Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-17
ALTAR IS BLESSED.
The Castleman Memorial at
Trinity Church.
MAGNIFICENT OFFERING.
Chancel is Enriched by Re-
peated Munihcence.
New Rail to Mr.. and Mrs
Elijah Carter.


The magnificent new Castleman
memorial altar and reredos at Trim
ity church was dedicated to God at !
the morning service at the church |
yesterday by the rector, Rev. E.
Sweet. The service was attended
BY . large congregation. The music
by the surpliced choir was unusually
impressive and the floral decorations,
particularly Of that part of the chan
eel furniture, which, through the
repeated muniicence of Mrs. Lucie
Castleman. was presented. were
rich and beautiful. Rev. &. F.
Sweet, rector, was assisted in the
regular service by Rev. DIR. Davis
dean Of the cathedral of St. Louis.
who delivered the discourse. whic b
was Of . memorial character-the
rector conducting the Office Of BEN
ediction Of the altar and chancel rail
The service throughout was pretty
and imposing.
The Castlemsn Altar.
The altar with which the church
has been enriched, through the mu-
ni6cence of Mrs. Castleman, Is q
most important elaboration in the
chancel. experimenting the windows
by John Lafarge, which she placed
last year. The octagon-ended sane
tuary has been filled with what is
probably the most important piece
of carved oak work In the United
States. the side and angle walls hav-
ing wainscot as high as the base
Of the windows. of intricate tracery
panels and faliated moulded top.
This acts as an introductory. SO to
speak, to the central composition,
the altar with its reta BILE gradines and
reredos. The work is designed and
executed by j. 4 Il Lamb, New
York. who have very happily in the
use of Gothic architecture made the
proportions Of this central com posi-
tion SO as to harmonic with and
elaborate the entire sanctuary end.
Between the windows, the side
panels of the reredos with the small
Ter canopies have been so placed as
to line with the arched end of the
window, aad form q continuation OF
these toward the central portion of
the rereios. Here a large gable
with deliberately crocketed mould.
ings rises to the center, where a pro-
jecting canopy acts as a crown for
the altar cross. This, a large exam.
pie of chased bronze work, stands
free upon separate throne, and has
as q background q most intricate
panel Of carved passion flowers,
scrolls of which branch right and
left, twine AID intertwine into q
most complicated and delightfully."-
effective scheme. These symbolic
flowers are supplemented by sprays
of lilies carved in high relief on the
face of the gradines which right and
left intersect against the central
throne to the altar cross which. as
its main enrichment, has the symbol
Of the l. H. S. within q carved
Gothic panel.
The altar top below the gradines
is almost the length of them, being
as large as it was possible 10 secure
in the plan Of the sanctuary. Here
an elaborate cornice of carving with
cnerubs' heads at the extreme cor
ners, balances as freize the bands of
lilies directly above. This fro re is
supported by engaged twisted double
columns at either end of the altar,
thus forming he large central COM
position where carved in high alto
relieve. is the sculptured panel of the
& 10 Of hx. -
'Our Blessed Lord" standing in the
centre, the table. servants, the wine.
jars, etc.. on the right, and the
guests, the bride and groom, the
Virgin Mother and other figures on
the left. Back of these figures. a
colorado with elaborate diaper pat
tern of carved detail is introduced.
The figure interest of the altar is
balanced in the reredos where, under
the canopies. two large angels in at
titude of alteration. carved in solid
oak, stand on separate pedestals
facing toward the cross. Thus the
entire sp'rit of the designers idea is
seen at q glance, and the beautiful
way in which the work centres
around the cross as a symbol, the
suggestion of the communion, and
| the Passion of our Lord, which is
shown in the various details of the
subject Of the altar itself and the
sym bolic flowers is most beautifully
carried ont.
Being q memorial to the late Judge
Castleman, there is inscribed in re-
lief on the base af the altar the fol.
lowing:
ITO the GLORY OF God and in
Loving Memory OF
George A. Castleman, 1896"