The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-31

the Emersonian comments, to DC rouno now in all classes of literature, pending the occurrence of the centenary occa- sion which is to be enthusiastically ob- served in Boston. We have thought it well to rehearse somewhat the estimate of his work and character in England, as Rev J. Morgan Gibbon, of London, has made a just comparison of Carlisle and Emerson in a contribution to the Congregationalist admitting that what one lacked the other supplied: both being apostles of the same message. and sent upon the same mission. They belonged to each other" They added no fact to science nor truth to philosophy. Theirs the greater task of producing "the strongest impression of novelty while res cuing admitted truths from the neglect caused by the very circumstance of their admission" This, which Coleridge said was the highest and most useful prerog- ative of genius, was the work given them to do. This is the Rev.. MT. Gibbons summary of the work of these two men. And after he has reminded us that "Apos. ties are sent forth by two and two-Lu- ther and Melancthon among reformers. Michael Angelo and Raphael among art fists, Goethe and Schiller, Wordsworth and Coleridge among the poets. Bossnet and Fenelou, Wesley and Whitefield among the princes of the pulpit; Darwin and Wallace. Huxley and Tyndall and many another far-shining double star bear witness to this providential ordering of genius by which truth, while added by the living force of personality, is not hindered by defects nor compromised by the idiosyncracies of any one of her min istrants." After referring us to these H.
 lustrious pairs. he draws an individual distinction between Emerson and Carlisle. by making one in style "gaunt. ghastly, grotesque and graphic" "a mind in tho
 H-N of which many said, "The Lord was not in the wind" For these were provided the gentler, though not weaker. prophet of the still, small voice. whose personal charm disarmed prejudice and won a high acceptance of his message" We are told that when Carlisle introduced Emerson's first little collection of essays to the Eng fish public. he warned the general reader that the little reprint was in no wise for him. No editor or reprinter can expect such book ever to become popular here. 2 But there is a small thinking public to whom Emerson's tone of modest, man fitness. of mild invincibility, low-voiced, but lion-strong, will be very welcome |" MT. Gibbon assures us that the predic- tion had been fulfilled to the letter. His popularity in England is the concentrated popularity of being read thousand times by one man, as Henry Taylor puts 1t, rather than the diffused popularity which rejoices in being read a single time by a thousand men," The following is given as a striking example of Emerson's in .. f1uence-a certain youth picked up a soiled copy of Nature in a second hand book shop and found his marching orders in it. His name was John Tyndall. If any one can be said to have given an impulse to my mind 1t is Emerson. What as Gentle gale from the merry seat D
 The Rev. MT. Gibbons excerpt of Elm 'r rxyVffi iS fnfA was happy in the loneliness of his mes. sage" Tn both countries (England and America), science elated by wonderful dis coveries, was contemptuous towards re- ligion. Criticism was busy sapping the ancient faith in the Scriptures and the dominant school of ethics bought a bald utilitarianism. It was a shallow, barren age. Then came these two men, Carlisle as great mind from the Lord. Emerson a Gentle gale from the merry seat"
 "Emersons gospel was a simple one. First. he preached piety towards this present world this red earth the mother of us all. It is a revelation of God. It's laws are His thoughts. its processes His acts. Next, he asserted the real presence of God. He upheld permanent as against traditional inspiration. No man ever prayed heartily without learning some thing Then came the grand note, the sovereignty of ethics" The foundatio of all things is moral. Tit for tat Is the law of life. The swindler swindles him. self. Crime and punishment grow on the same stem. Every man takes care that his neighbor shall not cheat him. But a day comes when it begins to care that he does not cheat his neighbor. Then all goes well. He has changed his market cart into chariot of the sum- Finally Emerson had the ultimate wisdom of hope. The age of the quadruped is to of fbo hrafn is to come in" How? We must be lov- CTS. and at once the impossible becomes possible" Love would put a new face on this very old world in which we dwell as pagans and enemies too long"
 And Death? Death is a boon. for i'm mortality is an attribute of mind" MT. Gibbons now remarks that these are not doctrines to set the Thames on fire He adds, however. that men were taken with the freshness of their expression. They relished the new idoms; listened with deeper reverence because he spoke as hay ing authority; rejoieed at heart to find that science and criticism. notwlthstand- ing the great truths, were still true. God duty, immortality were felt to be reali- ties from which happily 1t is forever i'm possible to get away, and life was seen to lead to Christ. Was He orthodox? Of course not. but by word and example He rebuked our despondency, He purified our sight, awakened us rom the OedQly sum- Der of conventionality and conformity, exercised the imps of vanity and lifted us from low thoughts and sullen moods of helplessness and impiety," MT. Gib- bon's tribute to the character of Emerson Is inspiring. The simplicity, dignity and beauty of his character made a conquest of our hearts and lighted up like altar lamps the teaching of his books. It is nc exaggerat tion to say that all good things among us have been helped by him, journ- alism, politics. literature. preaching. re- ueion and morals. He freshened us like an April shower" Here is the closing testimony as to the fellowship of Elm erson and Carlisle: When Emerson lay on his death bed. his memory of names clean gone from him, he smiled and nodd- ed repeatedly toward the portrait of Car lisle on the wall opposite and said. the good man. my man. And then follows fhis appreciative rejoinder: Well, of course Emerson Is yours, your greatest thinker, and. though you believe it not your greatest poet But an increasing number of the thinking British public won by his charm and helped by his preaching. make bold to say. The good man, our man..
 Comments on Emerson.
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