Unitarian Minister. A founding member of Transcendentalism. Hedge studied abroad in Germany with his tutor, the historian George Bancroft, before graduating from Harvard College as the valedictorian of the class of 1825. He then enrolled in Harvard Divinity School, where he met Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ordained in 1829, he became the minister at a church in West Cambridge (now Arlington), Massachusetts for a short time before taking a position in Bangor, Maine. He married Lucy Pierce in 1830; they had four children. Meeting with other religious philosophers, including Emerson and George Ripley, Hedge hosted the first meeting of the Transcendental Club at his home. The group, which also included Bronson Alcott, James Freeman Clarke, and others, was originally named Hedge's Club because they relied on Hedge traveling from Maine. He was not as radical as other members of the group, however, and stayed closely affiliated with the church. He refused to submit to "The Dial", though he was the first to suggest that the group publish a journal, because he did not want his connection with them seen in print. He later said, "My historical conscience... kept me ecclesiastically conservative, though intellectually radical." After leaving his pulpit in Maine, he worked at churches in Providence, Rhode Island and Brookline, Massachusetts and served a term as President of the American Unitarian Association. He returned to Harvard Divinity School as a professor and to edit the "Christian Examiner." At the end of his career, he taught German literature at Harvard. He published several books, mostly on religion, and translated others, including "Faust" from the original German.
Unitarian Minister. A founding member of Transcendentalism. Hedge studied abroad in Germany with his tutor, the historian George Bancroft, before graduating from Harvard College as the valedictorian of the class of 1825. He then enrolled in Harvard Divinity School, where he met Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ordained in 1829, he became the minister at a church in West Cambridge (now Arlington), Massachusetts for a short time before taking a position in Bangor, Maine. He married Lucy Pierce in 1830; they had four children. Meeting with other religious philosophers, including Emerson and George Ripley, Hedge hosted the first meeting of the Transcendental Club at his home. The group, which also included Bronson Alcott, James Freeman Clarke, and others, was originally named Hedge's Club because they relied on Hedge traveling from Maine. He was not as radical as other members of the group, however, and stayed closely affiliated with the church. He refused to submit to "The Dial", though he was the first to suggest that the group publish a journal, because he did not want his connection with them seen in print. He later said, "My historical conscience... kept me ecclesiastically conservative, though intellectually radical." After leaving his pulpit in Maine, he worked at churches in Providence, Rhode Island and Brookline, Massachusetts and served a term as President of the American Unitarian Association. He returned to Harvard Divinity School as a professor and to edit the "Christian Examiner." At the end of his career, he taught German literature at Harvard. He published several books, mostly on religion, and translated others, including "Faust" from the original German.
Bio by: Midnightdreary
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