A personal, historical vignette

By Cainnech Ó Sullibhain

In late October 1964 the M/V Kohinur (London Registry), fully loaded with general cargo, left Dunkerque, France headed for the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and Shanghai, China. When we reached Shanghai, it was respite and a time to relax. I got in the small ferry that took me from the anchorage in the Yang-Tse River to Shanghai. There, I went to visit the People’s Friendship Store not far from the old Ellie Cadoorie Building, which was the tallest building in Shanghai then. It was built by Sir Ellie Cadoorie, a businessman and self-made millionaire, in the days of the British Concession in China.

Wanting to stretch my sea legs, I took a stroll down the main drag in Shanghai. I finally arrived at the People’s Friendship Store and took a look around at the jade, teak, and ebony carvings, and the cork scenes encased in glass. I also looked at the ivory chess sets, figurines, and jewelry that was available, but was not really interested. Finally, I went to the area where there was brocaded silk for making Cheongsams and other dresses. One could also buy cloth to make curtains of silk brocade.

I took a break from the mundane and took time to eat a meal at the restaurant within the People’s Friendship Store. I was about to head back to my ship, when I asked one of the staff if there was anything more that I could see. I was told that there was a basement, with some junk from the past. Being the nosy person that I was, I told them that I would like to take a look at the stuff in the basement. When I got there, it was dusty, and I found nothing of real interest to me. I was about to leave, when I noticed an old box in a corner. I thought to myself, what have I got to loose if I look through the old box? I opened the box, and was looking at a white teak carving of a man. I did not think very much of what I could see, but something told me, inspect the carving! I took the carving out of the box, and discovered that it was actually a carving of Jesus Christ on the Mount. The right hand of Jesus was poised in blessing. I took the 15″ carving up to the counter upstairs and asked how much it would cost me? The man behind the counter replied that it was junk left over from the Kuomintang days of Shanghai, and that I could have it for 12 GMP. I paid him and headed back to the anchorage.

When, I took it back on board ship, my shipmates asked what I had bought. I told them a statue! They looked puzzled. I took the box with the statue to my cabin and began inspecting it. To my surprise, I discovered that while the statue was of Jesus Christ, it was carved by a Chinese artist and the features of Christ were not Western, but Chinese. I wondered about the reasons why this Chinese artist had actually carved Christ with oriental features.

The M/V Kohinur left Shanghai, China for Newcastle, Australia and we arrived in there in the late evening of Christmas Eve. By the time we were moored, it was gone past 8:00 P.M. and there was no chance that the local agents would be able to bring any money for our subs (advance). I started to look through my all my clothes and finally discovered that I had 4 shillings sterling left in one of my jacket pockets. Someone came aboard ship and asked if we would like to attend midnight mass at the local Catholic Church? I responded by saying that I would. I went to midnight mass, and returned to my ship. The next day was uneventful, but I did go to the Flying Angel Mission to Seaman, where I met Rev. Bill Dollings, formerly of Kent, England, who was an Anglican Low Church minister. He and I became good friends over time.

A few days later I attended a small hop (dance) at the Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) Catholic Mission to Seaman, where I met Fr. James O’Rourke, who had left Ireland some 50 years before. I liked to sing Irish Ballads, and Fr. O’Rourke asked me to sing for him. I sang “Galway Bay,” “Mother Macree,” “Danny Boy,” “My Wild Irish Rose,” “Isle of Innisfree” and “Killarney,” for him and he began to cry. The 50 years that he had lived in Australia was an exile to this man from the Ould Sod. I realized that perhaps in some way, I had brought a little happiness to this kindly old soul, who remembered all the things that he had left behind. That was all the thanks that I could ever ask for, or wanted.

I touched Newcastle only once more after that and Fr. O’Rourke met me when the time came to leave Newcastle, Australia for the last time. I went to the see Fr. O’Rourke and bid him goodbye, but the housekeeper told me that Fr. O’Rourke would be away for a few days. Thus, I could not say goodbye. But a thought occurred to me. I would leave as my parting gift to Fr. James O’Rourke the statue of the oriental Jesus Christ in white teak. I gave it to the housekeeper and she said that she would make sure Fr. O’Rourke would get it. We sailed away that evening, heading back to England and by the time the ship reached Aden for bunkering (fuel oil), there was a letter from Fr. O’Rourke. He told me in the letter that he would always remember me, and that he had given the white teak statue of Jesus Christ a place of importance in his church. That church is the Sacred Heart Church at Maitland, Newcastle, and NSW, AUSTRALIA. It takes a lifetime to realize that some unknown forces, which are well beyond our control, sometimes guide us.

It took someone like me to pick up a statue from a junk pile in of all places, communist China to give it a place of honor in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Today there are many Chinese immigrants in Australia, and I hope that the Sacred Heart Church in Maitland, Newcastle, Australia is a parish, which has a large Chinese community. That is my only wish.

I know that from 1964 till our present time is a space of some 43 years, and Fr. O’Rourke who was 75 years old then, may not be alive, but I remember him well each day. And in writing this story, I hope it will bring a bit of mystique to the lives of others, who have as yet not been guided by that unseen hand that controls our world.

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Related: China, Southeast Asia

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