Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1895 — A Remarkable Pulpit. [ARTICLE]

A Remarkable Pulpit.

The Mechlin Cathedral pulpit is regarded as the second finest in the world, the finest having been done by the same artist for the cathedral in Brussels. The writer, who has seen both, while admitting points of superiority in that of Brussels, prefers this, which is in the cathedral at Mechlin. It is made of oak and the figures of Christ and the women are life size. The sounding board is formed by oak leaves twined with those of a grapevine. The stem of the latter rises naturally from the ground atlhe entrance to the pulpit, which is apparently hewn out of a rock. The preacher stands under the shadow of the.leaves, the cross at liis right hand. Below him and in front of the pulpit, forming a part of the base, is a horse which has thrown its rider. It looks as though some impious horseman had approached Calvary heedlessly and had been hurled todestruction over a precipice. The explanation of the design is not given by the guide at the catherdral nor in any book, so visitors and regular worshipers are at liberty to interpret it to please themselves.