The Saturday Club and its Contribution to the Crusade
 Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) "Boston hymn": autograph manuscript, 1862. | Emerson publicly recited this resounding endorsement of equality on 1 January 1863, to coincide with Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. He decries slave-holding states for their resistance to emancipation and equality, while celebrating the North's, particularly Boston's, commitment to freedom. Most notably, he emphasizes the promise of full equality for all humans, reflecting his hope for the post-war era. bMS Am 1280.235 (11) – Gift of The Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial Association, 1991. |