Omaha daily bee., 1886-07-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY.
The Grand Opening of Nebraska's ohau-
tauqua Which Occurs To-day,
SCOPE OF ITS WORK EXPLAINED
A Description OF the Grounds at Crete
and the Comforts and Delights
Afforded-A Magnificent
Programme.
Nebraska's ohautauqua Assembly.

the Nebraska Sunday school assembly
will open here tomorrow, and it is worth
while to take preliminary survey of the
field, in order to better understanding
OF its operations. The work of the as.
sembly is modelled upon the Chautauqua
organization, which holds its annual
meetings at Chautauqua lake in New
York. Though denominated Sunday
school assembly, the scope of of its work
embraces all departments of Christian
ondeavor and Christian activity, at the
same time that it takes hold of literature,
science, history, travels and socials, aim
ing to instruct, interest and amuse the as
semblage that gathers here. The organ.
ization is directly in the hands of the
Congregational churches of Nebraska,
but members of other denominations are
embraced in its directory, and its work is
largely undenominatlonal or cosmopoli-
tan. The chief workers of the assembly
are usually Congregational in sen timent,
but some of its best, m ost attractive and
most pow nrful lecturers have been from
other ecclesiastical folds. 1t holds ses.
sion annually ut Crete, upon It's own
grounds, which are admirably surfaced
and skillfully plated. The grounds are
an irregular oblong, containing 1904
acres, situated Just west of the Big Blue
above the railroad crossing, and a large
portion of the tractlS enclosed IN n sweep
of the river. The longest sides are those
running east and west, and the entrance
is from the south and near the center of
the southern line, the river being crossed
upon two pontoon bridges-one for
teams and the other for pedestrians. A
tl,, hot Of
meanders to the river a few rods west OF
the center of the tract, md is joined
about half way by another from the west.
Thus, n good quarter of the grounds is in
the southwest corner. This is u very
evenly surfaced piece of ground, gently
sloplng southward to the river. At the
extreme southwest corner, IN a bend of
the river, are few acres of bottom land
canopied by large trees, atfording good
shade into which to retire from the noon
tide heat. Iu this shade is an auditorium
for class work, the trees atfording the
only covering needed rs n shelter from
the sun. In the southeastern part of the
grounds are perhaps thirty acres of land
that have been reserved for a park, for
base ball and other outdoor sports and
grounds for packing teams; The The re,
9f Second tT0bs BEND 'ees Of S rver banRs 1ns
Upon this second nend- are located the
grounds proper of the assembly. These
are laid off into blocks and lots, with
straight or curved streets and avenues,
rs may best suit the conformatons of the
surface. In all there are 495 lots. The
streets and avenueSiare named for those
whose services in Behalf of the assembly
have been consplcuous. The pavilion is
NOT far from the center OF The southwest
?erntract, and is said to be capable of
holding 1,20Og3 TheStplatform is ample
for the large concert which closes the
meetings. Not far from the pavilion and
near to the rivers brink is the dining
hall, in the form of an irregular cross,
capable of accommodating 300 at once.
This hall will be under the management
of the ladies of the Congregational church
of Crete. 1t will be under the immediate
direction of w. H. Kirkland, who has had
large experience in conducting a railroad
eating house. The charge for meals will
be 30 cents each with fair reduction
for steady board, and it is the announced
intention to make the fare as good as
possible for the money. A lunch counter
will be connected with the hall and be
under the same management. Groceries
will be sold on the grounds to those who
| prefer to board themselves. in whole or
| in part.
A barber's shop will also be present,
anu Ilt CIy hCNU, Wlll DC dJ III
| tervals. A news stand and newsboys
have been arranged for, so that the gen
| eral reader may not lose sight altogether
| of mundane events. The Telephone COM
| pany has opened an Office in convenient
| place for accommodation and profit. The
| pier is in good place, where those dis
posed can secure ride in rowboat or n
steamer. The course for the steamer
has been heretofore above Seeley's dam,
| and rho trims bnvn frnuunptIv bnnp fiya
miles distant. AS Seeley's dam is
wreck and the mill pond n remembrance,
| the steamer will navigate the pond of
White u Glad. The distance is not so
| great, less than two miles, but the scenery
will be picturesque. The weather SER
vice bureau will bring its weather signals
to the grounds and display them upon
hoped that this will have good effect
upon the weather.
| The city authorities have just com
pleted laying substantial sidewalks to the
limits of the city, and the assembly au-
| thorities have made connection with the
| grounds. One can now travel from the
heart of the city to the grounds on one
| sidewalk. In the grounds the
walk connects normal hall, the Offices
the dining hall, the barber shop and the
| pavilion. The railroad authorities have
erected a platform at the point where its
track runs nearest to lie grounds, and
will stop the trains thoroat both ways
during the meetings. a branch walk
connects this platform with the man
walk,
So far but two cottages have been
erected on the grounds, the tent being
cheaper. Should tfse,eXperience of this
year prove the superiority of the cot
tages, there is little AoHbt that many will
be erected next ,ysar, The managers
assure me that of the $50 tents owned and
set up by the association, 175 have been
engaged, and thats forty private tents
win be on the grounds. This is many
more tents than wereli used last year,
showing how much larger the attendance
promises this year! Engagements are
already made to naarlSofill all the hotels
and boarding houses Of the city.
As was expected and guarded against
some changes are announced in the pro-
| gramme. DIR. Lyman Abbott was an
nounced to open the MEETINGS with lee
ture, on Thursday evening, upon the labor
| question, entitled, dThe Industrial Revolu-
| ton" The railway disconnecuons
| are such that 'heN cannot arrive
from the Ottawa, Kan, assembly
in time for that evening. In
j oonsn1uonoa of th;s Mr. ~ II Dnlton