Stephen Elliott Chancellor Papers Box 1 Document 4

the offspring of the Church and that Church a scion of the Church of England, the architecture of its most prominent building should be significant of these facts.

Such I am free to confess should be the case, and the End may be readily accomplished, by making the Central Building Ecclesiastical both in style and purpose. Make the Church structure itself the centre {sic} of the [group?] that shall crown the loftiest summit of the mountains. Place the cross high above Every thing around that its shadow may rest upon and sanctify the entire [work?].

Such it seems to me is the true solution of the whole difficulty with the Church [or?] the body of the group I in [connection?] with is the

School of Divinity-and the Library we have an accumulation of purposes in the strictest sense Ecclesiastic and in perfect harmony with Either of the Gothic styles of Architecture.

Inferior to these and wide apart from them may be Erected a classic structure for Classic purposes. There will be arranged the [Theatrum?], the Academy of Art, the Schools of Design, the Museum [etc.?]. This building may be Exceedingly simple and Economical, and may rest its claims as a work of art more on account of its [defined?] proportions & noble outline than on the Elaborateness of its style or the ornateness of its decoration.

Such an adaptation of style to purpose, strictly adhered to throughout Every department

of the [work?], will I believe provide te most perfect and harmonious results, and if in accordance with your wishes and those of the Committee, I feel assured that, with what ability I may possess, and with the time and labor I am willing and a anxious to bring to the work, I could so express with my pencil what I have so indifferently done with my pen as to satisfy Every one of the correctness of my views.

If my enthusiasm may perhaps have led mea. little too far, in so boldly advancing my proposals, please let it down to something more than selfish motive and believe me when I say that my dearest professional aspiration is that

of being Enlisted in an Enterprise without parallel in this or any other Country.

In conclusion permit me dear Sir to offer you my most grateful thanks for all your attention and kindness, during my late visit to Sewanee. [Although?] I may be never Enabled to reciprocate them, be assured Sir I will never forget the debt of gratitude I owe you.

Very respectfuly [____ ___ ___?]

[Francis Lee?]

Francis D. Lee Architect Oct 19 1860

[Main Building?]