St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-09
THE EMERSON MEMORIAL.
A Tender Tribute to His Life and
Works.

Works.
The Emerson memorial services al
the First Unitarian church, in Min
neapolis, yesterday morning were of
decidedly interesting character,
the most pleasant feature being,
perhaps, the departure from the conven
tional ceremonies usually incidental to
such an occasion. DR.. FL. NJ. Simmons
tribute to the memory of the immortal
cssayist and philosopher was not an
eulogy filled with high-sounding praises.
1t was rather brief review of his life
and a presentation Of his religious
views. The address was even humOr-
Gus, DR.. Simmons, by the way of
preface, said he hoped no newspapers
would publish the fact for fear it might
hurt the feelings of ST. Paul people, but
the great Emerson, when living. once
wrote: ''If were young man, would
rather live in Minneapolis than in ST.
Paul." He spoke OF the ancestry OF
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the noble men
who gave their lives to the ministry
their generous traits of character. I'M
mindful of worldly matters, and deep
piety. Of EmerSOn's early life he re-
lated briefly how he began going TO
school when at the age of three, and en-
tered college wien fifteen; how he en-
tered the ministry at twenty-three,
and retired in 1882 because of his dislike
to administer the last Sacrament-not
because he really objected to the cere-
mony, but because he thought it stiff
f0rmality, calculated to produce fear
ond awe rather than love for the Savior
In closing he read a letter from Carlisle
to Emerson, in which the writer fervidIy
returned thanks for the bold utterances
made by Emerson in his views on re-
ligi0n.
Sidney Fl. Morse. the sculptor, who
was an intimate friend Of Emerson
when living, next occupied the pulpit,
and related some highly interesting
"reminiscences. His remarks, too, were
permeated by delicate vein of humor.
Mr.. Morse is not a man evidently habit
uated to making pulpit addresses, and
for this reason, perhaps, his remarks
were all the more entertaining. partak-
ing of the nature of anecdotes that were
in conversational way. He was nine
teen years old when he first heard Emer-
son lecture, and was so little impressed,
or rather so failed to comprehend what
Emerson was talking about, that pct-
ure he drew of the speakers nose was
about the only lasting impression that
he carried away from the lecture
He said that the women were the
first to understand and appreciate En-
erson. A learned judge once said of
him: Il don't understand Emerson my
self, buL my daughters do" He related
a number of instances to illustrate Elm
erson's love of sincerity, methods OF
thought, simplicity and purity of mind.
His philosophy was not TO take too long
steps nor 10 attempt TO 90 too fast,
knowing that each step taken in the
right direction wonld ultimately bring
him 10 the desired destination. lie CON
sidcred that Emerson's life was divided
into three perioaS-tlie first, when he
did his great work and wrote his IA
nous essays; the second, when he had
acquired fame in literature aiiiE wrote
with greater polish and usefulness, and
third, when he was the good iieighiAr.
retiring troin active lille AID resting
preparatory tn tue cinSe.
Mr.. Morse real several sclrctinus
fium tn. poem, at tlH.s il which Ia.
ti.ou Eat best IL r.rdyr iii. InyaoIe sird
calid.O i!itg,Tc VI Tie ilitll, ail, ii In, .sh-