Friday, March 23, 2012

Mather Pew End

The pew end topped with this finial was given to Trinity College by the Church Club of Cleveland at the time of its 60th anniversary, to honor William Mather.  He was a Trinity graduate, a leading citizen of Cleveland and a founder of the club.  The carving shows Mather reading from one of the many volumes filled with the writings of his Mather forebearers.  (They were biggies in the Puritan times . . . you can check out Richard Mather, Increase Mather and Cotton Mather.)

Mather once said that his ancestors were the kind of people who, on arriving in this country, "fell upon their knees and then upon the aborigines."  I wish I came up with that line . . .
at

19 comments:

  1. KateMarch 23, 2012 at 6:09 AM

    Another amazing wood carvings. Yes, they certainly were biggies...don't know how much I appreciate the quote, tho.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MalyssMarch 23, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    I like this one very much!

    ReplyDelete
  3. KarlMarch 23, 2012 at 8:26 AM

    Wow, this Chapel is full with wonderful wood carvings! Thank you Jack for showing these.

    ReplyDelete
  4. brattcatMarch 23, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    i wouldn't mind sitting in william mather's pew.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Regina KMarch 23, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    This is a truly amazing chapel. Please do not stop showing us more!

    I have a question, do only firemen sit in the firemen pews, soldiers and sailors in their pew and the Mather's...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sylvia KMarch 23, 2012 at 9:22 AM

    These carving are simply incredible, Jack! Thank you so much for sharing this chapel with us! And, as for the quote, I love it! Unfortunately, it's also true! Gotta hand it to the Mathers!! Enjoy your weekend!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  7. Luis GomezMarch 23, 2012 at 10:00 AM

    Again, gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. PriscillaMarch 23, 2012 at 10:34 AM

    Beautiful carving. Interesting post. I'm actually a descendent of Timothy Mather...one of Richard's 5 sons. I checked out the link on Richard. I found it somewhat amusing that 4 of the boys were sent to Harvard to continue studies, but Timothy was apprenticed out as a farmer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. jooMarch 23, 2012 at 12:26 PM

    Another terrific one!

    ReplyDelete
  10. LowellMarch 23, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    The way you composed this I thought it was next to the pulpit.

    Now the question is, would you rather read Richard, Increase or Cotton Mather? Or would you rather not read any Mather for that matter? At this late day, I don't think it matters at all which Mather you'd rather read.

    ReplyDelete
  11. RedPatMarch 23, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    Keep these carvings coming Jack! I love them.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cezar and LéiaMarch 23, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    This is so unique, would never expect to see it in a church!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

    ReplyDelete
  13. HalcyonMarch 23, 2012 at 10:09 PM

    These are really getting better and better. But I think the fire and brimstone is my fave so far. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. RandyMarch 23, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    Sweet piece.

    ReplyDelete
  15. PerthDailyPhotoMarch 24, 2012 at 12:55 AM

    The carvings in this church are just amazing Jack and not only the pew finials. I often think i would have liked to live in times gone by, but in all honesty I think it would have been way too hard!

    ReplyDelete
  16. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"March 24, 2012 at 3:13 AM

    What an unusual little carving to find. Hoping to get to our Trinity College again soon to see the carvings by Grinling Gibbons. Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  17. RobertNMarch 24, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    Gorgeous! Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete
  18. VPMarch 24, 2012 at 8:02 AM

    I know about the Mathers because a character in some book I read when I was much younger bore this name...

    ReplyDelete
  19. EG CameraGirlMarch 24, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    I remember learning about the Mathers in history class. Interesting quote.

    ReplyDelete