Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/435

 1868.] The Minsters of Europe. THE MINSTERS OF EUROPE. THE great temples of worship, which have so firmly maintained their pre-eminence, throughout the earth, and stand, up to this very day, as witnesses of the wonderful art-power of man, are led by the heathen, of which, curious to sa}', the Islam has the largest in the world, St. Sophia's, at Constantinople. Although, in point of fact, this great Mosque was originally planned and erected for a Christian church, by Con- stantine, whose intention was to surpass any thing that had previously been erected ; but which fell into the hands of the followers of Mohammed, preserv- ing to this day its Christian name, and nothing more, to connect it with its origin. Next to St. Sophia's, in vastness of proportion, comes St. Peter's, at Home. Bijapoor, in India, has a Moslem temple, which claims the third place. The fourth in size is St. Paul's, London. We allude to the fact, in this place, to show that the energy of heathenism in the erection of capacious and splendid temples, dedi- cated to false deities, was a slur upon the Christian world, whose Minsters, dedicated to the true God, should be pre-eminent as their faith. Europe possessing the largest and finest Cathedrals, or Minsters, of the Christian World, we now enter on a review of that interesting field ; and, as we have already spoken, at large, on that of Milan, we will now take up the no less interesting Minster: Cologne Cathedral. No ecclesiastical structure more charming in outline, embodiment, and effect, as far as constructed, attracts the attention than this. The very slow- ness of its progress is a feature in its histoiy ; and, to add to its romance, the very name of its architect has been lost ; although his professional existence may yet be traced in the following wild legend ; — In 1225 the Archbishop Engelberg conceived the idea of building a Cathe- dral, which should surpass eveiy other one in the world in magnificence. Hoch- stedten, his successor, determined to execute it ; and employed the most eminent architect he could find. He supplied him with all the treasures of the churches of Cologne, and put him in possession of the fine quarries of the Drachenfels. The architect traveled over Europe, envied by all his profes- sional brethren ; and came home, at last, full of knowledge ; but quite unable to please himself in a design. Day after day he sat in a retired spot, studying and tracing on the sand, his lines of composition ; but ever without satisf}'- ing his imagination. One evening ere the sun went down, as he continued his vain effort, a little, old man ap- peared at his elbow ; and showed him a plan, so complete, and so surpass- ingly beautiful, that the delighted archi- tect demanded who he was, that could so far surpass him. The old man de- clared himself to be Satan ; and so am- bitious was the architect of securing his fame iorever by its possession, that he agreed to give his eternal bond to the Evil One for it. They parted to meet at midnight. Meantime, the trem- bling architect sought the advice of his confessor, who gave him a holy relic and told him when he met the devil that night, to ask to see the plan again. Then, to lay firm hold of it, at the same time waving the relic in the devil's face. He did, as directed; and the Evil One let go his hold, leaving the architect in full possession of the plan! In triumph he flew to his confessor, who warned him of the necessity for his leading a sinless life, and especially to beware of Pride. Cologne Cathedral went on. It