The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-21
ART AND ARTISTS IN WASHINGTON.
MEETING or TIE WASHINGTON ART ASS0cLA-
TON TUESDAY, NOV 0.

On calling the meeting to order the President Dr. stone
briefly addressed the association In relation 10 te new g
iey IN which they assembled for the INST uine ne
said tho society like Israel in their probation had hith
to depended the shelter OF tents for the ark oi Their
covenant IL true the tent in which they had o.
fered their first fruits beautiful structure adapted
their use but view OF its unavorabe location for
their art exhibitions it practically in the wilderness
Ii was ncedal that they should have permanent al
Ear offerings the thoroughare OF the city
that they should have permanent gallery there for their
re-uaons and exhibitions and that having supplied that
want they might well pause for moment to exchange
congratulations and 70 make due acknowledgements TO
large number Of citizens whose liberal subscriptions had
sanctioned their enterprise and thereby encouraged them
to renewed exertions above all, that they should
pause consider and acknowledge the Divine providence
through which all true is achieved, and to which
the large measure OF their must be attributed
and finally that they should, in that spirit Of grateful
dependence solemny dedicate their hall TO united
and harmonious exeron ia the cause of art and It's s
plication to all beneiccnt uses
He then procceded consideration of the instrument
tally of art cooperating with other means, In the develop
the faculties Of the human soul Art OF the
important letters Of the alphabet Of instrucont
originally the whole alphabet Here it had been too
much negectedin great degree hidden away from the
page containing the characters of the literary alphabet
and that it the duty and purpose OF art institutions
TO bring that letter forward into column and merited
Kan with the Others This one OF the aims OF the
association, and he would appeal TO the guardians OF
civil ORDER ofinteectual instruction and religions through
ther representatives, who present IT he deemed 1t
plishInent Of that aim.
IL well known that art had performed an import
part IN preparing mankind for the obedience TO civil
authority aud for the reception of knowledge and reg-
lon aud il proper facilities given to its nnistra-
lions here and now there would be less need OF prisons
and asylums. Prevention of error and afiiiction by
awakening Of the beautiful and aspirations to
allied character and e would be far better than the sad
remedy those institutions intended to afford lie be-
ieved that the three thousand pupils OF the public
Schools who visited the last exhibition free OF admission,
would be much prone fall into low tastes and low
and vicious society than if they had not the beaut
full works contained in the gallery. They went away
with uped eyes, spiritual aspirations which VIII save
many from OF evil and temptations to crime
by the sympathy and cooperation OF those to whom
his appeal had been made they would make their exhi
billions only free the public and the private schools,
but also to all individuals who could not well afford
to pay admission fees. He hoped the day would come
when the seats in the church of art might be
free
The Rev. Mr.. SAMSON said 1t is perfectly npronrtu
suggestion two must make. MIR. President, called
am, suppose, however it is something practical
you WISH and can but allude to or two mat
tsrs that have long been my mind in reference to
your Association and its end hoping for an opportunity
day to develop them fully and to speak OF
thom with reconciliation.
There bearings the interests of society," to
which you have just well referred, which seem 10
to demand that In way we secure its practical
influence the character and life OF men. Art s
tainy great educator for man, truly science and
literature. Indeed ask, If in Athens it not The ed
ucator Of the people; having power to promote
human progress and especially to give what is called ci
cure to the mind having power educator than
had science philosophy, literature morals? IT. then,
art educator, Why should it not enter separate
department, into our systems of educaton2 Why should
u be regarded educated who has gone
through the coll &c c,rricaam in language and the
mathematics in natural science and bellies cttres intel
ectua and moral philosophy in the constitution of civil
government and religion but has made the princi
pies of art special study In primary schools
there has been revival Of the idea of old Pythagoras
the earliest Of thorough Greek eaehers who learned in
the colleges OF moro ancient Egypt what it is to educate
man, and who was indeed, the first to make teaching
honorable profession. Music of the sisterhood
of the line arts it found is the best prepaer OF the
mind foe tho severer tasks of the day LIS not this
leading suggestion to broader principe Can OF
the family intellectual powers, Qf you please
the masculine attributes OF the human mind be truly
vigorous and refined when the feminine qualities
which they linked in indssolube wedlock hang upon
their fellows unnatural mates Us unconBenal compan-
ions perhaps dead tied to living body The
whole household of mans spiritual faculties must be i'm
partially iosered they must prove poor company for
each other Why should the imaginative faculties,
which God has OF course created with purpose, be cui
tured sudiously the reasoning powersi cannot
but think the day is when in colleges the de-
partment of the fine arts will occupy place alongside OF
that of science any branch OF what called hui
manities.
The most important bearing, however, Of the fine arts
social progress, their ruest influence human char
acter and life, that higher than intellectual that re
gious, moulding to which you have alluded, and which
they ne adapted to give to society One OF the incest
principles tor to auayze and right before the pop
uar mind in age is the just relation of the fine art
TO spiritual Christianity. That art has under the teach
ngs OF Nature been the handmade OF Religion reader
OF history doubts Indeed Religion has been the very
mother and and guardian of art 1t the rei
gous sentiment that gave birth aud development TO art
ia Egypt, the old land of civilization where indeeI
her work partook much Of the groteSque and monstrous
yet impaired TO religious forms and through them to
the religious spirit Of that hoary land o the refined
and lovely than sometimes imagine. And Greece !!
What all her treasures of art but indictments of
gious ideas To natural religion art has certainly been
faithful aud constant handmade Christianity, indeed
is spiritual the only system of religious truth
Yet to there is spirit without body there can
be no approach to communion with the spiritual,
cept through forms. As the distinctive principles OF the
religion OF Christ foreshadowed In symbol and out
ward ceremonies in the Old Testament to the end OF
time New Testament truth is 10 speak through the eye
the mind ia those outward forms and ordinances which
its great Author appointed The relation OF art as an
humble Christianity perhaps unworthy to I'M
loose the laohet of its Shoes may have been doubtless
has BEEN mistaken and perverted in past ages OF the his
tory of Christianity But there Is there must be, true
relation of Christianity for till the union of body
and earth shall cease, religion must have its
body in which its spirit is manifested look for the
carly discovery and the application In religious practice
of tins important reationship-whcn art shall by ali
Christians he felt to be the minister OF true religion.
These suggestions, MIR. President, unmeaning
They are in mine, in your heart deep-setted and
fondiyoherished convictions which expect TO
day realized. Art will not lie appreciated till it is made
IN, sfud,,s thar belong liberal