For some decades since the 1970's arrival of the 'transcendental meditationists’ in Fairfield, Iowa there have been weekly folk harmony sings from the old Sacred Harp book. Published in the book is a tune titled, “The Dying Californian” with several verse written that tells the story of an anonymous someone dying long ago on the passage around to California.
Coming to know another story below about Reuben Dorland I will likely think now more specially of Rueben Dorland giving face to ‘The Dying Californian’ as “#410 on the top” is called for to be sung, the Quaker teacher Reuben Dorland. “The history of the Society of Friends has been adorned with names of men eminent in almost every field of scholarship. The number of Friends who have thus distinguished themselves has been “large in proportion to he small body with which they are connected”.(361) Two factors seem chiefly to be responsible for this fact: first, the thoughtful and meditative form of worship among the Friends; and second, their unfailing provision for a “guarded education” of their youth. Wherever the Quakers have planted new communities in the West, there side by side are found the home, the church (meeting house), and the school. Hardly had a the Quakers become settled in their Iowa homes before the Salem (Iowa) Monthly Meeting appointed a committee to “endeavor to have schools put in operation”(362) in their midst. The real advancement began in 1845, when Reuben Dorland, a highly educated Friend, came from Poughkeepsie, New York, and on his own responsibility founded Salem Seminary. By the winter term of 1851 he had built up his enrollment to over two hundred students, coming from far and near; and with his staff of three teachers besides himself, was offering courses in the following subjects: reading spelling, grammar, geography, history, astronomy, chemistry, physiology, mineralogy, botany, algebra, geometry, surveying, book-keeping, mercantile correspondence, and intellectual and moral philosophy.(365) In the very midst of success, however, Dorland’s health failed. He was forced to abandon his school, and on March 4, 1852, while enroute to California, he died and was buried in the sea.(366) .. Here is the tune The Dying Californian to hear with its text to be read: Melody is in tenor line, push the arrow. Push the last arrow at the bottom to listen to the full harmony directly.. http://www.sacredharpbremen. org/lieder/400-bis-499/410t- the-dying-californian http://www.sacredharpbremen.org/lieder/400-bis-499/410t-the-dying-californian BTW, ..Some 180 years before the advent of the Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment (MSAE, https://maharishischool.org/ https://maharishischool.org/ ) in Iowa there were Society of Friends Quaker schools for youth in Iowa also where students would take inward quiet time in practiced retired stillness meditation as adjunct to their scholastic work. .
