The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-06-06
sPLENDOR IN CHURCH ED|F|GES
AUTHOR INvEIGHs AGAINST
~
THOSE WHO DEcRY THE Ex-
PENDITURE OF LARGE SUMS
OF MONEY IN ERECTING AND
EMBELLISHlNG MAGNIFICENT
CHURCHES.

In that very remarkable volume OF
travel through Europe, My Unknown
Chum," there occurs a passage on
church architecture, which deserves
quotation 1t is a reply to those super.
cilious critics of the expenditure of
money in the erection of costly tenn
pies of religion, who, while admiring
splendor in private homes, civic or
commercial edifces, profess to be-
lieve that meanness of design and
slenderness of expenditure should
characterize the edifice built to do
honor to God and to uplift towards
Him the souls of men. The writer of
"My Unknown Chum" says:
II am not one of those who lament
expended upon the churches of Rome.
| am not inclined to follow the sordid
principle of that apostle who is gen
orally held up rather as warning
than an example, and say that it had
been better if the sums which have
been devoted to architectural orna-
ment had been withheld and given to
the poor. Religion has no need, it is
true, of these visible splendors, any
more than of set forms and modes of
speech. For it is the heart that be-
lieves, and loves, and prays. But we,
poor 1nortals, so enslaved by our
senses, so susceptible to external ap-
pearances, need everything that can
inspire in us a respect for something
higher than ourselves, or remind us
of the glories of the invisible, eternal
world. And can we doubt that He
who praised the action of that pious
woman who poured the precious oint-
ment upon His sacred head, looks with
complacency upon the sacrifices which
are made for the adornment of the
temples devoted to His worship? Is
it right principle that people who
are clad in eXpensiVef garments, who
are not content unless they are sur
rounded by carved Or enameled furni-
ture, and whose feet tread daily on
costly tapestries, should find fault
with the generous piety which has
made the churches of Italyss<what, they
are, and should talk so impressively
about the beauty of spiritual wor.
ship? I have no patience with these
advocates for simplicity in everything
that does not relate to themselves and
their own comforts.
"Shall we serve Heaven with less
respect
That we do minister to our gross
selves?"
Il care not how simple our private
homes may be, but / advocate liber
ality and splendoF in our public build
ings of all kinds, for the sake OF
preserving due respect for the in
stitutions they enshrine. remember
in reading one of the old classical
writers,-Sallust, l think,-in my
young days, being greatly impressed
by his declaration that private lux
ury is a sure forerunner of a nations
downfall, and that it is fatal sign
for the dwellings of the citizens to be
spacious and magnificent, while the
public edifices are mean and un
worthy Purely intellectual as we
may think ourselves, we are, never
theless, somewhat deferential to the
external proprieties of life, and very
much doubt whether the most rever
entail of us could long maintain his
respect for the Supreme Court if its
sessions were held in tap-room, OF
for, religion, if it's ministers prayed
and preached in pea-iackets and top
boots.'