The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-18
ART ASSOCIATION ACTS
MEMORIAL TIC THE LATE DR.. Ma
THANIEL a. HYDE ADOPTED.
He Was the First President of the
Association and Gave IL Much
Aid-MemoriaI Service.

AT a meeting OF the directors of the In
dianapolis Art Association yesterday after
noon a memorial to the late DR.. Nathaniel
A. Hyde. prepared by Mrs. May Wright
Sewall, Mrs. Samuel E. Morss and Mr..
Volney T. Malott, was adopted. 1t was as
follows:
TT Rev. Nathaniel A. Hyde, whose
recent death must be regarded as a perma-
nent loss TO the city of Indianapolis, was
elected president of the Art Association in
1888. Although Mr.. Albert f. Fletcher was
the first president elected by the Art AS
ISOLATION, his almost immediate resignation
resulted in making the Rev. n. A. Hyde
continued In office until 1898. thus giving a
decade of service to the art interests of
this city in the incipient stages OF their
organized activity. During the first five
years most OF the regular and many of the
special meetings of the Art Association
were held at the house Of Mr.. Hyde, who
thus came to be. not only president. but
the frequent host. of the directory of the
association, and often also of its MEM
bership.
THE art lovers whose membership dates
from its origin will never diSaSSOciate from
the history of the development of art in
this community Mr.. Hyde's patient and
persistent service. To the discharge OF his
official duties as president Of a small
struggling and penniless association Mr..
Hyde brought his coworkers together with
a genial sympathy and a constant cour-
tesy and eager desire to serve the COM
munity that he loved a very sincere and
unaffected love Of art.
Mr. Hyde, a typical representative of
the kind of man of whom one naturally
speaks as "A gentleman and a scholar,
sincerely loved the beautiful in nature and
in art. He loved the lovers of the beauti-
full. and he had generous, grateful appre-
citation of all artists, the creator of the
beautiful.
UNOsTENTATIOUS SERVICE.
Mr.. Hyde's service was as unostenta-
tious as 1t was constant. He felt it to be
a serious service; he felt that our COM
munity needed to court the influence Of
beauty and it's ministers. and his con-
science was as much involved in this serv-
ice as it was ministering TO his congrega-
ton. 1t will be remembered by his asso-
ciates that when. by a large majority vote
Of the board, it was decided that exhibits
given under the auspices OF the associa-
ton should be open TO the public free on
Sundays, Mr.. hyde felt 1t necessary TO
resign the presidency. At the same time
he made il clear to the board that he re-
signed, not TO express his disaffection with
the vote or his disapproval of the policy,
but because, in his opinion. II would be in
consistent for a conservative clergyman TO
retain the presidency of an association
under whose auspices even this highest
form of worldly pleasure was provided on
sundays. The sweetness OF the mans
spirit was beautifully illustrated at this
crisis in the development Of the policy of
the Art Association. Quite unable TO mod
ify his own position on the question or
his own conduct in connection with it to
suit the will of the majority. he was not
prevented by that fact from the most gen.
erous consideration of the majority will.
Another crisis arrived when the HERON
bequest was endangered by a certain bill
introduced into the Legislature. The bill,
which might deprive the ASSOCIATION of the
legacy, was passed in one House on Sat
uTday. A Sunday meeting Of the board of
directors seemed necessary. Mr.. Hyde's
successor in the presidency consulted him
in regard 10 the matter. His reply was.
1t is right; IL Is rescuing the sheep that
has fellen into the pit. / cannot attend
the meeting, but l shall pray for your sue
cess. Probably no member of the direc-
tory will forget Mr.. Hyde's eagerness in
anticipating the purchase Of property on
which 10 build a permanent home for the
association. To the investigation Of prop
critics offered and TO the consideration of
their availability for the purposes of the
society he devoted much time. probably
more than any one knew. on one occasion
when a property was under discussion Mr..
Hyde abstained from either speaking or
voting. In reply 10 a question OF surprise
at this unprecedented course he said
This is a serious matter: IL means a great
deal TO the city OF indianapolis for gener-
atoms 10 come. l try 20 visit every lot
that is mentioned here. cannot vote
about a piece OF property l have never
seen
ATTENTIVE To DETAILS.
Eager in REGARD TO this largest problem
OF the association, ne was not less atten-
tive 10 the smallest details. He visited every
exhibit many times. found much 10 enjoy
in the most unpretentious collection.
studied the development OF artists as
evinced in their work from season 10 sea-
son. and evidently found genuine salts
faction in every proof OF artistic progress.
When abroad MIR. Hyde was a constant
visitor OF art galleries. He tried TO time his
visits TO Eastern cities in our own country
10 coincide with the openings OF their an
nual exhibits. and always returned 10 US
with new knowledge and new enthusiasm.
He was not only appreciation or art. but in
a modest way was a patron OF artists.
During his long residence I'm Indian
apOlis Mr.. Hyde served the community i'm
many capacities. as pastor OF a church
faithful TO its traditions. as member of the
school board. as member of numerous
boards OF charitable organizations and In
stitutions. but perhaps II was I'm the Art
Association that he came into most init