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_New England Reformers_
_A Lecture read before the Society in Amory Hall；_
_on Sunday； 3 March； 1844_
Whoever has had opportunity of acquaintance with society in New
England； during the last twenty…five years； with those middle and
with those leading sections that may constitute any just
representation of the character and aim of the community； will have
been struck with the great activity of thought and experimenting。
His attention must be commanded by the signs that the Church； or
religious party； is falling from the church nominal； and is appearing
in temperance and non…resistance societies； in movements of
abolitionists and of socialists； and in very significant assemblies；
called Sabbath and Bible Conventions； composed of ultraists； of
seekers； of all the soul of the soldiery of dissent； and meeting to
call in question the authority of the Sabbath； of the priesthood； and
of the church。 In these movements； nothing was more remarkable than
the discontent they begot in the movers。 The spirit of protest and
of detachment； drove the members of these Conventions to bear
testimony against the church； and immediately afterward； to declare
their discontent with these Conventions； their independence of their
colleagues； and their impatience of the methods whereby they were
working。 They defied each other； like a congress of kings； each of
whom had a realm to rule； and a way of his own that made concert
unprofitable。 What a fertility of projects for the salvation of the
world！ One apostle thought all men should go to farming； and another；
that no man should buy or sell： that the use of money was the
cardinal evil； another； that the mischief was in our diet； that we
eat and drink damnation。 These made unleavened bread； and were foes
to the death to fermentation。 It was in vain urged by the housewife；
that God made yeast； as well as dough； and loves fermentation just as
dearly as he loves vegetation； that fermentation develops the
saccharine element in the grain； and makes it more palatable and more
digestible。 No； they wish the pure wheat； and will die but it shall
not ferment。 Stop； dear nature； these incessant advances of thine；
let us scotch these ever…rolling wheels！ Others attacked the system
of agriculture； the use of animal manures in farming； and the tyranny
of man over brute nature； these abuses polluted his food。 The ox
must be taken from the plough； and the horse from the cart； the
hundred acres of the farm must be spaded； and the man must walk
wherever boats and locomotives will not carry him。 Even the insect
world was to be defended； that had been too long neglected； and a
society for the protection of ground…worms； slugs； and mosquitos was
to be incorporated without delay。 With these appeared the adepts of
homoeopathy； of hydropathy； of mesmerism； of phrenology； and their
wonderful theories of the Christian miracles！ Others assailed
particular vocations； as that of the lawyer； that of the merchant； of
the manufacturer； of the clergyman； of the scholar。 Others attacked
the institution of marriage； as the fountain of social evils。 Others
devoted themselves to the worrying of churches and meetings for
public worship； and the fertile forms of antinomianism among the
elder puritans； seemed to have their match in the plenty of the new
harvest of reform。 With this din of opinion and debate； there was a
keener scrutiny of institutions and domestic life than any we had
known； there was sincere protesting against existing evils； and there
were changes of employment dictated by conscience。 No doubt； there
was plentiful vaporing； and cases of backsliding might occur。 But in
each of these movements emerged a good result； a tendency to the
adoption of simpler methods； and an assertion of the sufficiency of
the private man。 Thus it was directly in the spirit and genius of
the age； what happened in one instance； when a church censured and
threatened to excommunicate one of its members； on account of the
somewhat hostile part to the church； which his conscience led him to
take in the anti…slavery business； the threatened individual
immediately excommunicated the church in a public and formal process。
This has been several times repeated： it was excellent when it was
done the first time； but； of course； loses all value when it is
copied。 Every project in the history of reform； no matter how
violent and surprising； is good； when it is the dictate of a man's
genius and constitution； but very dull and suspicious when adopted
from another。 It is right and beautiful in any man to say； ‘I will
take this coat； or this book； or this measure of corn of yours；'
in whom we see the act to be original； and to flow from the whole
spirit and faith of him； for then that taking will have a giving as
free and divine： but we are very easily disposed to resist the same
generosity of speech； when we miss originality and truth to character
in it。 There was in all the practical activities of New England； for
the last quarter of a century； a gradual withdrawal of tender
consciences from the social organizations。 There is observable
throughout； the contest between mechanical and spiritual methods； but
with a steady tendency of the thoughtful and virtuous to a deeper
belief and reliance on spiritual facts。 In politics； for example； it
is easy to see the progress of dissent。 The country is full of
rebellion； the country is full of kings。 Hands off！ let there be no
control and no interference in the administration of the affairs of
this kingdom of me。 Hence the growth of the doctrine and of the
party of Free Trade； and the willingness to try that experiment； in
the face of what appear incontestable facts。 I confess； the motto of
the Globe newspaper is so attractive to me； that I can seldom find
much appetite to read what is below it in its columns； 〃The world is
governed too much。〃 So the country is frequently affording solitary
examples of resistance to the government； solitary nullifiers； who
throw themselves on their reserved rights； nay； who have reserved all
their rights； who reply to the assessor； and to the clerk of court；
that they do not know the State； and embarrass the courts of law； by
non…juring； and the commander…in…chief of the militia； by
non…resistance。 The same disposition to scrutiny and dissent
appeared in civil； festive； neighborly； and domestic society。 A
restless； prying； conscientious criticism broke out in unexpected
quarters。 Who gave me the money with which I bought my coat？ Why
should professional labor and that of the counting…house be paid so
disproportionately to the labor of the porter； and woodsawyer？ This
whole business of Trade gives me to pause and think； as it
constitutes false relations between men； inasmuch as I am prone to
count myself relieved of any responsibility to behave well and nobly
to that person whom I pay with money； whereas