. The Pacific Unitarian . e workof the Unitarian Church is done. The Temples of Philae. By ClareBce Eeed. Most beautiful of the temples of Egyptare those at Phila?. Thej^ have for aframe the jagged and purple-clothedmountains, the glistening sands of thedesert, palm trees every leaf of which attimes is tipped with gold and mellowedwith the tropical sunshine, and a quiver-ing canopy of blue. Rising out of thewater, which soon will cover them com-pletely, they seem as a group of preciousstones set in a ring of silven^ hues. If beauty has its sanctuary in anyplace on earth, it certainly is at Phi
. The Pacific Unitarian . e workof the Unitarian Church is done. The Temples of Philae. By ClareBce Eeed. Most beautiful of the temples of Egyptare those at Phila?. Thej^ have for aframe the jagged and purple-clothedmountains, the glistening sands of thedesert, palm trees every leaf of which attimes is tipped with gold and mellowedwith the tropical sunshine, and a quiver-ing canopy of blue. Rising out of thewater, which soon will cover them com-pletely, they seem as a group of preciousstones set in a ring of silven^ hues. If beauty has its sanctuary in anyplace on earth, it certainly is at has glorified its stones and toneddown any possible suggestion of harsh-ness. Here may be seen the beauty ofw^onderful reflections in the water thatare so perfect that it is impossible attimes to tell where the real mountains,palms, and temples end and the reflectionbegins, the beauty of color on columns,and the beauty of desert sunsets. Itsbeauty is like that of the strains of aharp coming from an adjoining room,. the delicate perfume that floats into thehouse from the garden in springtime, thecharm of the afterglow, or the murmurof running water. It is like a marveloustapestry which when the endeavor ismade to describe its details seems to loseits charm. The doorways, the courtyard,and the portico with the painted columnsare the embodiment of loveliness. Phila? is a lyrical poem in stone. Thisseems at first thought an exaggeratedstatement, for Egyptian architecture isgenerally massive, lacking the aspiringelement of the Gothic and the refinedbeauty of the Greek. Here is mystery,aspiration, magnificence, lightness, per-fect grace, delicate finish, infinite beauty, and exquisite proportions,as well as great strength and temples are now robed in thebeauty of approaching death, having thesmile that comes at the end of pain andpossessing the charm of waving fields ofripened grain, a flower-garden in fullbloom, a gorgeous sunset and autumnleaves
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectunitarianism, bookyea
