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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.