president’s ADDRESS — SECTION H. 
167 
Builder.” The noblest works of the architects of old are always 
found in the expression of lofty spiritual ideals, in buildings which 
they erected for the service and worship of God ; and the works of 
the engineer to-day, properly regarded, may also claim a kindred high 
ideal of service through the benefits which they confer upon mankind. 
It is a calling worthy of the highest intellects, and of the same enthu- 
siasm that was displayed by the old “ Chief Builders.” It is surely 
high and honourable service to remove dangerous rocks from the course 
of our ships ; to build out massive arms of protection for resisting 
the attacks on life and property by the ocean in its wild rages; to link 
people to people by the daring bridge or the patiently burrowed tunnel, 
and to fight disease and suffering with water and sanitary schemes. 
In these new lands of Australasia we are unable to point with 
pride to such grand and stately works of architecture as abound in 
England and on the Continent — works enriched with the patient 
genius and loving toil bestowed upon them by the workmen architects 
of old. Buildings are, however, to be found that redound to the 
credit and skill of our architects ; but the broad outlook must be 
confessed as disappointing, when the splendid opportunities afforded 
by the rise of new and wealthy cities are considered. 
I suppose that the advance of architecture in earlier times was 
largely empirical. Many a failure would occur, and many a lesson 
be taught from the unskilled use of material, before fixed rules of 
harmony and proportion were adopted ; and the reed, clay, or log 
dwelling became ihe grand temple or the stately palace, with the 
original typical construction yet traceable in a refined and translated 
form. The advance to-day is more educational, and includes provision 
for the requirements of a civilisation formerly unknown, as in lighting, 
heating, ventilating, and lifting arrangements, and in the adaptation 
of iron and steel to main constructive features. 
True architecture is adapted with all simplicity and grace to the 
purpose of the building, supplemented by the capabilities of the 
material, social, and climatic requirements, and scenic surroundings. 
There must be a live purpose felt and expressed in the design, 
whether made brilliant with genius or simply glowing with an evident 
desire after honesty and truth in the ideal, and the result will be a 
u joy for ever.” A good architectural design is only so made, never 
with a mere mechanical grouping and arrangement of set features or, 
worse still, with a jumble of colour and material that at once is felt to 
be artificial and a sham. 
It is just this live purpose and spirit in the work of the old 
master builder of the cathedrals of England and the Continent that 
makes it so admirable, for in the beautiful words of Emerson he — 
Wrought with a sad sincerity, 
Himself from God he could not free ; 
He builded better than he knew ; 
The conscious stone to beauty grew. 
Know’st how yon wood-bird builds his nest 
Of leaves, and feathers from his breast ? 
Such, and so grew those lofty piles, 
While love and terror laid the tiles. 
The pliant master lent his hand 
To the vast soul which on him planned : 
And the same power that raised the shrine 
Bestrode the tribes that knelt therein. 
