Evening star., 1923-10-28

of the evangelists. st. Matthew. st.
Mark, st. Luke and st. John.
The exquisite wood carvings OF
incarnation lilies. Gala lilies. roses
and passion flowers around the
frames Of the pictures are symbols
OF triumph, purity and suffering.
The carved line Just above the altar
represents the lion of the Tribe Of
judah. while the lamb OF the earth
mound for an altar presents in idea
the Lamb of God. Between these
two silver dove hovers. emblematio
OF the Holy Spirit. The intricate
and yet bold carving of the grape
vine, grapes and wheat about the
altar table carry the idea, ST am
the vine and ye are the branches"
and represent the carved words, my
Body" and "My Blood" Some of his
most mastery carving is seen in the
figures of the two adoring angels
just below the alter. These cheru-
bim and scraphim with crowns cast
down and harp and palm branch
kneel beneath the inscription. holy.
Holy, Holy" the song of angels.
In the reredos Of the baptistry
there is but one large painting. It
shows the ark upon the waters over
which the dove flies bearing the olive
branch. The rainbow in the sky also
shows that the rain has stopped This
theme was chosen to typify thS
cleansing OF the earth by the water
OF the flood Just as the baptized are;
cleansed by water. The carved fig.
ures of st. Peter carrying the keys
and st. Paul with his sword of righti
cousness show the going forth o:
the disciples to Jew and gentle tJ
baptize. The two angels above berA
toward the font in attitude of adors-
ton. The top of the reredos resem3
bles a lace-like, carved doorway Of q
great cathedral
The beautiful picture of the Good,
Shepherd has been lately elevated
from its former position SO that -
may be more plainly seen. This paint
ing does not convey the idea of an
earthly shepherd, but of the Great
Shepherd of the sheep. 1t assumes
that what our Lord did while on
earth He is constantly doing by the
same means. He still goes out In,
the darkness with the love of God
to seek and save that which was lost.
The lamb He bears on His shoulders
explains the words found below.
fRe5oice with me for I have found
my sheep which was lost"
THAT the aim Of DR.. oertel's life
IL has heep orooy,rYt,h.s a. -.
his paintings have taught long after
their creator had passed to his re-
ward is most apparent today in the
Church Of the Incarnation. All who
enter it are impressed by its artistic
beauty and by the religious atmos-
phere which the paintings help in
such large measure to create.
Strangers only partially realize the
comfort and peace which the pic
lures have brought to those who
have been accustomed to read their
messages during the many years they
have been in place.
Rev. I. l. Townsend. who was
rector OF the church when the reredos
was installed. was a close friend Of
DR.. OertePs and for some time en-
Joyed the association Of DR.. Oertel
in his assistant rectorship. For
twenty-six years Rev. William Tayioe
Snyder served az rector, and was
succeeded about a year ago by Rev.
George w. Atkinson, jr, D. D. Dur
ing the past summer the interior OF
the church has been repainted and
the mahogany and walnut woodwork
refnished to blend more harmonious
ly with the stained glass windows
and the coiors of the pictures in their
story of the Incarnation.