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.]