p.

have prevented the admission of that host of blind, halt and diseased persons who have
afflicted you and at once perplexed your counsels and exhausted your means, and have
awakened an active regard to the fostering of existing and the introduction of
new and productive branches of industry. It was my opinion then, as it is now, that
the test of spiritual and social worth would have proved to be material excellence,
or the ability to earn a livelihood. It your plans exclude this idea, I can only
repeat that I cannot give them my confidence. If they do, I can see nothing
incompatible with Mr. Dwight's views in [inserted]the plan of[/inserted] that section of the people which you represent.
You seem to think that Mr. Ripley, Mr. Dwight, &c. would refuse to accept the conduct
and income of the School & Harbinger independently from the Phalanx, provided that
the latter be under the direction of other individuals, & to the exclusion of the former.
I confer that, without the least knowledge of the subject, I auger otherwise. As the
friend of these truly eminent individuals, I should urge their acceptance of
such a proposiiton. I have long felt the claim of at least two of them to some
repose from the harassing & exhausting cabinet & executive labours which have
fallen to their share; and moreover I am and long have been certain that the
School cannot be worthily and successfully conducted by individuals to whom any other
important responsibility attaches. If then the editorship & authorship required by the
Harbinger be added to the management of the School, all the time and labour of those
engaged in them must be exhausted. To the Association at large would be left the
management & labour of all the material interests which it can profitably conduct.
The household, in boarding the school & Harbinger people, would be a successful
industry. Other individual industries might doubtless be added now, and more would
come. Let me not also forget that a handsome income would be derivable from
visitors like myself. (I would mention here my opposition to the practice of
receiving any visitors whatsover (whether connected with any of the members or not)
except for a fixed & unvarying compensation for board & lodging.) And now we come to