166 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1907 



**A single word as to the artistic rank of the building. 



It would, of course, savour of the absurd to 

 Estimate institute a comparison between this compara- 

 of Artistic tively small Abbey church and the supreme 

 Rank. achievements of Gothic architecture, such as 



Amiens, Charlres, or Salisbury. But the small 

 panels of Meissonier or Teniers make their appeal to the 

 artistic sense as truly as the enormous canvases of Rubens or 

 Tintoret ; and the appeal of Melrose, reinforced so poignantly 

 by the pathos of its decay, though less overpowering, is, to 

 me at least, as keen and exquisite as that of any of the 

 great examples of the builder's art I have named. Doubtless 

 the structure has its defects, of which everyone is conscious, 

 more or less, on a first view, especially the cardinal one of 

 lack of elevation. A low building, however beautiful, can 

 never be so dignified or imposing as a lofty one; and Melrose 

 is unfortunate in wanting three sides of its central tower, 

 which, lovely as it is, must, even when entire, have been 

 too low for the principal external feature of a church of its 

 size. It may be admitted too, without going so far as some 

 extreme critics, who charge the design with being 'cold and 

 formal to a fault,' that there is, especially in the Eastern 

 limb, a little of that ' cast-iron ' effect of which Ruskin 

 complains in the cathedral of Strasburg. But after all 

 deductions are made, Melrose must be acknowledged the 

 most charming, as it is the most famous, architectural shrine 

 in Scotland ; and its exquisite decorations, alike in conception 

 and execution, are worthy to stand in the front rank of the 

 productions of Gothic art in any country. The strife of 

 earlier and the neglect of later centuries have left it a mere 

 shadow of its original splendour ; but shorn of its ancient 

 glory as it is, it still remains 'a thing of beauty,' and will 

 continue, we may hope, to be 'a joy,' if not 'for ever,' at 

 least for many generations." 



After according Mr Ferguson, on the motion of the President, 

 a hearty vote of thanks for his instructive paper, in the 

 preparation and rehearsal of which his possession of personal 

 enthusiasm and attachment had been made abundantly mani- 

 fest, the members proceeded to inspect the Abbej)^, devoting 



