26 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, 
out the preceeding ages, they are, thanks to his beautiful pen, if pos- 
‘sible more lovely than of old, even as the old flint of the British and 
Roman builders takes as fine a polish as ever at the hand of the 
modern builder. 
While there is such a parallelism noticeable in the general char- 
aciers of Literature, Art and Architecture throughout the ages, we 
must also bear in mind that while all three were at first a necessity 
as a matter of protection and defence, soon they assumed a religious 
character. Mr. Boyle showed us in his paper last winter how Man 
has ever had a desire of commanding. ‘This is shown not only in 
his deeds and words, but also in his songs and tastes that at first 
formed the literature, while his first architectural efforts were also 
with a view to defence, but he soon showed that he had an idea of an 
‘Omnipotence that is to be feared and therefore propitiated. From 
this arose, as higher ideas were formed of the Almighty, the true 
sense of worship. A good example of this early prominence of re- 
ligious thought at the same time as the commanding, or in a sense 
‘warlike spirit, was shown us in the history of Caedmon and his 
religious poetry attracting as much attention as the heroic ballads of 
the time. Following this religious development shown in the build- 
ing of churches as well as of castles, we find Alfred providing litera- 
ture of all sorts. So later on after the Reformation, when, as I intimat- 
ed, thought become more elaborate, we find that architects were able 
to devote their attentions to mansions that were not mainly intended 
for castles or places of worship, while the literature was also devoted 
to the domestic or social side of life. And in our time we are finding 
that while there is a revival of the admiration for that which was so 
‘characteristic of our English ancestors, we have room for ideas in 
literature and art, not only classical but also that of foreign schools, 
and we also find literature realizing the aim of King Alfred and 
‘Caxton when they sought to provide books for every man. 
As I have said so much about the architecture, which is mainly 
to be found among the older countries of Europe, you will doubtless 
remind me that we are living in a new country where such is not to 
be found, truly so, but even as our ancestral heritage was derived 
rom these countries we cannot do better than to study their literature, 
architecture and art as best we may. 
Now, having laid down these lines of literary study to be followed, 
