USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > Historical sketch of the Salem Lyceum, with a list of the officers and lecturers since its formation in 1830, and an extract from the address of Gen. Henry K. Oliver, delivered at the opening of the fiftieth annual course of lectures, November 13, 1978 > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01793 5542
GENEALOGY 974.402 SA32HI
HISTORICAL SKETCH
- OF THE
SALEM LYCEUM,
WITH A LIST OF THE
OFFICERS AND LECTURERS
SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1830.
AND AN EXTRACT FROM THE
ADDRESS OF GEN. HENRY K. OLIVER,
DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF THE
Fiftieth Annual Course of Lectures,
NOVEMBER 13th, 18;8.
SALEM : PRESS OF THE SALEM GAZETTE. 1879.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
- OF THE-
SALEM LYCEUM,
WITH A LIST OF THE
OFFICERS AND LECTURERS
SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1830.
AND AN EXTRACT FROM THE
ADDRESS OF GEN. HENRY K. OLIVER,
DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF THE
Fiftieth Annual Course of Lectures,
NOVEMBER 13th, 1878.
SALEM : PRESS' OF THE SALEM GAZETTE. 1879.
SALEM LYCEUM.
The Salem Lyceum was formed in the month of Jan- uary, 1830, and the first lecture was delivered on the evening of February 24, of that year, in the Methodist meeting-house in Sewall street, by Judge Daniel A. White. Other similar institutions were organized at about the same time in the principal towns and cities of the country. Of these, the Salem Lyceum and the Concord Lyceum, formed at the same time, alone sur- vive, the others having long since ceased to exist. During these years, fifty successive courses of lectures have been delivered to its members, covering a great variety of topics, engaging the services of many very distinguished persons, and contributing not a little to the social education and entertainment of the public.
The Lyceum, as a specific institution, was an intellec- tual development of the time of its birth, and, under the name of Institute, flourished in England even be- fore it was transplanted hither. The persons engaged in the formation of the Lyceum in Salem were the principal gentlemen of the town. The first meeting was held at the house of Col. Francis Peabody, (the present residence of John H. Silsbee, Esq., No. 380 Essex street), on Jan. 4th, 1830. It was then,
"Voted, That it is expedient to establish an institution in Salem for the purpose of mutual instruction and ra- tional entertainment, by means of lectures, debates, &c."
A meeting was subsequently held in the Town Hall,
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(Jan. 12), when a committee was appointed "to pre- pare a constitution, and submit the same for inspection to the citizens of Salem."
This committee prepared an address to the public, and a form of constitution, which were left for signa- tures at the Commercial News Room, the Reading Room of the Charitable Mechanic Association, and at the bookstores.
On the evening of January 18th, 1830, a meeting of the signers of the constitution was held in the parlor of the Essex House, then known as "Pickering Hall," and frequently used for public purposes. At this meeting and at an adjourned meeting, the following officers were elected, and constituted the first Board of Directors :-
President-Daniel A. White. Vice President-Stephen C. Phillips. Corresponding Secretary-Charles W. Upham. Recording Secretary-Stephen P. Webb.
Treasurer-Francis Peabody.
Managers-Rev. William Williams, Caleb Foote, Esq., Rev. Rufus Babcock, Hon. Leverett Salton- stall, Col. Jonathan Webb, Dr. Abel. L. Peirson, Dr. Malthus A. Ward, Dr. George Choate, Hon. Rufus Choate, John Moriarty, Esq.
It was originally intended that public debates should be among the exercises of the Lyceum, and the by-laws provided for the appointment of disputants upon the affirmative and negative sides of such questions as might be discussed. But this plan was never carried out. A course of lectures was, however, started forthwith, and these lectures were mostly delivered by members of the
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Lyceum, who contributed their services without fee or reward. Of the lectures in the first course, all but four were delivered by gentlemen of Salem. For several years afterwards the lecturers were many of them resi- dents here, and the fee rarely exceeded ten dollars.
The lectures were at first given in the Methodist Meeting House, in Sewall street. The use of the Town Hall had been asked for, and had been granted by the town ; but upon the latter declining to allow per- manent seats in the Hall, the Lyceum concluded to go elsewhere. The lectures were afterwards delivered in the Universalist Meeting House. But during the sum- mer of 1830, plans were adopted for the construction of the present Lyceum Hall, and in September a contract was made with William Lummus to build it, and so expeditiously was the work forwarded that it was ready for occupancy in January, 1831. The original cost of the building was $3036.76, and it was erected upon land bought of Mrs. Sarah Orne, for the, sum of $750, of which $545 was raised by subscription. The cost of the lectures was so small, and the income of the Lyceum was so large, that in a very few years the debt upon the building was extinguished, and it has since been the property of the members of the Lyceum.
The tickets for the Lyceum were at first sold at Mr. Buffum's bookstore, in Central Building, and after- wards for many years were subscribed for in the ante- room of the hall, where the lists were in charge of Mr. William Mansfield, who for a long period was identi- fied with the Lyceum by his services. Two courses soon became necessary, so great was the demand for tickets, and it was customary to secure a repetition on Wednesday evening of the lecture first delivered on
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Tuesday evening. The evening of Tuesday was usu- ally preferred by the Orthodox subscribers, and that of Wednesday by the Unitarians, and hence the audiences became marked in their character in this respect. The selection of evenings was made by drawing "lots," under Mr. Mansfield's direction. Gentlemen's tickets at the outset were sold for $1, and ladies' tickets for 75 cents ; but it was not considered proper for ladies to purchase tickets, unless "introduced" by a gentleman. Their tickets therefore ran as follows :-
ADMIT
TO THE SALEM LYCEUM, A LADY,
Introduced by
TUESDAY,
B. TUCKER, Rec. Sec.
But it is significant of the change that has since oc- curred in public views of what is proper for females in this respect, that for many years ladies have not only attended the lectures upon equal terms with gen- tlemen, but have assisted to deliver them, until it has come to be thought that a course is incomplete without a lady lecturer or reader.
During the fifty courses of lectures since the begin- ning, eight hundred and fifty-three lectures have been delivered before the Lyceum, and it will be noticed by a perusal of the lists which are printed herewith that the names embrace many of those most distinguished in the world of literature, science, and politics. It would probably be impossible to find any other institution in
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the country which could present such a distinguished list of instructors as this Lyceum.
It ought to be mentioned that, during all these years, the Lyceum has maintained a "free platform," and dur- ing recent years especially, nearly all topics of moral, political and social interest, have been discussed with the utmost freedom consistent with the proprieties of such an institution.
In the year 1852, the Lyceum obtained of the Legis- lature a new Act of Incorporation, under which it acts at the present time. A perusal of this document will inform the reader of the peculiar character of the insti- tution, and of the privileges and rights of its members.
ADDRESS.
EXTRACT FROM THE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HON. HENRY K. OLIVER, AT THE OPENING OF THE FIFTI- ETH ANNUAL COURSE OF LECTURES OF THE SALEM LYCEUM, NOV. 13TH, 1878.
Among the institutions affording popular lectures, is that in which we are now specially interested, our own Lyceum, this evening celebrating its semi-centennial anniversary. The word Lyceum is of Greek origin, and is the name which was given to a gymnasium, or place of physical and mental instruction, outside and easterly from the city of Athens, and where Aristotle taught,-a temple dedicated to "Apollo Lyceus," or "Apollo of the Light," standing close by and origi- nating the epithet. Our English words, "lucidity," "lu- cent," "lucid," and their relatives, are from the same root. The name is appropriate, for from the Lyceum, . or house of light, is to radiate the night-dispelling light of knowledge. There was, at one time, on the ceiling of this hall, just above the stage, a fresco painting of Apollo Lyceus, in his fiery chariot with fiery coursers. It happened that a gentleman, groping one day in the dark of the attic, put his foot, uninvited, into the char- iot, and through its bottom, into the hall: So the bright ceiling was removed, and a blind put over the hole. There were, also, on the walls in front, frescos of the orators, Cicero and Demosthenes, and of our then townsmen, Judge White and Joseph Peabody, the
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father of Col. Francis Peabody. Time and whitewash have obliterated them.
And here, leaving for a while the direet subject before me, let me speak of the extraordinary array of men of note, expert and eminent in almost every department of learning, whom I encountered, on coming here from Boston, a stripling of eighteen years, and with whom it was my very great privilege and benefit to associate for many subsequent years. If the language I use seem to my younger hearers inordinately eulogistic, or exag- gerated, Lappeal, without fear, to those whose memo- ries recall the men. My limit of time permits me to name but few.
Bear in mind that the population of Salem was then but about 13,000, or one-half of its present number, and mostly confined within the strip of land between the South and North Rivers, now approaching annihila- tion. But few houses were in North Salem, and none in South beyond the junction of Mill with Lafayette streets, till you reached the Derby estate. Every man of note was known to all his fellow-townsmen, if not personally, yet by name and character. As is known of ancient Athens at its best,-quoting from Hyper- cides, an oration-writer by profession of those days,- "It is impossible for a man in this city to be of good repute, or otherwise, without all of us knowing it."
And first, I name the venerable and venerated JOHN PRINCE, minister of the First Church, whose advanced years had not weakened his love of science, nor para- lyzed the skill of his hands in the construction of in- struments of precision and experiment. Herein "his eye was not dimmed, nor his natural force abated." Earth and sky were the fields of his successful investi-
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gation,-and he prepared his own means of research,- microscope, telescope, pneumatic-pump, electric and magnetic apparatus, all seeming to come complete from his successful make and manipulation, like Minerva from the brain of Jove, ready for active work, the en- thusiasm of youth unweakened by any impotence of years. His house,-that now occupied by David Moore on Federal street,-was at once home, library, lecture- room, workshop, and cabinet of curiosities, a rare and interesting combination of the equipments of science, which I often visited.
NATHANIEL BOWDITCH, whose statue in bronze now marks his resting-place at Mount Auburn, was a mar- vel of mathematical and scientific attainment. His fame can never die, nor his name cease from the lips of men, till ship and sailors cease to grope their way across trackless seas. A victorious student was he in the se- verest fields of mathematical contest, making that best use of his triumphs, in their practical utilization and response to the demands of society, and this in such simplicity of appliance and working, that the average mind encounters small difficulty therein. His transla- tion into English of the Celestial Mechanics of Laplace was a most acceptable relief, as it interpolated steps which, though they were needless to the author's mar- vellous mind, were most embarrassing to the average student, and subjected him to much wearying study to make the connections necessary to the understanding of the subject. Yet though absorption in study is apt to make men recluses, and sometimes even repulsive in manner, the learned halo about them seeming to ordi- nary men a sort of dense impoundment, no man within my memory was more genial, more communicative,
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more demonstrative in all the courtesies and ordinary socialities of life. I knew him well, being Librarian at that time of the Salem Athenaeum, of which he was President, and coming into contact with him every day.
JOHN PICKERING, (son of the well known Col. Tim- othy Pickering, of revolutionary work and fame), and in recalling and naming him, there return feelings of most earnest respect and gratitude for many acts of personal kindness and assistance in my inexpert days as a teacher. A man was he justly and widely honored for his large and varied learning, specially in the classic languages and literature, possessing that exact knowl- edge of details in grammatical laws and verbal con- struction which aid the young student in many a dis- tressful struggle, as well as give certainty of true schol- arship and merited renown to the man himself. Yet he seemed to be wholly unconscious of his own intel- lectual and scholarly greatness and grasp,-mingling in with us all as a gentle and companionable friend. ~ He was the author .- and all students of Greek blessed him therefor,-who, with the aid of Dr. Daniel Oliver, also of Salem, edited and published a Lexicon of that peer- less language with English renderings, -students before that time having to get the meaning of their words through the medium of Latin. His home was on Chest- nut street, corner of Pickering street.
I may here mention, as men of scientific and literary note, two relatives of Dr. Daniel Oliver, then resident here, Dr. B. L. OLIVER, and his nephew,-in the law, -- of the same name. All three of them were noticea- ble for their skill in music. It seems to be in the breed. They, and all of the name hereabouts,-including also many in whom the compound name of Oliver-Wendell
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occurs, were descendants from Surgeon Thos. Oliver, the English immigrant to Boston in 1632, who from the seven generations that have followed, has supplied to Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges, up to 1870, thirty- six out of their forty-five graduates of that name, be- sides a long roll by marriage into other names, and of these three or four Doctors in each generation. There is a smell of medicine all adown the line.
I next mention JOSEPH STORY, the great jurist and judge, a marvel of legal learning, reinforced by an amount of general attainments and accomplishments, that it would seem might require more than an ordinary life to secure. His powers of conversation, fluency of speech, and command of words, were, like those of Dr. Bentley, of the East Church, the admiration of their day. No subject seemed to be beyond their reach, grasp and control, and they each seemed to be ready with speech and argument for whatever subject-matter might turn up.
I will here mention one, Mr. THOMAS SPENCER, whom, however, I did not meet till about 1825-26, when he came to Salem, having immigrated to the United States from England in 1816, and who, after a long residence here, returned to his own country, where he died, to enjoy in retirement a valuable inherited estate. A hard-working day-laborer while here, as a tallow-chan- dler, he yet became noted for his knowledge and skill in the science of Optics, and his expertness in arbori- culture. He was also the originator of that deservedly famous and toothsome confection, sought by young and old, rich, dainty, and durable in its relish, and which made Salem famous for titbits, as well as for witches, beauty, and learning,-the noted " Gibralter,"
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taking name from its firm make and power of withstand- ing long continued siege of suck. To my recent gus- tatory experience, however, the modern is inferior in richness of tonguey tickle and power of endurance to the old. Is its making one of the lost arts?
Mr. Spencer's leaving was matter of great regret, and his frequent letters hither, and his hospitable reception at his English home of American visitors, testified to his grateful memory of his sojourn with us. That truth is stranger than fiction, was verified in a life, which, starting among the zeros of social position and mental opportunity, culminated into that of a wealthy and hos- pitable land-holder, and of an eminent man of science. The love of learning is of most democratic propensities, taking root and growing in whatever soil, regardless of anything, excepting its geniality, atHuence of food, and power of push towards growth and maturity.
But, of these samples, perhaps enough have been quoted. The difficulty is not to find, but, to select, one is so bewildered with the mighty array. Yet there is one other name, to omit which would be doing violence to my own feelings, and be unjust to him and to you. Its ut- terance never fails to awaken vivid emotions of grateful respect, and to bring to memory one of whom any city might justly be proud. Always devoted to the good of our community, and to effort by word and act to- wards its enduring welfare, he regarded himself as less than his town and his townsmen, his affection for each being always earnest and demonstrative. The personal attractions of a manly figure and a winning face, were supplemented by a noble nature, nobly developed, with just impartiality in his estimate of men and their mo- tives and actions. Of eminent rank at the bar, and
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eagerly sought by clients, his professional obligations never excluded his general culture, and he was at once a wise advocate, a safe adviser, an impressive and elo- quent speaker, adorning office, refining society, and enriching home with profusest affection. His worship- ping nature made him an earnestly religious man, and for years his rich voice gave utterance to his prayerful spir- it as he joined in the service of song in public worship. "So well were the elements mixed in him that
"Nature@night stand up And say to all the world : This was a man."
A laudable ambition accepted the offices you gave him. You sent him to Congress without his asking, and you made him your first Mayor. It was LEVERETT SAL- TONSTALL."
Now it would be hardly possible for a community in which were found men like these, and scores of others, their fellows,-the town probably never had so great a proportion of educated men within its limits, old and younger college alumni were here in dozens,-it would be hardly possible not to feel their control, nor to be inspired by their influence. If you move in the sun- shine, you will feel its warmth and know its light. If you walk amid roses, you will inhale their perfume.
And so, at last, when " the fulness of time was com- pleted," the seed germinated and the plant appeared above ground.
The first movement in the direction of public lec- tures, in our vicinity, is credited to the late Col. Francis Peabody, well known and well remembered by many of us. His home was then in the large brick house on Essex street, west of Plummer Hall and the
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Athenæum, on whose site stood his father's house, one of our older and most noted merchants. Col. Peabo- dy's tastes were thoroughly scientific, and much in the direction of the mechanics of science. In his day, say from 1826 to the time of his death in 1867, were very many persons in Salem, both competent and inclined to aid and promote his efforts. The first manifestation seems to have been the course before the Essex Lodge of Free Masons, in the winter of 1827.
In 1828, our Salem Charitable Mechanic Associa- tion inaugurated a course of lectures for the gratifica- tion and instruction of its members and their families, and during the same year Col. Peabody gave a course of free lectures on "Steam, the Steam Engine, and their Utilities," subjects then new and exciting an in- tense interest, and which were destined to work marvel- lous revolutions in the world and its ways.
The same gentleman, in conjunction with Jonathan Webb, gave free lectures on Electricity, in the same season of 1828, in Concert, now Phoenix, Hall, at the foot of Central street. These gentlemen were experts in the science, their practical manipulations verifying their theories with convincing instruction, their appa- ratus being complete and effective in every respect. I knew them both intimately. Col. Peabody, with his ample means generously poured forth, and his earnest- ness of work, was well reinforced by Mr. Webb, with equal earnestness, energy of purpose, and physical ac- tivity. He was an apothecary, his last place of business having been in the brick building opposite Barton Square Church. His was a spirit of great enterprise, a mind exceptionally well cultivated, and a nature most genial and companionable. Indeed, he was the wit of
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the town, having that quick sense of the ridiculous, that keen vision in its discovery, and that rich power of ex- pressing it in apt and telling language, that never failed to wake us into an uproar of enjoyment. He was a sort of cachinnatory apostle of mirth and good health, often saying that a merry laugh was better than all the medicine in his shop. His bodily health, however, was never equal to his mental vigor and his love of scientific work, and he died at the early age of thirty-seven years, in August, 1832. At the time of his death, he was en- gaged in the improvement and enlargement of his elec- tric apparatus,-a splendid plate machine, of the largest diameter then made, being then on its passage to him from St. Petersburg. His early leaving us was deeply lamented, no man in the then town being more general- ly known or more heartily beloved. As an experimen- tal lecturer he had no superior. I well remember how comically he startled a whole audience in this room by the instantaneous explosion by the electric spark of about twenty air pistols, placed about the cornice of this room, cach filled with explosive gas and connected together and to the machine by a copper wire. But few of us were in the secret, and the suddenness and big bang of the discharge, the screams and the " Oh mys" of the feminines, the chirruping of the children, and the outspoken " what-in-thunder is that " of the men, and our own loud laugh, made the hall a confused theatre of uproarious merriment. So did the old experiment of sending a sharp shock of electricity through the joined hands of some scores of people, cach one of whom real- ly believed he was the first one hit, so synchronous was the blow. But these were merely the curious and amusing manifestations of powers, which now, in their
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riper development, have revolutionized travel, business, and all inter-communication, as well as very many of our ways of life. And the cry, like that in Macbeth, is, " and still they come,"-the end is not yet, nay, is it not the mere beginning? So amazing, so almost in- credible, have been their developments, their manifesta- tions, their influences, that the world is prepared to re- ceive with small surprise any and whatever discoveries and inventions may be awaiting birth.
These exhibitions, and the familiar oral explanations illustrating them, for written lectures and prepared platform essays had not as yet reached the stage, ex- cited greatest interest, and awakened a determinate purpose to secure more and kindred knowledge, and to create a permanent institution for its attainment and wider diffusion.
The methods of these pioneers had been wisely ju- dicions. They had allured, not repelled,-and so had created scores of " Olivers asking for more." They gave the best teaching, inasmuch as it was of the illus- trated verities of science, with palpable exhibit of ev- ery scientific truth they announced. The ear heard and the eye saw, and when the earnest men who led the , work,-and they were among Salem's then best, and her best were among the best of the whole land,-put themselves to the task of elaborating a permanent means of instruction by lectures, they met the sympa- thetic encouragement and support of the community.
Confining myself to our own institution (the attempt to create a County Lyceum, though pushed by leading minds in Essex County, failing), it appears that a meet- ing for its initiation was held at the house of Col. Pea- body, then on Essex, near Dean street, on the evening
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of January 4th, 1830. Twenty gentlemen there gath- ered, of whom fifteen are dead, the five survivors being Messrs. George Wheatland, David Roberts, Wm. P. Endicott, S. P. Webb and Caleb Foote. Two of them are of our ex-Mayors. Of the deceased I quote Daniel A. White, Robert Rantoul, Jr., Warwick Palfray, Stephen C. Phillips and Dr. A. L. Peirson. Of the twelve gentlemen selected on the 12th of January at the Town Hall, to prepare a Constitution and By-laws, only one, Dr. Choate, survives. Among them were Judge White, L. Saltonstall, S. C. Phillips, A. L. Peirson and Col. Peabody.' Adopting the motion of Dr. Peirson-whose sad death in 1853, at the territic railroad disaster at Norwalk Bridge, Conn., is yet fresh in the memory-it was voted, that "it is expedient to establish in Salem an institution for the purpose of mutual instruction and rational entertainment by means of public lectures and debates." This vote took sub- stantial form by an election, on the following 18th of January, of five executive officers ; a President, Judge White ; a Vice President, Stephen C. Phillips ; a Record- ing Secretary, S. P. Webb; a Corresponding Secre- tary, Chas. W. Upham ; and a Treasurer, Francis Pea- body ; an admirable selection. At an adjourned meet- ing on the 20th, the organization was completed by the addition of ten Directors. To the self-sacrificing labors of three of these men, Messrs. White, Phillips and Peabody, this institution owes the deepest gratitude. Their names should be honored by permanent record on its walls.
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