Epiphany Catholic Community

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Dear Paul, Melanie, Rob, Roice, and Ben,

cc: file, Diane Cluff, Darrell and Nancy Krueger, Sara and Des Penny, Grandma Hafen via Tony Hafen, and Lloyd and Luana Warner.

Welcome to "Thoughtlets." This is a weekly review of an idea, belief, thought, or words that will hopefully be of some benefit to you, my children, with an electronic copy to on-line extended family members. Any of you can ask me not to clutter your mail box at any time.

"A few weeks ago I mentioned to Grandma Hafen, during my weekly Sunday evening phone call to her, I had been at the joint Catholic-L.D.S. Choir practice for our 4th annual performance. This year (tonight) we sang at the Epiphany Catholic Community Church. When I mentioned this to Grandma she got very excited. It reminded her of something she had been told about which happened in Southern Utah back in 1879. Her step-grandfather, John Macfarlane, had arranged for his choir to sing mass for the Silver Reef Catholic community in the St George Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is the spire in back of the St. George Temple in the painting Ken Turner did for me of the Savior coming to St. George. The tabernacle was the center of activity all of the time my Grandma Hafen and your Grandma Nelson were growing up in St. George. Grandma Hafen was so excited she couldn't sleep. She looked up some information about what happened and called me the next night to read it to me. Then she talked to a friend and had her do some research on the event, and my sister Sara sent me copies of the resulting material. With the hope of interesting each of you in history, I have typed out the three versions Grandma Hafen provided, plus one written by my friend`s, Randy Shirt's, father:

`Relations with the gentiles at Silver Reef were cautious. One well- known exception was a friendship that developed between John Menzies Macfarlane of St. George and Reverend Lawrence Scanlan, the Catholic priest in Silver Reef. Macfarlane was a surveyor (also a musician and a judge) and was often employed in Silver Reef. He lived at the same boarding house as the Catholic priest. The two conversed at length and became respectful of each other. In one conversation they discovered a mutual problem. Father Scanlan wanted to celebrate high mass with a choir for his congregation. His church, St. John's, was unfinished and he had no choir for his congregation. Macfarlane proposed that the mass be held in the St. George LDS Tabernacle where he was the choir director of a thirty-voice ensemble. Scanlan was hesitant. Macfarlane explored the idea and won over Erastus Snow and the stake president John D. T. McAllister. Arrangements were agreed upon. The choir took two weeks to learn the mass in Latin from a piece of music provided by the priest. On 25 May 1870 the memorable event occurred. Many Catholics traveled to St. George for the service, but at least as many in the congregation were curious Mormons. Father Scanlan is reported to have started by saying, "I think you are wrong and you think I am wrong, but this should not prevent us from treating each other with due consideration and respect.' History of Washington County: Stability and Isolation, pages 115-116.

From "I was Called to Dixie" by A. Karl Larson:

`John M. Macfarlane's choir was present on January 1, 1877 when a portion of the Temple was dedicated. After Wilford Woodruff's dedicatory prayer the choir sang a hymn especially composed for the occasion by Charles L. Walker. Later we see Macfarlane's choir assisting at the Sunday School Jubilee for 1877. Members of the choir remember all their lives the occasion when they sang the music for Catholic High Mass in the Tabernacle on September 25, 1879, and so did those who sat in the Tabernacle on that occasion. When Silver Reef mines had their heyday, beginning during the last half of the Eighteen-Seventies, there came to the booming mining camp Father Lawrence Scanlan, scholarly Catholic priest, to look after the spiritual welfare of the many miners of that faith. In spite of the antagonism that flourished between the Mormon and Catholic faiths, Father Scanlan, by his honesty and friendliness, won the confidence and respect of the Mormon people in Dixie. John M. Macfarlane had become acquainted with Father Scanlan and on one occasion asked him why he didn't hold a high mass in this part of the country. The Catholic Father said he would be glad to if he had an adequate place to conduct it. Macfarlane mentioned the conversation to President Erastus Snow, who invited Father Scanlan to use the new Tabernacle for the purpose. He accepted and asked that the St. George Choir furnish the music for the Mass, the words of which were, of course, in Latin. None of the choir members knew Latin, but the music was something they could manage without difficulty. They memorized the Latin text, practicing every night for six weeks to get it to the point where they could sing it with confidence. Father Scanlan was highly satisfied with the choir's performance and stated that it was done as well as he had ever heard it. The large audience was pleased with the versatility of their choir. (This information was taken from Reed Paul Thompson).

The following is from the book, "A Saga of Three Town" by Maretta Mariger. Some of this information is quoted in "I Was Called to Dixie" and she has been given credit for it.

`Father Scanlan was at a large church in Salt Lake and his friend suggested he come to Silver Reef. He was staying with a friend in Pioche. He rode from Beaver to Silver Reef on a horse. In 1873, he built a rustic frame church that he dedicated to the apostle Saint John. Later he built a frame hospital with a stone foundation in 1879 and urged five Catholic nuns to come from the Holy Cross hospital. In addition to their work of mercy, they conducted a school which a number of Mormon children attended and gave music lessons to anyone inclined to take advantage of this service. Some school children were: Dave, Cassie, and Kate Forsha. Nora Gleason was sent for to play the organ. There is a plaque on the wall for her services in a church in Salt Lake. The Father had her go to Salt Lake when he left Silver Reef. The sisters lived in the basement of the hospital and were paid by the miners. Each miner paid $1.00 a month this amounted to $200.00 a month. Later they built an addition to the hospital.'

Remember (or if you didn't know) learn, David, Cassie, and Kate Forsha were the children of St. Clair Forsha and Sarah Abigail Woolsey, who were Grandma Hafen's paternal blood grandparents. David Forsha is Grandma Hafen's father. Grandma Hafen was adopted and raised by the Morris' and Grandma Morris was one of John M. Macfarlane's daughters. In the book "Silver, Sinners and Saints - A History of Old Silver Reef, Utah" by Paul Dean Procter and Morris A. Shirts the following is written (pages 88-90):

`John M. Macfarlane John M. Macfarlane, 1833-1892, the Washington County surveyor, had become acquainted with Father Scanlan while completing some of the necessary land surveys at the Reef, among which were surveys for patent of come claims of W. T. Barbee. Macfarlane, a former citizen of Cedar City, had been specially called by the Mormon General Authority, Erastus Snow, to organize a choir in St. George. Its purpose was to lift the morale of the community, which was struggling for continuance in the desert land. Macfarlane reluctantly accepted the call because he dearly loved the people and the Cedar City area. He became a resident of St. George but boarded in Mrs. Grave's boarding house in Silver Reef during his work sessions in the mining district. Boarding in the same house was Father Scanlan. Macfarlane and Father Scanlan spent many pleasent hours together discussing music, religion, and their ancestries in Ireland and Scotland, respectively. During one of these discussions Macfarlane learned of Scanlan's desire to hold a High Mass for the Silver Reef Catholics, and of the difficulties entailed in conducting one. Scanlan mentioned the lack of a completed building, his inability to supply the needed music and other problems. Macfarlane was a man of many interests and talents. He pointed out to Father Scanlan that the choir was no problem for the High Mass, for he could easily supply that. The big problem was finding the music, and a suitable place to sing it. Why not, he suggested, hold the High Mass in the beautiful new St. George Tabernacle? This was an unusual thought for there were major theological differences, a strong cleavage between the two groups and certainly no precedent for such a thing. At first Father Scanlan refused, then later reluctantly agreed that Macfarlane should pursue such a course. The Mormon Choir - Catholic High Mass Macfarlane's proposal to the brethern in St. George was first refused, but he finally gained the approval of Apostle Snow and Stake President J. D. T. McCallister, who issued a cordial invitation to Father Scanlan and his Catholic group. Father Scanlan accepted. In two weeks, the 30-member Mormon choir, under the direction of Macfarlane and with the help of Father Scanlan, learned from a single copy the music and Latin lyrics for St. Peter's Mass in D. On May 25th, 1879, Father Scanlan and his congregation traveled the twenty miles to St. George. His small group was far outnumbered by curious and respectful Mormons. The congregation, estimated at 3000, sat quietly as Father Scanlan explained the meaning of the vestments used at mass, and details of the High Mass so all could better understand and appreciate it. He also preached an eloquent two-hour sermon on: "True Adorers of God Shall Adore Him in Spirit and Truth." Careful to not offend, his opening remarks were: "I think you are wrong and you think I am wrong, but this should not prevent us from treating each other with due consideration and respect." This is probably the only time that a High Catholic Mass has ever been celebrated in a Mormon tabernacle with a mixed crowd of Catholics and Mormons and with music and lyrics provided by a Mormon choir. The two- week's practice by the choir resulted in a successful Latin presentation of Kyrie-Eleison, and Gloria and Credo, to the great satisfaction of the Catholic members of the congregation. Stucki, the historian, points out that the sacred occasion was a "fine experience for the people of St. George who had been isolated for many years from contact with other religions. John Menzies Macfarlane, surveyor, attorney-at-law, and choir leader, was also a composer. One cold night in St. George he awakened from sleep with a melody in his mind and could not sleep because of it. Although his wife suggested he come back to bed and work with the melody in the morning, Macfarlane said: "No, if I wait I shall forget it". She then arose, and held a kerosene lamp beside him, so John could work out the music on their old pump organ. Together they worked through the night, and by dawn the lovely melody and accompanying words had been committed to paper. The song and the words he wrote became one of the great Christmas hymns of the world, Far, far away on Judea's Plain. He also wrote a favorite hymn entitled: Dearest Children, God is Near You.'

I have sung in the joint Epiphany Catholic Community - Katy Stake Choir each of the four year years we have performed. Tonight we had 25 sopranos, 18 altos, 13 tenors, 15 bases, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 chellos, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 french horn, 1 piano, 1 organ, 6 handbells, and a 41 child children's choir. The music really was very nice. Father Jack M. Dinkins welcomed everyone to the Epiphany Catholic Community Church. President Jones gave the invocation. The above groups (with the congregation on two Christmas Carols) performed the following:

It was sad to me there was no one from my family there to enjoy it, for the second year in a row. Marie Williams, Larry Law, and Mike Smith were there. Marie is Melanie's bud, and Larry and Mike have been dedicated attendees at our Monday night Family Home Evening for the last three weeks. In my paronia and fears I have often thought of the Savior's words in Mathew 10:37-39:

`He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.'

Attendance by family members at a celebration of the birth of our Savior has become a symbol to me. A symbol of whether I am willing to stand fast with my faith even if `father or mother,' `son or daughter' choose to take a different path. I can and I will, for when it comes right down to it, the willingness to stand by my testimony, even if it means to stand alone, is simply the reverse of the Savior's response to Peter when Peter said `We have left all, and have followed thee' (Mark 10:28-31). Our ancestors chose to leave their families because of their testimonies and commitment to the restored gospel. In the last days, it is reasonable to expect some in families to follow different paths:

`For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.' (Matthew 24:24)

I hope and pray my concerns are simply my paranoia and fears. I also hope that as you read these Thoughtlets, even if it is years in the future, you will consider the things your ancestors enjoyed, and recognize you might also find joy there. I have found there is joy and lasting memories in doing things like singing in a good choir."

I'm interested in sharing weekly a "thoughtlet" (little statements of big thoughts which mean a lot to me) with you because I know how important the written word can be. I am concerned about how easy it is to drift and forget our roots and our potential among all of distractions of daily life. If you ever want to download any of these thoughtlets, they are posted at http://www.walden3d.com/hrnmen or you can e-mail me at rnelson@walden3d.com.

With all my love,
Dad
(H. Roice Nelson, Jr.)

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Copyright © 1997 H. Roice Nelson, Jr.