IMPRESSIVE SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11662, 29 October 1923, Page 7

IMPRESSIVE SERVICE

A MEMORIAL WINDOW

DEDICATION SERVICE AT ST. ALBAN’S, EASTBOURNE. THE LATE MR KNOX GILMER. An impressive service was conducted at the Church cf St. Alban’s at Eastbourne on Saturday afternoon by the Bishop of Wellington (Dr, Spxott), u ho dedicated and unveiled a memorial window in memory of the late Mr Knox Gilmer, who for many years was a constant and regular worshipper in the church. The crowded congregation included relatives and many triends of the deceased, also Mrs Seddon (whose son-in-law he was. and several members of her family. A considerable number of friends made the trip across the harbour from Wellington, and before the sendee was commenced there was hardly standing room in the little church. The window, an exceptionally fine piece of work, was the gift of Mary and Jean Gilmer, the daughters of Mr and Airs Knox Gilmer, who presented it in memory ot their father. The subject chosen was that of the Ascension of our Lord. The other clergy present were Archdeacon Johnson, Canon Bean, of Christchurch, Rev. A. W. H. Compton, and Rev. O. M. Stent, vicar of Eastbourne. The first lesson was read hy Canon Bean, who was a brother-in-law of Mr Gilmer (who had journeyed from Christchurch for the occasion), and the second by the Archdeacon of Wellington. BISHOP SPROTT’S ADDRESS. In the course of a brief address after the window had been dedicated and unveiled the Bishop referred with pleasure to the gift of Mary and Jean Gilmer to the memory of one who “was their father and a faithful worshipper in this church.” “He was well known to all of you,” said Dr. Sprott, “and intimately known and loved by many. 1 would like to refer to the subject of this memorial, with its message of hope and consolation. It is well-known that we should have memorials such as this to the memory of those we have known and loved, and Who have passed away from this earth. It is also well known that such memorials should be associated with God’s houso and our Christian faith.”

Christians were assured hy their faith, said the Bishop, that tliose who had passed away, were not separated from their loved ones by time, but still lived. “It is fitting therefore that the subject chosen for this memorial should be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Hia Lordship. “We must all come to the conclusion that Christianity of this day of ours has lost much of its early radiance. and 1 othing is more significant to my mind in that connection than the way we treat of death, surrounding it with sadness and gloom.” This was not the custom of the primitive Christians. The Bishop had never had the privilege of visiting the city of Rome, but he had read of how the early Christians had surrounded their dead, when placed in the catacombs, wlith emblems of cheer and hope. When they laid their loved ones to rest the emblems chosen were not of sadness and gloom, but were always cheerful and full of hope. Even green leaves suggested that the winter of the grave had not really touched the souls of the dear ones who had departed. They really and truly believed in the great spiritual truth of the picture or the Ascension of onr Lord. “They really believed that our Lord Jesus Christ had risen and is at the right hand of God the Father,” continued the Bishop. “And they did so with a message that en abLd them to face life with sanity and hope, for they knew that this world was not man’s only home. “I am indeed glad that the memorial has taken this form and that this subject has 'been cboeen, for from generation to generation in this church this truth will bq brought before worshippers. It will bring before them the command, one of the oldest in the literature of the Church, of ‘Lift up you hearts?’ with its reply of ‘We lift them up to the Lord’. . . I think that all who worship here in future will hear that voice saying ‘Lift up your hearts to the Lord,’ and hack will come the ancient response of the people, ‘Yes, we lift them up to the Lord.’ ” THE MEMORIAL WINDOW.

The memorial window is at the end of the church, over the altai. It is a magnificent specimen of the great art of working in etained glass. The subject represented is the Annunciation. The central figure dominates in a great blaze of colour, an angel on each side at a lower level holding between them a scroll bearing the words addressed in the Gospel narrative by the angel to the “Men of Galilee.” The bacilli round is a sky of marvellous blue. Below the angels is the green summit of the hill of the Ascension. Grouped round its foot are the apostles and disciples with the Mother of our Lord in the foreground. The figures are of great dignity, the grouping is masterly, and the colour seneme is a glorious harmony of brilliant hues. The framing is architectural upright on tihe Gothic syle, carrying a magnificent overhead canopy of precious stones, fashioned to give brilliant prismatic efforts in the sunlight striking the window. The panels of the framing carry various emblems and symbols. Below is the inscription setting forth that the window was erected “To the glory of God and the memory of Knox Gilmer” by bis children.

After the ceremony Mrs Knox Gilmer held a reception to her friends at her house, many of whom had l come long distances to the ceremony. Mrs Gilmer was arsisted in the reception by Mrs R. .1. Seddon, the Rev. Canon Bean. Dr. Gilmer. Dr. and Mrs Hay, Dr. and Mrs Morire. and Mrs Dyer.