Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-07-21
STORY ABOUT SOME NOTED
PLACES IN CALIFORNIA
(By Ada E. Hatton)


Many, perhaps most of the people
who visit Glendale, California, avail
themselves of the privilege of see
ing Forest Lawn Memorial park,
where are located the small com
panion churches-The Little Church
OF the Flowers and Wee Kirk o.
the Heather. Both are quantity
beautiful
The Little Church of the Flowers,
built in the year 1917, was inspired
1t is said by the old world village
of Stoke Poges in Buckingham
England, made famous by the poet
Thomas Gray, and where he wrote
his immortal "Elegy" In each side
of this little vine covered church
are five arches in which hang great
sweeping ferns. Back of these are
the windows, and between the arch
es and the windows are banked the
choicest and most beautiful of grow
Ing flowers, these extending the en-
tire length of the church.
In the Wee Kirk O. the Heather
there is similar arrangement of
growing flowers in one side of the
church. Looking out through win
dow about midway of this little
church, one sees a figure of tran
scendant beauty. 1t is a large white
marble statue of Christ, by Thor
valdsen. This is in what is desig-
mated as "the garden and which is
sanctuary to which visitors at the
church are asked to not go, except
for purposes of meditation and
prayer
The Wee Kirk o. the Heather is a
replica if Glencairn, Annie Laurie's
church. 1t is said to be a faithful
reproduction Of the one the Scottish
lass attended throughout her life,
16821764, and whose charms fur
nished the theme for the ballad
known and sung the world over.
Many funerals and weddings have
taken place in these two little
churches. Concerning the latter, Bob
Ripley, the "believe it or not writ
er, makes the comment that more
weddings have taken place in Forest
Lawn cemetery than in any other
one place in the United States. In
the neighborhood of 5000 mar
riages have been performed in the
two churches there.
Visitors may go into Forest Lawn
Memorial park at any time, and may
visit the churches at any time un-
less there should be special ser
vice of some kind in progress. There
is one place in the cemetery, how
ever. that they may not visit with
out previous reservation and the Sc
curing of card of admittance. This
is Memorial Terrace of the mauso-
leum. Many wish to see ''The Last
Supper" window there, hence it was
found necessary to restrict admit
tance to a limited number of per-
sons each hour, in order to preserve
the sacred character of the mauso-
leum.
One gazes in awe at this large
and beautiful window, which is
world famous Moretti recreation in
stained glass, of Leonardo da Vinci's
masterpiece-Christ and the twelve
disciples at "The Last Supper"
Millions Of persons have journey
da Vinci's masterpiece. Painted on
plaster wall, this picture has for
centuries been taking away, and
different rulers of Italy have made
efforts to have it restored, but now
very IlCtlo OF the OflSlHdl pdiltlhS
is left. The stained glass window
in Forest Lawn, showing 1.-THE Last
Supper" was made by Rosa Caselli
Moretti and was re-created from
Leonardos original sketches collect
ed from the art museums of Europe
Speaking at the dedication of the
window in April of 1881. and which
dedication was attended by the gov
ernor of California and other not
able persons, the chairman of the
board of Forest Lawn stated that
he had visited Italy many times and
| watched the work on the window in
progress. Finally, in the early part
of 1890, ne received word that the
figure of Judas had broken five
times in the making, and all Italy
was aroused and watchfully specu-
lating. Said Miss Moretti: II know
not whether the good God intends
STATE AUTO MUTUAL IN.
SURANCE ASSOCIATION