The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-19

A TRIBUTE To ART.
Rev. DIR. James Y. Fairs Happy Re-


Spouse.
Rev. James Y. Fair, D. D.. responded
to the toast, art" in one of the finest
speeches that has recently been heard on
any similar occasion in Savannah.
"As we look back along the shining
pathway of the centuries" said DR.. Fair.
1--WE clearly discern that three potent fac
tors have been working for the uplift of
man-reigion, science, art. The ancient
mythology taught that in the silent, echo
less Halls of Eternity, three Fates sat,
weaving out with tireless fingers the web
| Of human destiny. When we analyze tho
philosophy of history we find a trinity of
interdependent and correlated powers, not
Fates, but Graces and they work not ia
away but amid the practical activities of
life, literally moulding mans destiny
weaving out the wonderful fabric of civili-
cation, bleaching its dark texture, turn
ing through it's knotted and tangled
strands silvery threads of light, from age
to age, slowly, but surely. Transforming
the raw, crude material into a robe ever
whittier and stronger and more symmetri-
cal, lifting man from savagery. and barr
barrie conditions placing higher ideals be-
fore him, alluring him to climb upward
to the dizzy peaks, until already his as
cending feet are beginning to reach the
summit, the glory of God shines into his
unified face and man stands forth in
the majesty and integrity of his being,
| only a little lower than the angels.
1T is impossible said DR.. Fair, ito
overestimate the influence of these three
factors in the complex and stupendous
problem of civilization In Solomon's
Temple at Jerusalem, which gathered up
n one grand votive Offering the culmina-
ton of Hebrew contribution to art there
was an Impressive symbol. In the Holy
of Holes. above the golden lid of the Ark
of the Covenant, two angels were scuip-
, tured, poised on folded wing, facing each
other at the center and focus of worship
[ do not know the precise and final mean
ing to be attached to the symbol, but it
suggests an appropriate Illustration Of
science and art lingering above the altar
OF devotion the handmabdens of religion.
appointed as good angels by God to find
their resting-place and starting-point in
| the holy of HOLES, TO go forth from thence
upon their great mission, and linked with
religion to wing their bound.ess flight
through time to scatter the blessings of
| civilization upon the earth and work to-
| gether for the coronation of man. Their
great united and converging task is to
| build the temple of perfect humanity. Re
| igion lays the foundation and kindles the
| dame of it's atar-hre: Science brings the
rich furnishing of knowledge, while art
adorns it with beauty And when the
magnificent structure is completed at last.
when the divine glory descending fills
| the building and makes it vocal wiki
| praise, then in the holy of holes, religion
| science. art will meet, face each other
| again as in the olden time linger on
folded wing above their completed task
rejoice together in its fulfiliment
Now, through the drapery of this
thinly yelled allegory, you can easily dis
Germ my theory as to the origin of Art
| True art is from God In its last analysis
and most comprehensive definition, it is
| the reflection of the beautiful. and just
| in proportion as it attains the perfection
| of its nature, it reflects the beauty of
Him who is the first and greatest artist
of ALL who paints such wonderful colors
IN the flower and on the canvass OF the
sunset. who sculptures the Halls of Light
as well as the face of the lily. The great
artist OF earth only copies the Great Art
ist of Heaven, the highest, most perfect
art is TO catch His methods, follow His
! way, copy the divine model And as its
| inception is divine, so is its mission. II
has great a sublime, yea, men God
given work to do Too many have the i'm
preston that art is to be regarded mere
ly In the light Of an establishment ID
life. an idle, perhaps useless, luxury. But
II is one of the most useful and practical
helpers. 1t is a means of education, IT
nourishes the aesthetic nature of man. so
closely akin TO the religious IL presents
The facts of history and holds up before
the young the most impressive and in
structive object-lessons Of patriotism and
heroism. The true artist is a great
teacher and interpreter of God lie who
points a really great picture is q philan-
thTopist and benefactor Of his fellownen.
lie who erects beautiful building makes
a practical and valuable contribution to
the renown and pleasure Of his commun-
ily. Who can stand by tho Tiber in Rome
and look upon st, Peer s, who can walk
, beneath its dome. and ass he is thrilled
and uplifted in spirit fail to bless the
memory OF him whose genius planned the
stately pile? II is the duty OF every COM
munty 10 adorn itself with works OF art
a at win inspire pure and elevating SEN
tments ia its citizens. IL is the duty
J OF every parent, so far as he is able, 10
have in his home those things that will
b foster. love OF pure art among children
and cultivate the aesthetic sentiment
This is a truth which needs special en-
phasis in our materialistic age.
But as true art Is practical in It's pur
pose. so let these remarks be practical II
their application. II Is the inevitable ten
dency OF true art 70 broaden and become
] USEFUL oifuffll the term was lultef
p only TO the hne arts. now u r. applied e
The toiling side OF NE. and We legitlmntel,
speak Of the practica. arts. the mechani
cal nrts tho agricultural ART Let us ~
member that W. are ali 90 be- artists TN
real art BE- 40 niorn lie 10 nake % ar
tsucto beauty our dul profale work ana
- reflect even in druiFery the radiance d
the divine. The srt Of iis f. not 10 worl
{ with material things but moral.
pme cannot paini great pictures, bit WI