New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-01
INSPIRATION FOR SOCIALISTS
Let Them Study the Brook Farm
Experiment, He Writes.

To the Editor Of the Tribune.
SIR: The letters Of Mr.. Nalkenburgh
appearing in The Tribune from :me 10
time have ran especial interest for me,
for ! think | recognize IN them inc
name Of an esteemed friend and neigh
Dor of former years. The SUBJECT
which he 80 ably discusses h2s elected
nv earnest attention ever since J hr+t
became a reader Of Tho Tribune, about
the time when George Ripley, Amos
Pratt. Bronson Alcott and other Ne"
England transcendcntallsts we're put
ting into practice their SocialIS'lc pm
losophics IL Brook Farm, FruItlands
and other places.
Socialists have always differed. not
so much regarding the basic elements
on which socialism rests rs they 40
about the methods best 20 be used IN
accomplishing the desired result /
notice fraternity of ideas between Mr.;
Van NalkcnburGh's "|cu! Equality
and Ralph Waldo EmcrEoH's theory as
expressed thus: There IS one mind
common 10 all individual men. Every
man is an inlet 20 the same and all OF
the same. He that is once admitted TO
the right OF reason is made a freeman
Of the whole estate. VINO hath access
10 this universal mind is a party to all
that is or can be done, for this IS the
only and sovereign agent
Can the modern socialist find "A better
cornerstone to build on? Or from this:
ain the midst of abuses in the heart OF
cities, in the aiSlcs OF false churches
alike. i'm one place and another "het-
eyer lust and heroic soul lnds Itscl.
there il will do what is neNt 80 hand,
and by the new quality OF character 1T
shall put forth it shall abroCatc that
old condition. law or school, 10 which
il stands, before the law Of It's own
mind"
/. who am Old rejoice that our
younger rcformcrs two generation
later are gaining inspiration ana nope
from the same fountain OF truth ana
"have given in their several adherence
TO a new hope and in all companies do
signify a greater trust in the nature
and resources Of man than the laws
will approve. Too many OF us believe
that VIC cannot speak to the divine SEN
timonts in man. and We do not try; we
rcnOunce all high aims. We believe
that the defects Of so many perver5e
and frivolous people who make up So
cicty are organic and society - nos
pital of incurables.'
c nccQ lNcs Idl-H anu ttC N'~''7
that animated the men OF the Concord
Social Club. Only tho densely ignorant
regard the Brook Farm experiment as
a failure. Though inspired by Fourler's
ideas. it was hardly p socialistlc eX-
pertinent. The freedom of the individual
was jealousy guarded by its constitu-
ton; they aimed to give every member
a share in the manual labor. to give an
equal reward 10 labor and TO talent
and to unite a liberal culture with ar
education TO labor.
The seven years Of the duration Of
the Brook Farm enterprise was sud
denly ended by the conhagration which
destroyed its main building just before
its completion, and which was unin-
sured. Nearly all the members gained
distinction and honor in after life. for
which their experience there gave them
2 good preparation. The socialists Of
this day may gain courage and inspira-
ton if they will study the constructive
policy of those ancient reformecs,
whose PHILOSOPHERS rested on those nee
essary and universal principles the
primary laws Of mind. which are the
ground of absolute truth.
{. r. BENEDICT.
Brooklyn. June %, 1914.