PUTTING INSPIRATION INTO MODERN ART

From a Special Correspondent
AT last we have in England the foundation for a permanent house of studies for the laity—and with a lively programme.
Spode house, standing next to the Dominican Priory at Hawkesyard, Staffordshire, used as a Catholic youth hostel since 1946, has been reconditioned for general use for study courses and retreats, and by Catholic societies for their own meetings.
The programme for the first five months includes four special weeks organised by the Warden. Fr. Conrad Pepler, 0.P., editor of The Life of the Spirit, and previously editor of Block friars.
These weeks on "The Arts and Religion" originate from correspondence in THE CATHOLIC 'HERALD,
People's Week
There will also he. in Low Week, a Catholic People's Week on "New Movements in the Church," and retreats in Passion Week and Holy Week.
Spode House, built in 1760, was acquired by the Spades in the early 19th century. In 1875 the third Josiah Spode became a Catholic. He had no heir and gave his house and estate to the Dominicans.
To his niece Miss Gulsen he left money with which to build the present Hawkesyard Priory. This benefaction is believed to have been one of the largest given to the Church in England since the Reformation. And the present-day reconstruction of Spode House itself has in fact been made possible by it.
Boys and girls leaving school at 15, converts, and almost all Catholics, with their varying opportunities for exercising an apostolate, can greatly benefit from a period of study in a community. Many Catholic societies have been trying to meet these needs by sponsoring individual lectures, summer schools, and series of lectures.
On one level the need is equivalent to the general need in society for some sort of adult education. On another level it is the need for an adequate training for the lay apostolate. Spode House is the beginning of one permanent answer to these requirements.
Conference house
The idea of a Catholic People's College sprang from Reginald Trevett's work in a parochial study group at Taunton. Somerset. His inspiration was the Danish Folk High Schools, to which every Danish citizen goes sometimes between 17 and 25 for a five months' course, and which in fact transformed that country.
Spode House is not a Catholic People's College, It is a conference and retreat house run by the Dominicans. But there is a close relationship between its aims and the idea of a Catholic People's College.
Well situated for the Midlands Catholics and not too far from either northern or southern Catholics, it may develop into a model for other and similar small centres of prayer and study for the laity.
The four study weeks on "The Arts and Religion" are designed to bring together artists, theologians, clergy, laity and all who are seriously interested in the possibility of reawakening some deeper Christian inspiration in the arts of today.
The first, on music, begins on Easter Tuesday (fee for the seven days, £4). There is an invitation to "bring your music and instruments."
Repository art
The second, on the plastic arts and crafts, begins on Whit-Tuesday (fee, L4), when the participants will be invited to discuss. among other things, "unholy images" and the pros and cons of repository art. Artists and craftsmen are not only invited but encouraged to bring examples of their work for exhibition.
Religion as the writer's theme is the subject of the third week. starting on Friday. July 2 (fee, f3). The fourth week — August 21-30 — will be devoted to drama (fee, £5 10s.). Coaches can be arranged for parties going from as far as London.