Brook Farm

but its forms were too cold, harsh and forbidding to attract or even retain the liberal-minded, educated and philosophic students of the ri

ender care of masses of the people, in public schools and seminaries

; from the exploitations of trade and commerce; from the vicious round of unpaid labor, vice and brutality. Protestations were heard against all of these evils, not always coming f

rt had more share in determining righteousness. The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man became the themes of discourse,

sed all the important social and religious topics of the day. They were mostly young people, college-bred, learned, artistic and thoughtful, and of high ideals in intellectual acquirement, religion

who was born at Greenfield, Mass., in the beautiful valley of the Connecticut River. He was of good farmer stock and had a fine physical presence, though of medium stature. He was a lover of books, a graduate of Harvard college, and a well trained and religious scholar. He was then settled over a Unitarian church worshipping on Purchase Street, in Boston, and faithfully fulfilled his duties. Above all things his head and heart sought righteousness for all men

take part in it. There should be no religious creeds adopted. The old, feeble and sick were to be cared for, the strong and able bearing the greater burden of the labor. Ther

ly that his own ideas of it were right. He had wrestled with progressively conservative giants, professors of colleges-notably Andrews Norton-and had won well-earned laurels. Norton was professor of sacred

truths, which idea was in contradistinction to the beliefs of the day, which declared that spiritual knowledge came by special grace, and was proven by the divine m

ter. Hence they maintain that the truth of religion does not depend on tradition nor historical facts, but has an unswerving witness in the soul. There is a light, they believe, which enlighteneth every man who cometh into the world. There is a faculty in all-the most deg

silence. They have faith that God governs man; they believe in a better future than the past; their daily prayer is for the coming of the kingdom of righteousness, truth and love;

er found. It ignored faith alone. It did not believe that faith stood above works. It pointed always towards action. It summed up the lesson and meaning of all good doctrines, that man should lead a better life here, where the duties to our fellows should not be passed by as now, but fulfilled. It was a newer way of thinking, to be logical

young men that New England contained. Preaching was good, but more than preaching was wanted-the Christian life; could it not be commenced? Could they not educate the young in practical dut

was to be the fulfilling of what he had preached so long and what is, alas, still preached to-day with not much attempt to realize it-the Christian life. People would laugh at him! I doubt if that gave him one disturbing thought. It was right; as it was right he would do it. But maybe in his secret heart he thought that more of those who seemed to have been awakened, as he had been, to the divine call, wo

endeavor to form the Christian common

full of earnestness, tenderness, faith and love. With vigor he poured out his eloquence to awaken thoughts for an enlarged theology, and with a sympathi

iter and preacher; and faithful and independent Rev. Cyrus A. Bartol. Rev. Theodore Parker, son of a Lexington hero, doughty, bold and brave, on whose

Cranch, divinity graduate, but now well known as painter, poet and story teller; and beloved John S. Dwight, famed mostly as writer on music, and m

r of many familiar romances; also George Bancroft, the historian, Dr. Charles T. Follen, Samuel G. Ward, Caleb Stetson, William Russell, Jones Very, Robert Bartlett and S. V. Clevenger, sculptor. As an innovation in clubs there were lady members, among whom were Elizabeth

ey can all be classed as belonging to the coterie or Transcendental circle; all at times attended the meetings, participated

ell and Mr. Shaw lived not far away, and a small amount of cash paid down would secure the place for an immediate commencement of the effort. The party who went earliest to settle at Brook Farm consisted of Mr. George Ripley; Sophia Willard Ripley, his wife; Miss Marianne Ripley, his elder sister; Mr. George P. Bradford, Mr. War

at was called "Mr. Ripley's community"; and though Mr. Emerson talked fav

and neighborhood of Boston. Their hearts were open to the tender influence of buds and blossoms, the fresh springing grass and the bubbling brook. They watched the birds of various plumage; the oriole, who hung his basket nest from t

asts of character, deep, strong natures to reason with, cheerful hearts to talk with, and great hopes everywhere. What wonder that they laughed, frolicked and sang, and got up little parties and masquerades to entertain the wonderful, wonderstruck and remarkable visi

not a well-proportioned family; pupils and visitors added to the labor, but poetry and enthusiasm changed pla

o full to preach what he might better practise in this ideal society, soon left his pastorate in Northampton, Mass., and joined

were nominated for pos

fall ter

tor in Intellectual an

emat

rd, Instructor i

Instructor in

Instructor in G

tor in Theosophical an

structor in History

y, Teacher of

n, Teacher of

e, Teacher of

ley, Instruct

l, for children under ten; the preparatory school for pupils over ten years

se in theoretical and practical agriculture was also laid out. The studies wer

ng of which was that every pupil was expected to

ston, a constitution was drawn up. The

on between the members of the Insti

to our children, and to those who may be entrusted to our care, the benefits of the highest physical, intellectual and moral education in the present state of human knowledge, the resources at our command will permit; to institute an attractive, efficient and productive system of industry; to prevent the exercise of worldly anxiety by the competent supply of o

o unite in a Voluntary

ion." All persons who shall hold one or more shares in the stock of the Association, and shall sign the article

r by any member over another; nor shall anyone be held accountable to the Association except for such acts as violate rights of the members, and the essential pr

al estate, in joint stock proprietorship, as may, from time to time, be agreed on

capacities, habits and tastes, and each member shall select and perform such operation of labor, whether c

n and for its advantage, at a fixed and equal rate, both for men and women. This rate shall not

t no charge shall be made for education, medical or nursing attendance, or the use of the library, public rooms or baths to the members; nor shall any charge be paid for food, rent or fuel by those deprived of labor by sickness, nor for food of

ly credited, and all articles furnished shall be charged, a

d for his labor, not exceeding fifty cents per day, and on the completion of his education in the Association at the age of twenty,

prietorship of the Association, shall be paid on

stock, labor performed, and necessary repairs, and improvements, shall be divided into a number of shares correspondin

tion; but in any case of need, to be decided by himself, every member may be permitted

eeting for the choice of officers, and such oth

ral Direction; second, Direction of Agriculture; third, Direction of Education; fourth, Direction of Finance; consisting o

the Association, and together with the Direction of Finance, shall constitute

e under the general supervision of its own Direction, which shall select, and, in accordance with the General Direction, shall appoint, all such overseers, directors and agents, as shall be n

e chosen in reference to any other consideration than their capacity to serve the Association; nor shall they be paid f

and regulations, not inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of t

was si

SAML. D. ROBBINS, MARIA J. PRATT, D. MACK, GEO. C. LEACH, N

document entered on th

, for some reason did

. Mr. Mack afterward f

at Northam

oom will not permit it. Mr. Ripley's biography is published; I refer the reader to that book for particulars of hi

e, in winter the long, dark blue cloak of the profession, walking with measured step from his residence in Rowe Street towards the meeting house in Purchase Street. The face was shaven clean, the brown hair curled in close, crisp ringlets; the face was pale as if in thought; the gold-rimmed spectacles concealed black eyes; the head was alternately bent and raised

as well done. He was faithful and dignified, and the serenity of his nature welled up in genial smiles. In farm work he was Mr. Ripley's right hand. He was not far from him in age. They agreed in practical matters; indeed, Mr. Ripley deferr

ost refined order. He shrank from coarse contact with an unusual degree of sensitiveness, but his great heart embraced all mankind in brotherhood. He graduated at Harvard College, and rumor says that he had more than ordinarily the goodwill of his classmates. He studied and made some fine translations from French and German authors, and was ordained to the ministry. He soon left the

ally for a haughtiness of manner unknown in these days. In person she was tall, slender and graceful, with rather light, smooth hair, worn in the plain style of the day. Being near-sighted she was obliged to use a glass when looking at a distant person or thing. Her manner was vi

eight; his complexion was light, and his beard, which he wore full but well trimmed, was vigorous and of auburn hue, and his thick head of hair was well cut to moderate shortness. His features were quite regular; his forehead high and full, and his head large. His face was pleasant and animated, and he had a genial smile and greeting for all. His voice was musical and clear, and his language remarkably correct. He loved to spend a portion of his time in work on the

, after his decease, his former friend and pupil, George Willi

cholar like Edward Fitzgerald, with the pensive consciousness of something desired but undone. George Bradford was in full sympathy with the best spirit of his time. He had all the distinctive American interest in public affairs.

ords is wholly unknown, and which will not be written, like that of so many of the friends of him who bore it, in our literature and upon the memory of his countrymen. But to those who knew him well, and who therefore loved him, it recalls the most essential human worth and purest c

it may not be out of place to make here a few comments on his

mself honored, and was very grateful for the appreciation of the men and women by whom he was surrounded in the literary

hard, unwonted though self-imposed labor, the peculiar surroundings, the buzz and hum of the large family in which he could not fail to take an interest, distracted him from his purpose. James T. Fields, the publisher, said of him, "He was a man wh

few months of manual labor, bidding adieu to the farm, he found himself back in Boston. There were other interests that carried him there, for we find that in the next year he married Sophia Peabody of Salem, Mass. Crit

n ordinary day-laborer, except where he could use the twin gifts of intellect and imagination with which he was so highly endowed. His allusion to his "having had the good fortune, fo

perfected, as the ages rolled by, into the system of a people and a world. Were my former associates now there-were there only three or four of those true-hearted men still laboring in the sun-I sometimes fancy that

ter, Georgiana (Bruce) Kirby, on

member of it might be. He was morbidly shy and reserved, needing to be shielded from his fellows, and obtaining the fruits of observation at second-hand. He was therefore not amenable to the

s Hosmer, Isaac Hecker and George C. Leach, with Mr. Ha

d in after years they were full of gratitude and praise for the help and moral tone it imparted to them. An extract f

me, perhaps, that all these matters of creed and morals are not quite so well settled as to make thinking nowadays a piece of supererogation, and would le

William Curtis, who always acknowledged the ben

er uppermost. Mrs. Olvord, a lady of means, built a small gabled cottage of wood, which, owing to ill health, she was able to occupy but a short time. At the highest point of the domain, on a ledge of "pudding-stone," the Association erected a small, square, wooden building which was named "the Eyrie," and at another period a large double or twin house was built to be c

but at this date of our country's history, all thoughtful people in New England seemed to be gaping at them with curiosity and wonder, and comments were unlimited. As they were neither dogmatists, nor active fanatics who brandished anathemas of terror and destruction at

ife is the true one, and no attraction would tempt any one of us to exchange it for that we have quitted lately." And it would be an impertinence now to penetrate into its private circles and brin

lity, and, as a first consequence, there was something that was often mistaken, by strangers, for rudeness and want of order. Some forgot that it was especially work they came for, and were anxious to have their theories discussed. In

different manner in which they listened to her long conversations, as they sat on the floor or on crickets; but on a later visit, she expressed herself as better plea