1891-92 |. FIFTH MEETING. 9 
The following resolution was passed on motion by Mr. Clark, seconded 
by Mr. Morrison :— 
That the Secretary be requested to obtain from the City Council 
the results of the observations taken on lake currents, with a view to 
consideration thereof and report by the Committee. 
FIFTH MEETING. 
Fifth Meeting, 5th December, 1891, the President in the chair. 
Donations and Exchanges since last meeting, 73. 
Mr. F. E. P. Pepler was elected a member. 
A resolution was adopted requesting the Vice-President and Secretary 
to attend the meeting of the Ontario Society of Artists in regard to 
obtaining the old Upper Canada College buildings from the Ontario 
Government for art and science purposes. 
A paper was read by W. A. Sherwood, A.R.C.A., on “The Spirit of 
National Art.” He lamented the fact that there was so little of this 
spirit in Canada, and that national art was almost unknown. He made 
reference to the life labor of Sir Joshua Reynolds, who strove to build 
up a national art in England. The results of his work may now be seen 
in the magnificent art in England to-day, which compares favorably 
with that of any other country. In this democratic country there is no 
patronage, and all that can be looked for is a broad sympathy with 
every department of art. This broad sympathy was a more powerful 
factor in building up a national art than any individual patronage, and 
he looked forward to the time when it would be heartily extended. The 
art of any country should reflect the individuality, the customs and the 
philosophy of the people. The spirit of national art has a patriotic 
tendency, and the state should assist in fostering it to the utmost. Its 
object and aim is to develop to the furthest every fortion of the com- 
munity to a higher appreciation of created things, to bring the mind in 
closer communion with nature, viewing with reverence all created forms 
and all conditions of social and domestic life. Like its sisters, music 
and poetry, it strives to touch with a delicate hand the finer sensibilities 
of nature: like its sterner sister science, to wield no uncertain wand over 
the grosser prostitution of sacred things; a priestess in the temple of 
nature truly zealous of her sacred duties, keeping the lights ever burning 
upon the golden minarets of the altar. The homogeneous condition of 
the Canadian commonwealth would in time produce an art peculiarly 
national and superior to that of any other country. In it would be 
