The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-13
INVEST TRADITION
IN.sTAINED CLASS
THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
NORTHWEST SYMROLIzED IN A
STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN
THE CHURCH OF ST. LOUIS.

The current issue of "The Western
Architect" a National Journal of Ar
chitecture and Allied Arts, contains
cut and descriptive sketch of beau
tiful stained glass window in the
Church of st. Louis, st. Paul, of which
the Rev. Paul Rulquin, s. M, is pas
tor. From it we quote the following:
Inasmuch as there had been made
nothing representing the Evangelical
-tion of the Northwest and in fact the
entire United States, it was suggested
by Rev. Paul Rulquin, S. NJ, of St.
Louis Church, st. Paul, that such a
representation in glass would be his
torical, permanent, and a beautiful Or
nament to the church; also a monu-
ment to the untiring efforts of the peo-
pie of the parish, and straightway COM
missioned prominent artist to pro-
duce a window in accordance with
these ideas.
The technique and treatment en-
ployed in the execution of this window
is identical with that used in the
worlds greatest cathedrals, designed
by Mr.. r. T. Giles in the studio of the
Pittsburg Plate Glass Co., Minneapo-
lis, Minnesota
The illustration represents Father
Hennepin locating at ST. Anthony
Falls, Minnesota, April 80, 1880, after
returning from the upper Mississippi.
Father Hennepin is erecting the first
cross made out of the timbers at hand,
calling attention of three Indian Chiefs
to the Christian belief in the Christ
crucified to save all mankind, il1ustrat-
ing this incident with a crucifx at
tached to his own rosary. Two of his
followers are seen kneeling in prayer.
The Indian holding tomahawk
typifies the suspicious character of the
race. A squaw in a canoe, represents
their means of transportation and
tepees signify their mode of living.
The Minnesota, pines, with sugges-
ton of st. Anthony Falls in the back
ground, complete the picture.
The ornamental surroundings, treat
ed as sheepskin or parchment, record
the development of the Catholic faith.
A cartouche at the top of the window
shows the first log chapel erected in
st. Paul, by Father Ga1tier in 1841,
constructed of rough logs, as shown in
this window. The two cartouches at
the base of the window contain draw
ings of st. Louis Church and the
Cathedral, which also signify a grand
monument to Catholicism, to the peo-
pie of the Archdiocese, and to His
Grace, Archbishop John Ireland.
The French Canadians who built
this first chapel, also built the first
Cathedral. There they worshipped a
number of years, the sermons being
in French and English. It was in 1868
that the French Canadians were Or
ganized into a parish with the Rev.
J. A. Schmirer as their first pastor
The Church was then located at the
northeast corner of Tenth and Cedar
Streets
In 1881 that frame building was dis
posed of and much larger stone edi-
fee as shown i'm this window, was dedi-
Gated by His Grace, Archbishop John
Ireland.
This window was blessed by the
Rev. Paul Rulquin, S. NJ, pastor of st.
Louis Church, previous to the conse-
Grafton of the new $4,000 Carrara mar
BILE altar, by His Lordship, Bishop J.
J. Lawler, on Nov. 80, 1911.