240 OUR FEDERAL LANDS 



through the veil to meet the realities of nature and 

 of the unfathomable power behind it. I cannot say 

 what worship really is nor am I sure that others 

 will do better but often in the parks, I remember 

 Bryant's lines : Why should we, in the world's riper 

 years, neglect God's ancient sanctuaries, and adore 

 only among the crowd, and under roofs that our 

 frail hands have raised?' National Parks represent 

 opportunities for worship through which one comes 

 to understand more fully certain of the attributes 

 of nature and its Creator. They are not objects to be 

 worshipped, but they are altars over which we may 

 worship." 



This system is as precisely a National Institu- 

 tion as if its park units were so many purposeful 

 structures, special schools in our Super-University, 

 built around a common centre and surrounded by 

 campus walls. 



Were there no National Parks System we can 

 imagine that a proposition to create so noble and 

 useful a super-university of nature as Dr. Merriam 

 visions would stir the pride, imagination and desire 

 of the people to its depths. We can imagine our 

 ablest leaders in science, education and affairs gath- 

 ering earnestly behind the project, and the treasuries 

 of the nation opened for its achievement. 



With what meticulous care would it be planned 

 and its exhibits so chosen that none should be admit- 

 ted save those heroic examples of world architecture 

 which are "the grandest products of creation," rep- 



