrs.
Bouhan, who was bom in Ireland
and had lived in Savannah since
1877, was active until her final ill
ness, a week before her death. Mrs.
Bouhan was the widow of William
Bouhan and is survived by two sons,
John J. Bouhan and William P.
Bouhan, and her stepdaughter, Mrs.
John Reed, all of Savannah.
Governor Talmadge, through The
Associated Press, extended his sym
pathy to Mr. Bouhan in his loss, as
many other state officials who are
his personal friends.
The funeral was held from Sacred
Heart Church, the Very Rev. Boni
face Bauer. O. S. B., pastor, offici
ating at the Requiem Mass and de
livering the sermon. Clergy of the
city assisted in the sanctuary. Mem
bers of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. A. O.
H., attended in a body. Interment
was in Cathedral cemetery.
MISS NANCY O’CONNOR, a
graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital
Training School for Nurses in 1930,
and widely known and admired in
Savannah, died here last week at the
age of 28. Miss O’Connor was bom
in Kerry, Ireland, and is survived
by her mother, Mrs. Eliza* O’Connor;
her sister, Miss Mary O’Connor; sev
en brothers, two uncles and two
aunts, Mrs. C. J. Dulohery and Miss
Mary Mackessy. The funeral was
held from Sacred Heart Church with
a Requiem Mass. Interment was in
Cathedral cemetery.
MISS EUNICE CORBETT, a na
tive of Savannah, where she was
bom 28 years ago, died here early
in January after a short illness. Sur
viving Miss Corbett arc her mother,
Mrs. Alma C. Newton- and her
brother, the latter of Sylvania. The
funeral was held from the Cathedral
with a Requiem Mass. Interment
was in Cathedral cemetery.
MRS. MARIE O’BYRNE ALTICK.
widow of Henry R. Altick, died here
recently after an extended illness.
Mrs. Altick is survived by four sons,
Henry R.. Jr., A. O. O'Byme, Daniel
A., of Dallas, Texas, and Joseph G„
Savannah; three daughters, Mrs. R.
D. Ryan, Miss Ida Altick and Miss
Angela Altick, Savannah; a sister.
Miss Joseph O’Byrne. Savannah, and
eight grandchildren. The funeral
was held from the Cathedral with
interment in Cathedral cemetery.
MISS ELLEN F. HERRICK, one of
the oldest members of St. Patrick’s
Church, died recently at the age of
82. Miss Herrick was born in
Brooklyn and had spent most of her
life in Savannah. Surviving her are
three nephews and Eve nieces. The
funeral was held from St. Patrick’s
Church with internment in Cathe
dral cemetery.
Father of Tennessee
Priests Dies at 77
Bishop Smith Delivers Ser
mon at Funeral of Geo.
Siener, Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George
Siener. a resident of Chattanooga for
a half-century and the father of
Father Albert Siener, pastor of St.
Thomas’ Church, Memphis, and of
the Rev. Joseph Siener, assistant pas
tor of Immaculate Conception Church
of Memphis, died in December at
the age of 77.
Mr. Siener, one of the best known
residents of Chattanooga, where he
operated a cigar s‘ re for years, was
born in Germany and came to Chat
tanooga from Bloomington, 111. Sur
viving in addition to Father Albert
Siener and Father Joseph Siener are
his widow, three other sons, John
Siener, of Spartanburg, and Leo and
Charles Siener of Chattanooga, three
daughters, Mrs. W. P. Delaney. Mrs.
J R. Chamberlain and Mrs. James
Dorris, Chattanooga; his sister, Mrs,
Anna Couchman of Louisville, Ky.,
and 17 grandchildren.
Mr. Siener’s funeral was one of the
last services attended by Bishop
Smith of Nashville, who followed him
in death himself within a few days;
he delivered the sermon at the Mass
at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul,
the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis T. Sulli
van, pastor. Father Albert Siener was
celebrant of the Solemn Requiem
Mass. Father Joseph Siener, dea-on,
and the Rev. William Graw, sub-dea
con. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John M.
Mogan, V.G., and many of the other
clergy of the Diocese attended the
Mass. Monsignor Sullivan officiated
at the interment.
REV. DR. GEORGE JOHNSON.
director of the fq C. W. C. Depart
ment of Education, general secretary
of the National Catholic Educational
Association, and associate professor
of education at the Catholic Univer
sity has been named a member of
the Federal Radio Education Com
mission.