Muir Lodge — an Appreciation 



6i 



adored, he was able to give to us something of the majesty of 

 the mountains, the glory of the glaciers, the records of the 

 rocks, the teachings of the trees, the songs of the streams, the 

 friendhness of the flowers. Material as these things are they 

 roused in John Muir a very white heat of devotion — a devotion 

 his writings breathe in every line. John Muir's lofty worship, 

 which thanked God for every good day and each bit of loveli- 

 ness, must have been most acceptable to the Maker of the 

 Universe, who saw that His works were good. Here is a man 

 we may delight to honor. How the memory of him steadies us 

 when our own understanding of essentials becomes warped. 



The first time I ever saw John Muir he spoke of his inten- 

 tion to build some day a home close under the Sierra Madre 

 Mountains. He often later spoke of this longing. And though 

 it was never our good fortune to have him dwelling among us, 

 yet in Muir Lodge we have a sort of shrine for his spirit, where 

 none may sojourn without receiving the benediction of the 

 mountains, which John Muir, more than any other, taught us 

 to know aright. On the wall his pictured face first greets the 

 entering guest. 



Such a true, simple heart could not fail to love to be loved. 

 At the time of the dedication of Muir Lodge, he wrote, "Fm 

 very glad to get the picture of the fine Muir Lodge. It's pleas- 

 ant to be remembered in this way in the midst of this long- 

 drawn-out battle for our national parks." 



