New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
cHAUTAUQUA RETREAT.
TEACHERS STUDY EAGERLY UNDER THE
NEW PRINCIPAL COLONEL PARKER.
RECEPTION BY THE ORDER OF THE WHITE SEAL
THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN DuLpING-THE
coScENTMc SYSTEM OF THE CHAU
FAUoUA UNIVERSITY.

hoad al
cook County Normal school, Chicago. The aim OF TINS
department IS TO present and illustrate the system Oh
,aehng and training Of a professional training class
nv ANS on psychology and pedagogcs and lessons
mon the principles and methods Of teaching the na'u
val sciences. geography history, elocton, literature
az The distinctive feature Of the professional IRAN
Is hare may be designated by the word concentration
upcn the central subject Of life and the laws CT me-
ph,ssl, mental and moral. This theory of concen-
,r.t,on brings bear all the forces of thought ana
modes Of thought-expression upon the central subject
observation. bearing. Language reading and the mooeS
Of expressing thought made the direct ana I'M
mediate means Of enhancing and intensiylng the III
nlnsio purpose.
Colonel Parker the principal of the department slc
oeeds Dr. j. w. Dickinson, of Boston who mas oee "
the bsad of the Teachers Retreat for the last nue
wears Colonel Parker Is Htole over fifty years OF
age and is native of the Granite state ne oohieS
of old English stock aud is descendant OF Sohe' inc
regoide, who helped TO behead Charles the FIRST RE
has been a schoclmaster since he was sixteen
beginning his work In that part of Illinois wnoh zen
era John A. Logan described as the cohilhes VI
Egypt lie entered the army a. private In the
4th New-Hampshire stayed four years, ana brought
lis regiment home its colenei he was "ouhoeo w
Deep Bottom In August, 1854 being shot IN the neck
His throat badly injured, causing DIS VOICE 10 De
somewhat husky and rough. The colonel faceCoosp
remarks that be is in doubt whether it was the ouief
or the early system of elocuon which he studied that
gave such a rasping quality 20 his voice. In 1866
lie founded the Normal school at Dalton, Ohio, and
there began the work Of primary instruction which has
brought him into prominence. Some years hter he
bacame superintendent of the schools in Quincy, Mass
lis particular mode of teaching cons sted in the kindly
treatment Oh children and in setting them 20 work and
IN mstructing them to read ana write by natural
methods. so great his success that over 10000
visitors dropped in 10 see his :, heo IN one year.
In 1883 he was invited to the Cook County Normal
School, and was put in entire charge of the school
For the last years he has been trying to build up
great training school Chicago, and has now under
hin twenty-five instructors and some 500 teachers
students. There are academic departments to in
sruct The Colonel IS also an author having written
"Ts.s on Teaehing4 and bow to Study Geography. 4"
The other members of the faculty of the Teachers
Retreat are Wilbur ;. Jackman, A NJ. William NJ.
Griffin B. p. Mrs. Frank stuart Parker, Helen Malcy,
Dr. ]. 7. Edwards, w. d. McCntock, Pm. D., Charles
H. Wells, Sarah f. Griswold. They are with three
exceptions members Of the faculty Of the Cook County
Normal school. Chicago. There are several hun
dred teachers from all parts Of the United States at
work the Teachers Retreat And it is only Just TO
say that during the present month the teachers have
worked like beavers from early morning till late at
night and have covered remarkable amount of study
for the hottest part Of the ear.
One of the unique features Of the week was the ne
eepdon given on Tuesday evening between and 10
O'Clock by the order Of the White Seal in the Hall OF
Philosophy. The affair suggests bit Of history about
Chautauqua work that is not generally known Every
body has heard of the Chautauqua Literary and Sci
entnc Circle with It's membership reaching to nearly
100000 but few have the least idea of the connection
between this great circle Of readers and the reception
given BY the order Of the White seal last TUESDAY
night when the Athenian watch fires cast their lur1d
light over the grove and the great TRIPODS named
against the sky. making the White Temple TO resemble
the Parthenon 1t is In this eonsecsted spot tat the
c. L. s. c. Round Tables" held, the classes OF the
great reading circle celebrate their graduation and the
sunset audiences unite in vesper songs.
In order 10 have clear comprehension OF the Or'er
Of Lhe White Seal, II is perhaps necessary br1e1y 10
reeaiSe the history Of the c. L. SEC This circle was
formed at Chautsuqua by Bishop Vincent In August
1873 and had for it's object four years course OF
study requiring an average Of nearly all hours reading
each day during ten months If the year. There are
local classes all over the world who study the same
subjects simultaneously. though In different perlods OF
their course. The first class was graduated In 1857
and liz members were called the pioneers The books
they studied and read had to be taken from the stand
ard publication houses. Gradually, the ChautauQus
Press was 70 med, which now prints the books and
preaFes them for the students OF tic c. L. s. c. Many
OF these books are condensation Of great number
OF volumes, and prepared by experts. The plo-
neers had to send to Dr. Vincent postal card every
week showing how many pages they had studied and
read that week But later this system was simplhed
FIRST years study covers American history, literature,
science and art the second year. English history, lit
erature, science and art; the third year, Roman his
tory literature science and art and the fourth, Greek
history literature science and art. In the Roman and
Greek years the books, such the odyssey, Had
Aened and the Ike translated into English for the
student Upon a satisfactory completion Of four
years course, and the filing out Of examination
papers the faithful student awarded certificate, and
becomes a fnhedged c. L. ;. c. alumnus. He Is
now by virtue Of graduation, member Of the "socl-
ety Of The Hall in the Grove The Han OF Philosophy
i known to c. L. :. c. alumni as tho Hall in the
Grove being Ike Janus double faced, 30 far as the
name goes. on each diploma given Is pyramid III
tended to be place for seals But the diploma De
ereases In value a. the years 50 b. uniess special
courses OF study entered upon. IN ouser words
unless the graduate aspes for honors his honors eA
pire but, If he thirsts &c lon9rs, he may pursue
special courses Of study, which, upon examination en-
title him 10 q seal Four seals give him admttSnoe
into the order Of the White Seal
This order of the White Seal has its mission, and
that mission is TO welcome the members Of the various
C. LIS c. classes 10 Chautauqua, 10 give them re0ep-
tons and in general TO be committee to WORK sitef
the social interests of Chautauqua But higher giores
await the earnest and aspiring student eeVeh seals
enrtle him 10 become a member Of the League OF the
Round Table And here again history repeats ITSELF
The seal Of this Order Is green because the Oruer
modelled after King Arthur and Ills Knights OF the
Round Table, who met in the greenwood wearing
green NANTES. This oder Of tue Round Table also haS
it, mission; and curiously enough It's Held OF labor
directly concerns newspaper men. The c. l. O. T.
Knights Of the Round Table unlike Don QuiTote, have
q specific work 10 perform, and that Is the WORK OF
informing encouraging snd helping he press 10 com
prehend the heights and depths Of the ChSht~nQus
system Of popular instruction There are com
yaatvely few Of the Round Table students, but what
they lsk in numbers they Up Ia work. and they
are known TO tue press almost everywhere
Tor The student who hAs the ambition Of the hel" I"
LOngfellOws Excelsior" there Is SUI higher Oreel
Ahg"n % tie Guild Of tbe seven seals EAth setgh
lAeT power W capture g many degrees 40 they ~th
Ihe Guild Of the seven seals bsFe also a rOrt 70
perform, and this Is missionary WORK Inc S-1A
sL-lds ~ close ciTcle4r0und bishop vincent Aa HsV
70 elaborate his deAs aud 10 suggest ne" ones AAy
ASSIST the Chancellor III every way TO carry out gle
pi~hs Ihls the circle that scokS 70 soD ate
lAe 1911 lin l. Z. RcnNeLn W