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Emerson Society Papers /^cf Volume 13, Number 1 Spring 2002 Emerson Society Papers Goethe, not Coleridge Gustaaf Van Cromphout Northern Illinois University One of the most striking quotations in Emerson's Nature chapter, they state flatly: "Emerson's source is Coleridge, has been consistently misattributed to Coleridge. The quo Aids to Reflection..."(250n23. 17). Given the prestige of tation occurs in the last paragraph of the "Language" chap the new Collected Works edition, it was not surprising that ter: "every object rightly seen, unlocks a new faculty of the Coleridge became generally accepted as the source of the soul" {The Collected Works ofRalph Waldo Emerson, 1 quotation. The next step was almost inevitable: not only [1971]: 23). Emerson first quoted this statement in a journal was Coleridge regarded as the source (which may, after all, entry of 12 August 1836 {The Journals and Miscellaneous refer only to the general idea behind the statement), but the Notebooks ofRalph Waldo Emerson [JMN],5 [1965]: 189). very words of the quotation were asserted to be his. This is The editor of JMN, 5 footnotes the quotation thus: "Cf. now the generally accepted view. Books on Emerson that Coleridge's observation on the discoveries of .scientific refer to the quotation and anthologies that bother to identify men, Aids to Reflection, 1829, pp. 150-151; previously its source routinely assume that Emerson is quoting paraphrased in JMN, III, 283." In JMN, 3 [1963]:283 we Coleridge's Aids to Reflection. To take some distinguished find, in quotation marks, the statement "that every truth you examples, in Robert Richardson's Emerson: The Mind on receive prepares the mind for the reception of unknown Eire (1995) we read about Emerson's interpretation of truth." The editors comment (n. 54) that this statement "Coleridge's saying 'Every object rightly seen unlocks a "seems to be a paraphrase of Coleridge's 'every new truth new faculty of the Soul'"(241); and two exceptionally fine discovered by them [scientific men] has either added to its recent anthologies—one of Transcendentalism (2000), the [Christianity's] evidence, or prepared the mind for its other of Emerson's prose and poetry (2001)—annotate the reception.' See Aids to Reflection..."(The square brackets relevant quotation as "Quoted from Aids to Reflection, by are the editors'). Although there is some real resemblance Coleridge" and "Quoted from Coleridge's Aids to Reflection, between Emerson's statement and the passage quoted from a religious and philosophical treatise." Coleridge, the editors were, it seems to me, appropriately As I pointed out in 1990 (see my Emerson's Modernity cautious ("seems to be a paraphrase..."). and the Example of Goethe [1990], 32 and nl4), the quota Where I fail to see any real resemblance, however, is tion in the last paragraph of the "Language" chapter is between the Coleridge passage (or, for that matter, Emerson's almost verbatim translation of Goethe's "Jeder Emerson's "paraphrase" of it) and the crucial quotation in neue Gegenstand, wohl beschaut, schliePt ein neues Organ Nature and in JMN, 5:189: "every object rightly seen in uns auf (from Goethe's 1823 essay "Bedeutende unlocks a new faculty of the Soul." As the context both in Fordemis durch ein einziges geistreiches Wort," Geden- the journal and in the last paragraph of the "Language" kausgabe der Werke, Briefe iind Gesprdche [1948-71], chapter in Nature indicates, Emerson is concerned here 16:880). This statement voices the fundamental Goethean with the mind's education through its encounters with principle that, whatever their ontological status, mind and nature. Not surprisingly, the editor of JMN, 5 was, in his nature are epistemologically interdependent—that only the turn, duly cautious (see above: "Cf. Coleridge's observa mind grants nature the status of "object of knowledge" and tion..."). that only through its encounters with the objects of nature The editors of volume one (1971) of the Collected does the mind attain knowledge of its potential and facul Works, however, abandoned such caution. In reference to ties ("Der Mensch kennt nur sich selbst, insofern er die the quotation in the final paragraph of the "Language" Welt kennt, die er nur in sich tind sich nur (Continued on page 8) 2001 Emerson Society Patrons Emerson Society in Concord, July 2002 Thanks to Emerson Society members who have joined at levels above basic membership. All donations above the $10 annual basic The Emerson Society's program at the Thoreau Society Annual Gathering in Concord, Mass., in July will be "From Iirflux to level go to support the "Emerson in 2003" Bicentennial celebration now being organized. Dues categories are Life ($500), Influence: Emerson, His Reading, His Readers." Emerson Society Sustaining ($50), Contributing ($25), and Regular ($10). Please send check payable to The Emerson Society (U.S. dollars only) to Program Chair Sarah Ann Wider explains that—nke last summer's Robert D. Habich, Secretary/Treasurer, Dept. of English, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306-0460. successful open fomm on "Ralph Waldo Emerson's Wisdom"—the 2002 session will consist of brief statements by a panel of Emerson PROSPECTS. Society members, after which the audience will be invited to ask Life Members Wesley T. Mott Sallee A. Engstrom Contributing Members Linck C. Johnson questions and express their own views. Len Gougeon will serve as Joel Myerson Shoji Goto Elizabeth Addison Gregory C. Ladd Bany Andrews moderator. About 200 people attended the 2001 program. The Waldo B. Lyon Jose C. Ballon Izumi Ogura J. Parker Huber Susan Belasco theme of the 2002 Thoreau Society Annual Gathering is "The David J. Lyttle American Literature Association Conference Ronald A. Bosco Barbara L. Packer Robert N. Hudspeth August B. Black Spiritual and Political Mind of Thoreau." Mark your calendar for Paul S. Christensen Robert Nelson Reddick Hideo Kawasumi True Boardman Karalyn Mellema The Ralph Waldo Emerson Society will present two panels 11-14 July. Phyllis Cole Wendell F. Refior Richard A. Koster Michael F. Grim John P. Miller, Jr. at the thirteenth annual conference of the American Roger L. Cole Robert D. Richardson, Jr. Samuel K. Parish Helen R. Deese Todd H. Richardson Literature Association, to be held on 30 May-2 June in Sterling F. Delano Nancy Craig Simmons Richard R. Piccarreto Betty L. Gass John G. Rudy Long Beach, California. Exact times are not yet available. Mary C. Wider Jane Prescott Richard Grossman Frank Shuffelton Ellen Emerson SESSION I (THURSDAY,30 MAY) Mary H. Emerson Douglas Emory Wilson Amy Richards . Robert D. Habich Gayle L. Smith Emerson and the Matter of War. 'Emerson in 2003" Calendar Ronald W. Hoag Joseph M. Thomas, Jr. John Ford Sustaining Members David M. Robinson Chair: Jennifer Guiiey (University of California, Berkeley) Richard Lee Francis James Somers Alan D. Hodder Roger Thompson Randall H. Albright "War and Emerson's Language of Revolution," Jean Darcy With the bicentennial celebration of Emerson's birth now one Mark C. Stirling John E. Holmbeck Todd W."Van Beck Len Gougeon Margaret Emerson Bancroft (CUNY) year away, several organizations, including the Ralph Waldo Robert L. Hamilton Edward L. Tucker Eileen Hunter Gustaaf Van Cromphout "Emerson's Self and Another Self," Shoji Goto (Rikkyo Teresa Carson Emerson Society, are preparing special programs, events, and Don Henley Stuart B. Weeks University) publications. Joel Myerson and Ron Bosco, co-chairs of the "A War on Words: Sincerity and Emerson's Antislavery Writing," Emerson Society's "Emerson in 2003" offerings, announce the T. Gregory Garvey (SUNY-Brockport) following working calendar. Events organized by the Emerson EMERSON SOCIETY OFFICERS EMERSON SOCIETY PAPERS SESSION II (FRIDAY, 31 MAY) Society aie indicated by an asterisk (*). If you know of other President: Wesley T. Mott(2003) Emerson-related happenings scheduled for 2003, please notify The newsletter of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Society Worcester Polytechnic Institute Engendering Transcendentalism. our editor. The Fall issue of ESP will provide an updated calendar. Published at Worcester Polytechnic Institute President-EIect: Phyllis Cole (2003) Chair: Sarah Ann Voider (Colgate University) Penn State University-Delaware County Christina Zwarg (Haverford College)-, Caleb Crain (Writer, Jan./Feb. Emerson featured in Unitarian Universalist World Editor: Douglas Emory Wilson Secretary/Treasurer: Robert D. Habich (2003) Brooklyn)-, Phyllis Cole (Pettn State). Panel discussion, no papers 26 March *Opening of Harvard exhibition (in Houghton Managing Editor: Wesley T. Mott Ball State University given. Library) on Emerson Book Review Editor: T. Gregory Garvey ADVISORY BOARD The ALA conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency, 200 March *Opening of Concord Free Public Library exhibition Editorial Assistants: Mykal Rosendahl, Nik Waggener Elizabeth Addison (2004) Pine Avenue, in Long Beach on 30 May-2 June. An opening on Emerson Design and Production: Peggy Isaacson Western Carolina University reception will be held on Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. Spring Exhibit of Emerson materials at 25 Beacon St., T. Gregory Garvey (2002) The conference fee is still only $50(with a special rate of $10 for SUNY-Brockport Boston(UUA Offices) with a program in connec Emerson Society Papers is published twice a year. Subscriptions, graduate students, independent scholars, high school teachers, and Len Gougeon (2003) tion with the exhibit that tentatively will include which include membership in the Society, are $10 a year (students University ofScranton retired faculty). talks by Wesley Mott and David Robinson on $5). Send checks for membership (calendar year) and back issues Roger L. Gregg The Hyatt Long Beach features water views from almost all the Emerson's ministry and connection to Unitarianism Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial Association ($5 each) to Robert D. Habich, Ball State University, Muncie, IN rooms, excellent meeting space, and a superb location. The hotel is Early April Opening of University of South Carolina library Alan Hodder(2003) within an easy walk of several excellent restaurants and many of 47306-0460.
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