"In this refulgent summer it has been a luxury to draw the breath of life."
To celebrate the occasion of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Divinity School Address, July 15, 1838, join us for popsicles on Tuesday, July 17th between 2:00 and 3:30pm outside in the library courtyard.
For more information about the address, visit http://www.emersoncentral.com/divaddr.htm
In Address Delivered before the Senior Class
July 15, 1838: This evening Rev. R.W. Emerson preached a sermon to the Senior Class. The Chapel was very much crowded, and the discourse listened to with profound attention.
After the address was delivered on July 15,
the students were undecided what action to take. On July 16, B. F. Barrett, W. D. Wilson, H. G. O. Blake, F. A. Whitney, and R. C. Waterston signed a letter to Emerson asking for his manuscript and stating that they differed in opinion as to whether it should be published, or printed merely for discretionary circulation, but would follow his advice on this point. On July 19 Simmons, Blake, and Wilson, the original committee, wrote him that some of the class did not assent to his views but that all thanked him. On July 20 Wilson acknowledged a letter from Emerson and stated that it had been decided merely to print, not publish, three hundred copies of the address.
(History of Harvard Divinity School, 1827-1913 (inclusive). Harvard Archives: Vault UAV 328.4)