Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-07-29
SUNDAY READING.

wholly ignorant of the presence and personal
charm, if not indeed, even of the name, OF
Henry Giles. 1t is more than thirty years
since this gifted Irishman, by the superiority
Of his scholarship, his pure and polished style
of speech and pleasing eloquence was accorded
place in the first rank, if not indeed the
first place itself, among the public lecturers
of his time. 1t is not at all a violent assump-
ton, that to Ciles's lectures, UNNECESSARILY
above what the Eastern public had thereto
fore been accustomed, are TO be credited
the inspiration of the admirable Lyceum sys-
tenn now in vogue. Fortunately, something
indicative of the bent Of CHESS genius has
been preserved in q volume Of his lectures;
and quite as fortunately for the pulpiteer Of
the MORNING APPEAL, he happened not many
years ago, while browsing about in a second
hand book-stall, to stumble on a copy OF that
volume. Among the fourteen admirable es
SAYS contained in this book is one whose title
st once pronounces it a peculiarly relevant
subject of investigation and treatment in this
column at this time. We refer to essay
entitled The Christian Idea in Catholic Art
and in Protestant Culture. Nothing can so
well indicate the clearness and cogency of the
authors manner of statement quotation
from the text of his predatory remarks. We
quote, therefore, as follows: ''There are in
modern Christendom, independently of po-
lenics and theology, Catholic tendency and
q Protestant tendency, that is emotional and
artistic-this railroads.&c. and intellectual.
If these do not always blend together, they
very thoroughly modify and influence each
other The Catholic element IS acted on by
the Protestant, the Protestant is acted on by
the Catholic. Neither is what it would be
without the other; and Christian society is
not the same with both as it would be with
only one of them. BY going back towards
their sources, we learn to discriminate each
tendency in its methods, agencies and instTu
Inents. But III carrying such tendencies as
these back TO their simple condition, they
connect themselves more and more directly /,
with religion. In religion it is, however, |
that we find the origin of whatever gives force |
and expression to mans highest mental ma
ture In this we find the elementary roots |
of all mans subsequent growth, and there IS |
nothing that we in the highest sense call civil
Iized which has not primarily been deemed |
sacred. SO, when civilized life is most radl-
cally analysed, its most vital principles are
found in the depths of the religious life.
Now however true this view OF the case may
be, regarded by the light Of cur own sur
w. liz nF nrya Nv
it is admirably and coherently stated and 1t
would be from the purpose of this Read
ing" as it would be something very Ike an
impairment denial Of facts, were we to dis.
pute or even call in question its truth as ap
piled to the closely blended progression of
civilization and religion in all the older parts
of Christendom. But it is something of the
body and not the prologue of this essay to
which we invite the attention Of our readers; :
and our experience with them has been in f
vain if We are mistaken in the assumption h
that they will be much interested and not '
little. instructed by what we are about to re-
produce Mr. Giles, abiding to the writings
Of the greatest living French writer reminds P
as as follows: ''Victor Hugo makes his monk, )
Claude Frolls, say, in the fifteenth century, p
IA Paris, as he points with one hand to Il
printed book, and with the other to the Ca
hedral of Notre Dame, This will kill that g
Printing had recently been invented. The {,
etter was to take the place of the symbol; CT
he book was gradually to subvert the build al
ng. Printing, as Victor Hugo generates al
1 L :.
Printing interfered with architecture in gen al
raj But Protestant culture, with the BIZ II
lie for its center, was necessarily fatal to 4t
hurch architecture in particular The book ~
id in this case certainly kill the building +
'irst, it deprived the building OF spiritual WI
nport; and religious building without eV
oiritual import is void Of life; it becomes w
lere space, bulk and form, with only an or
sthetic value. The sacred building is in to
eed by Professionalism consecrated to worship, ne
Mt it is no. longer in itself thing of wor- nc
zip. 1t is made by people to assemble in F.
I'd pray, but it is no longer in its own ST. lea
mt majesty a mighty and perpetual act of TIL
aver" And now, here, to Gull with a al al
md which fingers long among the many III,
auties of this lecture, reluctant which to
ke and which to leave, we reproduce the
flowing pair of beautiful contrasting pic brl