PHILOSOPHERS AND PAINTERS

By FRANCIS KENT
WR. PIERRE 'MILLIARD
DE CHARD1N, ST, and his book "The Phenomenon of Man" fairly haunt out intellectual horizons these days. I feel they may do so for some time. Sooner or later I shall have to read this work which has stirred so many minds since it was published; I greatly fear it will prove far above my head.
Meanwhile, I was delighted to see my old Benedictine mentor (and very fine painter), Dom Raphael Williams, comparing de Chardin's thought with Aristotle's metaphysic in the "Tablet."
As I read. I could almost hear that distinctive voice pondering aloud, and imagine my mental legs fully stretched in the effort to keep up with what it was saying, always half-afraid to step on the unseen detonator of a philosophic mine and find my pedestrian preconceptions blown sky-high! There were often difficult moments, but hardly ever a dull one, in sessions with Dom Raphael. This is something that happens in conversation FR. C. C. MARTINDALE'S letter in "The Times Literary Supplement" lent point to a recent discussion I heard between a photographer and a portrait painter. Fr. Martindale said he regretted that "no photograph (that I have seen) of ray old and dear friend (Teilhisrd de Chardin) suggests his happiness and gaiety. Intellectuality. gravity, even suffering — perhaps: but joyousness, even sense of fun. no." The photographer admitted that brush zind pigment had an uncanny gift. in the r'stat hands, of penetrating to the sitter's self in a way the camera cannot. Possibly a canvas by James Gunn might have revealed the qualities that Fr. Martindale missed in the photographs.
More and more
WHEN I was young and foolish (instead of old and still foolish) and lived in Oakley Street. Chelsea — as who has not at some time? — 1 grew fond of the church of Our Most Holy
er
Redeem and St. Thomas More, so close to the martyr's riverside home.
Next week, this church und the Guild of Ransom between them are doing Sir Thomas proud. The week begins with Mass at Cheyne Row on Sunday in the presence of Cardinal Godfrey, and culminates on Saturday, July 9, the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, with the Mass of the Martyrs and a sermon by Mgr. Gouldcr, Master of the Guild, who will then lead a pilgrimage by river to the Tower. Those taking part will sec the cell in which St. Thomas More was imprisoned end the scene of his martyrdom.
A trip down old Father Thames from Chelsea to the Tower is a good fivebobsworth at any time: but, for those who have not already been round the Tower of London with Mgr, Goulder, it is a privilege they will not easily forget. Once, he and a crowd mf pilgrims turned a corner by Traitor's Gate to stumble upon a young man and his girl. who were embarrassed thus suddenly to find they were no longer alone. They staved to listen. Some time later, before getting married, they 7arne to Mgr. Goulder to remind him if the incident and to ask for instruction in the Catholic faith.
with painters, but not always with philosophers.
Portraits