95

OF EMERSON, THE GIANT

Mrs. Peattie Defends the Literary Memory of the Philospher of Concord.

His Words Are Not Unchristian and His Teaching Are Uplifting to All Mankind

The Earnest Tribute of a Follower- Another Phase of "The Secular in the School."

Never did I more sincerely congratulate myself upon the secular policy of our public schools, that the other day, when in reading an article by the Rev. John Williams, I was [?] to realize, that did out schools sense to be secular, due to the writers whose books would be expunged from the curriculum, was Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mr. Williams, is talking concerning text books, says:

"Given as textbooks, Emerson, Fiske, Huxley, Tyndal, Begel, etc. and teachers more or less in sympathy with them, and the High school is already anti-Christian, and a large proportion of his pupils perverted, at the cost of a Christian-public, taxed to maintain it."

To set about proving that none of these gentlemen would "pervert" the youthful mind would be a task for too large for my knowledge, and too extensive for my space. I remember great words from all the writers. But it may be that some of them have spoken foolishly. I have not read all of their books. Life is very short and books are many with may rad but a few. And it is best I have Emerson's world for is--to read those which will help one quickest to an understanding of the course of thought. Among those of whom I have read something is Emerson. He has made dark days bright for me, he had taught me how to and the beauty in common life, he has preached to me of the greatest commandment of all. He has lifted me up, when I might have sunken. Sweet as rain after drouth have been his words after the idle clamor of the many. In my opinion no greater schools that to have the words of this modern philosopher take away from the students of the High School.

When the term "anti Christian" Is applied in such a community as this, it is meant, I take it, as an opprobrious epithet When it is used by such a scholar as the Rev John Williams, the Christian public- which is not necessarily the well-rend public- takes [alum?] and [?] itself against the new denounced by this title. No man is so great that he cannot be injured. To be impervious to injury to be God. And it seems to me that Emerson is injured when a very influential and much trusted man like John Wiliams deprecates his influence, and wants the people that he is likely to pervert the youth.

One stands perplexed in entering upon the rebuttal of such a statement as this-so utterly beyond fact is it-so egregiously inconsistent with the truth. Those books which we have read with a much tenderness as if they words there written were the emanations of our own hearts-those stalwart words, urging us on to study, to reverence, to unselfishness, to honesty and to peace-those words perverters? It is like saying that truth is hateful, or flowers a pest, or the faces of our children unwell comes to our eyes.

It may be that Mr. Willimas gathered his impression that Emerson was anti-Christian from the stern denunciation of pretense and worldliness in the church, of which Mr. Emerson sometimes delivered himself. But I am bound to say that I have heard Mr. Williams express similar sentiments. It seems particularly unfair that this poet should have been misrepresented by a priest, wise the priest always received so high and estimate from the poet. Concerning this Emerson says:

"It is certain that it is the effect of conversation with the beauty of the soul to beget a desire and need, to impart to others the knowledge and love. If utterance is denied, the thought like a burden on them in. Always the see is a sayer. Somehow his dream is told. Somehow he publishes it with solemn joy. Sometimes with pencil on canvas, sometimes with chisel on stone: sometimes in towers and aisles of granite his soul's is worship is builded; sometimes in anthems of indefinite music; but clearest and most permanent in words

"The man enamored of this excellency becomes its priest or post the office is coeval with the world, but observe the condition, the spiritual limitation fo the office. The spirit only can teach. Not any profane man; not any sensual, not any [?] not any slave can teach, but only he who can give, who has; he only can create who is. The man on whom the soul descends, through whom the soul speaks alone can teach. Courage, piety, love, wisdom can teach; and every man can open his door to these angels, and they shall bring him the gift of tongues. To this holy office you propose to devote yourself. I wish you may feel your call in throbs of desire and hope. The office is the first in the world."

It is quite true that he quarrels with the set terms, historical and [eccestaical?] by such vulgarity and Philistinism designates Christianity and Christ. He wearies to the sound of the form which means nothing to those who observe it. He is full of disgust at those who mumble words, and lead lives which give the lie to then professions. He says boldly what he thinks, not afraid of misinterpretation-too full of truth to care for policy. Here is the sort of think upon which some people ones their misconception of his religious ideas.

"In thus contemplating Jesus, we become very sensible of the [?] defect of historical Christianity. Historical Christianity has fallen into the error that corrupts all attempts to communicate religion. As it appears to us, and as it appeared for ages, it is not the doctrine of the soul, but an exaggeration of the personal, the positive, the ritual. It has dwelt

OF EMERSON, THE GIANT

Mrs. Peattie Defends the Literary Memory of the Philospher of Concord.

His Words Are Not Unchristian and His Teaching Are Uplifting to All Mankind

The Earnest Tribute of a Follower- Another Phase of "The Secular in the School."

Never did I more sincerely congratulate myself upon the secular policy of our public schools, that the other day, when in reading an article by the Rev. John Williams, I was [?] to realize, that did out schools sense to be secular, due to the writers whose books would be expunged from the curriculum, was Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mr. Williams, is talking concerning text books, says:

"Given as textbooks, Emerson, Fiske, Huxley, Tyndal, Begel, etc. and teachers more or less in sympathy with them, and the High school is already anti-Christian, and a large proportion of his pupils perverted, at the cost of a Christian-public, taxed to maintain it."

To set about proving that none of these gentlemen would "pervert" the youthful mind would be a task for too large for my knowledge, and too extensive for my space. I remember great words from all the writers. But it may be that some of them have spoken foolishly. I have not read all of their books. Life is very short and books are many with may rad but a few. And it is best I have Emerson's world for is--to read those which will help one quickest to an understanding of the course of thought. Among those of whom I have read something is Emerson. He has made dark days bright for me, he had taught me how to and the beauty in common life, he has preached to me of the greatest commandment of all. He has lifted me up, when I might have sunken. Sweet as rain after drouth have been his words after the idle clamor of the many. In my opinion no greater schools that to have the words of this modern philosopher take away from the students of the High School.

When the term "anti Christian" Is applied in such a community as this, it is meant, I take it, as an opprobrious epithet When it is used by such a scholar as the Rev John Williams, the Christian public- which is not necessarily the well-rend public- takes [alum?] and [?] itself against the new denounced by this title. No man is so great that he cannot be injured. To be impervious to injury to be God. And it seems to me that Emerson is injured when a very influential and much trusted man like John Wiliams deprecates his influence, and wants the people that he is likely to pervert the youth.

One stands perplexed in entering upon the rebuttal of such a statement as this-so utterly beyond fact is it-so egregiously inconsistent with the truth. Those books which we have read with a much tenderness as if they words there written were the emanations of our own hearts-those stalwart words, urging us on to study, to reverence, to unselfishness, to honesty and to peace-those words perverters? It is like saying that truth is hateful, or flowers a pest, or the faces of our children unwell comes to our eyes.

It may be that Mr. Willimas gathered his impression that Emerson was anti-Christian from the stern denunciation of pretense and worldliness in the church, of which Mr. Emerson sometimes delivered himself. But I am bound to say that I have heard Mr. Williams express similar sentiments. It seems particularly unfair that this poet should have been misrepresented by a priest, wise the priest always received so high and estimate from the poet. Concerning this Emerson says:

"It is certain that it is the effect of conversation with the beauty of the soul to beget a desire and need, to impart to others the knowledge and love. If utterance is denied, the thought like a burden on them in. Always the see is a sayer. Somehow his dream is told. Somehow he publishes it with solemn joy. Sometimes with pencil on canvas, sometimes with chisel on stone: sometimes in towers and aisles of granite his soul's is worship is builded; sometimes in anthems of indefinite music; but clearest and most permanent in words

"The man enamored of this excellency becomes its priest or post the office is coeval with the world, but observe the condition, the spiritual limitation fo the office. The spirit only can teach. Not any profane man; not any sensual, not any [?] not any slave can teach, but only he who can give, who has; he only can create who is. The man on whom the soul descends, through whom the soul speaks alone can teach. Courage, piety, love, wisdom can teach; and every man can open his door to these angels, and they shall bring him the gift of tongues. To this holy office you propose to devote yourself. I wish you may feel your call in throbs of desire and hope. The office is the first in the world."

It is quite true that he quarrels with the set terms, historical and [eccestaical?] by such vulgarity and Philistinism designates Christianity and Christ. He wearies to the sound of the form which means nothing to those who observe it. He is full of disgust at those who mumble words, and lead lives which give the lie to then professions. He says boldly what he thinks, not afraid of misinterpretation-too full of truth to care for policy. Here is the sort of think upon which some people ones their misconception of his religious ideas.

"[?] thus contemplating Jesus, we become very sensible of the

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