, 1865-02-06
CHARACTER
Ralph Waldo Emerson1 Closing Lee
$uFe.

Mr.. Emerson delivered it Unity Church, on
Saturday evening, the obsing lecture OF his
course. In introducing lhe lecturer, Rev. R.
CoIycr stated that in cvtsy particular the course
had been anccess q. hoped that It might be
but one Of s eeries to h delivered By MIR. Enncr.
| ecu for many seaeoD 70 come. Tho announce,
| Nj, Emerson tak;s high rank among the drs,
o. sdas e. %e.b
time of research and experience. Tohis fund OF
ideas each leissse moment pays tribute. In the
full development of the granter aim. Of life, few
are those VIZ appreciate the force OF childhood's
NATURAL Ast.s and desires. The fneradicable bis.
eions and prcjndices Of youth often t,le gnu
ite basic upon which are erected the towers of
GEES. Mr.. Emcrsohse auditors need not be told
that the acquisition Of literary wisdom and science
has been the controlling sentiment OF his brain
since Il became capable Of exercising the power
| Of the great notons OF The world. and personal
observations in Europe and America, havp given
him wonderful 4 store Of sonsentgated truths:
Justly pronounced as unique: His voice Is re-
markedly clear and flexible. In his ordinary tone
Of expression, h!s usterancee g can he distanetly
heard to an unusual d. lance. There 1slittle aec-
! tauon In h1a mode Of delivery. His pronunciation
Is formal and studied, but he makes no attempt to
entrance his hearers hy display Of cloquence.
| He pre1ers to express deep idea IN each SEN
tence, md let its truth commend Itself to the an
dicnce. In the recitation Of Lengthy lecture the
M np%bcr NIB Of gestures aEe e1eeede1 y the number
OF his pages. He opens his address In IN easy
natural manner ann proceeds Herewith as II en-
gnecd in the discharge Of m unavoidable duty.
MANY Of The lectures Of Mr. Emerson are, to a
great extent, incomprehensible to ordinary minds.
ths be dr gzeaty 56T any Ru,e
his gr7nd and brilliant ideas upon an audience
in gaTb OF such platnnees and purity that they
are clearly perceived, but do not daxzle. MI.
Emerson speaks to an audience OF ideal scholars,
phitosophers md artists. I9 bis lectures is en-
60 tribute OF reverence to common ueage IN the
use OF his native tongue. but seeks rath.
e deal eisEh Sn Ss s5s'Pd IN
eH do not meet. the high appreciation
Of big auditors, this is the most natufal reason
The subject Of his last lecture was "Charac-
ter" The following Is a brief of his remarks:
Character is that which men consent to accept
as geoo ~ aad go9d T91k L IT,
moral who designs public good In his actions.
Justice is the practical application Of right pur.
poEef file moral element +. the natural en1ob1iue
Of man He is weak who chooses to do whlmsi-
cpl actions because he holds the power. WIN is
,9an, and good impulses are his morals. By doing
unacconntahle Strength. Men who net from uni
ve-sal motives are real men: those who are roy-
erned b. private interests are false and super
Great men serve us as do 1nsurrections under q
tysannical Government. The electnc thrill OF,
great minds rouses us to action. A stream of mir
tuonS thoughts forever rolls ftom heaven 10 Garth
The laws below are sisters to the laws above. Gpd
continua!ly sends wisdom to men. The laws OF
q sex n bsSt The reson q of one an bs
comes the literary entertainment Of another. The
establishment Of christianity WIS not mlfade,
save that christianity was mirade Of the broadest
truths. The new ideas Of one generation eeem
but mere doctrines; q second generation looks
upon them with Considerable yencraion, and the
third generation deems 1t i,npiety 10 doubt their
truth. 1t is thus that Ideas become immortal.
The changes in religion n1e inevitable. Yet
the changes are only reflections Of superb aliues.
The great principles are immortal. Theology had
for us mortals. We're we to comprehend the elm-
plicity Of the dlvine system VIC s6opld experience
only feeling ofmort,fatatten. Mystery enhances
religious revolutions await us In the coming ten
years. There is certain secular progress Of
opinion in civilized countries which reaches
everybody. Modern civilization gives u,a 1ange
Of past centuries In comparison with this one.
voltairc is no longer sc1recrow. His ;phtloso-
ply lies before us for our Investigation. and wc
God presses his will on the structure Of minds.
4 t.ue natlon loves Its yernacutar tongue. A
righteous nation docs not importiss religion. The
promise. The consutution and law Of America
must be constructed on ethical principles. Chris
tixnity is not what it was one hundred years ago.
power. The Americans hare already reached as
Tar as Lnitarianiem. We are progressing becanse
our religion II founded on moral n.iure. Every
generation has etere through which the religion
OF othct nations are siftcd. In this process many
revercd traditions nre lost.
Our churchee may yet become devoted to phi
schools or asy1ums. We -hall not lose the moral
munitions, but may profess apFacteal christianity.
It needs but a few superior men to give new
turn public sentiment IN the matter Of religion.
All church reform mnst arisc from putting the
emphasis on moral sentiment and throwing aside
history and miracles. All classes Of Americans
threatened with cranulstion. The result will be
the same as in the case Of the infant from whose
is mothe1. It depends upon itself. snd ' walks
boldly alone- - $500 ..
The bankers believe that on the return Of peace
wc ehall have better times than evcr before. He
was Inclined to think th1t better stylc Of men
would rise mp hereafter. SlaEery Is no more. The
church would no longer be burdened with that
crime when cur Young men return from the
field they will be fortified and selfreliant In hav
ing aided in the great work OF Freedom.