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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. John's Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Royal Oak

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1943

Subject/Title of Window: Parable of the Good Samaritan, Panel 4

Brief Description of Subject: This window was designed for this parish's Gothic styled church which opened in 1926. Subsequently the congregation need a larger church and replaced this with a modern styled church which opened in 1957, and moved their stained glass windows to the new church. This window is located on the second level of the Gospel side transept.

The "Parable of the Good Samaritan Window," was originally a four panel window. At the top of each panel is the name of a different parable which can be found in the Gospel of Luke. Each panel, starting at the left and moving right, pictures a distinct scene from the Parable of the Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25 - 37. Above each scene is an inscription from that Parable (KJV), which tells what scene is depicted. The four panels were united by the inscription across the bottom: Verse 27 (KJV), "Love thy Lord thy God with all thy heart, ... and love thy neighbor as thyself," and Verse 37 (KJV), "DO THOU LIKEWISE." The borders consist of geometrical patterns, birds, angels, and miniature scenes. The new Church was simply not designed to accommodate this window, and it was split up into four individual windows. Thus it can no longer be viewed as the artist intended.

At the top level of this window is pictured a shepherd carrying a lost lamb --- This is the "Parable of the Good Shepherd" which is found in Luke 15:3 -7.

Panel 1 started the Parable of the Good Samaritan with "A certain man fell among thieves." Verses 25 - 30
Panel 2 continued the Parable with "A Priest likewise a Levite passed by." Verses 32 - 32
Panel 3 continued the Parable with "But a Samaritan had compassion." Verses 33 - 34

This is Panel 4, the last scene of the Parable as well as its moral, Verses 35 - 37 --- The Samaritan had brought the man to an inn, "And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, TAKE CARE OF HIM; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves? And he [the lawyer] said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus, Go, and DO THOU LIKEWISE," (KJV).

In the arch of the lower section pictures an angel, with a stern expression, holding a banner with the inscription, "Take care of him until I return." In the scene below, the pillar has the word "Jericho" --- the man was traveling on a route from Jerusalem to Jericho. Note, in the time of Jesus, this route was known as the "Bloody Way" as it was notorious for robberies and killings.

The memorial inscription at the bottom of the panels is not visible. Church records indicate they were given in memory of Joseph M. Smith and as a tribute to Mrs. Ella Smith, Mr. Fred I. Packard, and Mrs. Ida Packard by their son and daughter, respectively, Mr. and Mrs. Leo W. Smith, and dedicated on July 25, 1943.

Inscriptions: Good Shepherd
Take care of him until return again
Do thou likewise


Condition of Window: Good

Type of Glass and Technique: Lead Came

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