The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-21 00:00:00

Glasgow Cathedral Windows,

On Tuesiay afternoon a meeting of the subscribers to the
Glasgow Cathedral windows was held in the choir of the
cathedral, for the purpose of handing over the series of
painted windows now completed to the First Commissioner
of her Majesty's Works. Amongst those present were the
Lord Provost and magistrat.s of the city, the Duke of Mon-
trose, Lord Belhaven, the Right Hon. William Cowper,
M.P., First Commissioner of her Majesty's Works, Mr NIT,
Buchanan, M.P., Mr Stirling, of Keir, M.P., Mr Peter
Blackburn, M.P., Sir Andrew Orr, Sheriff Sir Archibald
Alison, and other influential gentlemen connected with the
district. The Lord Prevost having taken the chair, Sir A.
Orr read an address to the First Commissioner, setting forth
the character and extent of the work which the subscribers
had been enabled to effect. The document set out by
stating that, on the 4th of September, 1856, the subscribers
pledged themselves "to unite in promoting the adop-
tion of an harmonious plan of decoration suitable to the
character cf the building, and worthy of the purity and
dignity of its architecture." In detailing the steps taken in
the carrying out of this object, the address proceeded:—
" The first painted window erccted in the nave of this
church was the great west window; it was formally inaugu.
rated upon the 16th of Nevember, 1859. The Government
window was erected in the month of June, 1862. Other 41
painted windows, of different sizes and proportions, consti-
tuting the whole series of 46, have been executed and placed,
the last being completed on the 3d of the present month,
Besides those examined under the direction of the commit-
tee, 36 have been placed in the Chapter-house and crypts.
Tho first of these arrived in this ccuntry from Dresden in
April, 1859, making, with those in the chutch, 81 painted
windows presented within the last eight years. Twelve
more are in course of execution, and two others have been
allocated." As to what yet remains to be done, it was sub-
mitted that the filling in of the clerestory windows with
painted glass was obviously desirable, Some progress was
stated to have been made in this direction by the generosity
of several ladies and gentlemen, and the subscribers' com-
mittee expressed their ardent live that the object would be
accomplished. Mr Cowper, in replying to the address, sai:
he had great satisfaction, in his capacity of First Commis-
sioner of her Majesty's Works, in receiving the custody of
the precious gift which the subscribers to the windows had
made to the Queen and the naticn. He went on to say,

" Thia is in many respects a great era in the history of
glass-painting. I cannot sufficiently commend the good
judgment of the committee in having determined that they
would put the best art that they could find in this building,
wherever they might go to seek it. Some persons might think
that it was unpatriotic to prefer foreign art to native art, but
a moment's reflection will show that such an idea is entirely
without foundation. The object is to get high art, and the
best art. Now, it happens that in our own cDuntly artists
of great skill and great genius are not accustomed to employ
themselves in designing painted glass, but in Munich there

is a school of painter; who have practised themselves in
fresco painting, who are well acquainted with monumental
art, and who are in close juxtaposition with a glass manu-
factory, so that with them coloured glass is not as it is with
us, maialy a manufacture, or mainly a reproduction of
minds of a former period, but it is a walk of art, a school of
art, and a production of very high and great merit. Now,
it is much better for the glass artists of our own land that
they should have put before them, as is done in this build-
ing, the highest examples that can be found of the excellence
at which they should aim. It would have been no advantage
to them to put inferior glass in here, so that they could not
have risen above the level to which they have already at-
tained. (Cheers.) it is as natural that we should go to great
artists for painted glass as that the Germans should apply
to us far great engineers to make their railroads or build
their bridges, and we might as well say that our National
Gallery should have no great Itelien or Flemish paintings
as that a building which we wish to decorate as highly as
we can shall not be decorated by artists who live in foreign
countries. (Hear, hear.) We have in these windows around
us admirable drawing, dramatic cfC2ct—a4 have great
character, great expression—all within the limits that are
proper to glass-painting. The glass here is, as I see,
strictly mosaic glass. There is no attempt at making
transparencies, or making pictures such as would be upon
a wall or on canvass; but we see the skill and the genius
of great artists brought strictly within the rules which
make glass-painting a special branch of art." After dwell.
ing at some length on the various paints of excellence
presented in the windows, Mr Cowper said that the
example that had been set in Glasgow Cathedral was one
that he was sure would b 3 followed in many churches, not
only in Scotland, but in England. Those who were pre-
paring to fill the Cathedral of St. Paul's, London, with glass
had carefully studied the Glasgow windows, and had seen
at a glance that it would not do for the cathedral of Lon-
don to be behindhand with that of Glasgow. They were
endeavouring to vie with the Glasgow glass by sending to
the same artists and to the same manufacturer for the glass
they intended to use. A vote of thanks was afterwards, on
the motion of the Duke of Montrose, accorded to the com-

mittee of subscribers, and Sir Andrew Orr, in acknowledg-
ing the compliment, stated that the committee would be
happy to continue their labours till the filling, in of the
whole of the windows of the cathedral was completed.

MARRIAGE OF THE HON. THOMAS J. H. THUR-
LOW AND LADY ELMA BRUCE.—On Tuesday last
the nuptials of the Lady Elma Bruce, daughter of his
Excellency the late Earl of Elgin, Viceroy of India, with
the Hon. Thos. J. H. Thurlow, brother of Lord Thurlow,
took place at St. John's Episcopal Chapel at Forres, N.B.
It was understood that the wedding was to be conducted in
a very quiet manner, but owing to the fair bride being a
great favourite in Morayshire, and tho respect entertained
for her father, more than the usual interest was manifested
by the inhabitants. The church was crowded to excess
before the arrival of the wedding party. The bride was
attended to the altar by Miss Gordon Cumming, Miss Nisbet
Hamilton, Miss Louise Forbes, and Miss Oswald (of Dun-
nikier), as bridesmaids ; and Lord Thurlow officiated us
groomsman to his brother. The Right Rev, the Bishop of
Biechin (cousin of the brith), assisted by the Itbv. E. II
Owen, performed the nuptial rite. The bride was given
away by Major Cumming Bruce, M.P„ her maternal grand
father. Among the company present at the solemnisation
of the =midge were the Right lion. R. A. and Lady Mary
Nisbet-Hamiltou, the Ilon. Sir F. Bruce, K.C.8.,
Thomas and Mrs Bruce, lion. Robert Bruce, Hon. Fred.
Bruce, Mr and Lady Lucy Grant, II on. George and Mrs
Grant, Sir A. Dunbar, Captain and Miss Dunbar, Sir Alex.
and Lady Gordon-Cumming and Miss E. C. Gordon-
Cumming, Mr and Mrs Dunbar-Dunbar, Mr and Mrs
Cumming-Bruce, &c. On leaving the chapel for Dunphail
House the happy couple were loudly cheered by the admir-
ing crowd assembled to witness their departure. Later in
the afternoon the hon. gentleman and Lady Etna Thurlow
left for Gordonstown House, the seat of Sir Alex. Gordon
Cumming, Bait., for the honeymoon. There were great
rejoicings at Forres on the part of Major Cumming's ten-
antry and of the inhabitants, in celebration of the auspicious
event, which was of much local interest,