VIRGIN AND CHILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 7

VIRGIN AND CHILD.

DRESSED IN ERMINE.

PAINTING IN CATHEDRAL

CHURCH IN ARCTIC CIRCLE.

EDMOVI'OX, August 31

Link of Empire and its spiritual faith is a painting bv Violet Teague, of Melbourne, Australia, over the altar of the Anglican Church of All Saints at Aklavik, Canada, consecrated on June 29 as the cathedral of the diocese of the Arctic, the most northerly cathedral 111 the world.

Akinvik is 1700 iniles north of Edmonton and well into the shady side of the Arctic circle. Several hundred Indians And Eskimos from the settlements around this trading post worship the white man's God at the cathedral—an •attractive wooden building, built by native labour supervised bv one white carpenter. Governor-General Lord Tweedsmuir drove the first nail into the framework when be was in Aklavik two years ago. With the consecration of the edifice by Primate Derwyn T. Owen the church took on all the dignities of a cathedral. Canons, honorary canons and an archdeacon were appointed from among the missionary clergymen of the Arctic diocese. some of them in charge of missions 1000 miles away from Aklavik. Tiie natives contributed generously to the cost as well as the labour of the building, which is free from debt. When tribesmen entered for the consecration service, the head of each family placed 011 a pile near the door the traditional fresh muskrat skin as his offering. "Epiphany of the Snows." During the ceremonies Rt. Rev. A. L. Fleming, Bishop of the Arctic, called attention to the painting over the altar entitled "Epiphany of the Snows." Some time ago Miss Teague, the artist —a fre- ' quent exhibitor at the Royal Academy — j heard a sermon preached in , London by the ScottWh-born bishop. j

Afterwards Miss Teague said she would like to contribute a painting on the theme the Christian religion did not embrace certain races to the exclusion of others. Although her knowledge of the Arctic was confined to photographs and scenes of the Far Xorth, she proceeded with the work now in the church at Aklavik.

The painting shows the Virgin and Child dressed in ermine, receiving gifts of a live beaver from an Indian in buckskin, a white pelt from a trapper and two walrus tusks from an Eskimo, while a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable in furs stands in the background. —Canadian Press.