The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-08
rhe Fourier Movement.

week In our good city, have been the meeting and
proceedings of the disciples Of Fourier, at Clinton
Hall In many respects this movement is worthy
of attention, aud we have accordingly given, day
after day, full and accurate report of the sayings
and doings of this singular section of the great
family of philosophers, nowadays grown to be a
race numerous, noisy, and Ineligible the frogs
in the prolific ponds OF Harlem Thiswas therst con-
vocation Of the Fourlerltes in this country, and has
given us much clearer insight into the character
motives, capacities and creed Of these followers OF
the new Saviour OF the world, than had been al
forded by their Numerous publications, including
the daily exposition of the doctrines and progress OF
the sect, in their organ. the Tribune.
The material aspect of the Convention alone-the
physical fundamentally OF the movem-nt-was
exceedingly peculiar, interesting, amusing and in
stmctive., There Was something so bizarre, so un-
common, so odd in the very appearance of this
body of philosophers, which at once struck the
spectator, and excited mingled feelings Of SURPRISE
suspicion, ridicule and pity. Most of the men had
permitted their hair to grow without any dread of
the scissors, and it lay in thick, matted, I'M
conbed Masses on their shoulders and several
Of them had boards worthy of father Abraham
himself. Their shrt-coars, of enormous dimen-
sions, but not always particularly clean. were worn
u ~ DyTOW, ana uHeL ClOlniiiS ScncIdliy uds
indescribable sloveny, loose, and careless charac-
Ger which distinguishes the garments of Mr. Philo-
sopher Greeley. About half dozen females, con-
siderably beyond the period of early adolescence,
attended the Convention, and were not lady's
dress too delicate matter wherewith to NEEDLE,
we might give slight description Of the external
appearance of those devoted sisters but refrain.
On the countenances of all, however, male and fe-
a. ~ H. clad oc
my fanaticisn, which gave to the whole deport-
'ment, speeches and proceedings of the Convention
cts singularly characteristic expression. There
an air Of mock solemnty and dignity about the
whole business which was excessively amusing
Had the whole thing been intended as a burlesque
on a deliberative assembly of the nineteenth cen
fury, it could not have been more exquisitely sue
.cessful. As it was, the idea that the manager OF
some lunatic asylum had hit upon happy method
OF amusing the -staned beings under his charge,
was continually presenting itself, and feeling of
the sincerest pity made the farce one far, far too
serious for laughter.
And, indeed, the spectacle was one calculated to
excite commseration for many of the actors in it
Some-there were, whose philanthropy, more than
doubtful merited snartng rebuke, but the majority
were so far as one could Judge, really enthusiasts,
fired with zeal, and ready for any sacrifice But
In " hat did their madness differ from that of the
wre,ches who nhabit the gloomy cells of the ma
MAC? Observation-Disclosures
and profane-look at their views opinions, and
prof cts as expressed and described by themselves,
and into what depths of folly and insanity these
80 Reformers' plunge themselves, when they for
sake the pure and simple system Of philosophy and
morals which Jesus Christ urfolded in his sermons,
illustrated in his holy and spotless life and sealed
and glorihed ia his death on Calvary!
And this, forsooth, is 6" a religious movement"
So said Mr.. Charming, and so re-echoed all the
disciples And the first step which these "reli-
gous'' reformers take is to overturn Christianity.
Their God is human nature-Fourer their Christ
and phalanx' their heaven. They reject, with
quiet contempt, all the great doctrines of the Bible.
That holy book itself they regard of no more
authority, and no higher inspiration than the poems
of Homer. The doctrines of human depravity-of
che necessity Of an atonement for sin-and of the
omnpotent efficacy of divine grace in purifying and
sanctifying the heart,-these and all the other
tenets of the Christian faith, they utterly reject
AS to the morality Of the system which apostles
Greeley, Brisbane, and their associates SO urgently
enforce on universal acceptance, it is necessary only
reorefer to one of Fouriers doctrines Whilst he was
of opinion that one part of mankind were formed
Tor consistency in love, he held that another part
were formed for change and with wonderfully
nhilanthropc desire to all tastes and so carry
out fully the principles of his SYSTEM Fourier, ac-
,cordlng to his expounder, Mr.. Parke Goodwin, has
made arrangements to suit this diversity of taste
and feeling. But hear Mr.. Goodwin on this point
=" The passion of love-" Fourier argues, before it
yield all the results of which it is capable must
undergo similar organization by series 10 meet all
the rants of all the natures which God sends into
istence The first organization, therefore, is that of
the vestalic Corporation devoted to the development
of the most purely spiritual relations between the
sexes, and which is surrounded by the most atrac-
tive charms, and the most ennoblng honors, to re-
tain Its members as long possible within its in
structions another would be a corporation of con-
stancy, as we have said, at which the most part
OF men and women would stop; rhilc others again,
named Bacchantcs, Bayaderes, Sc. &C., wo,sd pass
:nto other corporations not so strict in their require
.nents" Such characters as Aspasia, Ninon
d'Enclos, and others of like stamp, Fourier re-
CARDS essential parts in the vanity of the human
race, who will always exist, ''who must be allowed
for in every system of philosophy, and whom So
ciety, instead Of merely tliruslng from its char-
ties, must turn to good account" In fine,
he says, in his own clear and phiosophic STYLE
&c the most irregular natures must be made 10 CO.
operate in the production of harmonic results"
Here then we have very frank and candid ac-
acknowledgement of the extremely pure and agreea-
ole morality of the Fourier system. Vestals, FL
delios, Bacchantes, Bayaderes, and exc. &c. 20
and this is the sysern in whose adoption these men
have the impudence to offer an efiectual remedy
for the RIGHTEOUSNESS which prevails in the present
state of society.
exposure of the folly-the absurdty-the infidelity
the charlatanism of these miserable philosophers
Their whole system is in direct and open hostility