The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-17
Books and Authors
THE INFLuE ENC OF EMERSON

5f 2 /
Mr.. Edwin d. Mead, one Of the most
enthusiastic OF Emersonians, contributes
a very notably interesting volume to the
literature of The Emerson Centenary in his
The influence Of Emerson lBoston-
American Unitarian association, IS Bea-
con street,. & a
Mr.. Mead is q very entertaining writer.
ana ne Is at his best in an appreciation
of one OF whose intellectual and social
qualities won his deepest respect and af-
lection. He first discusses "The
Philosophy OF Emerson and argues Wig,
orously against those who assert that
there was no distinctive Emersonian
philosophy. But he does not convince.
Emerson founded no school of Emersonian
philosophy. and there is no evidence that
he ever believed that he did He swas an
eclectic, with strong optimistic favoring
and ne walked along road which ended
nowhere In particular. Mr. Mead gives
Emerson the pre- eminence over Darwin as
the reyealer Of the theory of evolution to
the world. long before Darwin produced
MS descent OF Man, and his views on
natural selection. Since the days of
Aristotle, however, there have been think
ers who anticipated Darwin in his general
conclusions. And when Emerson said
God is the ALL Fair; Truth and goodness
and beauty are but different faces Of the
same All. and There seems to be a ne
cessity in spirit to manifest itself in ma
terial forms he repeats the pantheistic
thought OF the ages and Mr.. Mead admits
as to some of his forceful expressions that
Emerson articulates the thought of
Illegal Sin other dialect Mr., Mead de-
MES his pantheism. but Emerson's "Su-
preme Presence" was the whole creation
God? It is all God!'' he declared. This
certainly comes very near to pantheism.
Doesn't 1T?
orb oF y Il ~I- T.
erson and Theodore Parker Mr.. Mead
sketches the abandonment Of Unitarian
ism by Emerson in his Harvard address,
which was denounced by the dean of the
divinity school as, downright atheism .
Theodore Parker, then young man,
heard that address and pronounced it s'the
most inspiring strain he had ever list
ened to. Parker followed Emerson with
great zeal. It would seem somewhat
premature for Mr.. Mead to assume that
Emerson and Parker, who went forth to
slay the popular theology" accomplished
their purpose; that they broke the letters
which had been imposed on the American
mind by the 'old theology by which is
meant the Christian system, which, by
many millions in this country, is believed
to embody the most rational and success
full scheme for the regeneration Of hui
man1ty ever presented to man.
The great portion of the book relates
to Emerson and Carlyle. The latter was
personally known to Emerson before he
made his Remuneration at Harvard in 1888
| Emerson introduced his friends "Sartor
Resartus'' to American readers and wher
the sage of Shelsea died, it was Emerson
who, in Boston, on the day of Carlyle's
| burial, delivered his final tribute to him
| one Of the most brilliant deliverances Of
| his life. Emerson made but one more
public address after that. The Carlyle
| tribute was written thirty years before its
| delivery. when he was staying with Car.
| lyle during his lecturing engagement ii
London. Carlyle once said that Elmer
sons first visit to him at Craigenputtocl
was like the visit of an angel The two
men were at once drawn toward eacl
other in intellectual sympathy Emerson
| had read Carlyle's writings some years be
| fore he met him in 1888. Emerson great
/ ly admired Jane Carlyle, describing her OF
| his first visit as a most agreeable and &C
] conplished woman and he congratulate,
/ Carlyle upon his treasure Of wife
| The Emerson and Carlyle chapter is in
| tensely interesting from beginning to end
/ Mr. Mead, however, overdoes his prais
Of Carlyle just as he presents Emerson t.
us as an immaculate kind Of God man
or to use Sptnoza' s. expression, a God in
toxicated man.