New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-07
THE BOSTON RADICAL CLUB.

THE TIME OF ITS FORMATION AN AUsPlcIoUs ONE
CHARACTER OF THE DIsCUssIONs-LrERARf
PyRoTBCHNICs--A LOFTY CONTEMPT FOX fACis-
FRIGHT TALK VARIED WITH SUBLIME RUBBISH.
To tAe Bditor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The Boston Radical Club is dead. mot
dead but sleepeth," will probably be the modifying
Judgment of many Of its friends II they read this open
ing sentence Nevertheless there are many reasons lor
believing that this modifying judgment will be begoten
of the wish that fathers so many thoughts which would
not otherwise be 1t is safe to say that In the
early Summer Just gone. the Radical Club when naa
long been decline. quietly breathed ls last III It's
pleasant birthplace and home on Chestnutst Propaoy
n IL not vet buried. Certainly no funeral rites nave
been observed In present early Autumn there may
even be come attempts at literal resurreeton or ls
body may be embalmed and carried about for while
from house house. But whatever disposition may he
made the remains whatever the cause OF IT'S SICK
ness and DEATH the will be found correctly stated
the Radical Club is dead.
has done its work" said Of Its most prominent
members, in conversation, few weeks ago, let some
thing else take it's place." The Judgment thus pro
pounced implies that Club has really accomplished
certain Assuming this TO be true the character
of that work fair theme for explanation and CANDID
criticism When the Club was formed. by some IL was
r,dcued by many it almost feared. by others 1t
was extravagantly lauded, but ridiculed, feared or
praised II certainly created sensation Extehdeu
newspaper reports its meetings and constant refer
ences TO its dongs have testified 10 the public interes
awakened That interest is still sufficient to JUSTIFY
brief review of Some points in Its history and presen
taton OF the writer regards as its essential charac
teristics before something else takes its place
Many well remember the widespread and enthusiastic
interest excited by reports of the early meetings of
the Radical Club. 1t known that many of the bril-
liant lights of the assumed literary center OF America
were present. Emerson, whose sayings had become
household words Acott, the eccentric philosopher
and his daughter the rising authoress Hgginson the
essayist lecturer land OF society," score OF others
Of more or repueal were known to attend ana TO
talk And the world was there had been no sueh
talk that which listened TO by the privileged lew
who had the open sesame of those sacred parlors.
THE CLUB BEFORE THE REPORTERS ADVENT.
The Club had been formed 1t was sad for the express
purpose OF allowing greatest thinkers TO compare
the of their deepest thinking Tue reest express
sion was there given to thoughts which me boldest
among them would not dare TO publish Lyceum plat
too pulpits were too rgd the press
was too tmd TO endure the unrammeled uterances OF
these grants. The world not yet ready FOR the re-
reption of the perfect truths they had discovered
Unfo the elect only the initiated the chosen few could
the secrets of the universe be impaired No themes
we're too high or too form the subject OF discus
SION. With reverent audacity these men and women
grapped with and overthrow the established beliefs OF
ages. The foundations of the Christian religion the
beng of God old PHILOSOPHERS Of the Absolute
Boston samsons am writing, remember OF the earliest
days of the Club before the newspaper reporter dis
PEELED somewhat the awfulness Of the mystery which
surrounded the monthly meetings While these ana
kindred rumors were flying through the it TO
understand the intense eagerness with which many
people especially the young. sought TO gain admission
to early Monday morning gatherings. The key TO
the Eeuslnan mysteries was not more 10 be desired
than the bit of paseboard which gave admission through
the doors OF those antquaed West End mansions Far
away from Boston the interest almost as great as IN
the city OF its birth. Are you the one VINO lives III
the house called Beautiful 2" said noted Philadelphia
novelist to Of the hosts OF the Radical Club as the
latter visit TO the city of the former,
sometime after the Club had become known by name
Throughout the country; and the writer then added
THAT one aim of her life some day TO he present at
injecting OF the Radical Club and let her thirsty soul
few drops of the nectar which spilled from
The wellfled bowls Of the Olympian spirits. Many
young man, doubtless rang the doorbell for the first
time with precisely the same feeling with which the
candidate for Masonry at the door of the lodge
THE GENERAL RESULT NIL.
But the young man who enters the Masonic lodge
learns after the first glamour is passed that the pre-
tended of the ages only the coored shreds OF
old discarded learning patched and sewed together as
costumes for WORKOUT forms which have hobbled by
hep of the social staff into the gasght of to-day Great
expectations forced to be satisfied with extremely
little knowledge. 1t would not be right to that this
Masonic illustration tells the whole truth with regard
the Radical Club; nevertheless ii does suggest much
which the real facts Of the than
thing which yet told in print For the Radical
Club has undoubtedly proved sad failure compared
with the expectations which we're formed by many at
Tie time of its origin. Most OF these expectations may,
indeed, have been wholly unreasonable, but even the
moderate hopes OF others have not been fulfilled Not
only has no great knowledge been revealed, great
impulse been given TO thought but the Club has failed
10 prove itself adequate center for what knowledge
and thought were in the country before 1t began The
numerous essays and extended conversations have
ended in nothing Of permanent value little light on
obscure point in literature clearer understand
ing OF theological dogma is the most that any
gained, and this because of ones previous g
nOrance not because OF any original announcement in
the parlOrs of the Club.
Aud yet the time of the formation OF the Club
auspcious Tnis is not the place for giving
the proofs Of fact which will be readily admitted that
the present generation Is witnessing the accelerated
progress, il not the birth, of a and remarkable
intellectual movement Phosophic writers. some Of
whom are still living. In England, Germany, and
France have been laboring for in harmony with
conception OF philosophy of which the last generation
knew nothing whatever; the marvellous revelations OF
recent explorers fields, and almost
breadth Of such scientific CONGRATULATIONS as the Conser
walton OF Energy-all have combined TO create or TO
hasten this in the old intellectual centers Of
Tue WOTu' ceNen years aSo' WHICH INC OIuo poinJ
America feeling the first impulses of this same
movement Many doubtless supposed that the Club was
Itself result OF thsOr, at least hoped that It might
its interpreter here in America.
this hope which accounted for much OF the singular
thusiasm which reference is made above, but this
enthusiasm gradually vanished as 1t besetne evident
that the Club had no such purpose. In fact scarcely
recognized the existence OF any such movement The
influence OF the Club greatest at its BIRTH the In
fuence OF expectation. When expectation failed in
fuence decliued and now is altogether gone.