Brook Farm: Historic and Personal MemoirsCodman, John Thomas
History
Brook Farm: Historic and Personal Memoirs
Codman, John Thomas
Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.)
Among the many volumes noticed, "Festus," by Philip James Bailey, was a
constant source of admiration and criticism in some of our circles, and
we had many varied ones. Listen to what Mr. Dwight said of it at the
time in the _Harbinger_: "There are more original and magnificent
images on a single page of Festus than would endow a dozen of the
handsome volumes most in vogue. The conclusion you come to as you read
on, is that his wealth of imagination is illimitable, and that you
might as well cut a cloud out of the purple sunset atmosphere, as a
figure from the boundless atmospheric beauty of this poem."
"Festus" still retains its charm for me.
The _Harbinger_, as may be seen, was to be published by the Brook Farm
_Phalanx_, not _Association_. The reason why the name was changed was
because "Association" was not a definite one, conveying distinct
impressions to the public mind, like "Community"; and the name
"Phalanx," although to American ears, new in its connection, was
expressive, and was also adopted by a number of social experiments just
starting, and it was desirable to have them all associated in name as
well as in general doctrine. The name "Community" was rejected because
all the societies organized under that name held their property in
common, which the "Association" distinctly did not.
There were other changes made at this time, more important in idea than
in practice. The name "Areopagus" was applied to an enlarged general
council, and our leader got in this connection, without warrant, the
name of "the Archon."
"Come!" said jocose Drew to him one day, as he sat on the wagon-seat
ready to start for the city, "we are waiting for you!"
"Ah!" was Mr. Ripley's reply, "I see you have the _wag_-on, and are now
waiting for the Archon!"
The government was vested in a General Council consisting of four
branches: First, a Council of Industry, composed of five members;
second, a Council of Finance, of four members; third, a Council of
Science, of three members, and fourth a President, who, with the
chairmen of the other three councils, constituted a "Central Council."
The Council of Industry was appointed by the chiefs of the several
series devoted to manual industry; the Council of Finance, by the
stockholders; the Council of Science, by chiefs of the series devoted
to educational, literary and scientific matters, and the President by
the concurrent vote of the three series.
The Areopagus, whose duty was advisory, consisted of the General
Council; the chiefs of the several groups and series; stockholders
holding stock to the amount of one thousand dollars or more; all
members of the Phalanx over the age of forty-five who had resided on
the place for two years or longer; and of such other persons as might
be elected by this Council on account of their superior wisdom, merit
or devotion to the interests of the Association; no person voting who
was not a member of the Phalanx.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account