The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-02
FRANKLIN SOCIETY.
Mr.. Whitaker Read Very Inter-
esting Paper.
Socialism in America Fifty Years Ago
the Subj CT.

Last evening before the Franklin Society at
their rooms, 54 North Main street, George W.
Whitaker, artist. read paper entitled
"Sociaiism in America. Fifty Years Ago."
He said the Brook Farm bubble, filled with
the irridescent coloring of transcenden talism.
was but short lived affair. II was direct
outcome of the transcendentslism which from
1926 to lS45 attracted philosophical minds in
New England. and also from the influence OF
the Fourier communicate movement In
Europe. The experiment was in many OF Its
phases protest against Calvinism which had
yong dominated tho ,country's thought and
action. AT Brook Farm they. stimulated their
spiritual and intellectual life by the associa-
tion Of cultured minds. BY lSi3 the commu-
nifty had become quite Fourierite, and year
later was progressing rapidly into the bsliefs
of Swedenborg.
The Fourieritcs desired q Christian fedora
tion - which meant " civilization OF re-
stored nature, regenerate men and women,
their minds illuminated and their whole
spiritual nature summed In the afiiuence OF
Deity. A royal priesthood dwelling IT. love,
dwelling in God" Each person to be poem'
and every act Of their existence epicaL
Here at Brook Farm were gathered such
men as George Ripley, Charles a. DANA VII
liam Henry Channing, George William Curtis
John s. Dwight (America's most Famous
musical critic) and many other literary
lights, who waited on tables, MIXED cows,
drove wood carts to Boston, wrote poems and
essays that were published In their smaii
paper called the "Harbinser" which drfted
all over the world to be enjoyed by kindred
spirits
Margaret Fuller found conRenial home
here and delighted the people with her "coh'
yersations." Albert Brisbane came often' 20
did Theodore Parker and Ralph Waldo Emer-
son. Nathaniel hawthorne was there Tor
tire Tut concluded that ne did not believe
IN heing dry nurse To the cows or nushing
out the Aegean stables of the Gods.
Here lived together a large number OF culti-
waited people who thought agriculture ana
education should 30 hand in hand. IL was
their original purpose 70 establish scnooi
Of high order TO help support the place Inc
highest mutual and spiritual culture were
evidently the anjmsting ideas at Brock Farm.
DR.. Ripley was teacher OF intellectual ana
moral philosophy and mathematics, anu ms
wife, the most lsarued woman in and around
Boston was teacher OF history ana modern
languages Charles A. Dana had classes In
Greek and German, and John >. DwiSh. III
Latin and music. DIR. Ripley said he liked to
milk cows for 1t was eminently an occupation
favorable 10 conte nplation particularly when
the cows tail was looped up behind.
Mr. Whitaker explained that tour OF his rel
atives were engaged in the Brook Farm ex'
pertinent.
Mr. Whitaker save n very detailed account
Of ths Fourier settlement at Monmouth New
Jersey. at which he passed part of his early
life. This society existed quite successfully
for fourteen years but drones land crank-l
crept in and finally it went mp in smoke as
did the society at Brook Farm,at which latter
place it was also. very difficult to keep out
crsnks
10 was evident from Mr.. Whiiaker's details
that the long aid prosperous continuance OF
the New Jersey xoeriment was due to the
fertiliz ny wealth of an immense mari pit
which existed on their lands.
Mr. Dan 81 A. Cook followed with an SC
count of the Sublime failure of the Ballou
society in Massachusetts, and two in the west.
Next lecture Feb. IS, "reminiscences Of the
Dorr War 10y James Snow. Jr. and Richard A.
Armstrong.