New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-15
THE NORMAL ALUMNI DAY.
sUNDAYSCHOOL METHODS DISCUSSED AT
CHAUTAUQUA.
PRESIDENT LEWIS MILLER EXPLAINS THE
SYSTEM IN USE AT AKRoN-CLosE OF
III NOI4IlfTL Of II DLIshIl HIFt'7'
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBUSEI
Chautauqua y. y, Aug. Abnormal Alumni Day
has been celebrated at the Assembly with proceSslos
reunions and speeches, and an illumination OF INC
steamboat feet in the lake before the grounds IN
1874, when the Assembly started, the instruction oi
Sunday teachers principal feature OF inc
plan Several normal classes were conducted slmul-
tsneously at different places about the grounds ana
these have been continued but on smaller scale d.
the regular side OF the Institution has developed Inc
Normal Alumni Association IS composed OF gi'"'uaes
of these normal 1t has about lOOo members
and 300 are on the grounds. The anniversary Is
,6ovah,e feast but Is always observed about the middle
of the Assembly season.
The Normal Hall is the property OF the Alumni Asso
citation and was erected by subscription among uie
members several years ago. At the meeting held there
tonight the Rev. samuel Knight, of ST. Louis, piesld
Mr. Knight was elected president of the association
and Dr. Jesse L. lurlbut secretary and treasurer
After the election the Rev. J. $ Ostrander' OF Brook
bn, headed a procession OF the members 70 Miii1f
Park each class being led by a bannerbearer. Ihcy
were met by 500 members OF the Chautauqua Literary
md Scientific Circle arranged in classes, who sauted
them with the waving of handhcrchefs anc uleh
followed them in a body the amphtheatrc. There
songs were sung and speeches were delivered by Ie
dent Lewis Miller, Dr. W. A, Duncan ana Dr. Us
trander Mr.. Miller, who is an indefaugable sunday
school worker gave interesting DESCRIPTION OF the
the inventor.
"rhe first Sunday school," he said "of which
have anv knowledge, was carried in log school
house the church managers thinking 1t improper 10
aesecrate the church building. Many religious ana
conscientious people would not allow their children
to 20 to sunday because they considered them
q dissertation of the sabbath, That oDlectlOn' now
ever was soon removed and the school was brought
into the meeting in those days building WIN
but one large That style of structure is stiu
in use in many parts Of the country
After churches began to be constructed with base
ments the basement was the place where the sunday
schools were held until 1880 TwentysiN years ago
the school with which was connected had primary
intermediate youths seniors and Bible departments
in 1871 the normal was added, and in 1850 the
reserve corps was organized. An annual system Of
promotion was established in 1855 These classifca-
lions created a need for improved buildings In
1906 the uniform lesson system established, which
was adopted by the National Convention of sunday
school workers in 1875, and has since been known as
the International Sunday-school lessons. In 1850.
tie year of the centennial Of Methodism, our society
IN Akron determined for its centennial Offering TO
erect a church eddce with sunday school rooms ade-
architect at Cleveland named Blythe put into
architectural form the plans we conceived. He said
they were the best he had ever seen and Mr. Hartley
the secrctary OF the London Sunday school Union.
WHO came 10 America to study Sunday school methods
TONED in this view. The plan is still in
with many rooms surrounding II and opening into II,
with .oldng doors. At Akron there are two sets
The upper rooms are entered from balcony over
looking he main room. The main room is in the
forAi Of q dome, having a high ceiling with stained
windows placed above the side rooms. There are
as0 special library room. store room for school
centre Of The main room, decorated with ferns and
flowers; piano and an orchestra oil rom t"eIFe 10