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
