An article on the dedication of the Douglas Memorial Chapel at the Quetta Memorial Cathedral on Thursday Island in 1913.
Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 1 July
1913, page 6
DOUGLAS MEMORIAL CHAPEL
DEDICATION AT THURSDAY ISLAND, June 30.
The Quetta Cathedral was filled yesterday morning, when the ceremony of
dedicating the Douglas Memorial Chapel was performed by Bishop White This portion
of the cathedral has recently been completed and furnished, chief amongst the
gifts, perhaps, being a beautiful window paid for by natives of the Torres
Straits islands, reproducing the features of the late Hon. John Douglas in the
figure of St. John in his old age at Patmos. The altar was given by the Masonic
Lodge Wyben, the altar cross by Lodge Torres Straits, and the prayer desk by
the North Queensland Scottish Grand Lodge. State public servants locally gave
the lectern, and private donors gave the credence table, alter desk, and vases,
the credence table being made from the wood of the wheel case of the ill-fated
steamer Quetta. There was a full Masonic representation, all members wearing
regalia, while some 80 natives from various islands in the Straits were present.
Bishop White, taking his text from Proverbs x 7, "The memory of the
just is blessed," preached an eloquent and touching discourse, recalling
to memory the fine characteristics of the Hon. John Douglas, and concluding by
a few sentences specially addressed to the island natives who had come in to do
honour to the memory of the man they loved and honoured as a father. "I
know, said the Bishop, "he would have been very glad to think you would all
be able to come to this church and see his face in the beautiful window which
has been bought with your money. If he could speak to you now he would say, 'Do
what I always told you to do.' He urged them to be honest and hard-working, not
careless or lazy, and to keep away from drink, respect the law, and train their
children to be good men and women. The "Te Deum" was sung, and one of
the most striking ceremonies ever seen here was concluded. Amongst the
ornaments on the wall of the new chapel was the last Union Jack that was flown
at the fort before it was superseded by the Commonwealth flag.
