Architecture And Archæology.

The restoration of nature to rectitude , perfection , and beauty , taught by the sacred writings , at once exhibits and defines the nature of material progress , and invests science and art with purpose . It infers , also , that nature is in an aberrant , abnormal condition , requiring correction , healing , perfecting . Christian idealism , therefore , seeks the knowledge of the r'ght , the best ; and thereafter seeks to realize it in all things . To correct , heal , or make perfect , we must have a pattern , or an

ideal conception of the being to be made whole ; or , instead of healing , we should , in all probability , still further mar the work . The object of restoration may bo stated in general terms to be that of the reinstitution of nature in the perfection of its first creation to the will of God . This perfect will is only to be comprehended hy the study of revealed truth and of science . To know this , and to act in obedience to it , is the aspiration of Christian idealism . We learn from Scripture that the world was created in measure ; that it wrs corrupted from the measure in which it was fust set ; and that it is to he corrected in measure . Now , to correct in

measure , it must be known to what measure ; and , therefore , Scripture and science must be interrogated for a quantitative expression of the ideal . And to the earnest inquiry , what is the measure of physical rectitude , perfection , beauty , and permanence ? revelation and science unequivocally respond , —the mean ; that mean which has been called the " golden , " and " the immutable . " The mean or average of all the possible variations of any special function , power , or form , is the measure of the perfection of that

special function , power , or form . It is the measure of ideal physical rectitude ; it is . the great quantitative law of ethics , aesthetics , politics , and the celestial mechanics , from which a departure is only rectified by this principle of harmonic compensation , viz ., that every aberration from the mean of any system in excess must be compensated at some time or other hy an equal and opposite one in defect . This law appears to hold ' good with reference to the less and greater hysical systemsand to be the key

p , to the true remedial and curative measures for excesses and defects . There is an argument which , in its first statement , appears to militate against and to turn to ridicule the theory of the mean being the measure of beauty ; viz . ; that if this were the case , beauty would bo the average of deformity . The theory , howeyer , is not more apparently paradoxical and ridiculous than the statement , that physical right is the average of every possible form of physical wrongbut which is nevertheless truein confirmation of

, ; which I will quote the words of an eminent scientific authority : —¦ " But how , it mry be asked are we to ascertain by observation data more precise than observation itself ? How are we to conclude the value of that which we do not see with greater certainty than that of quantities which we actually see and measure ? It is the number of observations which may bo brought to bear on the determination of data , that enables u '; i to do this . Whatever error

we may commit m a single determination , it is highly improbable that we should always err the same way ; so that when we ' eome to take an average of a great number of determinations ( unless there be some constant cause which gives a bias one way or the other ) , we cannot fail at length , to obtain a very near approximation to the truth : and even allowing a bias , to come much nearer to it than car . fairly be expected from any single observation liable to be influenced by the same bias .

This useful and valuable property of the average of a great many observations , that it brings us nearer to the truth than " any single observation can be relied on as doing , * renders it the most constant resource in all physical enquiries where accuracy is required . And it is surprising what a vapid effect , in equalizing fluctuations and destroying- deviations , a moderate multiplication of individual observation has . "

Fortunately , however , we can have recourse to experiment to confirm the theory of the mean in regard to beauty . Here are a number of disproportioned sketches of faces placed upon a cylinderwhich , being made to revolve rapidity , leaves a moan and more pleasing impression of all the pictures on the retina than would be produced by any one picture viewed singly . ,,. ? , f ' ' ? . ' nave stated briefl y the general principles of Christian Idealism Let examine the taken

. ns now position up by the naturalists or individualists in art ; of those who repudiate ideal tendencies for a professed obedience to nature and truth ; and who hold that Nature cannot bo improved in any of her aspects , and that she may be portrayed unquestioned , under whatsoever form she may be found , — " Whatever is , is right ; " and who , therefore , become mere automatic camerasreceiving of im

, impressions an - perfect , uncorrected world , —mere imitators of individual facts or instances . It will be seen at once that this dogma would banish au idea of material progress from the world . Carry it out in reierence to another phenomena than that with which paintino- and 10

sculpture are concerned , and its absurdity becomes moreand more evident . The very same notions which leads to the indiscriminate imitation of nature by painters and sculptors would sanction every species of vice and deformity , —would sanction every evil which afflicts the world;—for these are nature too ; not nature in that limited sense of the word which means only that nature which is right , but in its rtW-including sense ; in which sense it ought to he evident to every onethat everything that isor is possible to be

, , , must be within the compass or power of nature , or it would not be , or be possible . It is this double meaning which may be attached to the words nature and truth which leads to a misconception of principle . We may see , too , that the naturalist or individualist art dogma associates itself in principle with materialism ; and would , if it were consistent , resist all control , all governance , and obliterate all moral distinction ; and furthermore , upon its own

basis must admit idealism to be natural . For , whatever is possible in the form of thought , or in the form of matter , is in the nature of mind or matter . Therefore , the ideal , being a possible form of thought and of matter , is nature also . The testimony of the Scriptures is uniformly in favour of idealism , and against individuation in art . Now , if this were to he considered in no other light than that of a philosophic history , it would be great indeed ; but when this testimony is regarded as a

divine revelation of principles , and the record of the consequences of departing from those principles—from the Divine will— -it cannot be neglected with impunity . The Scriptures bear witness to the tendency of ignorance to enthrone individual forms in the mind in the place of the ideal ; to idealism , being the elevating principle , the principle from which a departure may lead to that recorded depth of idolatry against which the second commandment was aimed , and which decreed that

the Israelites were not to make graven images " in the likeness of anything in the heavens above , in the earth beneath , or in the waters under the earth , "—which was , in effect , that they were not to make idols of birds , beasts , or fishes , nor of the individualities of their leaders and kings , — "bow down to them nor -worship them ; but were to preserve their reverence for Him of whom an ideal is man's most worthy conception . The inference that this was the real intent of the law is strengthened by the fact that the ideal cherubim of the mercy-seat were according to divine command . The theory that the present condition of natnre in all its aspects is immaculate is one ' which would lead to the inference that human

and other nature needs no physical improvement , renovation , or restoration : it is one which does not permit distinction of right and wrong ; and one which , if it were to receive general acceptance , would convert the earth into a waste , and degrade man to the level of the brute . It will he evident , therefore , that the terms " earnest and conscientious endeavour" are misapplied to that very prevalent , absolute , and minute imitation of nature as it is ; such imitation being mere slavish acquiescence on the part of artists in the errors

and deformities of nature which it should be a part of a Christian ' s duty to correct . It is a total abnegation of the faculty of judgment , of moral discrimination , of sefection ; which , instead of elevating nature by those regenerative and reformed powers which science should command , tends to debase man , morally and physically , hy a false aim , and to mar the outward world by denying it the aid of human intervention of art . The naturalists or individualists in art affect a microscopic

rendering of nature beyond ordinary powers of vision ; but it is beyond human skill to imitate the lninubiic of vital organisms . Art may pretend to represent each and every leaf upon a tree , each and every blade of grass in a field , each and every hair on a head ; but it is but pretence . The microscope discloses minutoa on minutiai in organic being ; whereas a very slight magnifying power applied to imitative art discloses the imposture . Man ' s proper work is of a

different nature : it is his duty to discover , rule , and work by , general laws , to be perfected morally and physically , to moderate , to reconcile other nature to that which his advanced and more comprehensive knowledge approves . It may be interesting and instructive to inquire how this pursuit of the individualities of nature b y art has assumed importance , and threatened at times to extinguish all desire for ideal excellence . This may be attributedin a great measureI thinkto the

, , , ambiguity of the words nature and truth , which leads men unwittingly to cheat themselves and others , that truthfulness to the nature of individual instances or facts is the all in all of pictorial or plastic art . Questions like the following are frequently asked : —What ouo-lit to be the sole inquiry with every man who takes to himself , or deserves from othersthe designation of hilosopher ? Should

, p not the exclusive question be , and should not the answer to it be sought with equal simplicity and earnestness of purpose , —What is truth ? What other object can there be , of aught that is entitled to be called philosophy , but the discovery of truth ? Of what conceivable use or value are all the investi gations and reasonings of