Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-25

no subscriptions will be solicited on
that occasion.
THOS. II. ALLEN,
d. X. MCRAE,
GIDEON j. PILLOW,
WIN. II. STEPHENS.
November 28, 1869.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, october II, 1863.
To Messrs. Thomas II. Allen, Col. W. II.
stephens, Col. D.. *. McRie, Gen. Gid.
J. Pillow, Committee IN Memorial
Church:
Gentlemen: In compliance with your
instructions, we have prepared the ac-
complaining design for the proposed
Memorial Church.
The first step in the OriginatiOn oil
an architectural structure must be a
definite conception of the end to be
attained. TO secure this, it is neces-
sary to consider the circumstances
that surround the object in view, and
from these clearly set forth, lay down
the artistic argument.
Before entering upon a description
of the drawings, we would respect
fully beg leave to call your attention
to a few thoughts that may not be
considered inappropriate:
/. a memorial structure in COM
memOratiOn OF heroes fallen in a trl-
Umphaut cause, reared by the people
for whom they yielded up their lives,
has ever been recognized as highly
proper and commendable, Bat where
their blood was shed III vain, the APP
peal to a peoples gratitude and re-
membrance is greatly enhanced. Thus
the proposal to erect a memorial edI-
fee in memory of the Southern dead
OF the late war calls strongly upon one
and all at the South, and lovers o!
constitutional liberty everywhere, for
prompt cooperation and muniiiceHt
contributions.
,. In seeking for a proper and en-
during memorial, we must naturally
look to the line arts-painting, sclp-
ture, or architecture. An investlg3t-
ton of the claims of each will newt
ably result in the selection of archi-
lecture. The initial or generic idea OF
A proper memorial is that of an offer
ing made by the people-a bringing,
as il were, by each n Individually
their quota, their tribute, their token,
and putting together OF all COntTibu-
tiOns to make up and constitute the
memorial. The painter may produce
a master piece, every inch OF canvas
bespeaking the nations loss; but, after
all, what IS it but the artists memo
rial, and not that of the people? The
purchase of, OF compensation for, the
painting can by no stretch of the lma-
giHatiOn make ii the true or fit repre-
sentative of a peoples gratitude, or
that the painter, under a kind OF ar
tistic substitution, be made to stand
in the place of a Borrowing people In
the production of the memorial.
Sculpture, disconnected from archi-
lecture, rises to a higher position in
the ability to reach the desired end ;
but the same objections lie against this
art as to painting. Architecture will
be e at once to answer all demands.
The architect, as an artist, may pro-
duce a work of art; but when the con-
figurations of the design are originated
and determined upon, and by the po-
etry of form an epic in stone be COM
posed so that every line throughout
the structure bespeaks the peoples
sorrow or gratitude, still the chief end
of the architects labOrs remains to be
done. The design on paper may be as
perfect as the painters genius pOr-
trayed his work upon the canvas, yet
the great work OF carrying into exc
cutiOn the proposed design alone can
give existence to the memorial. Stone
by stone must be brought together,
each fitted to its assigned position, and
the memorial takes form and shape
only at the bidding Of the people. Tee
rich mans Offering and the widows
mite are equally identified with the
rising structure. The flow of the na-
tons gratitude or sorrow is only, as ii
were, directed by the architect into q
fit channel, and his labOrs in SO doing
in norway can be said to produce the
gushing spring from whence the flow
proceeds.
3. In order to reach the mind and
heart of the people OF the whole South,
the proposed memorial should be a
national structure. Undue and spe-
cial importance should not be given
to any one State. Each should BE-
equally represented and artiStically
identified. Thus the SOutherner, il
matters not from what section, will
ever find his OWn particular shrine,
where he can stand, feeling that he is
personally represented, and where his
own dead are emblaZoned On the
scroll of fame, and among the noble
army of martyrs.
4. The raising of a memorial in
memory Of the Confederate dead, in
wolves interests of far deeper import
than may have at first been imagined.
Standing at the grave of a hero in a
successful struggle, the sigh for the loss
merges naturally into gr~atulatory
poems for the victory won; but insen
sible must be the heart Of him who,
looking upon the sod that covers the
gallant soldier of the Lost Cause, and
not hnd his sorrow glide into tears,
and his tears into an impulse TO make
some Offering to keep green the men,
DRY OF the fallen brave. Thus the me-
mortal, in its commemorative aspect,
must have the ardent sympathy Of one
and all-for who has not "A relative or
friend whose memory they would not
desire TO perpetuate in recording not
only their name, but under what ban
ner they served, and where and when
they fell. But while the memorial is
a c0mmemoTation of the fallen, it is
highly important that it should also
be their v~indication. We should ever
bear in mind, and Our children-yea,
and our chiidren's children-be made
to feel that in oar struggle there was
underlying a moral ard religious prin
ciple. In thus giving a political sig
n~fticance TO the memorial, there can
be no desire to reopen national
wounds which are now, we trust, fast
being healed, nor to pass Judgment
upon the rights or wrongs claimed by
the South, aud thus revive sectional
controversy; nor will it be reared to
record battles or to do honor TO living
warriors, whose heroiedeeds can never
be forgotten, but It must be a vindi-
cation Of the fallen-of men who
Welded up their lives a cheerful sacri-
flee to a cause which they believed to
be founded upon law, religion aud JUS
tfce. There need, however, be no
tablets inscribed with historic records,
or iustifyiDg argument, but simply
for the South that which eonst5~
tutas the 0lorV of a DaODIe-felioiOn