New-York tribune., 1882-04-28
HIS LIFE AND WORKS.

Ralph waldo Emerson one OF the most e!ninenb
of American essaysts and one Of the most agree
able of American poets, was born in Boston.
Mass May rs, 1903. He the Of
the Rev. William Emerson. pastor of the First
Church Unitarian, of Boston, and Of Ruth
IIaskins Emerson. He came of a long and unin-
terrupt clerical line. He was eighth in descent
from the Rev. Peter Bulke!ey, who had been rector
of Woodhill Bedfordshire England, and who
emigrated to America, becoming in 1885 the first
minister Of the town OF Concord, Mass. He was
succeeded in his pastoral charge by his son, the
Rev. Edward Bulkeey. whose daughter married
the Rev. Joseph Emerson. Ralph Waldo Emerson.
npon one side or the other, had clergyman for al
ancestor through eight generations The son OF tho
Rev. Joseph Emerson 1870 married Rebecca
Waldo of Chelmsford, and from her family Mr.
Emerson received his middle name. The first
American Emerson lThomasl was moi clergyman.
but his descendants were in the sacred profession.
Mr. Emerson's father. grandfather and greatgrand-
father of that name were all preachers.
Mr. Emerson was fitted for college in the cele-
brated Latin School of Boston. and even then he
gave evidence of literary ability by the production
of original poems which be recited ut the public
exhibitions. lie entered Harvard College IN 1917,
and was graduated in 1921. 1t is recorded that,
like many students subsequently distinguished, his
collegiate rank was not high one. Twice, how
ever he won the Bowdoin prize for dissertations
and once the Boy lston prize for defamation. while
he was made class poet" by his class fellows
During his college life he was a great and miscel-
laneous reader and stood among the foremost In his
knowledge of general literature. The subjects OF
his Bowdoin prize dissertations were " The Char
acter of Socrates and Tue Present State OF Ethi
cal Philosophy" He instructed in Greek by
Edward Everett and in mathematics by Caleb
Cushing. After leaving college lie was for live
years engaged in teaching usually in Boston,
where he was the assistant of his brother william
in the conduct of an excellent school for girls.
Studying divinity. cstensibly under the direction
of Dr. William Ellery Claiming, and also attending
the lectures of Professor Norton, he was "appro-
pated to preach" by the Middlesex Association OF
Ministers in 1926, but he did not Immediately enter
upon the duties of his office. as ilhealth sent him
to reside for winter in Sonth Carolina and FLORIDA.
In March, 1929 Mr.. Emerson was ordained as tho
colleague of the Rev. Henry Ware, the younger. at
the Second Unitarian Church in Boston-the old
church of Cotton and Increase Mathcr. The tme
was one of liberal religious speculation. and Mr..
Emcrsons doubts OF the proprety of continuing tho
celebration of the Lords Supper were sufficient
reason for releasing him in 1882. at his own rc-
quest. from his pastorste. The sermon in which hs
discussed the subject is published IN Mr. u. H.
FrOtninghlfnS "lTaDSctuucutaiiSiH III s'e"-bhS-
land.r During Mr. Emerson's pastoratc he served
upon the school committee, most resident clergy
men then did; and he was also during one session
Chaplain of the Massachusetts Senate.
In December 1882, he visited Europe, remaining
abroad for nearly year. lie travelled through
Italy. France and England. AT Florence he met
Landor; III England. Colerdge and Wordsworth;
and in Scotland. Thomas Carlyle. then residing in
the solitude of Craigenputtoch. With Carlyle no
established friendship which continued until tho
latter died in 1881. 1t was through Emerson's ex-
ertions that the author of The French Revolu-
ton" was first introduced to American readers
During the winter OF 1883 after his return
from abroad. Mr. Emerson began his career as q
lecturer, first appearing before the Boston
Mechanics Institute with paper ON "Water"
The lecture field had Just then been opened. and Mr.
Emerson was one of the first. rs he was subse-
onently one of the most distinguished. lecturers
who entered il. He discussed in another lecture
q Tho Relation Of Man to the Globe" and this was
followed by two Others in which he recounted hls
observations Italy. His lectures on Italy will
long DO remembered by those who had the good for.