Dynamics of New England Transcendentalism in Benjamin Orange Flowers Arena (1889-1909)

In this investigation the author studied an editor, a magazine and a movement.The editor was Benjamin Orange Flowerj the magazine the Arena, published at Boston between 1889 and 1909; and the movement was New England Transcendentalism, The procedure was to examine the biographical and mental make up of the editor, who had the chief influence on the Arena and was its guiding spirit.Secondly, the purpose and method of the magazine was investigated.Finally, the articles in the forty-one volumes of the magazine were studied to group together works dealing with the reassessment of Transcen dentalism and its major exponents.The Arena was no ordinary magazine.In the words of Flower, the magazine sought to"cultivate intellectual hospitality" and tried to be "the meeting place of fearless thinkers."These were •bvious from the wide range of topics discussed.Important for the author was the timing of the birth of the magazine in December, 1889.It is generally assumed that Transcenden talism, as a movement and as a moral force, declined during the early 1860s.The first number of the Arena appeared approximately twentyfive years later.A quarter of a century was taken to be an adequate span of time for the appearance of signs of a revival of interest in the movement.Through a survey of the magazine, the author was convinced that new interest in Transcendentalism was widespread.Flower, through editorials, articles and reviews, propogated and encouraged a revival of interest in and appreciation of the move ment and its chief exponents.Twenty-five articles in the Arena were individual studies »f Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman.Almost an equal number of works were studies of the different aspects of Transcendentalism.Of particular interest to the author were the contributions of Hindu and Buddhist religions.The influence of Far Eastern religions on Transcendentalism is well known.It was concluded that the renewed interest in these religions was closely tied to the revival of Transcendental ideals.Working with the premise that any idealistic philosophy is in essence a religious philosophy, the author found in the Arena a fertile field for the discussion of religious issues.An ethical and moral tone pervaded the pages of the Arena, a tone set by its editor.Therefore the assessment of the Transcendentalists was mainly related to ethical and religious aspects of their concepts of life.