Editorial note — Creative Genius of Catholicity.

[Footnote 138: In this connection let us record a few remarks from the ablest writers upon the subject. Solger has said: "Philosophy can create nothing: it can only understand. It can create neither the religious inspiration nor the artistic genius: but it can detect and bring to light all that is contained therein." Hegel, in stating the relation of art, religion, and philosophy, says: "Art fulfils its highest mission when it has established itself with religion and philosophy in the one circle common to all, and is merely a method of revealing the godlike to man, of giving utterance to the deepest interests, the most comprehensive truths pertaining to mankind. Nations have deposited the most holy, rich, and intense of their ideas in works of art, and art is the key to the philosophy and religion of a nation." Schilling, with his peculiar theory, says: "That artist is to be accounted happy to whom the gods have granted the creative spirit. When the artist recognizes the aspect and being of the indwelling creative idea, and produces it, he makes the individual a world in itself, a species, an eternal type." Not one of these three statements is beyond the reach of cavil or of just exception; but, for the purpose in hand, we see that the first says that "philosophy can create nothing;" the second, that "art is a method of revealing the godlike to man, and of giving utterance to his most holy and intense ideas;" and the third, that it involves a gift or endowment of the "creative spirit."]