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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1883)
i??.A IT ii i. iMnfturl THE HESPERIAN STUPENT. ) 'tS y - lias alwoys demanded in oxcoss of what sho oxpootcd io rocoivo. Conscious of tho seeming difference bntwecn llic Ohurch and tho now learning, ono naturally looks too sco tho stronger uso her powur. Tho true explanation may bo found, not in tho Inok of opportunity or powor, so much ns in tho I nek ot inclination : in tho luck of incli nation, Arising from tho pursuit of a more Immediate ins tcrOBt: tho usurpation of tho civil power. In tho enrly struggle of tho Ohurch for existence, sho sought aid out sldo of tho abstract. Tho mind at Hint timo could only comprehend tho absrnct as expressed by tho concrete or sensuous: houco tho choico of rut by tho Church ns her most natural ally'. Hero then n choice was necessary botweon p tinting and sculpture Tho lat ter was discarded for two icnsons: first It recalled a pagan worship of linages, and second: It was inadequato to ex press tho now emotions introduced by Christianity. For tho Greek religion, sculpture was sufficient, bolng a religion of repose, whoso Gods represented tho idealization o1' some human attribute, usually physical or a result of tho physical nature On (ho contrary tho Christian rollijlon wus a struggle of the soul, giving riee to a train of abstract Ideas. To embody theso in sensuous form, uncart more expressive than sculpture was demanded; this was found in painting. This art Increased the power of expression in many ways. Not being confined tof the earth In its treatment, it was free to represent heaven, the clouds and a cnl83 of objocts bottor calculated to work upon the lm. agination. Its power was increased by command of lin ear and ror'ul perspective; blending of light and shade, all of which were necessary to portray tho effect of the soul's struggle upon tho face .and form. After having mado a choice .tho Church sought to raiso'art to a level with hor self, by limiting its scope. The result was just tho oppo site from that intended: ait dragged' tho Ohurch dowu to a lovnl with itself. Exasperated by tho taunts of Jews and Mohammed ans against her worship of images, tho Church sought to proscribe these, but compromising in favor of painting, sho then sought to elevate ait by giving expression to holy thoughts in ugly forms, In so far as theory is con cerned the Church was probably in the right. Asceticism was the all powerful Idea. Removal all things earthly, in order to a bettor, and holier contemplation of tho heavenly. Angels, tho personification of tho good spirits expressed in the nude flgurcsof beautiful maidens and strong youths, led but naturally, from tho contemplation of tho spirit to that' of tho flesh. It was but right that tho Church, animated by this principle of bolf-dcniul, should try to remove temptations so facinating. Hence tho re sult, art cramped, was no longer art. Tho representations of Christ were horrible: tho body writhing with pain and defiled with great sickening blood clots, bunging from I tho guping wouuu. Tiic JUauonnas lean ana care-worn, no longer seduced young converts from their holy thoughts. Tho little leaven in Christianity was n long timo work ing. Almost 14 centuries elapsed after tho Geeat Master before the seed sown by Ilim boro fruit. Tho fruit was that emotion which resulted in humanism. Anollier in congruity, tho Chuich opposes the roault of tho principle which it professes to protect. The principle, Christianity ; tho humanistic spirit, the result. Another., compromise forced through humanism und art triumphent. Bo many compromises and yot attended with so little loss, are strong arguments In favor of a unlvorsiU dcalro for the Church. The Church scoffed at art, but claimed tho glory of its achlovomonts. Though often rudely lvpulsod, lurt con tlnuod to servo tho same mistress. Its greatest works arc expressions of tho struggle to portray, in terms Unite, the infinite. The Ohurch failed to Inko into consideration tho fact, that tho uuds'to bo accomplished by religion and and art woro so different, that tho two could not blond or work together harmoniously. It was reserved for that spirt of humanity developed in tiio 15th uudlOth centuries, to seo that tho two might at least exist sldo by side. In tho .early Renaissance this spirit was possessed by but few, while in the Renaissance proper, It became general, or In other words true art was appreciated. Tho Ohurch hates revolutions. Sho mayjseothe noccs ity of leform, but sho shrinks from tho means necessary to accomplish it. True to hor spirit of consclvatism, sho op posed tho Ronalssnnco in lileraHire; sinco this meant Plato, while her system of tlieologyVwas founded upon Aristotle. The now spirit gavo birth to a lovo of naturo in nil its forms, to tho hatred of asceticism'. Man for the first timo read tho Bible and placed upon it his own in terpretation. So long had his mind been bound down, that not only did he hate the Church but even religion. At this timo a leformation in tin Church arose, and tho reformers weie friendly to tho now spirit, but of the Church as a whole, this was untrue. Although, as before stated, tho spirit of the Renaissance was opposed by tho Church, yet it was religion itself that prepared tho mind of man for this great change. Tho elomont emotion, caused tho Grcok philosophers, Plato especially, to bo viewed and studied with Christian sympathy. It is doubtful whether tho Renaissance could have taken place without tho aid of religion. Man then for the first time began to look within. The Renaissance mado religion personal. Tho religion of the GreekB taught men to live for to-day, as tho grave ended all. Tho effect of tho study of this, nations litcraturo soon became visible It at first teuded to unsettle tho opinions of men and make them careless of tholr morals. Although tho Church may liavo sot a poor example, sho was neverthe less right theoretically in her dosiro to check the spread of this pagan philosophy. In Dante, first, is tho question of faith treatod practic ally. Opposed to tho spirit of tho Church, ho stands on tho border lund between tho now and old, inheriting the old, imbibing tho ,now. The noxt stop is worked out by Fieino and Pol It inn, tho result expressed by Hoccnccio. He dares openly to ridicule und contrast the pretentious with tho practices of clergy. Another struggle, another compromise on tho part of tho Church, resulting in an u tempt to harmonize tho two systems. The Church needed a support in whoso complete dovol. opement sho could sympathize in spirit. This must bo an art whose aim wus tho same as that of religion. Be hold then, this art, music. Tho silent approximation of tho soul to God, religion: music, tho vocal expression of tho moods of tho soul. Each strengthened tho othor. Music gavo rice to that fooling of awe and seriousness which led to contemplation, while tho fervor of tho burning Christ ian soul, created this beautiful expression of its liurmoy and sweetness. Conservatism might be called tho balance of powor in tho intellectual world. Large bodies of men aro apt to twsynwwywg ss