Letter from Gertrude Sears to Anna Q. T. Parsons

North American Phalanx Jany 23 1848

Dear Friends Your several letters were duly rec^d and our reply has not been delayed from want of due consideration, but mainly for the reason that we scarcely knew what to say. You ask of us aid for the cause of 'Association' in sustaining the propagandist branch of the movement. If you should ever fully know at what cost, we have, in our inadequate way, sustained ourselves as Realizationists, and then indirectly at least, propagandists, our seeming want want of interest in your cause will not be uncharitably judged. When it is considered that we had not the advantage of any central influence, any directing mind or natural leader; and especially in our domestic departments no one to whom we could look an authority; but assembled a mass of promiscuous, and as in proved, incongruous elements; and with no system established, depending upon the inpromptu impulse of the few who were willing to work and wait patiently for the coming of order; and that our hope ^{of help} has been defered from year to year; and that the few who were willingly or able to devote themselves to the common good, have alternated from one detail of severe ^^labor to another without intermission these three years & a half, you may readily imagine that last summer when for the first time we had anything like adequate force in our domestic

departments, a long arrear of unfulfilled family and personal obligations remained. Also that from the continued influence of exhuasting labor and destructive antagonism, a brief repose would not be unwelcome. If therefore we do not at present join our efforts directly with those who in civilized society are exciting themselves faithfully and worthily to sustain propagation, you will not infer that we take no interest in the subject, nor that we are indifferent to the labor and successes of those who are conservating themselves to the work of spreading this Gospel of Peace and of all fulness. We hope yet to rejoin with you in the entire self sustaining sucess of both the Propagatia and Realization branches of their true Church of Humanity movement.

With Sisterly affection - we are happy to subscribe ourselves Friend co workers with you.

on behalf of the Ladies of the N. Am. Phoelanx

Gertrude Sears

To the Ladies of the Boston Union of Associatioonists

Miss Anna Q. T. Parsons Secy