Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-09-15
Popular Education.
THE CHAUIAUQUA LITERARY AND sc1EN-
TIFIC CIRCLE.

By Il J. IHETsTTE
Read before and published by request Of the preach
ers' meetings held at PlAindeid
The Chautauqua university has for six
years been earning nearly world wide
renown Chautauqua lake is located in
the western part Of New York, in the
county that bears the same name On the
west side Of the lake is Fair Point, the sea
of the Sabbath school assembly. There i.
where so large numbers of highly edu.
Gated ladies and gentlemen resort every
August, TO spend several weeks in recrea.
ton and study. The most of the time
while there is devoted to study, to the con.
sideration and discussion of Biblical,
historical. astronomical, geological
philosophical and theological, subjects.
and every phase of the Sunday school
Secular science Is studied, but with the
Bible in hand. The superintendent OF
instruction is the Rev. j. II. Vincent,
ID. D.. the corresponding secretary of the
Sunday school union Of the NJ. Z. Church
In looking al the panorama of Chautau-
qua, we see the school of languages. the
musical college,and the Chautsuqua Liter
airy and Scientific Circle. 1t is to the con
sideratiOn OF the last of these that this
essay is confined The Chautauqua Literary
and Scientific Circle was organized nearly
two Years ago-initial letters, c. L. S. c.
DR.. Vincent is the president The course
Of study prescribed by the C. L G..
covers period Of four years. will give
the aim of the circle in DR.. Vincent's own
language: This new organization aims 10
promote habits Of reading and study in
nature, art. science, and in sacred and
secular literature in connection with the
routine of daily life, so as to secure to its
members the college studen's general out
look upon the world and life and 10
develop the habit of close, connected
thinking,as the traveller climbs the noun,
tain and from its summit gaz5s upon the
scene before him, upon other mountains,
upon lakes and cities. So the student
views the broad fields of education. The
study however is not superficial; it can be
made as thorough rs in colleges. 1t pro-
poses to encourages individual study in
certain lines or courses, and it should be
borne in mind that the subjects that are
indicated by the authorities are those that
are essentially necessary for all to be ac-
qusinted with. 1t does not, for instance,
take up the study of history and make
that specially until the word history is
engraved upon the memory, thus etvlng
cut the sciences and other important stud
dies. The year opens October lst, and
continues until July lst, making nine
months of study per year. Please listen
to the list of text books and studies for
the first year: Green's history for the
English people. | look upon history as
the most important of all the secular
subjects that engage the attention of the
student and at the very commencement Of
the course work on English history is
prescribed. England is our mother land
and how necessary is it that we should
become familiar with her history, with her
kings and MOBILES, and her people, their
characteristics etc, to make the study
more prehensive. DR.. Vincent has
prepared in his pleasant way a little out
line book on the subject, dividing the his
tory into periods, and giving the leading
events, persons and dates, which is very
valuable TO those who propose TO give the
history OF England much attention For its
size, it contains more information than
any work with which l am acquainted.
All civilized nations have literature, and
AS the literature of a people is necessary to
be understood in order to be perfect in his
tory itself. this subject is also iD dcated
in the course. Rev. Stafford Brooke
writes volume on English literature.
Dr.. B. X. Pierce's book, entitled, the
Word of God opened, is very valuable
work. and is just what is needed 10
accompany the outlines of Bible history
hv ~ pishAHA
science of physiology is next on the list.
SleePs fourteen weeks course in that study
is the prescribed text book Augusta
Larned then entertains US with old tales
retold from Grecian mythology. in talks
around the fire. 1t contains fifteen beau.
liful illustrations taken from Murray's
manual Of mythology. The Illustrations
represent the leading gods and godesses of
the ancient Grecians, such as Zeus, Hersa,
Athena, Antemis, Aphrodite, etc. The
book is written IN very pleasing and
attractive style. 1t is well known that the
subject of mythology is not only interest
ing but necessary; we are constantly
meeting it. 1t is frequently referred to in
sermons and lectures, in history and liter
ature. and it is SO connected with the
sCIouCc vi hSblOHolAN' Nuht W Perfectly
understand the one, knowledge is
required. DR.. Vincent writes Chautau-
qua text book No. 5, on Greek history, on
the same plan as No. 4, of that series on
English history. DR.. Vail has prepared
No. 6, on Greek literature in which he
introduces US to the immortal Homer, the
greatest inspired writer. Pericles and
other noted authors. He gives selections,
from the Illiad and Odessy, as well as
other highly priced books. Old Greek
life is finely described by j. Mahapy. and
now comes the most interesting book of
the series, Recreations in Astronomy By
DIR. (now Bishop Warren. cannot do
better than to quote the language Of DR..
Wheedon in the description of the book
in the Dr's. book table of October,
1879 of the review page 7S9: In the last
glimpse we caught of DR.. Warren from
the humble level of our book table we
noticed with what velocity he Was ran
sacking our lower creation in hunt ior
terrine elephants. but now we descry that
he has gone up, that he has gone up to
scrape acquaintance with the planets as
to play with the srolites, pull
off the wig of the sun, enjoy a swim
among the nebulas, take the measurements
Of the measureless, and finally knock US
down with the ultimate force; but he al
last becomes terrestrial enough to 60 TO
the Harpers and by diDt of paper of radi-
ant whiteness, and pictures of brilliant
blackness, to lend dainty beauty to the
empyrean sublimity of mis- flights. The
DR.. also writes Chautauqua text book No.
> CtndiaS af the stars In the Second years
course we have the history Of Rome from
its founding by Romulus, the first Of
the seven kings, to the last emperor, who
was dethroned.
Dr. Vincent's text, No. Is, Roman his
tory, and Harper's half-bour series, No.
IL, Latin literature, are next in order.
Walkers philosophy Of the plan of saliva
lion and text book No IS of the Chautau-