Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/196

 184 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE as pleasing to God — as performed ' through God ' — that is, in obedience to the command of God to do good works, such as the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, the building and ornamenting of churches, and whatever is conducive to bringing men's thoughts to piety. All these works should be performed for ' God's glory and in order to obtain happiness in the other world.' 1 The natural result of the general belief in the doctrine of the efficacy of good works was that neither State nor city had to be taxed for the current expenses of schools, hospitals, churches, or the support of the poor, as all these objects were amply provided for by voluntary contributions. To this belief also innume- rable works of art — monuments of religious and patriotic ardour — owe their origin. The little town of Calcar, on the Lower Ehine, in whose church are still extant a number of exquisite pictures and specimens of sculpture, is a good example of this. 2 In Calcar were several brotherhoods, amono- which those of Onr Lady and of St. Anne appear to have distinguished themselves by generous orders for works of art. In 1492 the latter society gave a commission to Master Derick Bongert for the very beautiful carved altar to the Holy Family which is still in existence. In the accounts of the Society of ' Our Lady ' are charges for a ' Burial of Christ ' executed by a Master Arnt, and for a carved altar by Master Ewart in 1492. In 1498 the same ' Brotherhood ' decided to erect an altar in honour of the Passion of our Lord. The president, accompanied by the pastor, Johann Houdan (doctor 1 Dcr Seelenfiihrer, p. 9. 2 Wolf, Ucber St. Niclrfaische Kirche in Calcar, 1880.