Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-12-14


The spirit like the body, ia nourish-
ed by what it feeds or. The mind is
nourished by truth, and the soul by
goodness, just as the body is nourish-
ed by material elements. Our Great
or. who has displayed, his love and
wisdom in the creation, has also in
vested it with the mark Of beauty.
Take up the loyeliest flower that
blooms and you will gee the evidences Of
this threefola glory Of his perfection.
Not worlds or worlds in phalanx deep
Need we To tell that God IS here
The daisy fresh from winters sleep
Tells Of his hands IN lines as clear.
Goodness, truth and beauty were
the constituent clements or tire
universe, 1t WAS to these, also that
the soul of man aspired in search OF
his ideas. The longing for goodness
caused religion, the love OF truth,
science; and the sensibility to beauty.
art. Take away either of these, and
man degenera'es iuto monster or an
animal. The perfection of Lis charGct-
CT, consists in the union and develop
ment of these three tendencies OF his
nature. Without the harmonious
combination of these 10 our character,
we become partial, ono sided, GefoTm-
ed, incomplete. Man must have, not
only heart to feel, and head TO
think, but body to execute all his
generous purposes, and all his noble
perceptions Of truth. but why dwell
on these higher relations OF art? /
would say because Of the low and or
roneous views which so many entertain
of its objects. TO many believe that
art, is mere decoration rs a psstime,
a mere ornamental and luxurious APP
pendage Of life. But it is infinitely
more. 1t appeals to the highest
faculties Of the mind, and embodies
the grandest eads OF existence. To
consider It lnere stimulant to the
sans ia to degrade it 70 level with
the furniture Of our houses or cur
cookery. A picture il some hing betA
ter than peiee Of painted canvass.
and IA statue more than !. nicely chise.-
led stone, ard Il poem. more than u
jingle OF syllables. They are express
ions OF the lcfiie5t conceptions, and
energies Of humanity, the precious
life bloodof master spirit. embalm-
cd CT purpose to life beyond lif0 pre-
serving as IN tie yiGl, tbs precious
efficacy and extraction OF the living
intellect which Lad them. But great
CT than his work, is the workman and
greater than his arts tna Artiat.
What we want is that greatness OF
spirit in which ali immortal things
are conceived and perfected. Let w
look at the names Of the several
specific, arts, and what magnificent,
and graceful images they suggest
Architecture is connected with the
majestic church, 1t for nations
worship and with the vine smbowerel
cottage, III whirb domestic felicity
reigns. Painting has embslmsd Ior
us ali that IS heroic In ;nan, and all
that is lovely ID Eamsn. All the
great deeds Of history all tie tendsr
feelings Of private life. Music is filled
with enhancing, rapturous, holy
charms, ami poetry translates us to new
realms in which the diviney5 spirits
walk. aud hold communion, and from
the air Of which We draw now life, for
the actual contest Of our p7osalc
world. Art suspe8da the earth amid
tne glnams of ever DARN. sunsets,
and sets It's very winds to celestial
harlnonies. 4 function capable of
such results is no tiifling affair IL
the earnest bioseom Of the soul: The
best prodnet Of tho best moments of
the race; Tue depository Of the Highest
wisdom II tie nations: tho parpetasl
miracle u genius, ard the cr0wuinl
flowers ofhunan orowta. Art ampses
us but it purifes while it amuses nj
excitss us but it tor'ifiog Us by mesna
of tbas excitement 1t does not
effeminate but freshala an.l inyigor,tas
It waters the black mould of our Garth
ly life with stary dcws and heavenly
electlicitles and eaases e 10 spring into
rich aud verAGfaea bloom. What has
been thu object * the great msators VI
art 10 euleuaa ~ idle rcmcnt. to
fan the sleeping ayes. win the wings
OF buteiAissI There has been pre-
tended masters. tie mere r1ountobanks
of art, who proposed such ends. But
not ~ Ih0aght tle Diiad oil barb Of
Greece IS he sung his inraorlsl song
70 the people in tao midst OF poverty |
and wat; LOT 90 thought Milton ag-l
poSiing FOR recognition 60 los;erty. |
No genuine sor 81 Apollo thoaSa !
he.dsug with ste. herds, looked totao
n