30 THE SEVEN LAMPS OF ARCHITECTURE

architecture-the spirit which offers for such work precious things, simply because they are precious; not as being necessary to the building, but as an offering, surrendering, and sacrifice of what is to ourselves desirable. It seems to me, not only that this feeling is in most cases wholly wanting in those who forward the devotional buildings of the present day;* but that it would even be regarded as a dangerous,¹ or perhaps criminal, principle by many among us. I have not space to enter into dispute of all the various objections which may be urged against it-they are many and specious; but I may, perhaps, ask the reader’s patience while I set down those simple reasons which cause me to believe it a good and just feeling, and as well-pleasing to God and honourable in men, as it is beyond all dispute necessary to the production of any great work in the kind with which we are at present concerned.²

§ 3. Now, first, to define this Lamp, or Spirit, of Sacrifice, clearly. I have said that it prompts us to the offering of precious things, merely because they are precious, not because they are useful or necessary. It is a spirit, for instance, which of two marbles, equally beautiful, applicable and durable, would choose the more costly, because it was so, and of two

* The peculiar manner of selfish and impious ostentation, provoked by the glassmakers, for a stimulus to trade, of putting up painted windows to be records of private affection, instead of universal religion, is one of the worst, because most plausible and proud, hypocrisies of our day. [1880.]3

¹ [Ed. 1 reads, “as an ignorant, dangerous, or,” etc.]

² [In the manuscript this concluding sentence is as follows:-

“Now as I believe, not only that the feeling is necessary to the production of any great work, which is a minor matter, but that it is a good and holy feeling and one pleasing to God, and of course, therefore, beneficial and exalting to man, I would much desire to be able to enter at some length into an examination of the reasons which may be alleged against it.

“I cannot, however, do this in any wise satisfactorily, these hostile reasons being various and many, and my plan and my space permitting me only to state in clear form what I believe to be right, with such of the more manifest reasons for my opinion as may be shortly given; and to show what results would follow from the acceptance of such a principle; so that the desire of such results may lead at once to the discussion and trial of the principle itself by others more competent than I to examine it.”]

³ [The corrected copy has erased:-

“Note on selfishness, memorial windows,” etc.,

and it corrects in the Note:-

“provoked” from “invented,” “private” from “our own earthy,” and “universal religion” from “the lives of the saints.”]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]