The Republican journal., 1903-01-22
EMERSON, THE YANKEE PLATO"


Rev. Harry Lutz delivered the third lec-
ture in the union course on "Amercan Men
of Letters" in the Unitarian church Sunday
evening. His subject was Emerson, the
Yankee Plato" The opening exercises were
as follows:
Organ voluntary.
Anthem. s'The Shadows of the Evening
Hour" Nevin
Prayer,
Rev. A. A. Smith.
Solo, "The Good Shepherd
Miss Marion Wells.
Scripture, Prov. and 3.
Solo, go Golden Land of Peace King
C. E. White
Reading from EmersOn's writings,
Rev. A. A. Smith.
Hymn. 'Nature's Worship" Whittier
Mr.. Lutz began his lecture by referring to
the two opposing elements in American life
in our early history-freedOm and imperial
ISM The old theory of freedom in religion
was that man was to be allowed to worship
God according to the dictates of his own
conscience, but in practice it was found
that those dictates must agree with GER
tain Sect The Revolution precipitated lib
erty in civil matters, and liberty of thought
in morals and religion followed. With free
dom of thought came many different sects,
one of which is known as the Transcenden-
talists With them the individual opinion
was supreme. This represented the ex-
treme of freedom of thought They were
true and earnest workers. They recognized
no authority save the individuals own mind,
and they interfered with no other persons
opinions. They believed in power in the
mind transcending human opinion and rea-
soning, hence the name They believed
that each person is born with sense of
truth and right. The transcendental move
ment had great influence on New England
life. The greatest man among them was
Ralph Waldo Emerson, man admirably
fitted by heredity and early training to be-
come such. He took great interest in Ian
guages and literature, but was not adapted
to mathematics, and graduated from
college at an early age. He was ap-
pointed associate pastor OF the Uni
tartan Congregational church in Bos-
ton, and soon succeeded to the pastor
Father Taylor, the noted Methodist re-
former, the two working together in some
lines in perfect harmony, while hold
ing directly opposite views on theology.
Emerson shaped his life by the dictates of
his own conscience. After holding the pas
torate few years he resigned on account
of difference of opinion between himself
r.; %I,1 OH nff f1,n
Lords supper. Emerson denied that there
was any authority for perpetuating it as an
ordinance of the church. He left his past
crate with the utmost of good feeling on
both sides. Emerson believed in distinc-
lively American literature. One of his ora
tions on this subject was termed by Oliver
Wendell Holmes, "Our intellectual declara-
ton of independence" and his famous
lecture before the Harvard Divinity School
might be termed ''Our moral and religious
declaration of independence" lie was a
poet, philosopher and prophet. As poet
his work is open to severe criticism from
an artistic point of view. AS philosopher
he was the greatest of his sect. AS a prophet
he rendered great benefit to America and
to the world. He could not appreciate the
common temptations of other men. He
lived in an ideal atmosphere. His writings
had no logical connection. He made notes
and grouped them in lectures or ESSAYS
He could describe, but he could not make
comparisons His conclusions were always
cheerful he saw only mans power. In his
writings and lectures he starts at no particu-
lar place, follows no particular course. He
was not a man among men, but rather SEEM
ed to live in higher atmosphere. Helived
in a realm of ideas, as did Plato. His poetry
is wanting in rhythm and literary style. He
was poet because of his thoughts rather
than his words. He did not contine himself
to poetry as did Lowell and Longfellow.
His poems were short and often Incomplete.
His most complete poem is ''The Concord
Hymn" concentrating the battle of Con-
cord His two greatest poems were ''The
Threnody," and "The Problem" Mr..
Lutz closed with brief account of a visit
he recently made to the late home and tomb
of Emerson.
The service closed by singing the hymn,
"Who by searching can find out God,' and
the benediction.
The closing lecture of the course will be
at the Universalist church next Sunday
evening by Rev. A. A. Smith; subject,
"Hawthorne, America s great story writer