The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-14
Germany Must Pay World
for Rheims, K. A. s Assert
Frampton, Sculptor and Shannon, Painter Denounce De-.
structiOn Of Cathedral, Calling France
Only Its Custodian.


THE SUN has received from Sir George
Frampton and J. ). Shannon, both mem
bers Of the Royal Academy. an article
protesting against the damage done BY
the Germans to the cathedral at Rheims
scr George Is President Of the Royal So
cisty Of British Scuiptors. Mr.. shan
non, Dho 70 famous as a portrait painter,
has hved in EnoIand for many years.
He Is president Of the Society Of Portrait
Painters The article foilo,Os:
The cathedral OF Rheims was n Chris
tian temple and n national treasure house.
For 700 years Frenchmen had turned to
II as to a shrine over which lowered the
spirit OF their race Kings OF France
had been crowned there. and It was con-
secrated by the hopes. struggles, defeats
sorrows and conquests laid before Its al
tars. The passion of religion and history
made concrete, II was haunted by the
souls OF thousands of artists, of workers
In wood and stone. who through succeed
ing generations labored to make 1t one OF
the glories Of the earth. Like a magnet
this Christian fame drew to itself innu-
merable treasures OF painting and OF
statuary. The glass workers of the
Middle Ages have the most cherished
wonders of their art to its adorable rose
window, around which. like sentinels,
stood the statues of bygone sculptors.
Along Its walls and In its chapels price
! less tapestries and noble paintings hung.
To the ordinary traveller and observer
Rheims Cathedral was OF surprising in
terest: TO the discerning friend OF art
and beauty II gave the thrill OF great
music. to the architect, the painter and
tho sculptor II was an lmmeasurable Joy.
T.
They realized the labor OF infinite days
which had made that marvellous facade.
the mystic roof with It's shadowy depths,
the endless traceries of stone and cary
ings of wood into the perfect whole
transept aisle, nave. chancel high altar,
pillars and portals. carved by hands which
had the freedom OF power and the per-
feet deicacy OF sense and touch.
Rheims Cathedral did not belong to
France alone. France had 1t In posses
SION, bu, she guarded It for civilization /:
she was its custodian for postority. In
Vulnerable wars had swept the land, but
II remained unscathed armies had raw
aged Rheims. but had left II undefaced.
Within its walls the rage OF the world.
the fury OF nations had never come.
Waves OF murder and of horror rolled up
TO It's gates broke and passed on either
side Warriors saw In II one OF the ever
lasting things n narrative in stone, not
or their day, but or days before them and
81 days still to be- wherein II would gather
the increasing archives of people and
echo the prayer OF heroes yet unborn.
Had II been pagan temple dedicated
20 old gods lost in the mists OF time. to
have smitten Il with the iron Of war would
have been crime beyond sufficient
penalty, but In Its beauty, II was con-
secrated 20 the Eternal; its holy purpose,
It's sublime tradition. IT'S pregnant charm.
its silent eloQuence belonged to the uni
versal world II was the continuous. per-
durable thing which might be injured by
accident. but could never be hurt or
wounded by the deliberate hand OF man
or nation.
Yet in this, our day Of the later civlliza-
ton. II has been hurt and wounded beyond
healing. savage hate greater than that
81 Attila has ruined II. Its massed ar
tIstry has been broken and SCARED its
rose window has been shattered aisle.