The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-13
RELIGION IN ART Is
DISCUSSED BY REV. r. r. OsGOOD

An event CO artistic luteTSl oC~
Cured AZ the Art Club Yesterday af-
ternoon when Rev Ernest Earle Os-
GOOD gave p dramatic rendering OF
his original poem, ''Naecenas." Mr..
osrood prefaced the poem with a
scholarly address on the History OF
Art, showing the tntey- relations Of art
and religion. ana how art Mad In all
aEce been the handmade Of religion.
1T may seem strange" said MT.
OsEoCd. that the most religious ma
tlOn on earth. the Hebrews, apparent
IN were not an art producing nation.
but he directed the attention OF the
audience to the chapter in Ben Huf
wherein the nbther OF Ben Hur dis
clsses the artistic qualities OF his race
and speaking Of the tab .nscie work
evs saws that II the lost statues OF
the cherubim should be discovered,
SRey would probably be found to be
more beautiful than tie gold and.
ivory Athene Citing other arts, such
as literature and music, the speaker
showed the high attachments OF the
Hebrews along these lines and de-
c!ared that potentially the Jewish
race was among the most artistic OF
the world.
Turning to Egypt Mr. Osgood
Hl3NEE HOW TIC bIEItlCiiOOh1 NOA II"
Of art OF that nation were ali built
In honor Of their gods, their great
temples, one of which was four times
the size Of St Peters Cathedral. tes-
tIfying to the religious foundation of
their art With the Greeks. the most
artistic people of ancient times art
was an integral part Of worship. Tho
Frieze OF the Parthenon portrayed a
festal procession In honor OF the God
desc Athene. In the temple of Zeus
at Olympus. where the eye OF the
worshipper was led through vista
OF columns to that marvellous work
Of Phidias. the Olympian Zeus, was
expressed -the ministry OF art to the
divine and holy.
Coming To. the Middle Ages, the
speaker DIVERT upon the great thir-
teenth century when the spiritual life
was given visible form in mighty ca
thedrals. As evidence of how men
have been led to religion through
art, Mr.. Osgood quoted from the
pagan poets, saying that If one studied
the odes Of Horace he will find that
they breathe religion, In introducing
the characters OF his dramatic poem,
he spoke Of the relationship of the
poet Horace and his patron Mae
cenas. Horace, was introduced by
Virgil to Maecenas, who did many
things TO repair the fortunes of Hor-
ace and who at his death commend
ed the poet 10 Augustus. Horace and
Maecenes died in the same month
and the same year, y. G.
The time Of the poem was a few
months before the death OF Maccenas.
and the scene was the palace OF Mae
cenas, Mr.. lOsgood's impersonation Of
tho characters or Horace and Mae
cenns was realistic and forceful.
/ Maecenas expresses his realization
that his death Is approaching and
voices his despair at the thought OF
there being no future existence. Hor-
ace oXpounds his belief In life after
death and his trust in the gods.
/ Horace at last brings Maecenas to n
! belief in Immortality and the poem
closes with the beautiful lines
! And we shah walk together through
the halls Of heaven.
Like children 10 their mother we
shall be
Clasned to the bosom Of Eternity"
The poem was marked by fine pas
! sages ana vivid word painting. A
clear impression was given of classical
life and an understanding OF CLASH
cal philosophy was conveyed.
The chairman Of the evening was
Mrs. Mamie Werth. who in few
we'll chosen words introduced the
speaker Miss Ellen Ball and Miss
Margaret Freeman presided in the
tea room, where an informal recep-
tion was rendered Mr.. Osgood.