Part 28

As it is the prevailing opinion and feeling in our religious community, that it is an indispensable part of the pastoral office to administer this ordinance, I am about to resign into your hands that office which you have confided to me. It has many duties for which I am feebly qualified. It has some which it will always be my delight to discharge, according to my ability, wherever I exist. And whilst the recollection of its claims oppresses me with a sense of my unworthiness, I am consoled by the hope that no time and no change can deprive me of the satisfaction of pursuing and exercising its highest functions.

September 9, 1832.

* * * * *

The influence of Transcendentalism on general literature can be only indicated in loose terms. Its current was so strong, that like the Orinoco rushing down between the South American continent and the island of Trinidad, it made a bright green trail upon the dark sea into which it poured, but the vehemence of the flood forbade its diffusion. The influence was chiefly felt on the departments of philosophy and ethics. It created the turbulent literature of reform, the literature born of the "Enthusiasm of Humanity," the waves whereof are still rolling, though not with their original force. The literature of politics was profoundly affected by it; the political radicals, philosophical democrats, anti-slavery whigs or republicans, enthusiasts for American ideas, prophets of America's destiny, being, more or less wittingly, controlled by its ideas. In this department Parker made himself felt, not on the popular mind alone, but on the recognized leaders of opinion East and West. The writings of Sumner and his school owe their vigor to these ideas. In history Bancroft was its great representative, his earliest volumes especially revealing in the richness, depth, and hopefulness of their interpretations of men and measures, the faith in humanity so strongly characteristic of the philosophy he professed.

In poetry the influence is distinctly traceable, though here also it was confined within somewhat narrow limits. Bryant betrays scarcely perceptible marks of it, though he ascribed to Wordsworth a fresh inspiration of love for nature. It is hardly perceptible in Longfellow, whose verse, bubbling from the heart, gently meanders over the meadows and through the villages, gladdening daily existence with its music. Neither Bryant nor Longfellow had the intellectual passion that Transcendentalism roused. The earlier pieces of Lowell, the anti-slavery lyrics and poems of sentiment, were inspired by it. Whittier was wholly under its sway. The delicious sonnets of Jones Very were oozings from its spring. Julia Ward Howe's "Passion Flowers," though published as late as 1854, burn and throb with feeling that had its source in these heights.

The writers of elegant literature, essays, romances, tales, owed to Transcendentalism but a trifling debt, not worth acknowledging. They were out of range. It was their task to entertain people of leisure, and they derived their impulse from the pleasure their writings gave them or others. It was not to be expected that authors like Irving, Paulding, Cooper, would feel an interest in ideas so grave and earnest, or would catch a suggestion from them. But Lydia Maria Child, whose "Letters from New York"--1841, 1843--were models in their kind; whose stories for young people have not been surpassed by those of any writer, except Andersen; whose more labored works have a quality that entitles them to a high place among the products of mind, is a devotee of the transcendental faith. A very remarkable book in the department of fiction was Sylvester Judd's "Margaret; a tale of the Real and the Ideal; Blight and Bloom." It contained the material for half a dozen ordinary novels; was full of imagination, aromatic, poetical, picturesque, tender, and in the dress of fiction set forth the whole gospel of Transcendentalism in religion, politics, reform, social ethics, personal character, professional and private life.

As has been already remarked, the transcendental faith found expression in magazines and newspapers, which it called into existence, and which no longer survive. Its elaborate compositions were, from the nature of the case, few; its intellectual occupancy was too brief for the creation of a permanent literature. Had Transcendentalism been chiefly remarkable as a literary curiosity, the neglect of the smallest scrap of paper it caused to be marked with ink would be culpable. As it was, primarily and to the end, an intellectual episode, turning on a few cardinal ideas, it is best studied in the writings and lives of its disciples. They knew better than any body what they wanted; they were best acquainted with their own ideas, and should be permitted to speak for themselves. Earnest men and women no doubt they were; better educated men and women did not live in America; they were well born, well nurtured, well endowed. Their generation produced no warmer hearts, no purer spirits, no more ardent consciences, no more devoted wills. Their philosophy may be unsound, but it produced noble characters and humane lives. The philosophy that takes its place may rest on more scientific foundations; it will not more completely justify its existence or honor its day.

THE END.

INDEX.

A.

Alcott, Bronson, contributes to "The Dial," 133; on the transcendental philosophy, tribute to Emerson quoted, 246; the mystic, 249; a follower of Pythagoras, 251; "_Concord Days_" quoted, 255; a leader of the transcendentalists, 257; school in Cheshire, Conn., 262; school in England named for, 267; presides at reform meetings in England, 272; superintendent of schools, 275; his conversations, 283; writings of, 358.

Alcott, Wm. A., writes on physical training, 262.

Alexandria, school of, 61.

American Unitarian Association, tract published by, 120.

Aristotle, categories of, 111.

Arius, advocate of Unitarian philosophy, 109.

B.

Bacon, Lord Francis, Macaulay on his philosophy, 139.

Bain, principles of the sensational philosophy stated by, 205.

Bancroft, George, his account of Herder, 47; History of the United States quoted, 117; champion of the spiritual philosophy, 117, 118; traces of transcendentalism in his historical writings, 381.

Barni, Jules, translates Kant into French, 61.

Bartol, C. A., belongs to the transcendental school, 341.

Baur, follower of the Hegelian ideas, 186.

Biblical repository, articles on transcendentalism in, 137.

Bibliotheca Sacra, article on transcendentalism in, 92.

Biographia Literaria, of Coleridge, quoted, 82; criticised by Edinburgh Review, 91; Wordsworth's poetry considered in, 97.

"Blithedale Romance," published by Hawthorne, 175.

Blodgett, Levi, nom de plume of Theodore Parker, 125.

Boehme, Jacob, doctrine of, 257.

Boston Quarterly Review started by O. A. Brownson, 128.

Bouillet translates Plotinus, 61.

Brisbane, Albert, disciple of Fourier, 156.

Brook Farm, the experiment at, 157; constitution quoted, 159; mode of life there, 164-169; breaking up of the society, 170.

Brooks, C. T., makes translations from German authors, 56; German lyrics translated by, 116.

Brownson, Orestes A., description of, 128; converted to Romanism, 131; writings, 358.

Bruno, Giordano, founder of the Dynamic System, 81.

Bryant, Wm. C., transcendental spirit not found in his writings, 381.

Butler fights against infidelity in his _Analogy_, 185.

C.

Cabanis, philosophy of, 63; skeptic of the 18th century, 187.

Cabot, Eliot, contributes to "The Dial," 133.

Calvin, denies doctrine of consubstantiation, 364.

Cambridge Divinity School, address before, by James Walker, 121-123.

Carlyle, Thomas, interprets the German thinkers, 52; quoted, 52; translates Wilhelm Meister, 56; opinion of Coleridge quoted, 77-92; change in his mode of thought, 94; the preacher of transcendentalism, 103; articles on Richter and German literature, 116.

Chalybäus, his verdict on Jacobi quoted, 25.

Channing, Dr. William, not a transcendentalist in theory, 111; feeling toward Christ, 111; letters of, quoted, 112; transcendentalist in sentiment, 113; quoted, 113; contributes to "The Dial," 133; tribute to Alcott, 259; judgment of Margaret Fuller, 293; writings of, 350.

Channing, William Ellery, writings of, 340.

Channing, Wm. H., version of Jouffroy published, 116; contributes to "The Dial," 133; writes on social topics, 330; works of, 336; as an orator, 338; writings of, 360.

Chapin, E. H., speaks against capital punishment, 337.

Chauvet, on philosophy of the ancients, 61.

Cheever, Geo. B., article in N. A. Review, 92.

Cheshire, Conn., school at, 262.

Child, Lydia Maria, a writer of the transcendental school, 382.

Christian Examiner, account of Herder in, 47; article by F. D. Hedge in, 92; article by James Walker in, 120; articles on transcendentalism in, 137; review on Emerson in, 138.

Clarke, James Freeman, edits De Wette, 116; contributes to "The Dial," 133; judgment of Margaret Fuller, 293; an early transcendentalist, 343.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, influence of Schelling on, 40; the prophet of transcendentalism in England, 76; his studies in Germany, 79; on Schelling's works, 80; alleged plagiarism from Schelling, 81.

Coleridge, Biographia Literaria, quoted, 82; the true founder of the Broad church, 89; described by Talfourd and Hazlitt, 90.

Coleridge, Carlyle's verdict on, 92; his sympathy with German literature, 96; the philosopher of transcendentalism, 103; makes Lessing's works familiar, 116; article on by Mill, 206.

Coleridge, Sarah, note by, in Biographia Literaria, 88.

Communism in Massachusetts, 157.

_Concord Days_, by A. B. Alcott, quoted, 246.

Condillac, doctrine of, 62; skeptic of the 18th century, 187.

Congregationalists, followers of Schleiermacher among, 50.

Constant, English translations from, by Geo. Ripley, 116.

Consubstantiation taught by Luther, 364; denied by Calvin, 364.

_Consuelo_ translated by F. G. Shaw, 329.

Copernicus revolutionizes astronomy, 10.

Cousin, Victor, philosophical works of, 61; French follower of the Scotch school, 66; his system of philosophy, 67-75; English translations from, 116; philosophical miscellanies noticed by the press, 117.

Cranch, C. P., contributes to "The Dial," 133; lines from, quoted, 146; writes for "The Harbinger," 330.

Curtis, Geo. Wm., writes for "The Harbinger," 330.

D.

Dana, Chas. A., writes for "The Harbinger," 330.

Degerando, lectures on Kant's philosophy, in Paris, 115.

Descartes, doctrine of innate ideas ascribed to, 15.

De Wette, students of, in the United States, 116; Theodor and Ethics, English edition of, 116; living faith in God aided by, 121.

D'Holbach, skeptic of the 18th century, 187.

Dial, the, publisher's letter on Herder, 47; Tribute to Wordsworth in, quoted, 97-99; articles in, 132; writes for, 133; ancient scriptures printed in, 135; article on Margaret Fuller in, 176; contains account of English reform meetings, 273.

Digby, Sir Kenelm, story related by, 199.

Dietetics, theory and practice of, introduced by transcendentalists, 150.

_Discourses on Religion_, work by Schleiermacher, 48.

Dwight, J. S., makes translations from German authors, 56; edits selections from Goethe and Schiller, 116; contributes to "The Dial," 133; quoted, 148; writes musical articles for "The Harbinger," 330.

Dynamic system, the, begun by Giordano Bruno, 80.

E.

Eckermann's conversations with Goethe translated into English, 116.

Edinburgh Review contains article by Carlyle, 52; criticises Biographia Literaria, 91.

Edwards, Jonathan, spirit of his writings, 108.

_Elements of Psychology_, work by C. S. Henry, published, 75.

Emerson, Charles, contributes to "The Dial," 133; articles quoted, 222.

Emerson, R. W., edits Carlyle's Miscellanies, 93-116; on Wordsworth, 99; an idealist, 115; retires from the ministry, 120; publication of "Nature," 122; essays published, 127; quoted, 142; edits "The Dial," 132; lecture on transcendentalism quoted, 135; lecture on "The Reformer" quoted, 153; address before Divinity College, 200; tribute paid by Tyndall to, 214-243; appreciation of by German readers, 218; published works, 224; works quoted from, 228; letter to his church, 232; judgment of Margaret Fuller, 285; sermon of, reprinted, 363.

Encyclopædists, influence of, in France, 187.

England, idealists of, 1; metaphysical schools in, 2; transcendentalism in, 78-105.

Epictetus, works of, edited by Higginson, 350.

Excursion, Wordsworth's, quoted, 101.

F.

Felton, Prof. C. C., translates Menzel, 58; edits Menzel's German literature, 116.

Fichte, Johann Gotlieb, treatises of, 28; effect of Kant's system upon, 28; outline of his system of reasoning, 31-40; the idealists of New England his followers, 46; few copies of his works found in the United States, 116.

Fiske, John, cosmic philosophy quoted, 211.

Foreign Review, contains article on Novalis, 52.

Fourierism not welcomed by transcendentalists, 156.

France, philosophy in, 60; transcendentalism in, 105; skepticism in, 189.

Francis, Convers; apostle of transcendentalism, 353.

Franck, Adolphe, explains the Jewish Kabbala, 71.

Frederick the Great, court of, 187.

Frothingham, Dr. N. L., student of German literature, 47.

Fuller, Margaret, article on Goethe, 57; translates from the German, 116; edits "The Dial," 132; _Women in the 19th Century_ quoted, 177-181; memoirs of, published, 284; judgment of, by Emerson, 285; on metaphysics and religion, 286; as a critic, 287; edits "The Dial," 289; biographical account of, 293; writings of, 358.

Furness, W. H., maintains belief in the miracles, 202.

G.

Galileo, experiments of, 8.

Greaves, James Pierrepont, founds the Alcott School near London, 267; letter of, 267.

Grimm, Herman, essay on R. W. Emerson, 218.

Grote, opinion on moral intuition, 216.

German Lyrics, translation by Chas. Brooks, 116.

Germany, transcendentalism in, 14-105; philosophy of, 60; under the influence of idealism, 186.

Gibbon, his history assailed by the church, 185.

Goethe, appreciation of, in New England, 57.

H.

Hamilton, Sir William, Mill's criticism of, 207.

Harbinger, The, started in 1845, 327; list of contributors to, 329.

Hauréau writes on philosophy of the middle ages, 61.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, notes on Brook Farm quoted, 171; _Blithedale Romance_, 175.

Hazlitt, William, account of Coleridge's preaching, 90.

Hedge, F. K., German translations made by, 56; writes articles in "Christian Examiner," 92.

Hegel, the successor of Schelling, 43; verdict on Jacobi quoted, 26; system of philosophy, 43-45.

Helvetius, skeptic of the 18th century, 187.

Henry, C. L., publishes elements of psychology, 75; his admiration for Coleridge, 89.

Herder, translations of, into English, 47; works of, read in the United States, 116.

Higginson, T. W., a disciple of transcendentalism, 350.

History of Philosophy, by Cousin, 75.

Hume, his system of reasoning, 16.

I.

Idealism in England, 7; in New England, 115; in Germany, 186.

J.

Jacobi, Frederick, his system of faith, 24; idealists of New England his followers, 46; his works in the United States, 116.

Janet, Paul, explains Plato, 61.

Jeffrey criticised Coleridge's Biographia Literaria, 91.

Johnson, Samuel, work on the "Religions of India," quoted, 345; belongs to the transcendental school, 347.

Jouffroy, Theodore, French follower of the Scotch school, 66; _Introduction to Ethics_, English edition of, 114.

Judd, Sylvester, a novelist of the transcendental school, 382.

K.

Kant, Immanuel, publishes "Critique of Pure Reason" (1781), 6; Character of his work, 6; starting-point of his philosophy, 9; _Critique of Pure Reason_ quoted, 14; Outline of his system of reasoning, 16-21; Carlyle on his philosophy, 53; Menzel on his philosophy, 57; translated into French, 61; reintroduces the Dynamic system, 81; lectures on his philosophy in Paris, 115; few copies of his works in the United States, 116.

_Knickerbocker Magazine_, articles on transcendentalism in, 137.

L.

Laromiguière, disciple of Condillac, 65.

Leibnitz, theory of, 15.

Letters to a Young Theologian, by Herder, 47.

Lewes, George H., criticism on John Locke cited, 5; _Problems of Life and Mind_, quoted 212.

Linberg, H. G., translator of Cousin, 75.

Locke, John, _Essay on the Human Understanding_, 3; called "Father of Modern Psychology," 3; character of his work, 4; opposes the doctrine of innate ideas, his ideas introduced into France, 61; piety of, 62; framed a constitution for the New World, 117; Bancroft on, 118.

Longfellow, H. W., the transcendental spirit not in his writings, 382.

Longfellow, Samuel, transcendentalist of the mystical type, 347; hymns by, 347.

Lord, D. N., writer in Lord's _Theological Journal_, 92.

Lord's Supper, the, sermon on, by Emerson, 363.

Lord's Theological Journal, 92.

Lowell, J. R., his early poems breathe the transcendental spirit, 382.

Luther, Martin, teaches doctrine of consubstantiation, 364.

M.

Macaulay, T. B., article on Lord Bacon, quoted, 139.

Maine de Biran, philosophy of, 65.

_Margaret_, novel setting forth the gospel of transcendentalism, 382.

Marsh, Dr. James, translates Herder's Spirit of Hebrew Poetry, 47.

Martineau, Harriet, calls Alcott the American Pestalozzi, 267.

Martineau, James, letter of Channing to, 112.

Mathematics, progress in, 7.

Maurice, Frederick Denison, admirer of Coleridge, 142.

May, Rev. S. J., account of Alcott's school, 262.

Menzel, opinion of Goethe quoted, 57; German Literature, English edition of, 116.

Mill, principles of sensational philosophy stated by, 205; article on Coleridge, 206; work on logic quoted, 208; commends Taine's work, 212.

N.

_Nature_, by R. W. Emerson, quoted, 312.

New England Maga., articles on transcendentalism in, 137.

New England, transcendentalism in, 105; religion of, 107; idealism in, 115.

New Hegelians, the, 45.

New York Review, 92.

Nominalists, the, tenets maintained by, 2.

North American Review, 92.

Norton, Andrews, assails Schleiermacher, 48; attacks transcendentalism, 123; controversy with George Ripley, 124.

Novalis, article on, by Carlyle, 52; his philosophy defined by Carlyle, 55.

O.

_Orphic Sayings_ of Alcott quoted, 259.

Osgood, Samuel, edits DeWette, 116.

P.

Parker, Theodore, referred to by Channing, enters into the transcendental controversy, 125; contributes to "The Dial," 133; work meditated by, 192; strong faith in immortality, 196; "Levi Blodgett" letter quoted, 200; blending of realism and transcendentalism in, 305; as a preacher of transcendental views, 308; writings of, 357.

Passover, the feast of, celebrated by Jesus, 364-366; as kept by Jews, 368.

Paul of Samosata, advocate of Unitarian theology, 109.

Peabody, Elizabeth, writes record of a school, 265.

Pelagius, advocate of Unitarian theology, 109.

Penn, Wm., framed constitution for the New World, 117; Bancroft on, 118.

Perfect Life, the work by Dr. Channing, 113.

Phillips, Wendell, speaks against capital punishment, 337.

Physics established as a science, 8.

Platonism, transcendental in its essence, 108.

Plotinus translated by Bouillet, 61.

Porter, Noah, writes article in Bibliotheca Sacra, 92.

Princeton Review, articles on transcendentalism in, 137.

Priestley, Joseph, able representative of Unitarianism, 185.

Pythagoras, the ancient teacher of dietetics, 151; H. B. Alcott on, 251.

Q.

Quakerism, tribute to, by George Bancroft, 117; compared with transcendentalism, 119.

R.

Rahn, Johanna, letter of Fichte to, 29.

_Rationale of Religious Inquiry_, by Martineau, 123.

Ravaisson, Felix, writes reports on French philosophy, 61.

Realists, the, tenets maintained by, 2.

Religious affections, the, treatise on, by Jonathan Edwards, 108.

Rémusat, Charles de, writer on French philosophy, 61.

Review, North American, account of Herder in, 47.

Reymond, Dubois, address to German naturalists quoted, 250.

Richter, Carlyle on his philosophy, 55; works of, 56.

Ripley, George, his account of Herder, 47; account of Schleiermacher, 48; estimate of Cousin's philosophy, 74; edits specimens of foreign standard literature, 116; review of James Martineau, 123; reply to Andrews Norton, 125; contributes to "The Dial," 133; his influence in spreading transcendentalism, 322; published works of, 324; controversy with Andrews Norton, 325; at Brook Farm, 325.

Ripley, George, edits "The Harbinger," 328; literary critic of "The Tribune," 332.

Robbins, Samuel D., quoted, 145.

Romanism not at home in New England, 107.

Rousseau, J. J., the ideas of the new philosophy expressed by, 17.

Rousselot writes on philosophy of the middle age, 61.

Royer-Collard, French followers of the Scotch school, 66.

Russell edits first journal of education, 262.

S.

Saint Hilaire, Barthelemy, French philosopher, 61.

Saisset, Emil, translates Spinoza, 61.

Schelling, system of philosophy, 40-43; _Transcendental Idealism_ published, 80; few copies of his works found in the United States, 116.

Schiller, letter on Kant's philosophy quoted, 54; on Richter, 54.

Schleiermacher, influence of, 48; quoted, 49; philosophy of, 50; students of, in the United States, 116; faith in God promoted by, 122.

Schoolmen, the, their use of the word transcendental, 11.

Sensationalism in England, 2; reaction against, 188; the God of, 190; ideas of immortality, 193-197; its philosophy revived by Mill and others, 205.

Shaw, Francis G., translates Consuelo for "The Harbinger," 329.

Simon, Jules, explains the Alexandrian school, 61.

Skepticism in France, 18th century, 187; brought to America, 188.

Smith, William, publishes memoirs of Fichte (1845), 27.

Socialists, New York union of, 339.

Socinius, advocate of Unitarian theology, 109.

Southern Literary Messenger, 92.

_Specimens of Foreign Standard Literature_, edited by George Ripley, 116.

Spencer, principles of the sensational philosophy stated by, 205; system of, hostile to intuitive philosophy, 208.

Spinoza, translated by Saisset, 61.

Spirit of Hebrew poetry, by Herder, 47.

Staël, Madame de, gives an account of Kant's philosophy, 115.

Stahl, experiments of, 8.

Stone, Thomas T., article in "The Dial" quoted, 144.

St. Paul, his view of the Lord's Supper, 371.

Strauss a disciple of Hegel, 186.

T.

Taine, principles of the sensational philosophy stated by, 205; work on Intelligence quoted, 212; criticism of Tyndall, 212.

Talfourd, Sergeant, his account of Coleridge, 90.

Tennyson, Alfred, rising glory of, 103.

Thoreau, Henry D., contributes to "The Dial," 133.

Tissot translates Kant into French, 61.

Torricelli, experiments of, 8.