Almost 150 years ago, in the booming mining town of Silver Reef, Father Lawrence Scanlan happened to make the acquaintance of visiting surveyor John Macfarlane. Their friendship developed and led to an event so unusual that it became historic. Father Scanlan confided that he had a problem: He was anxious to celebrate an Easter Mass for his congregation, but the Silver Reef Catholic church building was still under construction. Furthermore, he had little to no choir. John Macfarlane offered his friend a solution. The imposing St George Tabernacle has recently been completed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Macfarlane contracted the right people and began training his local choir to sing a Catholic Mass in Latin. And so, to the surprise of many, the Spring of 1879 saw the St George Tabernacle hosting a Catholic Mass-celebrated by Father Scanlan supported by a choir directed by his friend John Macfarlane. This unique event continues to be an inspiring symbol of the good that can result from cooperation between people of differing religions and cultures.

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Funding for these grants has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.