The Ethical Platform - A Bibliographic Tangle

 

NYSEC Archives - The Ethical Platform

Ethical Culture Societies and their various national and international unions have, from time to time, been prolific in publishing their thought and their strategies through books, serials, and assorted ephemera.  The wealth of information is both impressive and awe-inspiring if also a bit daunting to one who would seek to document it.  One such "daunt" is The Ethical Platform.  

I first encountered The Ethical Platform on eBay.  I was delighted to acquire 8 platforms from the 1950s as new (to me) reading material and inspiration.  I wanted to find more, and find more I did during my recent trip to visit the New York Society for Ethical Culture and its archives.  In just one acid-free file box, I found about 50 issues of this serial and several associated typescripts.  This one box was in a room with 50 cabinet (doors), covering 3 shelves per cabinet (door), and holding about 4 file boxes per shelf.  You can do the math, and I can only wonder how many more issues of The Ethical Platform (plus other treasures) might be held in those boxes.

The problem (at the moment) is how to document even one issue of The Ethical Platform.  The image above is what most of the issues (that I have seen) look like.  Some have some additional graphic decoration.  Some have a different color of paper for the covers.  One or two--more?--were actually typeset and printed as opposed the more usual mimeograph format.  So far, I have been unable to discover Volume or Issue numbers for any but the two typeset issues.  When did the series begin?  How long did it continue?  Was it issued every week?  I haven't seen any bound copies.  The series is a NYSEC publication.  Did it succeed a previous publication from NYSEC?  AEU?

Completely apart from the lack of publication information, I am stumped about how to format these entries in the manner of the Chicago Manual of Style, partly because I have hit the limits of free access to the guide.  It looks like we'll have to address that issue with a budget of some sort, but in the meantime I will fall back on my network of Texas State scholars and see what we can come up with.  

Why is this a such a problem?  Well, I want to add things like this to the Bibliography of Ethical Culture (all from Algernon D. Black and that one acid-free file box):

• "War and the Human Conscience" (April 1, 1962)
• "Our Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court" (September 9, 1962)
• "Men--Angels, Devils, or Humans?" (August 23, 1964)
• "Our Attitude Toward China" (January 31, 1965)
• "Do We Still Fear Intermarriage?" (February 21, 1965)

And many more.  Just documenting these platforms isn't enough now.  I want to read them.  The task of making them accessible through digitization is still a dream.  We'll need a plan and a budget and a fair amount of human resources to make that happen.  

Series Fourteen - Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record

Ed Porter Explaining the Importance of Archives

I've now had a chance to see the originals of some of the items to be included in the Bibliography, and it was quite interesting, especially when the originals had not yet been bound together into a large volume.  These small sections devoted to inspirational readings or music were originally separate books that could be tucked into a pocket or purse.  Seeing the originals in the archives of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture (thank you, Ed Porter and Team for allowing me to join you for a couple of hours) and in the Adler Study and general archives at the New York Society for Ethical Culture also gave me a better sense of the magnitude of the task.  "We're gonna need a bigger boat" doesn't begin to touch it!  Still it was wonderful to meet all the folks who are involved in preserving the archives of Ethical Culture.  I know there are others that I have yet to meet--and I look forward to doing so.  I will write more about the project and potential plans for the work as they develop.  In the meantime, this part of the project continues.

Series Fourteen of Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record (EA&ER) continues the transformation of that AEU publication into an omnibus for development of thought about Ethical Culture, practical discussions of moral education for children and youth, and documentation of the progress and development of the Movement.  As well, this volume includes an independent section of inspirational verse, widespread focus on international strife and hopes for peace, and the full constitutions of the International Union of Ethical Societies and the American Ethical Union (with a bonus listing of the officers of the AEU on p. 314).  Promotional listings of additional printed material are included on pages 142 and 286.

The AEU held a conference, entitled "The Moral Education of the Child," May, 1907.  Three presentations from that conference were included in the final issue of EA&ER for that year.  James H. Leuba contributed a discussion of the moral nature of the child; Alice L. Seligsberg reported on moral instruction in the public schools; Robert A. Woods commented on ethical construction as part of Ethical instruction.

Another set of entries focused on "The Russian Situation," with two speeches by Alexis Aladin and Nicholas Tchaykovsky with that title.  The speeches are prefaced thusly:

[The following addresses by Alexis Aladin, leader of
the peasants, and member of the Group of Toil in the first
Duma, and Nicholas Tchaykovsky, were given before the
Philadelphia Ethical Society, Sunday, March 17th, just
after a lecture by Mr. William M. Salter, of Chicago, on
"The Russian Revolution." Mr. Salter's lecture will be
printed in the April number of the International Journal
of Ethics.]

Salter's lecture, in IJE 17/3 (1907), is available through JSTOR.  In that lecture, he explained why he felt that a revolution--like those in France and colonial America--was needed in Russia, leading to a democratic government and new hope for those then oppressed by the Czar.

One additional point of interest in this volume:  David Saville Muzzey was at this point in his career on the verge of becoming a major influence in the US by virtue of the high school history textbooks that he would publish.  These books would eventually dominate the entire nation as means of educating youth in the the history of their country.  That these books were racist in their orientation toward Native Americans and former enslaved persons should not take away from the Muzzey's contributions to the thought and practice of Ethical Culture.  Except they do.  It is hard to read his lecture ("Three Hundred Years of English Settlement in America") without sensing the taint of what is unspoken in his praise of "the glorious freedom of such a faith" (as Ethical Culture) and cringing.

And, finally, there are the Constitutions.  That of the AEU mirrors that of the IUES in several ways, most notably as to "Objects":

AEU Constitution, 1907

The AEU General Aim says "any," the IUES General Aim says "all" when referring to "theological and metaphysical considerations."  In Special Aims, the two organizations refer to their specific geographical areas (the US vs. the world), and IUES takes on the additional task for its (g):  "To maintain an International Ethical Library."  Otherwise the two organizations share the same General and Special Aims on different scales.

Series Thirteen - Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record

Series 13 - Partial Contents

The Thirteenth Series of Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record, published in 1906, begins with eight addresses from the Tenth Convention of Ethical Societies, held in Philadelphia in May, 1905 (pp. 1-57).  The opening address was given by S. Burns Weston, followed by speeches from Walter L. Sheldon, William M. Salter, David Saville Muzzey, Leslie Willis Sprague, and John Lovejoy Elliott.  Felix Adler gave a convention address on "The Independence of Morality and What It Implies" as well as the closing address.  Anna Garlin Spencer also stood on the platform to deliver a brief address ("The Ethical Movement as an Experiment Station in Education"), her first appearance in these volumes.

Gustav Spiller, Secretary of the International Ethical Union, provided historical notes on the progress of Ethical Culture as well as an extensive list of recent publications by leaders and members of the Movement.  He also provided a lengthy statement of "Suggestions for the Coming International Ethical Congress" (pp. 151-160).  

Nathaniel Schmidt, Professor of Semitic Languages and Literatures at Cornell University, gave two addresses to the Philadelphia Society:  "The Persecution of the Jews" (pp. 131 - 150) and, reflecting on the long ago presence of Nones, "The Religion of the Unchurched" (pp. 263 - 284).  Adler's treatise on "The Punishment of Children" (pp. 65-100) is reprinted in full.  Muzzey provided three separate perspectives on Ethics, including an early twentieth century look at the effect of labels in "The Ethics of Epithets" (pp. 115 - 130).

A couple of printing errors show up in this volume.  Incorrect page numbers are given on the list of Contents for Sheldon's convention address:  pp. 6 -15, not p. 67.  Spiller's IEU Report is inserted between two addresses by Adler ("Moral Conditions in American Life in the Light of Recent Revelations" [pp. 189 - 202] and "Self-Help in Affliction" [pp. 203 - 216]) and given duplicate page numbers (pp. 203 - 216).  

Two promotional pages include a (repeat of a) list of Salter's Ethical Lectures which seem to have been reprinted as individual pamphlets (p. 64) and an interesting list of the contents of the Twelfth Series of Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record.  Since I am working from online versions of bound serials, I found it helpful to see the publishing patterns (monthly issues, published September to June, three to four addresses or articles per issue).  Salter's "Moral Aspiration and Song" was published as Volume XII, Numbers 8, 9, 10--presumably in one volume.  [NOTE:  I did find a copy of the volume at the Brooklyn Ethical Society this past week.  It's in fragile condition, but appeared to be--in its day--a handy adjunct to Sunday meetings.] 

Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record - Series Twelve

Series 12, Partial Table of Contents

Series Twelve of Ethical Addresses (published in 1905) makes a significant departure from previous volumes in several dimensions.  With this issue, two publications, Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record are combined (with an appropriate name change to Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record).  Page 44 invites readers to purchase the "Farewell Edition" of Ethical Record; page 80 lists the contents of that volume.  The Table of Contents lists the contents by the author/contributor last name but does not consistently list those items in the order of printing.  (This practice continues for the remainder of the series.)

The Ethical Record was a quarterly publication of the New York Society for Ethical Culture, edited by Percival Chubb, independently published from April, 1888, until the last issue in December, 1904.  The Hathi Trust shows digital copies of the first two (or three?) volumes available from multiple libraries.  The Internet Archive shows several volumes digitized and available for download.  Does NYSEC have more records of this serial? 

The twelfth issue of Ethical Addresses and Ethical Record (ES&ER) also includes notice of a change in reporting from the International Ethical Union.  In "The Ethical Movement in Various Countries" (pp. 167-180), Gustav Spiller (Secretary of the International Ethical Union) reports that, to reduce the costs of a separate publication in three languages, the IEU would begin sending its reports to the various "Ethical Centres" for publication in their local journals and newsletters.  Spiller then reported on the activities of Ethical Societies in the US, England, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan.

A substantial portion of the volume is given over to a resource and guide for Ethical meetings created by William M. Salter:  "Moral Aspiration and Song" (pp. 245-324).  This sections includes readings for meditation, opening and closing words, responsive readings, and songs (with music).

On Sunday, January 1, 1905, three scholars addressed the Philadelphia Ethical Society from their diverse professional perspectives on the same topic:  "The Ethical and Religious Outlook."

• Professor James H. Leuba (then at Bryn Mawr) was known for his work on the psychology of religion.  His message on the shared topic was that, since the advance of scientific knowledge had rather thoroughly disproved the existence of a "transcendent" and "immanent" god, humankind would be much harmed if there no substitute for the "constant friend" on which so many had come to depend.  Leuba argued that belief in god needed to be replaced, and that we have a duty to step into the gap created by science with the moral support needed by our fellow humans:

The "divine" duty now falls upon the individual, the family, and society at large. It belongs to them to so perfect themselves, to so organize their boundless physical and moral resources as to multiply steadfast and intelligent friendships, to generate a broad and deep confidence in the benevolent righteousness of their intentions and in their inexhaustive power. Physical want, absence of sympathy, moral isolation, and the varied unsatisfied cravings of a yearning soul, are to find their remedy in human fellowship and in varied social activities. (p. 149)

Leuba specifically identifies Ethical Societies as capable of filling these needs.

• Dickinson S. Miller (then at Columbia University) was known for his focus on the philosophy of mind and his criticism of William James.  His message highlighted contemporary changes that he saw in Christian belief and practice, arguing that the ethics of Christianity would make a welcome partner for interfaith action with the Ethical Society.  

• Morris Jastrow, Jr. (University of Pennsylvania) was known for his work in Eastern language philosophy, and history.  Jastrow's message looked at the ongoing war between Russia and Japan (1904-1905) and the ethics of combatants:  ". . . we are indeed entering on an era when higher ethical standards will be adopted in framing an international policy" (p. 160).  Pivoting to the outlook for religion, Jastrow saw an increased emphasis on ethics in contemporary religions and gave a nod to Adler in that regard:  

The career of this leader furnishes perhaps the greatest source of hopefulness for the ethical and religious outlook, for his achievements demonstrate that the world is as ready to listen to-day as it always has been to the teacher whose lips have been unsealed by the touch of the divine seraph, and whose fiery words, proceeding like swift arrows directly to our hearts, have the genuine ring of the prophet, inspired by the sense of the responsibility of each individual for his life and the life of others. (p. 166)

In addition to the above, two other new contributors are included in this volume:

• John Lovejoy Elliott - then an Associate Leader and Superintendent of the NYSEC Sunday-school; 
• Zona Vallance - erstwhile Secretary of the Union of Ethical Societies (England).

Finally, the promotional inserts (pp. 44, 80, 212, and 244) lead to more entries for the Bibliography.  Of special interest are the lists of individual lectures by Felix Adler and William M. Salter, which had been printed as separate pamphlets and available by mail order or at the library tables of their respective Societies during Sunday meetings.  Many of the lectures on these lists can be determined to have been published in ES&ER, but others had not been so published as of 1905.  One hopes that copies of these lectures have been sequestered in the archives of of NYSEC and Philadelphia (if not Chicago) and, if located, digitized for greater access.

Now, really finally, I note that my personal attention was snagged by Adler's lecture, "Shall Ostracism be Used by Religious Societies in the Struggle Against Public Iniquity?" (pp. 181-202).  TBH, I thought it looked like Adler would be giving early support to cancel culture, but he surprised me.  (Don't scold.  I'm still getting to know the guy.  He's actually full of surprises.)