Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-16

is the more unusual because it Is of carved
wood, polychromed and gilded Each figure
in it is colored as carefully as it would be in
an oil painting and the intricate. gilded carving
supplies an elaborate setting. The upper can
opted panel shows st. Mary holding the Holy
Child. His outspread arms welcome the
worshipers. who bring their earthly burdens
to the altar. Though many personages are
represented in this altar piece. He is the only
one who looks directly out upon those who kneel
before Him The large central lower panel
shows the scene Of the crucifxion, where the
Borrowing st. Mary and st. John stand by the
side of the cross. The worshiping angels in
the shadows behind the cross are in contrast
to those who stand out plainly in the other
parts Of the reredos
THE upper left group of the painted carving
pictures the annunciation and shows the
kneeling st. Mary turning to receive the mes
sage OF the angel. In the picture opposite
where st. Elizabeth visits st. Mary the two
women clasp hands In the lever left carving
the scene in the upper room at Pentecost is
perpetuated. There st. Mary, the central figure,
kneels among the apostles. The other painting
portrays Christ performing his first miracle
at the marriage feast in Canaan. st. Mary
stands beside her Son and sees the enlargement
OF MS work in enacting His miracle of turning
water into wine. As the youth in the picture
pours water from stone jug into a larger
earthen cask, its color changes into reddish
purple: The four evangelists stand directly
behind the altar.
The whole reredos looks like the interior Of
beautiful miniature church. where the gilded
framework at the sides suggests wide-open gates
TO welcome those who enter for refuge from
the strife OF worldly care Philip H Frohman
OF the firm of Frohman, Robb & Little the
architects OF the Cathedral who designed the
YcrP0OS states
fifteenth century reredoses, which we're carved
and guided in rich coors. He explains that
when their original beauty was destroyed
through the restoration of later times church.
goers became prejudiced against them. Now
the defects of former poor workmanship have
been overcome Mr.. Frohman states that the
reredos Of St Marys Chapel is an attempt to
bring back the medieval art of altar decoration
noted IN the Middle Ages for its beauty. It
copies no design, nor makes any attempt for q
modern art.
When the angel windows, with their brilliant
colors of red purple. blue, green and yellow
are put in the clerestory, the effect will be
entirely different. Work has already been be-
gun on these large glass pictures, in all Of
which angels mentioned in the Bible will be
SEEM and it is in keeping with the season of
Easter that work has already been begun on
the window which will show the angel appear
ing to St. Mary at the tomb on Easter morning
NdtNeQTdl puSTlmS VINO nave become inter.
eSted IN the stained-glaSs windows learn that
they are all made in the Cathedral's own plant
near Philadelphia under the direction of Law
renee B. Saint. There glass is produced with
qualities similar to that which was used by
medieval artists for the windows which have
endured through the centuries. william Du-
randus has written in his book of church SYM
bolissn that the glass windows are holy scrip
lures which expel the wind and rain-that t.
all things that are hurtful-but transmit the
light of the true Sun-that is God-into the
hearts Of the faithful" He points out that
christianity brought the entirely new art Of
stained glass into existence Its development
dates from the twelfth century. when Gothic
architecture came into being
The rose windows rich coloring and the
teaching value of its subject matter are said
to establish its claim to be favorably compared
with the great medieval windows, the finest
ever produced Its symbolism portrays the
story of the Last Judgment" In its central
opening our Lord is seated in majesty as King
of Kings. surrounded By the IL apostles &C.
cupying thrones. To the right of the Lord
such parallels as the Fig Tree" the House
Built on the Rock" the Tree Bearing Good
Fruit" and the Faithful Servant" are pic
tured. On the opposite side of the Eternal
Judge are such parallels as that of the Wheat
and Tares," the "Unfaithful Servant" the Tree
That Beareth No Good Fruit" and the House
Built Upon Sands" as well as Satan descending
with his fallen angels
Those who are saved or condemned at the
last are pictured in the outer circle of the
window. Unlike some representations Of the
Last Judgment" the rose window with its IS
pictured openings. portrays those who receive
the reward Of eternal life. as well as those who
meet destruction in the Lake of Fire." in the
lower part of the window. The "Tree of Life"
at the top, and the Opening Gates of Heaven"
symbolic the reward of those who hear the
commentator, well done. thou good and
faithful servant" In addition to the two
other rose windows, which will be installed
later, there will be more than $50 other stained
glass windows in the completed Cathedral
Visitors to the Bethlehem Chapel, in the
crypt. where Bishop Satterlee. Woodrow Wilson.
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