The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-20
The Davenport Memorial window.

IL was our good fortune 10 De SHOWN yeb-
Nerday the beautiful window which has just
theen placed in St. Matthews cathedral The
FUNDS with which this window was purchased
earo the result of five years work of the Sun
day school. After the death of Rev. 5. ID,
Davenport it was decided to make this win
dow a memorial, and it now stands lifting
testimonial to one whose work it was to pro
claim the glad tidings Of christianity. AL
though The window is composed of severa!
sections, each containing different figures and
,amblems, yet there is manifest unity in the
whole design
The nativity, the crucifxion, the resurrec-
taon and ascension of Jesus Christ are the
ssubiects represented. 1t is almost useless to
attempt to describe in detail tho many OK
,1uisite beauties of this window. The faces,
'lhe drapery, the flowers, the inscriptions, are
all good and will repay close examination.
The scene of the nativity is laid just with
4 n the walls of Bethlehem. An ordinary
stable is seen in the background, in which are
standing two animals, an OK and an ASS. In
tshe foreground Mary and Joseph are repre-
ssented, bending over little manger in which
.on bunGle of straw lies the Christ-child.
At His feet lamb is placed. Over the
whole group light is thrown, which brings
out in bold relief the exquisite faces of the
mother and the babe. There is something
isndescrbably beautiful in the Virgins coun-
i.enance and very touching in the little child,
who is reaching out the tiny hands to the
ssentle face. The effect Of the colors is
very fine Over this picture is u canopy in
(which is scroll, having on it the
words, "The Lamb of God" The top
Border Of this section of the window is formed
of lilies of the valley and passion lilies
Gntertwined on q gold ground The centre
arch of tho window contains a representation
Sof the crucfxon. BY the side of the cross
the Virgin and st. John stand, and PROSTATE
at the foot thereof Mary Magdalenelie with
iler hands clssped about it. We noticed
mere how well the thirty-three years diff r
euco in the age of the virgin mother is por-
r.rsyed. Over the Manager youthful face is
bending, while here beside the cross is u face
Of the "mater dolorosa," sweet, but old and
fFdll Of care. In the canopy above the cruel
tixion are the words, (Which taleth away
The next arch of the window is copied
from famous German picture, csled
Easter Morning" The scene represents
Mary Magdalene throwing herself down h
surprise aud JOY at the feet Of the risen Lord.
She has thrown her vase OF ointment from
her and raised her hands to clasp them about
Him who has forgiven her so much. He
at.,N, AL ma, ..t
AorI am not vet assembled etc. In the dis
tsnce can be seen three empty crosses, The
canopy above this arch has upon it the
words, "Thc sin of The world" thus COM
1leting the sentence, "the Lamb of God,
which talteth away the sin of the world
The Ascension fills the rose-shaped open
ing above. This is q fine picture, and litly
crowns the whole. About the ascending
Aord are grouped the eleven disciples;
che face Of each is full of mean
ing. Around this ''rose" are clusters OF
wheat and grapes-a sheaf and cluster OF
which also fills the two small trefoi open.
ings of the window The wheat and grapes
are sacred symbols of the bread and wine
which the Lord has appointed TO be thu
means Of communicating his blessed body
sand blood in the sacrament of the Lord
supper. Below the pictures in the three
arches runs part Of the memorial inscrip
zion, "There remaineth therefore rest fol
5the people of God" Below this in the sid
arches are two small figures representa-!
angels. They bear scroll upon which i
she word Alleluia. In the centre, is cherub'
mead with an inscription, "Their angels d,
fslways behold the face of my Father, whicl
is in heaven" "In Memoriam Helen Deal
Davenport fell asleep May 18th, 1879.
Around this inscription are interviewed Ill
lies of the valley and passion lilies upoI
"A crimson ground. Below and running
ACROSS the entire window is the inscription
Erected by the children of st. Matthew
Sunday school to the glory of God and i
memory of Rev. Silas Dean Davenport, VIII
entered into rest January LIST, 1871"
BY this description we feel that we hardl,
40 Justice to SO beautiful work of arr
Every face is beautiful, and the rainbow color
,of grass and sky and robes and flowers, Will
brilliant, are yet soft and admirably blended
lMcCully & Miles, of Chicago, who execute
Sthe work, deserve great credit for the mamie
in which It is done. Not harsh criticisr
has been made upon the window. We fee
gglad To see our people taking an interest !
the Identifying of our public buildings-el
yyecially our churches. No one can enter s
Matthew's cathedral without at once bein
filled with better thoughts and higher aspir,
lions. The beautiful altar, with its rc
carving and gliding, and the window aboy
git, tells always the story of "the Lamb {
God, which taketh away the sin of tf
>swerld, "andof that sacrament which is the pc
gpetusl pledge of His love and the means
conveying the benefits of His incarnation, II
epsssion, His resurrection and His ascensio
Memorial service will be held at st. Ma
sshew's cathedral this morning, at whic
tAme the window will be unveiled.