New England renaissance; Build, therefore, your own world

Listen to the sound of education in early New England. In early New England. The New England run of song. The National Association of Broadcasters. Run a song. This is Donald born professor of humanities at Boston University. And there's a second in a series of programs showing the importance of the New England

renaissance. Above all contributors perhaps were the transcendentalists an idealistic group whose writings and activities added so much to the flowering of the culture of New England. Yes even to the culture of the world. Last week we set the scene for the entrance. We describe the general life in New England in the 1830s and 40s. The agricultural economy the beginning of the Industrial Revolution the slums and poverty of some of the industrial cities which suggested the need for reform but reform was already starting and some of the institutions in that world of 1830 and 1840 reforming the school systems reform in the manner of living the Transcendentalist believed that reform was to be first light of the Spirit. Second of institutions there are optimistic about the future.

On today's program we probe specific areas of conflict conflict in the meaning of nature and of God conflict as to the slavery question in order to do this. We'd like to take you back take you back in imagination to that period and here to help us do it is Rod Wright miles a student interested in the New England Renaissance period. We're living again in the 1830s. We're living again in the adolescent city of Boston Massachusetts and adolescent city which only recently was a small town but which now finds itself swelling in population and activity preparing with little advance notice for its present and future role as the real hub of New England. Adolescents in any form undergoes a period of flexing its muscles and mind. Thus does Boston exercise its civic tissue here in the 1830s as it wrestles with the emotional conflicts and physical imperfections which come with puberty. The population of this young

city is now about 100000. Seventy five churches cater to its spiritual needs. From the statehouse dome unfashionable Beacon Hill one can glance over a panorama of neat villages sprinkled with squat small smokestacks. At the bottom of the hill there's Boston's fine Harbor its base dotted with the white flag of Commerce from every part of the world. The Navy Yard. And yes the walls of Harvard too are clearly visible. The people behind these places are largely industrious thriving and orderly. Only a small group of constables is necessary for policing the area. Culture Religion and Education stand out in perspective. I am proud to report the results of my investigation Harvard College and Yale and my opinion are the fastest growing institutions of higher education in the union.

Why at Harvard we now have 38 brevet with 200 fit my library of over 61000 volume. We have the last of AI and chemistry apparatus which is very complete as well as a valuable cabinet of minerals and the anatomical museum and a botanical garden of eight acres. Situated on this in the Rhode Island quiet village of Cambridge we have an expanding campus which implodes for spacious brick buildings very nice too and I believe young men from Boston are going not only to Harvard and Yale they are attending other leading colleges and universities to Columbia College Brown University University of Virginia Union College in Schenectady New York Boden College Brunswick Maine and the University of

Vermont. The course of study is four or five years and it embraces chiefly the classics and mathematics schools of theology medicine drawer are also prospering. Not too many students attend college however partly because only one out of four children attend primary school. But this is considered ample and liberal as educational systems go. But there's another element here in Boston in the 1830s that's referred to in some circles as the general diffusion of intelligence or the sound of horses and carriages resounds throughout the city's narrow winding streets as its inhabitants scurry from one lecture to another. One discussion or conversation party to the next. One young lady caught up in the spirit of the times records the social activities of the day. I write with great interest about the popular lectures in history literature

and science which keep us from the edge of intellectual boredom. Fashion dictates that you attend several of these each week. In Boston These lectures are carried to an ultra extent. They are more popular than theatres concerts. Ladies tend to prefer experimental philosophy to the mysteries of the Poca frequently there will be three or four courses of lectures going on at the same time free of admission at the Lowell Institute the temple or the Mercantile Library. It is indeed a fact that the principal theatre in Boston was recently closed down and the building converted into a church. Scholars and professional men too attending social and philosophical organizations keep the carriage wheels rolling. American mission to the east and the South Sea island American Home Missionary Society American Bible Society American Education Society American Sunday school Union American Tract Society which was published millions of pages of religious literature our American temperance

society formed in 1826 having in 1835 eight thousand local groups with a million and a half members 4000 distilleries have been stopped a thousand traitors have ceased selling ardent spirits and the present disciplined society formed in 1825 which has affected immense reforms in the management of Prisons and the improvement morally and physically of the president. Discussions of cultural and religious subjects is a sign of the times as is social concern. It is only natural and for that on September 19th 1836 a group of men interested in such intellectual pursuits should get together. The meeting as a result of a suggestion made by Dr. William Ellery Channing the leading clergyman of Boston to the Rev. George Ripley another religious leader purpose of the meeting to establish some sort of association for mutual

inquiry into subjects of general interest to ask the question why is a popular pursuit of the day. All right gentleman it appears to me that our meeting today should primarily be one of the business nature. There are a number of problems attendant with the optimisation of us imposing them which it is necessary that we just come and present at this meeting of the Reverend Ripley's home or young woman Dr Congo's Francis the oldest not quite forty one. James Freeman CLARKE The youngest is twenty six. Frederick Henry had a name as Bronson or Ralph Waldo Emerson Orestes ransomed also present in the cities everyone is a scholar in his own way. The symposium called hedges club

the primes and dental isn't clubbed by outsiders as the first organized meeting of a group which is to contribute much to the sinking boat and the literature of the New England renaissance. Returning to my previous statement I would like to suggest the Unitarian pastor of the old pressed judge the Rev. a thing you'll probably get on a number of other intuitiveness. One of the main topics of conversation at this preliminary meeting seems to be the publication. Two weeks ago up Amazon's make your make your now Muslims first book has grown out of the journals letters sermons lectures philosophically considered the universe is composed of nature and the soul of strictly speaking therefore all of that is separate from us all which philosophy distinguishes as the not me that is both nature and God. All other men and my own body must be ranked under this name nature. I wish to show that I study an appreciation of nature

results in an understanding of God. Nature is the connecting link between the human spirit and God. The reaction to Mr. Imus from nature is slow in coming. I'm very much Brunson Orkut comments on the book and the journals. I have just finished reading nature by RW Emerson It is a beautiful work. Mr Emerson attempts to show the meaning of nature to the minds of men. It is the production of a spiritualist subordinating the visible and the outward to the inward and invisible nature becomes a transparent emblem of the soul. The book a small sketch running to 100 pages. It is a gem. And Amazon's friend Carlisle is moved to write it is the foundation and ground plan of all those future writings within a month. Five hundred copies of them sold reviews are adding to its modest frame to its notoriety says the Unitarian Christian

Register. Nature is a work of genius. It is political philosophical moral and religious. Without the forms of poetry philosophy ethics or theology but not all readers are pleased trash that's what it is trash. Why doesn't he spend his time writing about so that I can follow God absurd immoral arrogant and so a small book called nature of the start of the writing career. Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is the first in a long series of essays which probe into the unknown essays which sound like this. Nature is a discipline of the understanding and intellectual truths. Our dealings with sensible objects are a constant exercise in the necessary lessons of difference of likeness of order of being and seeming of progressive all range from and of assent from particular to

General of combination to one end of the manifold forces. What good he nature phones in us. She pardons no mistake. A rule of one or a law of one organization holds true throughout nature. So intimate is this unity that it is easily seen. It lies under the undermost garment of nature and betrays its source in Universal Spirit. Part of AIDS thought also. The kingdom of man of a nature which cometh not with observation. A Dominion such as knowledge is beyond his dream of God. He shall enter without more wonder than the blind man. Who has gradually restored to perfect sight build there for your own world. Emerson is continuing his writings the transcendental club stressing individuality

of thought above all else is meeting from time to time seeking truth in every field especially theology. Many of its members are Unitarian ministers. We paused a few moments to give you a broadcast chock a review of some of the major events which gave the period 1830 to 1860 not only an unusual literary flavor but a social and religious progress as well. There are several major events by years in the lives of the New England run of Psalms leaders and their friends. Ralph Waldo Emerson born 18:3 died 1882 1831 death of Emerson's first wife 1832 tour of Europe. 1833 Emerson met Carlisle 1835 married again settled in Concord 1836 published nature 1837 delivered American scholar address 1838 delivery develop a school address 1841 published essays first series 1842 to 1843 edited the dial 1844 published essays second series and throughout this entire period Emerson published

from time to time other works and read David Perel born 1817 died 1862 1845 the world an experiment began 1840 and I wrote civil disobedience 1854 published Walden became interested in the slavery issue Amos Bronson aka von 1799 died 1888 1834 1839 temple school experiment 1843 organized the fruit lands experiment not Hawthorne not a transcendentalist but active within the period morn. 18:4 died 1864 1837 published twice told tale 1841 went to live at Brook Farm 1840 to marry to fire people to settle them conquered at the old man's 1846 published masses from an old man 1850 published The Scarlet Letter 1851 published the House of Seven Gables 1850 to publish the blight day a romance. Margaret four were born 1810 died 1850 1839 to 1844 conducted her famous

conversation 1842 1842 edited the dial 1844 published woman in the 19th century. They adore Parker. Born 1810 died 1860. A leader in the transcendental philosophy active throughout the period. George Ripley. Born 18 to died 1880. Head of Brook Farm 1840 one to eight hundred forty four. Now back to the events and trends which frame the activities of these individuals. There are many things to discuss in the city of Boston besides the activities of the transcendentalists in the early eighteen hundreds. The United States are growing. Alabama Maine Missouri Florida Arkansas Michigan and Wisconsin have been or are being brought into the Union. Men like John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Van Buren Harrison John Tyler and James K. Polk are our political leaders and Daniel Webster ex senator and secretary of state is being confused in England with Noah Webster of dictionary fame.

The struggling United States face up to a number of problems to all our large seaports of the poverty and vices of the worst class of immigrants. The fall Garrity and rudeness and the seaports is astonishing. Tobacco chewing and spitting is becoming more and more abusive. Something must be done to stop this vile habit. I am very much concerned about the tendency in America to rush to the dinner table in hotels and steamers and almost equal Russia away from it. Surely the government can do better than that. I recognize that the federal government paid off the whole principle and interest on the national debt and I know over thirty seven million dollars of surplus revenue was given back to the states. But it seems to me they should be capable of even better planning in Washington. And do you realize there are only 9000 men now in the regular army and only 60 ships in the Navy. What if war should break out. We'd be totally unprepared.

I believe that the common English charge against America that of excessive love of money inordinate greed for gain is justified. Y dollars have been discussed in drawing rooms sometimes much to the detriment of good taste. The people of Boston are generally calm. Go to the Boston Athenaeum do see the annual exhibit of OT or they read the journals of the Boston Society of Natural History the Massachusetts Historical Society or the American Oriental society but they cannot disregard a rising sentiment which has no easy answer. Slavery is the followers blood the most withering cross inflicted upon the United States. Slavery is the foulest blot the most withering curse afflicted upon the United States slavery of the fall of one of those one of the many custom planted upon the United States. Slavery exists now and sit between states. The people watch and listen and talk and the young Englishman sends home a report of the slavery issue as he sees it.

These facts I have ascertained by fast and observation and study. Past. The negro I was originally carried a colonial North America forcibly by the ships of the mother country contrary to the feelings and in despite of the resistance of the colonists and all the reiterated and solemn promise to patients of the Legislative Assembly. A second after course of opposition to the slave trade on the part of the colonies we find the violent prosecution of the slave trade as countenanced and enforced by Great Britain among the wrongly numerate and by colonial Virginia. In that song protestation address to the British parliament which opened the revolution. And moreover the same appears in the declaration of political rights of Virginia independence. And yet father was inserted in the preamble to the Constitution of the state. The saying was Father intercepted among the list of grievances and human agent as authorizing

wrapped up from English dominion in the original draft of the revolutionary Declaration of Independence as drawn by Franklin Jefferson and Adams and subsequently effect based upon considerations of general policy easy to appreciate under the circumstances. Of all. The slave trade was immediately abolished by the United States. Independent effects of this make trade was afterwards assimilated to piracy punishable with death by law of the United States as a just as labor and was abolished in all the American states in which the number of slaves was not sufficient to render an act of in front of them and menacing to the major interests of public order industry and the general welfare of the country. This aberration was for and in tile from a certain date specified and was passed without any question of indemnity to the Masters. But the ACT SO RANDOM be it observed was not an act of spoliation

made by a government distinct into astore moved by distance from the population bought. An act of conceived If not want together a real propriety and wisdom on the part of governments making a part of the population. The starts to rise in Boston as in other parts of the country an abolitionist movement a group dedicated to freeing of the slaves an outstanding leader of the abolitionists as William Lloyd Garrison newspaperman from new Bridgeport Massachusetts he publishes the Liberator a widely discussed paper his leading article in the first number of this publication. With these words I am in earnest. I will not equivocate I will not excuse I will not treat a single inch and I will be heard and relies on moral persuasion not

force to gain allies for his cause. In Baltimore an 18 city Garrison finds himself confined to jail for forty nine days for criticizing the actions of a slave importer. Men like some cross the people of Boston. Great concern. They want to remain friendly for business reasons. With the south and the abolition movement already pulsating from the office of the American Anti-Slavery Society on Nassau Street Boston threatens us friendship. Fifteen hundred citizens signed a petition for a mass meeting in favor of slavery not final horror. Invitations are sent to prominent slave holders to attend the meeting which Allison and other abolitionists burbling attacked some hearing about the meeting rites and elaborate a final of all the old cradle of liberty.

It seems is to be desecrated by a meeting of the friends of slavery and slaveholders. Better that the lightning of heaven should smite in the bottom of the building. Better that the wind should scatter it in fragments over the whole earth. Better than that it should be used to test a purpose. Failing against Boston grows a gallows is erected in front of Gazans house in Brighton street with a sign proclaiming it is for Garrison and his slavery fighting friend George Thompson. The planters of the South approved this Boston auction. The people of the North must go to hang in these fanatical wretches if they would not lose the benefit of Southern trade. About a month after the final meeting Garrison and his wife returned to Boston Boston female Anti-Slavery Society scheduled a meeting on October 21st 1835 and public indignation rises. What good I'm eating all of that foreign vagrant Thompson and his associates in mischief

are allowed to resume their attacks upon slavery. I hereby serve notice on these abolitionists if they attempt to hold any meeting they will meet with determined opposition the resistance will not come from a rival but from men of property and standing with a large interest in the community. But the meeting delayed is held all the same. The newspapers take it for granted that both Thompson and the guys are not to speak and fiercely condemn the pair a hand-bell appears in the business district of Boston calling upon the friends of the Union to snake Thompson out a purse of one hundred dollars has been raised by a number of victory otic citizens to reward the individual who shall first play violent hands on. Thompson so that he may be brought to the TA control before dark and anonymous well-wisher right Mr Garrison. I think you should know that a plot exists to drag you and Mr Thompson to the Boston Common. There the two of you will be stripped of your clothing by means of acid and indelible ink.

Your hands and faces will be dyed in a manner that will never change from a dark brown color. After this you'll be tarred and feathered. Why would you not to go. Johnson attends the meeting. A group of young men burst into the room and rises calmly to address the gentleman. Perhaps you were not aware of the fact that this is a meeting of the Boston female Anti-Slavery Society called an intended exclusively for ladies and those who have been invited to address them. Understanding this fact you will be not so rude as to thrust your presence upon this meeting. If gentlemen any of you are ladies in disguise why only apprised me of that fact. Give me your names and I will introduce you to the rest of your sex and you can take seats among them. Accordingly. Was right. There was a riot in Boston this night was taken against the window sill Roper's looked about his chest and looked out of the window and held by the rope

slides down the ladder into the hands of another crowd of corny reaches the ground some one turns off his trousers his hat for as often as trampled his coat was torn from his body his torn to tatters amid the hoops and shouts he was dragged by the rope down Wilson's waiting toward State Street. It was rescued from dust placed in an elaborate jail for his own protection. This evening the evening of October 21st 1835 Johnson is visited in his cell by the all kept family. John green leaves when they urge him to have courage. They know his reply. I am in earnest. I will not equivocate. I will not excuse. I will not retreat a single link and I will be heard in the weeks to follow is heard

throughout the eastern area there's a constant investigation going on emotionally and rationally. Sometimes the two approaches get confused here in the 1830s and 40s. There are many issues to be considered. Many problems to be decided. And men like Emerson ochre Gauss and their friends and enemies. I don't have an impact. In the resolution of these issues and problems there for your own. The New England renaissance. This has been the new songs written and produced at Boston

University for the National Association of educational broadcast there is in cooperation with the fund for adult education Renaissance was produced and directed by George W. Sloan Jr. assisted by William Baggett and Mel great script by Diamond Dr. Richard C. carpenter was a research and content consultant. Now writers were born professor of humanities at Boston University and other voices heard where Elwood Bradford Jr. Laurie Hansen Hans and Michael Lawrence stand up. Martin said Barbara Watson and Irv wish the music for this program was taken from his composition three places in New England. The conflict in education renaissance.

Amos and Horace Mann and their educational experiments and investigation. This is the network.