PREFACE. THE Faculty of the Concord School of Philosophy have preferred until now not to make any formal publication of the lectures read at their summer sessions, leaving each lecturer free to print his own if he chose. Many of the lectures have thus been printed, in volumes or in magazines; and the newspapers have each year published reports, more or less imperfect, of the lectures and conversations. In 1882 one of the journalists (Mr. BRIDGMAN), who had been most careful in his reports, was authorized to publish a volume of abstracts (in which were included a few complete addresses and poems) under the title of "Concord Lectures on Philosophy," which appeared early in 1883. The present volume, however, is the first which has been published by the School itself, -as an indication of its method of discussion as well as in tribute to the memory of its most illustrious teacher. It contains all the Essays and Poems read in the special course of 1884 on "The Genius and Character of Emerson" (except that of Mr. ALBEE on "Emerson as an Essayist," which the author has withheld for publication elsewhere), and also two Poems read at the session of 1882. The lectures on Immortality are not included, and will not be published by the School. Mr. FISKE'S lecture has been printed in a volume by Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., and those by Dr. PEABODY, Dr. HARRIS, Dr. HOLLAND, and Mr. DAVIDSON will doubtless be printed by the authors. In quoting from Emerson's poems in this volume, the various essayists have cited the lines in the form and manner they thought best,- one sometimes repeating in another guise or connection what his colleague had before cited. The editor has allowed these quotations to stand as they were read,—referring the reader to the different editions of Emerson's poems for the text as the poet printed it. The heliotype of Emerson in this volume is from a photograph, by permission of the Concord Library, of David Scott's portrait, representing Emerson as he stood before his Scotch audiences in the winter of 1847-1848; painted at Edinburgh in 1848, and never before copied. The view of the Orchard House and Hillside Chapel was taken in 1881 by Mr. E. Chamberlain, of Medfield, through whose courtesy it is here printed as the best representation of the rural environment of our School which has yet been made. CONTENTS. I. EMERSON AND BOSTON. Mrs. E. D. Cheney... II. EMERSON AND ALCOTT.- Passages from the Diary and Correspondence of Mr. Alcott . V. EMERSON'S RELIGION. Dr. C. A. Bartol VI. EMERSON AS PREACHER. Miss E. P. Peabody VII. EMERSON AMONG THE POETS. F. B. Sanborn. THE CONCORD SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY. A BRIEF sketch of the origin and purpose of this institution may properly be given here, since it was the last enterprise of a general character in which Mr. EMERSON engaged, and derived a portion of its interest from his connection with it. This connection was not very close, however, since its opening was delayed until those later years of his life when he withdrew from an active part even in conversation; but he was fully cognizant of its aims, and in the most friendly relation to its founders, the chief of whom was Mr. ALCOTT. It had been the hope of Mr. ALCOTT for many years to establish in the town of his chosen residence a conversational school of philosophy and literature; and the collection of a library by him and his English friends in 1842 had reference to such an institution. But circumstances were unfavorable until, in 1878, the visit of Dr. JONES of Illinois, and the conversations in which he participated, suggested to Mr. ALCOTT and |