The Story of Chautauqua Part 8

It seems to me if you can lay out such plans of study, particularly in the departments of practical science, as will fit our boys and young men in the mining, manufacturing, and agricultural districts to become, in a true though not ambitious sense of the term, scientific and intelligent miners, mechanics, and farmers, you will have done more to put down strikes and labor riots than an army could; and more to solve the labor problem than will be done by the Babel-builders of a hundred labor-reform conventions.

Professor Luther T. Townsend, of Boston University:

Your plan for the promotion of Christian culture in art, science, and literature, among the ma.s.ses of the American people, strikes me as one of the grandest conceptions of the nineteenth century.

Dr. A. A. Hodge, of Princeton:

The scheme is a grand one, and only needs to insure its success that efficient administration which has so eminently characterized all your enterprises. History and nature are the spheres in which G.o.d exercises his perfections, through which they are manifested to us. All human knowledge should be comprehended in the one system of which Christ is the center, and illuminated with the light of revelation.

Dr. Arthur Gilman:

Your fears of "superficiality" do not trouble me.

For your course will probably aim rather to direct the mind toward the way in which you wish it to develop, than store it with the details of knowledge. You wish to awaken, rather than cultivate.

Dr. Howard Crosby, of New York:

Your scheme to induce business men and others to pursue useful courses of reading in science and history is worthy of all commendation. While we cannot expect to make such persons scientists or scholars, we may expect them to become appreciative of things scientific or scholarly, and to be able to discriminate between the false and the true.

He added some valuable suggestions regarding the kind of books that should be chosen; and the hope that the course, instead of becoming a subst.i.tute for the college, might lead to the college.

Dr. Charles F. Deems, of New York, gave his heartiest approval of the plan, and stated that he was holding in his own church cla.s.ses in all the departments named, and would enroll them under the Chautauqua system, with examinations and the diploma at the completion of the course.

Dr. William F. Warren, President of Boston University, wrote a letter in which he said:

You are aiming to secure that without which every system of education is weak, and with which any is strong; namely, interested personal home work the year round. And you seem to carry these home students to the point where they can go alone, if they cannot have the help of the schools.

One of these letters must be given in full, notwithstanding its length.

Dr. Vincent introduced it with an account of his interview with its author, the venerable William Cullen Bryant, the oldest of his group--the American poets of the mid-century.

I wrote him afterward a long letter [said Dr.

Vincent], defining the scheme more fully. While in London a few weeks ago I received from him the following letter, written with his own hand,--written but a few weeks before his death.

This letter has never been read in public and has never been in print.

NEW YORK, May 18, 1878.

MY DEAR SIR,

I cannot be present at the meeting called to organize the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, but I am glad that such a movement is on foot, and wish it the fullest success. There is an attempt to make science, or a knowledge of the laws of the material universe, an ally of the school which denies a separate spiritual existence and a future life; in short, to borrow of science weapons to be used against Christianity. The friends of religion, therefore, confident that one truth never contradicts another, are doing wisely when they seek to accustom the people at large to think and to weigh evidence as well as to believe.

By giving a portion of their time to a vigorous training of the intellect, and a study of the best books, men gain the power to deal satisfactorily with questions with which the mind might otherwise have become bewildered. It is true that there is no branch of human knowledge so important as that which teaches the duties that we owe to G.o.d and to each other, and that there is no law of the universe, sublime and wonderful as it may be, so worthy of being made fully known as the law of love, which makes him who obeys it a blessing to his species, and the universal observance of which would put an end to a large proportion of the evils which affect mankind. Yet is a knowledge of the results of science, and such of its processes as lie most open to the popular mind, important for the purpose of showing the different spheres occupied by science and religion, and preventing the inquirer from mistaking their divergence from each other for opposition.

I perceive this important advantage in the proposed organization, namely, that those who engage in it will mutually encourage each other.

It will give the members a common pursuit, which always begets a feeling of brotherhood; they will have a common topic of conversation and discussion, and the consequence will be, that many who, if they stood alone, might soon grow weary of the studies which are recommended to them, will be incited to perseverance by the interest which they see others taking in them. It may happen in rare instances that a person of eminent mental endowments, which otherwise might have remained uncultivated and unknown, will be stimulated in this manner to diligence, and put forth unexpected powers, and, pa.s.sing rapidly beyond the rest, become greatly distinguished, and take a place among the luminaries of the age.

I shall be interested to watch, during the little s.p.a.ce of life that may yet remain to me, the progress and results of the plan which has drawn from me this letter.

I am, Sir, Very truly yours, W. C. BRYANT.

The distinguished writer of this letter died only a month and four days after writing it, on June 12, 1878, as the result of a sunstroke while he was making an address at the unveiling of a statue in the Central Park. He was in the eighty-fifth year of his age.

After some short addresses by men on the platform, Bishop Foster, Professor Wilkinson, Dr. Strong, and others, Dr. Vincent announced as the first book of the course, Green's _Short History of the English People_, and invited all desirous of joining the C. L. S. C. to write their names and addresses upon slips of paper and hand them to anyone on the platform. It might have been supposed that a circular would be ready containing a statement of the course for the first year, regulations and requirements of the organization, the fee of membership, etc.; but in the enthusiasm of the time those desirable requisites had been forgotten. Everybody looked around for a slip of paper. Visiting cards were made useful, margins were torn off newspapers, and there was an overwhelming rush toward the platform to join the new circle. On that afternoon seven hundred names were received and the number grew hourly until the close of the a.s.sembly. Nearly all the regular year-by-year visitors to Chautauqua became members of this "Pioneer Cla.s.s," as it was afterwards named; and to this day its fellowship, after forty-two years, still continues one of the largest at its annual gatherings in Pioneer Hall, the building which it erected as its home.

The book-store was crowded with applicants for Green's History, and the few copies on hand, not more than half a dozen, were instantaneously disposed of. An order was telegraphed to the Harper Brothers in New York for fifty copies, on the next morning for fifty more, then for another hundred, day after day the demand increasing. The Harpers were astounded at the repeated calls, and telegraphed for particulars as to the reason why everybody at an almost unknown place called Chautauqua had gone wild in demand for this book. Their stock on hand was exhausted long before the a.s.sembly was ended, and most of the members of this "Cla.s.s of 1882" were compelled to wait a month or more for their books. Public libraries were by no means numerous in those days while Andrew Carnegie was making the millions to be spent later in establishing them, but wherever they were, Green's Short History was drawn out, and a waiting list made for it, to the amazement of librarians, who vainly proposed the subst.i.tution of other standard English histories. Whoever could buy, borrow, or beg a copy of Green, rejoiced--we hope that no Chautauquan, in his hunger for literature, _stole_ one, but we are not sure. People otherwise honest have been known to retain borrowed umbrellas and books.

In the Cla.s.s of 1882 eight thousand four hundred names were enrolled, for the members brought home from Chautauqua the good news, and families, neighbors, and friends everywhere sent in their applications.

Later we shall learn what proportion of these followed the course through the four years and marched under the arches to their Recognition as graduates.

An addition had been made to the grounds on the west, and here Dr.

Vincent chose a square shaded by abundant beech-trees, as the center and home of the C. L. S. C. He named it St. Paul's Grove, choosing the apostle who represented the combination of the fervent heart and the cultured mind, an ideal for all Chautauquans. Besides Dr. Vincent's address at this time, another was given by Governor A. H. Colquitt of Georgia, President of the International Sunday School Convention. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Bishop Foster and an appropriate hymn written by Dr. Hyde of Denver was sung by Professor Sherwin and his choir. St. Paul's Grove, and its pillared temple soon to rise, will appear often in our story as one of the sacred spots at Chautauqua.

We must not overlook the daily program during this epoch-making season of 1878. There were the daily cla.s.ses studying Greek and Hebrew under Drs. Strong and Vail. There was a cla.s.s in microscopy, with the Misses Lattimore; there was the normal cla.s.s with a full number of students ending with the successful examination of more than one hundred and forty new members of the Normal Alumni a.s.sociation. The annual reunion of the Normal Alumni was celebrated with the usual banners, procession, address, the illuminated fleet and fireworks.

The lecture platform of 1878 stood at as high a level as ever. If any one speaker bore off the honors of that year, it was Bishop Randolph S.

Foster of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose lectures on "Beyond the Grave" drew the largest audiences and aroused the deepest interest. They were afterward published in a volume which attracted wide attention, and brought some criticism from preachers of the conservative school. There were even some who talked of an impeachment and trial, but they did not venture to bring the greatest thinker and theologian in their church to the bar. Other lecturers who made their mark were Dr. Robert M. Hatfield of Chicago, President Charles H. Fowler, Dr. (soon after Bishop) John F.

Hurst, Dr. John Lord, the historian-lecturer, Dr. Joseph Cook, Professor William North Rice, Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage, with his entertaining lecture on "Big Blunders," and Dr. Charles F. Deems on "The Superst.i.tions of Science."

One remarkable meeting was held on the afternoon of the opening day, Tuesday, August 6th. In the Pavilion four men gave in turn the distinctive doctrines and usages of their several churches. These were the Rev. Mr. Seymour, Baptist, Rev. Mr. Williston, Congregationalist, Rev. Dr. Hatfield, Methodist, and Rev. J. A. Worden, Presbyterian.

Without attempt at controversy or criticism each speaker named the principles for which his branch of the Holy Catholic Church stood. There was the most cordial feeling. Each listener believed as strongly as before in his own denomination, but many felt a greater respect for the other branches of the true vine. At the close all the congregation sang together,

Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love.

A new building took its place upon the grounds, and speedily became the center of many activities. It was called "The Children's Temple," built through the generous gift of President Lewis Miller, in the general plan of his Sunday School Hall at Akron, Ohio, a central a.s.sembly room with folding doors opening or closing a number of cla.s.srooms around it. For many years it was the home of the Children's Cla.s.s, under Rev. B. T.

Vincent and Frank Beard, which grew to an attendance of three hundred daily. They wore badges of membership, pa.s.sed examinations upon a systematic course, and received diplomas. Soon an Intermediate Department became necessary for those who had completed the children's course, and this also grew into a large body of members and graduates.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Chautauqua Book-Store]

A host of events on this great Chautauqua season of 1878 must be omitted from this too long chapter in our story.

CHAPTER IX

CHAUTAUQUA ALL THE YEAR

DURING those early years the Chautauqua sessions were strenuous weeks to both Miller and Vincent. Mr. Miller brought to Chautauqua for a number of seasons his normal cla.s.s of young people from the Akron Sunday School, requiring them to attend the Chautauqua normal cla.s.s and to take its examination. He acted also as Superintendent of the a.s.sembly Sunday School, which was like organizing a new school of fifteen hundred members every Sunday, on account of the constant coming and going of students and teachers. But Mr. Miller's time and thoughts were so constantly taken up with secular details, leasing lots, cutting down trees, and setting up tents, settling disputes with lot holders and ticket holders, and a thousand and one business matters great and small--especially after successive purchases had more than doubled the territory of the a.s.sembly,--that he was able to take part in but few of its exercises. One out of many perplexing situations may be taken as a specimen. In one purchase was included a small tract on the lake-sh.o.r.e outside the original camp ground, where some families from a distance had purchased holdings and built small cottages, being independent both of the camp-meeting and the a.s.sembly. Some members of this colony claimed the right of way to go in and out of the a.s.sembly at all times, Sundays as well as week-days, to attend lectures and cla.s.ses without purchasing tickets. Others in the older parts of the ground under camp-meeting leases declared themselves beyond the jurisdiction of new rules made by the a.s.sembly trustees. A strong party appeared demanding that the lot owners as a body should elect the trustees,--which meant that the future of a great and growing educational inst.i.tution should be shaped not by a carefully selected Board under the guidance of two idealists,--one of whom was at the same time a practical businessman, a rare combination,--but by a gathering of lot-holders, not all of them intelligent, and the majority people who were keeping boarding-houses and were more eager for dollars than for culture. I remember a conversation with the proprietor of one of the largest boarding-houses who urged that the grounds be left open, with no gate-fees or tickets; but instead a ticket-booth at the entrance to each lecture-hall, so that people would be required to pay only for such lectures and entertainments as they chose to attend! I could name some a.s.semblies calling themselves Chautauquas, where this policy was pursued; and almost invariably one season or at most two seasons terminated their history.

Added to these and other perplexities was the ever-present question of finance. The rapid growth of the movement caused a requirement of funds far beyond the revenue of the a.s.sociation. Its income came mainly from the gate-fees, to which was added a small tax upon each lot, and the concessions to store-keepers; for the prices obtained by the leasing of new lots must be held as a sinking fund to pay off the mortgages incurred in their purchase. There came also an imperative demand for a water-supply through an aqueduct, a sewer-system, and other sanitary arrangements made absolutely necessary by the increase of population. In those years Mr. Miller's purse was constantly opened to meet pressing needs, and his credit enabled the trustees to obtain loans and mortgages. But despite his mult.i.tudinous cares and burdens, no one ever saw Mr. Miller hara.s.sed or nervous. He was always unruffled, always pleasant, even smiling under the most trying conditions. His head was always clear, his insight into the needs not only of the time but of the future also was always sure, and his spinal column was strong enough to stand firm against the heaviest pressure. He knew instinctively when it was wise to conciliate, and when it was essential to be positive. The present generation of Chautauquans can never realize how great is their debt of grat.i.tude to Lewis Miller. The inventor and manufacturer of harvesting machines at Akron and Canton, Ohio, busy at his desk for eleven months, found the Swiss Cottage beside Chautauqua Lake by no means a place of rest during his brief vacation.

Nor were the burdens upon the other Founder lighter than those of his a.s.sociate. The two men talked and corresponded during the year regarding the coming program, but the selection, engagement, and arrangement of the speakers was mainly Dr. Vincent's part. At the same hour, often half a dozen meetings would be held, and care must be taken not to have them in conflict in their location and their speakers. Changes in the program must often be made suddenly after a telegram from some lecturer that he could not arrive on the morrow. New features must be introduced as the demand and the opportunity arose,--the Baptists, or Methodists, or Congregationalists, or Disciples desired a meeting, for which an hour and a place must be found. The only one who kept the list of the diversified a.s.semblages was Dr. Vincent. He had no secretary in those days to sit at a desk in an office and represent the Superintendent of Instruction. His tent at the foot of the grounds was a stage whereon entrances and exits were constant. Moreover, the audience was apt to measure the importance of a lecture by the presence of Dr. Vincent as presiding officer or a subst.i.tute in his place introducing the speaker.

The Vincent temperament was less even and placid than the Miller; and the a.s.sembly of those early years generally closed with its Superintendent in a worn-out physical condition.

And it must not be forgotten that Dr. Vincent like his a.s.sociate Founder was a busy working man all the year. He was in charge of the Sunday School work in a great church, supervising Sunday Schools in Buenos Ayres, and Kiu-kiang, and Calcutta, as well as in Bangor and Seattle. At his desk in New York and Plainfield he was the editor of nine periodicals, aided by a small number of a.s.sistants. Several months of every year were spent in a visitation of Methodist Conference setting forth the work, and stirring up a greater interest in it. He was lecturing and preaching and taking part in conventions and inst.i.tutes everywhere in the land. Chautauqua was only one of the many activities occupying his mind, his heart, and his time.

The a.s.sembly of 1878, with the inauguration of the C. L. S. C., had been especially exhausting to Dr. Vincent. Imagine, if you can, his feelings when he found his desks in the office and the home piled high with letters concerning the new movement for Chautauqua readings all the year. He was simply overwhelmed by the demands, for everybody must have an immediate answer. Walking out one day, he met one of the teachers of the High School, told her of his difficulties, and asked her if she could suggest anyone who might relieve him. She thought a moment, and then said:

"I think I know a girl of unusual ability who can help you--Miss Kate Kimball, who was graduated from the High School last June, and I will send her to you."

She came, a tall young lady, only eighteen years old, with a pair of brown eyes peculiarly bright, and a manner retiring though self-possessed. Dr. Vincent mentioned some of the help that he required, but looked doubtfully at her, and said, "I am afraid that you are too young to undertake this work."