Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/489

 ' Juym 7, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 467 song lauding the victory gained by Louis III. over the Norman chiefs, and in the Lower Rhine dialect the hymn in honour of Anno, Archbishop of Cologne. At the commencement of the ninth century Charlemagne did much to en- courage poetry and literature by building up a German grammar and establishing monastic schools. The lecturer then drew attention to the Age of Chivalry and the Minnesaugers—called the Suabian Age—the Suabian Age, because the Suabian dialect prevailed, and it was not until the Min- nesaugers were made welcome at the Court of the Emperors of the Hohenstaufen dynasty that poetry may be said to have flourished in Germany. The encouragement of the fine arts by the Hohenstaufens promoted a rapid development, accelerated by the close alliance between the German bards and the minstrels of Sicily. In 1207, within the ancient mountain fortress of the Wartburg, took place the famous tournament of song, known as the Siingers- krieg. The Poem of the Niebelungen, founded on original sagas or legends, variously interwoven with each other, after having been long forgotten, appeared again to delight those who appreciate true poetry. Siegfried, the chief hero of the German Epic, stands out like Achilles in the Iliad, noble in action, pure in soul, and full of love. And to the same age belongs the Heldenbuch, written by different singers or poets, and relating to the most ancient traditions, among which are the stories of King Arthur and his Table Round, so exquisitely modernised by Mr. Tennyson. Hans Sachs and the Master-sangers, and the reformers, Wickliffe and Hans, had sowed seeds that began now to yield the harvest. Music and singing the German people considered a neces- sary amusement, and this naturally produced a popular poetry that spread itself through all classes of society. Luther, who may be said to have created the high German language, exercised an immense influence over subsequent literature. Animated and vigorous, his hymns assisted considerabiy the school of sacred poetry—of which Weckherlin was the chief representative—about this time established. The way was thus paved for the poets of the eighteenth century, Haller, Hagedorn, and Schlegel, who combined to throw off to a great extent the in- fluence of Spanish and French literature that during the thirty years’ war had been allowed to creep in. Coming to the third period, it was chiefly owing to three men, unlike each other in every respect but of independent and original genius, that German poetry occupies so prominent a position, equal to the poetry of the ancient Greeks and of the nations of modern Europe. These three great men were Klopstock, Lessing, and Wieland. Klopstock held that without patriotism and religion no true poetry could exist. Lessing became the founder of the modern German drama and of German criticism; but his writings, being in advance of the times, gave rise to much theological discussion, involving the bold author in constant disputes with the clergy. Lessing through- out Germany induced the study of English literature, and especially of Shakespeare. Wieland wrote poems, histories, essays, and novels, taking frequently as the basis of his themes the poetry and pleasant tales of Eastern romance. Before passing to the two illustrious representatives of the third period, Schiller and Goethe, Mr. Browning mentioned two poets as having furthered materially the formation of the modern school—viz., Gleim and Herder, and quoted some beautiful remarks of Herder, when speaking of his greatest work, ‘‘ Ideas on the Philo- sophy of the History of Mankind.” The good Grand Duke Karl August and his amiable mother, the Princess Anna Amalia, loved literature and the society of literary men, and took a particular pleasure in encircl- ing the Court with the illustrations of the Fatherland. And this is the golden period of the modern German poetic school, Goethe and Schiller its two brightest > ornaments—Goethe, with a talent of calm observa- tion, dipped passionless into the understanding of all things; while Schiller, being sensitively enthusiastic, strove for the victory of the true and the noble, and aimed with aspiring emotion for the triumph of the sublime. Many poets of this period the lecturer re- gretted to be only able on this occassion to mention by name—Voss, Biirger, Matthisson, Uhland, Kérner, Chamisso, and Heine, the latter the Anacreon of modern times. And, in conclusion, he ventured to say that Germany stands at the present moment on the highest step of the ladder of civilisation. In no country are education and trueenlightenment so gene- rally spread over all classes of society, from the richest to the poorest; and, further, in no country is learn- ing sc much honoured for its own sake as there. Slowly the speculative philosophy of which in former times they were so fond is dying out, and Germany, now united in one cause, is awakened from her idealistic imaginings, und her people begin to feel and know for themselves that they are a great and powerful nation—worthy by learning, by prowess in the field, and by cultivation of the arts, to take a foremost rank among the sister nations, and to lend most material aid in spreading the ideas and practice of civilisation throughout all countries of the world in which we live. (Loud applause.) A discussion followed the lecture, in which Drs. Karl Blind, Guidal, Zerffi, Altschul, Madame Ronniger, Messrs. William Tayler, Henry Tidey, Temple, and others joined. After some interesting remarks from Sir Dicey Wrarr (the chairman), who proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, the proceedings terminated. —————— GENERAL CONFERENCE OF ARCHITECTS. GENERAL Conference of Architects will be held at the Rooms of the Institute next week, for the purpose of discussing questions of Profes- sional Practice, Architectural Art, and Construction. All members of the Institute will have the tight of attending the meetings. Other practising archi- tects (British or foreign) who may desire to attend, are requested to apply at once for cardsof admission to Mr. C. L. Eastlake, Secretary (for Home Duties) of the Institute. During the Conference an Exhibition will be held of Architectural Designs and Drawings of a prac- tical and geometrical character—e.g., plans, eleva- tions, sections, &c. (unframed). Architects who may be willing to contribute such works are re- quested to forward them at ence, together with a list specifying the number, size, and subjects of the Drawings offered. GENERAL COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. Presidents. iE. H. Martineau. J. Douglass Mathews. C. Barry. T. Blashill. A. W. Blomfield, M.A. | E. Nash. Arthur Cates. *H. Oliver. J. Clarke. *W. Papworth. H. Currey. *R. L. Roumieu. R. W. Edis. T. Roger Smith. R. P. Spiers. H. H. Statham. A. Strong. E. W. Tarn, M.A. T. H. Watson. Thomas Wells. Sir M. Digby Wyatt. J. Edmeston. H. L. Florence. C. Fowler. G. Godwin, F.R.S. &e. J. H. Hakewill. O. Hansard. T. C. Hine. E. T’Anson. Professor Lewis, The following members of the Institute are ap- pointed to act as Hon. Secretaries to superintend the arrangements necessary for each subject or section, viz. :— E. T’Anson, Fellow. Professional Practice <~T. Roger Smith, do. J. D. Mathews, Associate. ftoneen Kerr, Fellow. Architectural Art '. Talbot Bury. do. Thos. Wells. Associate. Woncteaclion ana Professor Lewis, Fellow. Fs ane 2 Edwin Nash, do. Materials (E.W. Tarn, M.A. Associate. Exhibition of C, C. Nelson, Fellow. Practical <~J. Norton, do. Drawings (a L. Florence, Associate. Arrangements Horace Jones, Fellow. for ~ O. Hansard, do. Public Dinner —(F. Marrable, do. T. Roger Smith, Fellow. visits to <~ W. Papworth, do. Public Buildings T. H. Watson, Associate. In order to secure time for the general considera- tion of the subjects proposed to be discussed at each Sectional Meeting, it has been arranged that a quarter of an hour shall be allotted for the reading of each Paper, and that gentlemen joining in the discussion shall be requested not to occupy more than ten minutes each with their remarks, except in cases where previous notice has been given. Arrangements for PROGRAMME, Arrangements have been made for gentlemen at- tending the Conference to view the following objects of special interest in the metropolis, wpon the presen- tation of a card issued for that purpose, and which may be obtained upon application to the Secretary, at the Rooms of the Institute. The card should be signed by the member using it, and must not be | given up. Monday, 10th June, 8 p.m., General Opening Meeting: Address by Thomas H. Wyatt, President of the Institute. Tuesday, 11th June, 10.30 a.m., Visit—British Museum; to view the newly-arrived fragments of the Temple of Diana at Ephesus: Conducted by C. J. Newton, M.A. Tuesday, 11th June, 11.30 a.m., Visit—the Egyptian and Assyrian Collections: Conducted by Samuel Birch, LL.D., F.S.A. Rendezvous: First Corridor on the left of the Principal Entrance. Tuesday, 11th June, 1.30 p.m., Sectional Meeting —Professional Practice: Report of the Conference Committee on Professional Charges; Report of the Conference Committee on the Employment of Sur- veyors; on ‘‘ Esprit de Corps,” by T. Roger Smith, Fellow. Wednesday, 12th June, 11.30 a.m., Visit—West- minster Abbey. Rendezvous : The Chapter House. Wednesday, 12th June, 8 p.m., Sectional Meeting —Architectural Art. ‘‘On Modern Church Archi- tecture in Scotland,” by John Honeyman, Esq. ; report of the Conference Committee on Competitions (with a draft form of conditions and notes of various members thereon). Thursday, 13th June, 10 a.m., Visit—Messrs. Cubitt’s Works, 258, Gray’s Inn-road, Terra-Cotta making, Stone Cutting and Planing Machines, and Machinery for preparing and fitting Joiners’ Work : Conducted by Mr. Plucknett and Mr. Rogers. Thursday, 15th June, 2 p.m., Sectional Meeting —Sir. Wm. Tite in the chair: ‘‘On the Selenitic Method of Treating Lime,” by Major-General Scott, R.E., C.B. ; ‘‘ Notes on the Recent Conflagration in Paris,” by R. W. Edis, Fellow. Friday, 14th June, 11 a.m., Adjourned Mesting. Friday, 14th June, 6.30 p.m., Public Dinner Willis’ Rooms, King-street, S. James’s; the Presi- dent, Thomas Henry Wyatt, in the chair. Saturday, 15th June, 10 a.m., Visit—India Office and Museum, 8. James’s Park, S.W.: Conducted by Sir M. Digby Wyatt, F.S.A. The following are open daily, for members attend- ing the Conference:—The Burlington Fine Arts Club, 17, Savile-row (through the kindness of the committee): Exhibition of original etchings and drawings by Claude de Lorraine, and Turner’s “Liber Studiorum.” Soane Museum, Lincoln’s Inn-fields (Joseph Bonomi, Curator; 10 to 4): The collection of the late Sir John Soane, architect. Architectural Museum, Tufton-street, Dean’s-yard, Westminster (Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., Fellow, Hon. Sec.; 10 to 7): Collection of casts and architec~ tural remains. The Arundel Society, 24, Old Bond- street: Water-colour copies of Italian frescoes, &c. Kirkaldy’s Testing Works, the Grove, Southwark, S.E. And on Friday on/y, the 14th June, before 1 p.m. Grosvenor House, No. 33, Upper Grosvenor - street, W.: Collection of pictures in the possession of the Most Noble the Marquis of Westminster. ——_>_ THE SCHOOL BOARDS. CANTERBURY.—At a meeting of this Board on Monday afternoon, the clerk stated that he had for- warded to the Education Department the plans and specifications of the alterations in the Board’s school and of the master’s house, together with the con- veyance, draft of lease, and other documents. They were sent on the 23rd ult., the reason they did not go earlier being that the architect had to take im- pressions from the plans. A reply would be re- ceived, no doubt, within eight or ten days. Lonpon.—At the meeting of the London School Board, on Wednesday, the Rey. A. Barry moved that in the selection of sites the Works Committee shall instruct the Sub-Committee on Sites to inform the members of the division in which any site is required before they make any report or send any recommendation to the Works Committee respecting any proposed site, which, after a brief conversation, was agreed to. ee The Prince of Wales will open the East London Museum on the 24th inst. There has been much talk in Paris as to the re- ported resignation of M. Lefuel, the architect at- tached to the Tuileries and Louvre. It was said that M. Lefuel, annoyed at having a young architect, M. Paschal, put upon him inthe capacity of inspector, had sent in his resignation. It now appears, accord- ing to the Academy, that M. Paschal was added as assistant at the express request of M. Lefuel.
 * Thomas H. Wyatt, President.
 * Horace Jones, *A. Waterhouse, *J. Gibson, Vice-
 * F. Marrable.
 * G. Aitchison, B.A.
 * W. Burges. C. C. Nelson.
 * T, Talbot Bury. J. Norton.
 * T. C. Clarke. R. Plumbe.
 * H. Dawson. *E. Sharpe, M.A,
 * J. P. St. Aubyn.
 * R. J. Withers.
 * F’, P. Cockerell, hon, see.
 * C. L. Eastlake, sec.
 * W. M. Fawcett, M.A.
 * J. Fowler.
 * Professor Kerr.
 * Ex officio as Members of the R.I.B.A. Council.