SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL WINDOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 23

SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL WINDOW.

FOR ST. PAUL’S .CATHEDRAL, DUNEDIN. Wo have lately been shown the design for a window which it is proposed to place over the main door of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, in memory of those men of Otago and Southland who made the supreme sacrifice during the Great War. Bishop Richards, during his recent visit ‘to England, made inquiries regarding the proposed window, and got into touch with Messrs James Powell and Sons, Whitefriars, London. Their artist, Mr G. H. Hutchinson, under the supervision of the Bishop of Dover, who superintended the designs for the windows in the new cathedral at Liverpool, has produced the design, which is at present exhibited, by the courtesy of the manager, in the picture window of Messrs Braithwaite’s, Ltd. The idea carried out in the design is ‘‘Victory Through Sacrifice.” The four left-hand lights are devoted to Struggle and Sacrifice, and those on the right to Victory and Peace, as follows : 1. St. Michael, the Warrior Archangel. 2. The Angel of the Passion with the Crown of Thoms. 3. The Angel of Sacrifice, with the Cross. 4. The Angel of Death, with the Scythe. 5. Gabriel, the Archangel of Peace, who announced the Coming of the Prince of Peace. 6. The Angel with the Chalice, signifying Redemption through Blood. 7. The Angel of Resurrection, with the Banner—Victory oveF Death. 8. The Angel with the Crown of Glory. At the bottom of these lights, are small subjects carrying out the same ideas: (1) There was war in Heaven: the beginning of strife. (2) The Paschal Lamb, the sprinkling of the Blood on the door-posts, typical of redemption through Blood. (3) Moses lifting up the Serpent in the wilderness, as a type of the Crucifixion. (4) The Entombment. (5) The Nativity—Peace on Earth. (6) Christ reigning • from the Tree. (7) The Resurrection. (8) The Ascension. Between the upper and lower tiers are places small figures of virtues:—(l) Fortitude, with shield and sword. (2) Patience, with the Crucifix. (3) Truth, with the Mirror. (4) Obedience with the Yoke (obedient unto death). (5) Love, with the flaming Heart. (6) Faith, with the Cross. (7) Hope, with the anchor. (8) with the olive and the dove. The idea running through these figures is that it is only through exercising these virtues of Fortitude, Patience. Truth, and Obedience, that we are able to reap the reward of Love, Faith, Hope, and Peace. In the tracery is placed the Crown of- Thorns, and the Crown of Glory on either side. Badges representing the four branches of the service—viz.. Artillery, Mounted, Infantry, and Army Medical, are shown in the four trefoils, and other badges appear in the smaller portions of the tracery; the Arms of the United Kingdom, and those of New Zealand are placed in the spaces above. The top piece of the tracery is filled with rays issuing from the Cross by the stonework. An idea of the size of the window may be gathered when we state that each light is 19ft in height. The window promises to be one of the most beautiful in the dominion, and specially suited to the purpose for which it is designed. It is both symbolical and artistic, and in view of the above explanation, should appeal to every one in the community who realise that the sacrifices made by our men should be ever remembered. The idea of .perpetuating their memory in this fashion originated with Mrs J. C. M‘George, of Mornington, hon. treasurer of Soldiers' Window Fund, her associate is (lie hon. secretary Mrs S. W. Gibbs. These ladies have already raised a portion of the money required, and have various schemes in hand to bring it to a successful finality. We trust they will have the hearty support of the public to help them towards the completion of their work.