New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-09
THE CHAUTAUQUA CIRCLE.
IT'S HISTORY AND METHODS AND THE MEN
WHO ORGANIZED IT.
MEMBERSHIP WHICH GREW IN TEN YEARS To
15OOOO-sKErcHEs OF LEADING TEACHERS.

tauqua help seeing that its most permanent feature
Is really that having the fewest signs OF pcrmanence.
This IS the "ChaIauqua Literary and Scientific
Crcle7 organization with an enrolled membership
Of 10000 and present constituency of 10000 active
students, belonging TO every state and Territory Of
the Union and almost every civilized country Of tho
globe II an earthquake should suddenly devastate
the Assembly grounds or Johustown flood sweep its
colleges, class-rOoms and lecture halls to the bottom
of the lake. the c. L. s. c. would stll hold together
and its scholars continue their pursuit Of knowledge
undsturbcd
The c. L. S. c. Is entirely Independent Of the
college course, the correspondence schools or the
university extension movement II has its own set OF
officers. It's methods Of work, It's own especial
| services and ceremonies. Tho central Office IS at
Planhed. n. j.. and the Chautauqua mectingplace
IS in the Hall OF Philosophy I'm Pauls Grove, where
the Round Tables and other gatherings take place.
| IL founded TO carry out the Home Reading Idea
for all classes Of the community and persons OF all
ages. In the whole realm Of letters which has been
q special hobby OF Bishop Vincent since 1856. lie
was then pastor of Methodist Church at Irvlngton
y. j. three miles from Newark and was studying
Hebrew But his own difficulties, growing out Of his
lack OF college training, made him eager to remedy
the defect in Others and he accordingly drew
up scheme OF biblical theological and general study
for young ministers like himself and submitted il for
consideration at meetings in Newark called for the
purpose The plan met with general favor, but,
naturally enough, failed in practical operation The
young preacher had plenty Of enthusiasm but was
without business training a knowledge of financial
methods; and It was not until ne had Joined hands
with Lewis Miller in 1874, in establishing the
Chauta1qua Assembly that opportunity occurred
for developing the idea. The Bishop then sent an
outline Of his scheme to leading educators of tho
country, inviting opinions and suggestions. At
Hoslvn, L. l.. the old home OF william Cullen Bryant,
| he preached sermon embodylng the idea; and after
| the sermon the venerable poet forward and
congratulated him, and subsequently assured him Of
his coral support I'm an autograph letter. written
about a month before his DEATH which Is now
preserved among the Bishops treasured archives.
In 1873 the perfected plan started which.
with hardly any modification, has been pushed to such
remarkable success The course OF study covers four
years. requiring average Of forty minutes reading
day during ten months Of each year, and the
work, on a suggestion from Mr. Miller, has been SO
arranged that all the classes. though in different
periods Of their course study the same subjects sim
utancousy. One years reading embraces such topics
as Roman history and literature, political economy.
art and physics for another year. English history ana
literature, astronomy and geology are prrscibcd; for
a third, American history and literature ply slology
and hygiene; and for tho fourth, Greek history and
| literature. zoology and chemistry. The completion
Of a four years and the satisfactory filling
ont Of certain examination papers are rewarded with
diploma and II the graduate thlrss for further honors,
| he NAV pursue special courses lines similarly
prescribed and have his diploma decorated with colored
| seals. The cost Is merely nominal The SIX or eght
books required for each years reading cost about w.
| a years subscription to The Chautauquan' when
contains a large part OF the course, IS 81 more, and
the membership fee OF 80 cents includes the cost OF
documents containing hints and suggestions.
The problem of inspiring enthusiasm among such
large and scattered body OF scholars has been happily
solved by the Of appropriate catch-worls ana
the Institution OF popular ceremonies and CELEBRATIONS
AZ Chauauqua, the graduation day has become sOrt
| Of festival The graduating class march out to the
Hall OF Philosophy, I'm ST. Paiis Grove, and pass
bnneath structure known the Golden Gate"
amid singing and the scattering Of flowers, and on the
previous evening vlHls7 are hold In the same piace
at which, by the light of bonhres, simple lehglou7
services are performed Since the hrst gr%iua''ns
dav I'm 1ss2, the members OF the dhereht cldsscS
who have received their diplomas at Chautauqua have
formed Themselves into alumni associations, dis
tinnuisbed by such suggestive titles as Pioneers
and .. IrcprcssIblcs, Each class has nameI a
MOTTO favorite flower. and distinguishing color ior
IT'S banners and badges. TWO of them have permanent
headquarters on the grounds union class oullahs
has been projected and several of the classes nave
already raised large proportion OF their snare III .c
expense The building will doubtless be erected De-
fore next season.
Mr. Miller and Bishop Vincent, as president ana
chancellor Of Chautauqua, control the circle as wen
a. the other branches. The reading matter Tor each
course Is selected by the following council OF SIN DE-
LYMAN Abbott. pastor of Plymouth Church, BOOK
lyn: Dr. j. NJ Gibson OF the It. Johns Wood PfeSby
terrain Church, London; Bishop H. W. warren OF
Denver: Dr. W. c. wilkinson. the well known author
Dr. Edward Everett Hale, and DR.. James Ii. Carlisle
president of Woford College. spaltanburg s. I. The
principal of the circle is Dr. Jesse l. lIrlbu OF pam
field y. J.
DR.. IImlbut was born In New-York n 1913, but
10, In Ncu
graduated at the Wesleyan University Mddletown'
Conn, in 1864. and became minister I'M the
Methodist Episcopal Church Ito has been pastor
of the Roscvillc Church. Newark. at Marhe'-st
Paterson. at Montclslr and at Trinity Church staten
Island. 1t Painfcld he had charge for three years
Of the Methodist church which Bishop Vincent ard
his family attended. He went next to The
First Methodist Churh at IIobokcn, and then by APP
polntmcnt from the Bishops assigned 70 Sunday
school work. lie holds the Important Office of
corresponding secretary Of the Sunday school Union
and Tract Society. Dr.. llurlbuts connect with
Chauauqua dates from $50 when. at the reodcst OF
Bishop Vincent he assisted In the Sunday school nor
nal work. as principal Of the c. l.. s. C., an Office
which he has held since 1885. lie has general charge
of the work Of nearly 100000 readers. He conducts
Chauiauqua assemblies in the summfr In different
parts Of the country, and has visited since June Is
assemblies from Kansas to Massachusetts. lie Is
accomplished speaker and singer and presides at
round tables with especial success.
Dr. Iurbut's principal aide is Miss Kate +. Kimbal.
tbe oGce secretary. who has the whole business of the
concern at her fingers ends and can tell ofhand the
number OF members record on any given day of any
year Miss Kimball Is dark. attractive young lady,
with a quiet but alert manner. and wonderful head
for business. She Is known to all Chautauquans as
a sort of pcrambulatlng bureau OF information. aud
her executive ability is great her mastery of
detail She born at Orange, Y. j., was educated
at the Planncld High school and has been connected
with Chauauqua since 1878. She directs during the
greater part of the year force of twenty assistants
controls about $4,000 year OF The >oclcty's funds
and attends to something like 10000 letters from all
parts Of the world during the same period Yet each
days mall IS answered almost as fast II comes ln
and vouchers for every item OF receipt or