The San Francisco call., 1896-02-14

| the confines of the world 1t was on the
! creeks 1t made the first impression and the
! Greek Christians created in the great Church
/ OF st. Sophia in Constantinople the form of the
house OF worship which is still to-day the type
IN use. refer to the form of the cross, en-
phasized at the center by the transformation
OF the square plan to a circular plan or dome.
In the meantime the followers OF Mohammed
were forcing their way toward Egypt, and
| finally settled on the banks of the Nile. They
here created the type of architecture known as
the Moorish, founded, however, on the Con-
| stantinople type. This form reached its high
] est excellence in the Alhambra in SPAIN
| Here then in the East, with the nomadic
warriors on the south and the arbarians on
the north, with hope apparently fading, did
the church preserve architecture throughout
the dark ages. 1t sent forth into Europe it's
scholars and teachers of the faith, who spread
the spirit of Greek Byzantine architecture and
art along the eastern coast of Italy. 1t was the
church, by its indefatigable labor and un-
paralleled sacrifice, which preserved the
Eternal City of Rome with its sacred monu-
ments from total destruction at the hands of
the Goths. Vandals and Lombards.
1t reared its churches and monasteries here,
there and everywhere, and transformed the
ancient buildings into tabernacles of the Lord.
Charlemagne, wishing in the name of the
church to improve the architecture of France
and Britain, imported art and architecture
from Italy. Through his efforts the monastic
or Romanesque style of architecture became
disseminated throughout the northern portion
OF Europe.
AS the nations of the West matured and with
them grew the church, the demand went forth
from all lands for q more ecclesiastical style of
architecture. In the thirteenth century all
precedent was cast aside and magnificent and
luxurious edifces arose. These structures
were the embodiment of all previous architec-
tural science. Half q century passed before the
type OF Gothic architecture reached its height
OF glory in the cathedrals of Notre Dame ST.
Denis, Rouen, Rheims and Amiens in France
What story they tell, these stately piles, of
lofty aspirations and brotherly love. But the
reformation came and brotherly love was no
more, Architecture stood still in the reign of
anarchy and confusion. AT the same time
Rome was torn from the inside and outside by
its enemies, but the great church still con-
tinued to foster architecture, bnt it made little
advance in Southern Italy.
But the church at last performed it's work
and under the influence of the church new
era began to dawn in the twelfth century,
when Vienna, Sienna and Pisa reared their
great cathedrals.
lecture OF Rome. 1t was an era that made
Italy the cradle of architecture, giving sam
pies OF the science that all nations may aspire
to initiate, but none nope to surpass.
What the ancient nations nave failed to do
the church has accomplished, perpetuating
the art of building for all time to come. Had
the church done nothing more for humanity
than transmit her monuments, she would have
done enough.
From her edifces spring all ideas of modern,
domestic, civic and religious architecture.
the world would be lost Without her monu-
ments the currency of Europe would be largely
contracted by the loss of the revenue from
tourists.
So come what may to the defenders of the
faith, though the storms of enmity rage
around and about them, their Monuments
snail STAND, splendid and adamantine, for all
ages, protected alike by friend and foe, as ever
church.
For all the world believes, in this great age
the truth which, in the words of Goldsmith,
slightly transformed, may be thus expressed:
III fares the land, to Fastening ills prey,
Where her monuments accumulate and then de-
Princes and lords may flourish or may fade.
A breath can take them breath has made
bnt architecture inspired, q country 5 prlde
When once destroyed. can never be supplied.
At the conclusion of his lecture pic
torlal review OF the growth OF the arr ana
science of architecture was provided Tor
the audience by means of stereoptlcon
views. 1t began with the portrayals OF
the places of worship of early lndla,
Egypt and Nubia, then depicted the mag
nifcent piles OF Greece and Italy ana later
| the more modern and beautiful structures
| OF France, Germany, Spain, Belgium ana
Great Britain.
| As each huge reflection appeared on the
canvas, Mr.. Shea described its architec.
tural peculiarities and added his individual
criticism of the various styles ana thelr
use, in some few cases being not at all
! sparing of words that were far from praise.
A telling effect was produced wnen the
interior Of King Charles magnificent
chapel Ia portion of Westminster Apoey)
| was in view.
After few words appropriately leadlng
| up to the climax, the faint pea!s OF an
organ, as if coming from the heights OF
the organ-loft of the chapel, were heard.
and then came the apparently far-dlstant Ian
voices of the choir in sacred chant. Inc
peculiar solemnity of the scene was most
realistic, and the awed silence OF the
| eI,rf foY N
| of organ or voice was distinctly audible.