The health of the young teacher suffered from too ascetic a life, and unmistakable danger-signals began to appear, fortunately heeded in time, but disappointment and delay resulted, borne, however, with sense and courage.  His course at the Divinity School in Cambridge was much broken; nevertheless, in October, 1826, he was “approbated to preach” by the Middlesex Association of Ministers.  A winter at the North at this time threatened to prove fatal, so he was sent South by his helpful kinsman, Rev. Samuel Ripley, and passed the winter in Florida with benefit, working northward in the spring, preaching in the cities, and resumed his studies at Cambridge.

In 1829, Emerson was called by the Second or Old North Church in Boston to become the associate pastor with Rev. Henry Ware, and soon after, because of his senior’s delicate health, was called on to assume the full duty.  Theological dogmas, such as the Unitarian Church of Channing’s day accepted, did not appeal to Emerson, nor did the supernatural in religion in its ordinary acceptation interest him.  The omnipresence of spirit, the dignity of man, the daily miracle of the universe, were what he taught, and while the older members of the congregation may have been disquieted that he did not dwell on revealed religion, his words reached the young people, stirred thought, and awakened aspiration.  At this time he lived with his mother and his young wife (Ellen Tucker) in Chardon Street.  For three years he ministered to his people in Boston.  Then having felt the shock of being obliged to conform to church usage, as stated prayer when the spirit did not move, and especially the administration of the Communion, he honestly laid his troubles before his people, and proposed to them some modification of this rite.  While they considered his proposition, Emerson went into the White Mountains to weigh his conflicting duties to his church and conscience.  He came down, bravely to meet the refusal of the church to change the rite, and in a sermon preached in September, 1832, explained his objections to it, and, because he could not honestly administer it, resigned.

He parted from his people in all kindness, but the wrench was felt.  His wife had recently died, he was ill himself, his life seemed to others broken up.  But meantime voices from far away had reached him.  He sailed for Europe, landed in Italy, saw cities, and art, and men, but would not stay long.  Of the dead, Michael Angelo appealed chiefly to him there; Landor among the living.  He soon passed northward, making little stay in Paris, but sought out Carlyle, then hardly recognized, and living in the lonely hills of the Scottish Border.  There began a friendship which had great influence on the lives of both men, and lasted through life.  He also visited Wordsworth.  But the new life before him called him home.

He landed at Boston within the year in good health and hope, and joined his mother and youngest brother Charles in Newton.  Frequent invitations to preach still came, and were accepted, and he even was sounded as to succeeding Dr. Dewey in the church at New Bedford; but, as he stipulated for freedom from ceremonial, this came to nothing.