The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-06
IN AN ARTISTIC
WINDOW IN BROWNS VALLEY
cHURcH-RoMANTIc STORY OF
CATHOLICISM IN THIS STATE.
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Rev. c. Thiebaut.)

i written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Rev. c. Thiebaut.)
i All art is necessarily symbolical. 1t
is an attempt to body forth certain
ideas which present themselves to the
artist as living realities These ideas
may be cleaned from various sources.
They may have their root in the rich
soil of the artists own soul, or they
may be culled from the pages of his
tory, sacred or profane But whatever
their origin, if the work be destined
to live, they must glow with the warm
colors of imagination, and be informed
with the undying spirit of truth.
In the Church of st. Anthony,
Browns Valley, Mimi, was recently
installed a stained-glass window, in
which these conditions are admirably
fulfilled. 1t is the work of Mr.. Robert
T. Giles of Minneapolis. Taking for
his subject, "The Advance of Civiliza.
tion and Christianity in Minnesota -
Mr.. Giles has produced that which all
visitors are unanimous in. styling a
unique work of art. 1t is no exaggera-
tion to say that for originality OF
design, dignity of treatment, and ac-
curacy of detail, this window can hard.
ly be surpassed in the United States
1t marks new departure in American
ecclesiastical art, drawing as it does
it's inspiration from a field that has
hitherto been practically untitled
namely, the religious history of Min.
nesota.
Father Hennepin.
The visitor, gazing at the window
finds himself reading once more some
of the most stirring chapters of that
history. The principal scene recalls
certain day in June, 1880, when
Father Louis Hennepin, first Catholic
missionary of Minnesota, stood on the
banks of the Mississippi on the site
of the present city of Minneapolis
and gave their name to the now ia
miliar falls of st. Anthony. CARRIED
in the severe habit of the Franciscan
Order, which displays brilliant au
tumnal brown, his hands are raised
as If invoking blessing from heaven
With rapt countenance he gazes up
!. wards. There is in his face the cour
age of the explorer who has defied al
hardships, chastened and subdued BY
the meekness of the apostle His
whole attitude is one of reverence and
dignity-of reverence because of the
sacred act in which he is engaged
sanctifying these waters for the first
time with their Creators name, anC
of dignity, because with uplifted cross
the standard of the Redeemer-he
takes possession of these newly-dis
covered regions in His name, and in
the name of his most Christian ma
jesty, the King of France
Beside the dominating figure o.
Hennepin are seen two white men
companions of his long peregrinations
They are 'coureurs de bois"; and the
olive green's, the bright browns, the
amber and the purple make riot oi
color in the rude garb Of these hardy
frontiersmen.
Indian Companions.
Grouped around these central figures
are several Indians, some erect anG
: statuesque, others crouching after the
, fashion of their race. All, with one
exception, are dressed in blankets OF
robes of brilliant hue. Over the
: shoulder of one hangs buffalo robe
another proudly displays a breast
plate of ornamental bead-work: the
long, straight hair of a third is inter
woven with gay ribbons. Their heads
for the most part, are adorned will
t eagle feathers and rich p1umage, while
{ the calumet of peace is held in theil
i hands side by side with the war-like
tomahawk. The general expression il
one of stolid sternness, softened how
i ever, with Wonderment and awe. AL
are engaged in keenly watching the
} missionary; and their bronZed faces
their piercing eyes, the rubies, sap
phires, and emeralds of their gar
J ments, lend that touch of nobility
which is proverbially associated with
the Red Man.
In the background the stately pines
, OF Minnesota wave their sombre dra
peries creating vistas and far per
, spectives, their branches silhouetted
, gracefully against the azure sky.
Two birch bark canoes, resting in
part on the heavy, dank masses OF
: verdure, reeds and waving grass on
the shore, and in part on the shining
surface of the ripping water, and
tepees showing among the trees in the
J distance, suggest the means Of trans
portation and the habitations of the
J tribes who roamed, in those days, the
prairies of the Northwest.
Seal of Minnesota.
The upper panel of the window,
which crowns the whole, gives the key
to the entire subject. Here is de-
picted the Great Seal of Minnesota
This Well-known seal represents the
State in its infancy. A settler is seen
, plowing the virgin soil, his gun resting
against the stump of tree; an Indian
! hastens across the distant prairie on
a galloping pony, and in the far back.
, ground CLEAN and flash the Falls OF
, st. Anthony. These were the days OF
colonization, fraught indeed with hard
ships, but pregnant with golden hopes
as bright as the star which shoots its
silver rays on the scene, 'L'Etoile du