The San Francisco call., 1903-01-26
TEMPLES IN AGES AFFAIR.
MEMORIES Enricb the Fones
OF the Olden Time.

UN 1908 Duccio entered into agreement
with the head Of the works to paint
picture for the hgh-altar Of the
Duomo in Siena. II TO be the best
ne could do, as the Lord should give him
grace TO do IT. When Brunellcschi confronted
the heroic undertaking Of lifting the mighty
dome above the Duomo in Florence, without
inner bracings to mar the effect OF the inte-
rior, task never before achieved he sum-
moned his courage after this fashion:
Remembering that this temple is dedicated
10 God and TO the Virgin, l have confidence
that We. setting TO work in memory o5 him:
falls short, and to supply strength ana Wis
dom and intelligence 70 whosoeYer may UNDER
There is in the record Of Santa Maria del
Fiore a touch which makes our modern modern world
There were always people about says the
anonymous biographer Of Brunelleschi. VINO
made circle or in the vernacular OF our
day. airing, ard gave him much trouble -.
The building of many OF these great
churches Of earth proved tasks far beyond the
power OF one generation 70 complete. success
sive generations dedicated themselves to the
labor OF perfecting the original design We
have seen in own day more than one his
toric minister thus finished. generations AM
centuries after the cornerstone Of the build
ing was laid. Only in our time have the
mighty spires Of Cologne Cathedral crowned
II was my privilege a few years ago TO be
IN Florence on a most interesting occasion.
The great Duomo had stood for centuries with
its mighty facade unfinished. Under the en-
restoration OF national independence, Italy
girded itself TO the task of building this ia
cade With what help was left from the rec
ords of the past. the best talent Of Italy sought
10 complete the building in the spirit of its
founcers. generous spirit of national coop
Grafton inspired the daring labor. Every great
sculptor oi Italy was given figure to carve
Tor the acornment OF the marble front. When
lne time came 10 behold the finished work the
nation was on the tiptoe of expectancy Vast
crowds hllsd the spaces before the Duomo Amid
hanging before the building were removed, and
F IN all the glory Of the finest marble Of Italy
in the sDiendor Of its loyeliest colors in the
Of the Old Duouno stood complete
These glorious temples have been in many
Instances, feritable grOwths OF the life Of great
pe0ples-eyolving not much out of any one
architects plans as out OF the changing
I Egypt successive Kings added those noble
temples expressing In each addition some new
breath Of religious life, until the result is seen
ia living organism, a thing endowed with
llfe-the life Of whole race. Such
Westminster Abbey. which is like the consti-
tuition OF the people, not manufacture but a
prowth-rghtly read, revealing the history of a
race The history Of Venice for FIVE hundred
years is indubitably recorded on the walls OF
which had been the chief task of her arts.
History preserves for US the fragrant lnem-
orv Of how. when these great churches have
been completed, cities and nations have kept
festal day. as in Florenee a few years ago
TO enter into the joyous enthusiasm with
which her citizens welcomed 10 their Duomo
the noble altar-piece which had been the work
Of their leading artist.
II we had the records preserved to US. might
we picture the scenes in Upper Egypt, when
the most wonderful building OF earth. the
mighty temple OF Karnac was dedicated: or
the festivities in Athens when the Parthenon
was completed and set apart to its high pur-
poses. or far back in the dim. misty vistas
OF antiquity, the excitement on the plains be-
tween the rivers. when the ancient Acadans
lifted high above those level plains their mas
sive pyramidal piles. on the summit of which
a nafion's worship WIS TO be offered.
What variety these great churches OF his
tory present TO IN their types Of architec-
turei What a contrast between the Grecian
! temple and the Gothic minister; between