The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-03

and we have heard nothing but words OF
praise concerning the Profess or's highly
pleasing presentation of his subject: The
Utility Of the IDEAL Prof. yenable
spoke for about one hour, and was closely
followed to the close. He plead in behalf
Of the novel, poetry, music, painting.
But as to novels, there should be seare-
full discrimination. aThe true novel is Q
work OF art, as Is poem or statue.
What magnificent worlds the poet has
created for our admiration and profit!
How immense would be the blank were
ShakespeaFe's poetry obliterated and all
memory OF it vanish from among men.
All, this poetry at which the low-browed
Utilitarian sneers is not false and feeble
thing. Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, how
they outweigh kings and warriors and
millionaires. Poetry is power, truth,
beauty, pathos, exaltation. And music,
that divinest human passion, is it not
language without words, one degree near
er to the absolute expression of our pas
sionate longing for unutterable sweetness
and harmony? Painting and sculpture,
are they not attempts to set forth concep-
tons more perfect and lovely than any
that gre derived from natural objects?
- ds0G al gF5HE works oE-ast EifcFEss ass
Edgar Poe has exquisitely expressed it,
"to apprehend the supernal loveliness,
to grasp, here on earth, those divine and
rapturous joys of which we obtain but
brief and indeterminate glimpses?" Is
not the infinite desire with which we seek
to realize the ideal, species of worship?
The favorite subjects of high art have
ever been sacred. From the time of Sol
omon's temple to this day, the resources
of architecture have been lavished upon
cathedrals dedicated to serving the Lord.
Reuben's masterpiece was the Descent
from the Cross. Michael Angeles last
work represents the same beautiful and
touching subject. The designs OF Ra-
phael are chiefly drawn from Scripture
history. Tho last touches of his hand
rested upon the head OF Christ in the
picture of the TRANSPORTATION. The SUBJ
limest musical composition of Haydn is
the oratorio, Creation. Beethoven's Sym
phonies are the rapture of devotion. The
spirit of Mozart breathed itself to para
disc in a prophetic requiem. Tasso is
immortal in Jerusalem Delivered; Dante
in the Divine Comedy. Millions genius
eliminated in the production of Paradise
Lost; and the sacred Book concludes
with the magnificent imagery of the Apoc-
lypse" Thus the speaker proceeded step
by ste@ TO unfold the "Utility of the
Ideal" closing with beautiful perora-
ton Of eloquence and ps.thgs that held
the audience almost spell-bound C aahe
very close.
Tuesday.
The annual meeting Of the Alumni AS
sociation was held in the afternoon, in
Gary Hall. The meeting was presided
over by Prof. W. d. Shipman. Neither
the orator nor the poet selected for the
occasion could be present, but the poem
had been sent in and was read before the
class. The committee on alumni schol-
arships was continued and was asked to
follow up their work of securing sub
scriptions to raise sufficient funds to carry
a student through the sophomore year.
Profs. Geo. A. Peckham and W. d. Ship
man were appointed a special committee
to canvass for such subscriptions. A
committee was also appointed to draft
suitable resolutions in reference to the
death of Chas. J. Robinson, an alumnus
and member of the Board of Trustees.
After the reading of the poem for the oc-
casion, and the election of officers for the
ensuing year, the meeting adjourned to
meet in the upper chapel in the evening,
to listen to the annual address, by Ed. F.
Voris, whose theme was Theodore Par
ker." The address was stirring one,
and was well received by the large num-
ber of the Alumni present. A resolution
of hearty greeting from the Alumni of
Lombard, to the Alumni of Buchtel and
of Tufts was received and read.
Wednesday.
A good audience was present onWednes-
day afternoon to witness the class day
exercises of the seniors. These consisted
of class history, class poem, prophecy,
and closed with mastery Grafton by s.
L. Thompson, one of Buchtels promising
voung orators. These exercises were in