Chapter XL: Brook Farm Propagating Fourierism

Brook Farm having attained the dignity of incorporation and assumed the title of Phalanx, was ready to undertake the enterprise of propagating Fourierism. Accordingly, in the same number of the _Phalanx_ that published the appeal recited at the close of our last chapter, appeared the prospectus of a new paper to be called the _Harbinger_, with the following editorial notice:

"Our subscribers will see by the prospectus that the name of the
_Phalanx_ is to be changed for that of the _Harbinger_, and that
the paper is to be printed in future by the Brook Farm Phalanx."

From this time the main function of Brook Farm was propagandism. It published the _Harbinger_ weekly, with a zeal and ability of which our readers have seen plenty of specimens. It also instituted a missionary society and a lecturing system, of which we will now give some account.

New York had hitherto been the head-quarters of Fourierism. Brisbane, Greeley and Godwin, the primary men of the cause, lived and published there; the _Phalanx_ was issued there; the National Conventions had been held there; and there was the seat of the Executive Committee that made several abortive attempts to institute a confederation of Associations and a national organization of Socialists. But after the conversion of Brook Farm, the center of operations was removed from New York to Massachusetts. As the _Harbinger_ succeeded to the subscription-list and propagandism of the _Phalanx_, so a new National Union of Socialists, having its head-quarters nominally at Boston, but really at Brook Farm, took the place of the old New York Conventions. Of this organization, William H. Channing was the chief-engineer; and his zeal and eloquence in that capacity for a short time, well entitled him to the honors of the chief Apostle of Fourierism. In fact he succeeded to the post of Brisbane. This will be seen in the following selections from the _Harbinger_:

[From William H. Channing's Appeal to Associationists.]

"BRETHREN:

"Your prompt and earnest co-operation is requested in fulfilling
the design of a society organized May 27, 1846, at Boston,
Massachusetts, by a general convention of the friends of
Association. This design may be learned from the following
extracts from its constitution:

"'I. The name of this society shall be the American Union of
Associationists.

"'II. Its purpose shall be the establishment of an order of
society based on a system of joint-stock property; co-operative
labor; association of families; equitable distribution of
profits; mutual guarantees; honors according to usefulness;
integral education; unity of interests: which system we believe
to be in accord with the laws of divine providence and the
destiny of man.

"'III. Its method of operation shall be the appointment of
agents, the sending out of lecturers, the issuing of
publications, and the formation of a series of affiliated
societies which shall be auxiliary to the parent society; in
holding meetings, collecting funds, and in every way diffusing
the principles of Association: and preparing for their practical
application, etc.'

"We have a solemn and glorious work before us: 1, To
indoctrinate the whole people of the United States with the
principles of associative unity; 2, To prepare for the time when
the nation, like one man, shall re-organize its townships upon
the basis of perfect justice.

"A nobler opportunity was certainly never opened to men, than
that which here and now welcomes Associationists. To us has been
given the very word which this people needs as a guide in its
onward destiny. This is a Christian Nation; and Association
shows how human societies may be so organized in devout
obedience to the will of God, as to become true brotherhoods,
where the command of universal love may be fulfilled indeed.
Thus it meets the present wants of Christians; who, sick of
sectarian feuds and theological controversies, shocked at the
inconsistencies which disgrace the religious world, at the
selfishness, ostentation, and caste which pervade even our
worshiping assemblies, at the indifference of man to the claims
of his fellow-man throughout our communities in country and
city, at the tolerance of monstrous inhumanities by professed
ministers and disciples of him whose life was love, are longing
for churches which may be really houses of God, glorified with
an indwelling spirit of holiness, and filled to overflowing with
heavenly charity.

"Brethren! Can men engaged in so holy and humane a cause as
this, which fulfills the good and destroys the evil in existing
society throughout our age and nation, which teaches unlimited
trust in Divine love, and commands perfect obedience to the laws
of Divine order among all people, which heralds the near advent
of the reign of heaven on earth--be timid, indifferent,
sluggish? Abiding shame will rest upon us, if we put not forth
our highest energies in fulfillment of the present command of
Providence. Let us be up and doing with all our might.

"The measures which you are now requested at once and
energetically to carry out, are the three following: 1, Organize
affiliated societies to act in concert with the American Union
of Associationists; 2, Circulate the _Harbinger_ and other
papers devoted to Association; 3, Collect funds for the purpose
of defraying the expenses of lectures and tracts. It is proposed
in the autumn and winter to send out lecturers, in bands and
singly, as widely as possible.

"Our white flag is given to the breeze. Our threefold motto,

"Unity of man with man in true society,

"Unity of man with God in true religion,

"Unity of man with nature in creative art and industry,

"Is blazoned on its folds. Let hearts, strong in the might of
faith and hope and charity, rally to bear it on in triumph. We
are sure to conquer. God will work with us; humanity will
welcome our word of glad tidings. The future is ours. On! in the
name of the Lord.

WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING,
"_Cor. Sec. of the Am. Un. of Associationists._

"_Brook Farm, June 6, 1846._"

In connection with this appeal, an editorial announced

_The Mission of Charles A. Dana._

"The operations of the 'American Union,' will be commenced
without delay. Mr. Dana will shortly make a tour through the
State of New York as its agent. He will lecture in the principal
towns, and take every means to diffuse a knowledge of the
principles of Association. Our friends are requested to use
their best exertions to prepare for his labors, and give
efficiency to them."

A meeting of the American Union of Associationists is reported in the _Harbinger_ of June 27, at which all the speakers except Mr. Brisbane, were Brook Farmers. The session continued two days, and William H. Channing made the closing and electric speeches for both days. The editor says:

"Mr. Channing closed the first day in a speech of the loftiest
and purest eloquence, in which he declared the great problem and
movement of this day to be that of realizing a unitary church;
showed how utterly unchristian is every thing now calling itself
a church, and how impossible the solution of this problem, so
long as industry tends only to isolate those who would be
Christians, and to make them selfish; and ended with announcing
the life-long pledge into which the believers in associative
unity in this country have entered, that they will not rest nor
turn back until the mind of this whole nation is made to see and
own the truth which there is in their doctrines. The effect upon
all present was electric, and the resolution to adjourn to the
next evening, was a resolution to commence then in earnest a
great work."

After mentioning many good things said and done on the second day, the editor says:

"It was understood that the whole would be brought to a head and
the main and practical business of the meeting set forth by Mr.
Channing. His appeal, alike to friends and to opposers of the
cause, will dwell like a remembered inspiration in all our
minds. It spoke directly to the deepest religious sentiment in
every one, and awakened in each a consciousness of a new energy.
All the poetic wealth and imagery of the speaker's mind seemed
melted over into the speech, as if he would pour out all his
life to carry conviction into the hearts of others. He seemed an
illustration of a splendid figure which he used, to show the
present crisis in this cause. 'It was,' said he, 'nobly,
powerfully begun in this country; but, there has been a pause in
our movement. When Benvenuto Cellini was casting his great
statue, wearied and exhausted he fell asleep. He was roused by
the cries of the workmen; Master, come quick, the fires have
gone down, and the metal has caked in the running! He hesitated
not a moment, but rushed into the palace, seized all the gold
and silver vessels, money, ornaments, which he could find, and
poured them into the furnace; and whatever he could lay hands on
that was combustible, he took to renew the fire. We must begin
anew, said he. And the flames roared, and the metal began to
run, and the Jupiter came out in complete majesty. Just so our
greater work has caked in the running. We have been luke-warm;
we have slept. But shall not we throw in all our gold and
silver, and throw in ourselves too, since our work is to produce
not a mere statue, but a harmonious life of man made perfect in
the image of God? Who ever had such motive for action? The
Crusaders, on their knees and upon the hilts of their swords,
which formed a cross, daily dedicated their lives and their all
to the pious resolution of re-conquering the sepulcher in which
the dead Lord was laid. But ours is the calling, not to conquer
the sepulcher of the dead Lord, but to conquer the world, and
bring it in subjection to truth, love and beauty, that the
living Christ may at length return and enter upon his Kingdom of
Heaven on the earth.'

"We by no means intend this as a report of Mr. Channing's
speech. To reproduce it at all would be impossible. We only tell
such few things as we easily remember. He closed with requesting
all who had signed the constitution, or who were ready to
co-operate with the American Union, to remain at a business
meeting.

"The hour was late and the business was made short. The plans of
the executive committee were stated and approved. These were, 1,
to send out lecturers; a beginning having been already made in
the appointment of Mr. Charles A. Dana as an agent of the
society, to proceed this summer upon a lecturing tour through
New York, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio; 2, to support the
_Harbinger_; and 3, to publish tracts."

This report is followed by another stirring appeal from the Secretary, of which the following is the substance:

"ACTION!--Fellow Associationists, Brethren, Sisters, each and
all! You are hereby once again earnestly entreated, in the name
of our cause of universal unity, at once to co-operate
energetically in carrying out the proposed plans of the American
Union:

"1. Form societies. 2. Circulate the _Harbinger_. 3. Raise
funds. We wish to find one hundred persons in the United States,
who will subscribe $100 a year for three years, in permanently
establishing the work of propagation; or two hundred persons who
will subscribe $50. Do you know any persons in your neighborhood
who will for one year, three years, five years, contribute for
this end? Be instant, friends, in season and out of season, in
raising a permanent fund, and an immediate fund. This whole
nation must hear our gospel of glad tidings. Will you not aid?

"WILLIAM H. CHANNING.
"_Cor. Sec. of the Am. Un. of Associationists._"

How far Mr. Dana fulfilled the missionary programme assigned to him, we have not been able to discover. But we find that the two most conspicuous lecturers sent abroad by the American Union were Messrs John Allen and John Orvis. These gentlemen made two or three tours through the northern part of New England; and in the fall of 1847 they were lecturing or trying to lecture in Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and other parts of the state of New York, as we mentioned in our account of the Skaneateles and Sodus Bay Associations. But the harvest of Fourierism was past, and they complained sorely of the neglect they met with, in consequence of the bad odor of the defunct Associations. This is the last we hear of them. The American Union continued to advertise itself in the _Harbinger_ till that paper disappeared in February 1849; but its doings after 1846 seem to have been limited to anniversary meetings.