The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-03-09

Those who were present at DIR. Brands
special service, on Saturday, March Sd, COM
memorative of the fiftieth anniversary of his ad-
mission to priests orders, will be interested in
the following explanatory description of the
pictures placed in st. Mary's Church on that
day. as thank-offering by the Rector. The
artist who painted them, Rev. j. A. Oertel, was
present on the occasion:
IN two panels, each about eighteen feet i'm
length by three in height, divided in the middle
by rafter, on each side of the chancel, there
are eight paintings. They form frieZe from
the top of the wall to the roof. On each side
of the middle rafter are ranged two seated
tigures-four in all. These are the four
greater prophets. On the left, Isaiah and
jeremiah: on the right, Ezekiel and Daniel.
Each of these is characterized in accordance
with the nature of his prophecy and mission.
Isaiah the rapt evangelical seer; jeremiah,
the patriot, mourning over the ruin of Jerusa-
lem Ezekiel, beholding the mystic vision of the
Lords glory; and Daniel, as the one pointing
down the ages to the four great empires of the
world. These paintings measure % by SO inches
and are separated from the outer ones-which
are larger-by strip of dark wood about
inches wide.
.sThe larger compositions are of symbolic
character, i'll which Christ is foreshadowed as
the Sacrifice the Priest the Prophet and King,
and the Life-giver to His people.
Abel, slain for his righteousness by his wick
ed elder brother, lies near his altar with extend
ed arms, the shepherds crook under him, with
| the instrument of his death forming cross. A
supernatural light streams from above over
the accepted sacrifice, and some sheep stand
| looking upon the strange scene with dumb
sympathy. The altar of Cain, who has fled, is
| seen farther OFF with smoke and lurid light de-
| scending upon it.
''On the outer side of Ezekiel is represented
| the blessing by Melchisedec of Abraham, who,
| returning from battle with the five Kings,
gives to Melchisedec the tenth of all the spoils.
| Behind the chair of the old Priest stand youths
| bearing bread and wine" symbols of the New
| Testament Sacrament, which Mechsedec gives
| to Abraham.
opposite to this painting, on the right, is a
| representation of Moses shifting the Rock in
| the wilderness, and the thirsty people rushing
| to the stream of water. st. Paul refers to this
! event when he declares that under Moses the
people all drank of the spiritual Rock which
| followed them, land that Rock was Christi
| 1.-The fourth of the larger paintings shows the
| inspired David, the kingly progenitor of the
| Messiah, who prophesied His coming, playing
| on the harp before the moody Saul and by his
music driving away from him the evil spirits.
| "All the paintings are in monotone, the pro-
| phetic figures in warmer color, supplying Il
| focus to the tints, and the symbolic pictures
more i'll the tone of the stone wall below. By
! them the Old Testament,i in Il few main features,
is represented, all having a direct bearing on
| Him for whose coming to earth the Old Testa-
ment Dispensatons were II preparation"