Excerpt from the first newsletter:
The Diocese of Eau Claire
Vol. 1 No. 1
Hudson, WI, June, 1929
"Last Supper" Panel
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Herewith is a cut of the memorial panel which was unveiled on the Fifth Sunday after Easter, May 22, 1927. It is the gift of Mrs. Walter Fitch in memory of her mother, Mrs. Abigail Milliken Harper, who entered into Paradise July 2, 1904. The panel consists of a wood carving done by one of the Oberammergau Langs (the same who did the carving on the Rood Beam) who is credited with being one of the two best wood carvers in this country. The panel itself is set in a Gothic frame and illuminated by a concealed light from above.
The carving is a reproduction of the painting known as the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter of the fifteenth century. It shows our Lord and the twelve apostles in the upper room in Jerusalem on Maunday Thursday night when Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Communion. The particular incident portrayed occurred just as our Lord made the startling announcement: "Verily, verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me." Immediately to the right of our Lord sits St. John, the Beloved Disciple, perplexed by this unexpected statement. St. Peter (third on the right) has jumped to his feet and is leaning back of Judas Iscariot reaching for St. John and urging him to ask the Master who the traitor may be. Judas shrinks forward on the table clutching his money bag.
On the left of our Lord is St. James the Elder, leaning back with hands extended in astonishment. Behind him stands St. Thomas with his hands raised as though asking the question, "Lord, is it I?" And next to him is pleading his innocence of any treachery. Toward the left end of the table is a group of three more apostles with their heads together discussing the strange turn of events. The first of them is St. Matthew, speaking to the other apostles but extending his hands toward the Savior as though referrring to His recent remarks. Next is Thadeus, striking one hand into the other in token of surprise, and at the end of the table is Simon the Canaanite with his hands extended in dismay.
The last three, at the right hand end of the table represent St. Andrew with his hands raised in amazement, while St. James the Younger reaches behind him toward St. Peter as though to restrain any hasty action. At the end of the table St. Bartholomew leans attentively forward to catch our Lord's reply to St. John's question as to the identity of the traitor. It is an exceptionally expressive piece of work, beautifully executed and placed in the wall of the Church near the pew which Mrs. Harper used to occupy in the old Church.
Look for this as you walk into the Cathedral on the right hand side handing on the wall.
