"Two Stained Glass Windows Unveiled"

Two stained glass windows, the first of eight depicting the history of the Six Nations Indians as related to the Church of England, were dedicated at Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks yesterday.

Rt. Rev. George N. Luxton, Anglican bishop of Huron, addressing the large congregation, urged the Indians not to forget the great traditions of their past.

"These windows will help remind you of them," he said.

The two windows now installed were the gifts of the Diocese of Huron and the Women's Institutes of Brant County. The Diocesan window shows Indians at the court of Queen Anne requesting missionaries. The WI window subject is the Ascended Christ. The portrayal of God's Kingdom and household uses the Indian concept of the heavenly teepee.

The windows were presented on behalf of the Diocese by Canon L.A. Nelles, secretary-treasurer of the Diocese who is also a descendant of a former chaplain at the chapel, and Mrs. L. E. Harrison on behalf of the Women's Institute.

Ven. Archdeacon H. F. Appleyard and Mrs. Peter Van Every, a Mohawk Indian, unveiled the windows which were accepted for the chapel by the rector Rev. Canon W. J. Zimmerman.

It was on the advice of the Dean of Work, England, a foremost authority on stained glass, that Farrer-Bell, an internationally known artist, was asked to make the windows.

Only the two windows dedicated yesterday have arrived in Canada as yet. The others are expected in the near future. One may be the gift of Queen Elizabeth.

David Mitson of Dundas, from whose original designs the windows were copied, was commended by bishop Luxton for his work. Mr. Mitson for several years was bandmaster of the Six Nations Brass Band and so was quite familiar with the Six Nations' history.

Bishop Luxton said Mr. Mitson's designs have gone back and forth across the Atlantic many times, but always the original designs have held their ground, he said.

The bishop suggested that Canada's Indians should be represented in all avenues of Canadian life.

"We want our Indian brethren to have great pride in their race and in the history of their people," he said. "We want each member of the Six Nations to come to this house and be reminded that God has given us great gifts."

Bishop Luxton said the nation's Indians have great talents and should develop them to the utmost of their ability. He maintained Indians have qualities other races are lacking - and they are good qualities, he said.

This latest project marks the completion of 60 years of achievement for the WI branches of Brant County. The programs are of a cultural, educational and social nature and it has been said the WI is the "Rural Women's University," to better serve "home and country." Historical research, as has been evidenced by the many Tweedsmuir histories being compiled by the branches, is only one of the many activities. It has been said "He who forgets the past loses the key to the future." To all WI members history has a significance as far reaching as the nation. Only as we study each piece of the past and weave into it the local threads will we come to better understand and appreciate the whole, WI members feel.

The WI has at the present time three branches on the Indian Reservation near Brantford. The Sour Springs WI was organized in 1920 and Mrs. Peter Van Every who took part in the unveiling ceremonies is a charter member of this branch. A number of years ago at the request of the Indian Council she was given a Queen's medal. Ohsweken WI and the New Credit branch were organized shortly after. These branches through the years have given generously of their money, time and talents to aid the Lady Willingdon Hospital at Ohsweken, the schools, the shut-ins and children on the reserve.

At a meeting of the South Brant district executive in September of 1956, a request came in from the Sour Springs Branch asking if Federated Women's Institutes might be interested in putting a stained glass window in the Mohawk Church at a cost of approximately $1,000. This was discussed and it was decided to leave it to the branches if they wished to make a contribution to the window committee to finance this project. The Newport WI branch members were interested and suggested their branch secretary try to get more details as to the financing and donors. From information received at that time it was apparent if the required cost of a window just to be realized it would have to have the support of the WI of the county.

Among the WI representatives attending yesterday were:

Mrs. Reg Hyndman of Paris Plains, federation representatives of North Brant; Mrs. L. E. Harrison, federation representative of North Brant; Mrs. L. E. Holden, district president of South Brant; historical conveners, Mrs. John A. Charlton, North Brant; Mrs. Lloyd Wilson, South Brant committee chairmen, Mrs. Thomas House; FWIO board director, Mrs. Ewart Hunt; former area chairsman, Mrs. Harry L. Wood; provincial Curator of the Tweedsmuir History, Mrs. Robert Walker; and Secretary of Sour Springs WI.