Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05
A FONT OF LEARNING
Opened With Appropriate Ceremonies
at Chautauqua Yesterday.
THE ADDRESS OF BISHOP VINCENT
Science and Religion Are Working Side by
Side for Progress.
BIG CELEBRATION OF THE FOURTH
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.1 j


CHAUTAUQUA, July 4.-The "Glorious
Fourth" was ushered in here by the firing
of crackers and the ringing of the chimes.
Chautauquans are patriotic, and the Stars
and Stripes were unfurled from many q
cottage
The morning lecture was given BY Prof.
Woodburn, of Indiana, in the temple on
''The Politics of the Declaration of INDIE
pendence," and was calculated to inspire
the patriotism of the audience. The speaker
said that this was the first government
founded on abstract principles, and
showed how Jeffesron's immortal phrase,
"All men are created equal" had
been variously criticised by philosophers
and writers of every age. He cited the
decision of the Supreme Court in 1857 as
against the proposition, and noted that it
was the keynote of Summers addresses in
the arraignment of slavery. So late as 1890
we find Governor Tllman, of South Caro-
lima, denying the first clause, that all men
are created equal, but admitting the second
clause that they are entitled to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
Interpreted According to Jefferson.
The speaker said that our nation had in
terpreted this phrase as Jefferson intended,
and that Lincoln was the product of the
maxim. 'tLet us" he said, "again pledge
on this day our lives, our fortunes and our
sacred honors in desense of this principle,
which is the keystone of the Christrian re-
ligior and means the fatherhood of God and
the brotherhood of man.
In the afternoon the sGlorious Fourth
was celebrated in the amphitheater with
appropriate exercises. The big building
Aao, f,n Aa1 A., \
bunting and wore very patriotic aspect.
Short addresses were made by Dr. Widener,
of Nebraska; Colonel Parker, of Chicago,
Rev. Mcmillan, of Allegheny City, and
Bishop Vincent. Colonel Parker said that
it was a great mistake not to make more
noise by the firing of guns and crackers in
the celebration of Independence Day He
said that gunpowder was the only thing
that could do full justice to the feelings of
a patriotic American on the Fourth.
Chancellor vincents Annual Address.
At 8 o'clock the opening proper of the
University here took place, and the students
and teachers of the several colleges, as well
as the Teachers Retreat, gathered in the
amphitheater to hear Chancellor Vincent's
annual address. This was a remarkably
suggestive and significant utterance, and
the Bizkop had evidently taken great care
d
Mistaken Notion"
. Teachers and students of the summer
schools, said the Chancellor, "Chautauqua
has a positive religious faith. 1t has no
creed at the gate to impose on anyone. 1t
asks no questions"
The design of the address was to show
that, in holding the theistic faith, Chau-
tauqua is allying itself with all the great
leaders of human thought the world over,
scientists, philosophers, historians and
statesmen. This is not the common idea.
1t is generally supposed tat between
science and religion there is a
try is in fact more interested in the latest
discussions of the philosophical, scientific
and social problems than any other class of
men. Many of the most able books are
written by ministers, and college presidents
and professors are usually Christians.
Sciences Protest Against Absurdities.
The Bishop showed that many of the
deviations from the faith on the part of
scientists is rather ON their part protest
against the absurdities and misrepresenta-
items of theology. The filings at religion by
the skepties are usually in reply to filings at
science by the pulpit. The list of great
names to be enrolled on the side of faith in
the essentials of religion is almost endless.
The speaker then gave q long list of sci
entists, philosophers and statesmen who
were pronounced in their religious faith,
such as Bacon, Newton, Milton, Tennyson,
Browning, Faraday, Agassiz and Max MueL
Ter. "But," says the young student who is
passing through the first stage of religious
doubt, "why have you not quoted Spencer,
Huxley and Darwin? Do not these high
priests of science give the weight of their
influence against the doctrine of God and
Immortality, as well as the teachings of
Jesus Christi"
81 answer, No; thousand times nor"
exclaimed the Chancellor. "These men are |
not atheists, and they have not committed |
themselves against all that is radical in the |
realm of religious faith"
The speaker then gave testimonies from |
Darwin, Huxley, Spencer ana Tyndall in !
defense of the reality of religion, of the |
real harmony between true religion and |
true science, and the impossibility of ac-
counting for nature and man without the |
hypothesis of a first cause, infinite and abso- |
lutte The speaker closed with an earnest |
appeal to all Chautauquans to cultivate a |
large and intelligent faith.
Bringing Teachers and Students Together.
Prof Harper, of Yale, then opened the |
schools of sacred literature in a brief ad- |
dress, and not few embryo ministers en-
rolled themselves as students The stu |
dents reception took place tonight in |
Hotel Atheneum and was largely attended. |
This was intended to bring the teachers and |
students into closer acquaintance, as well |
as foster an esprit du corps here.
At $50 tonight the pyrotechnic side Of |
Chautauqua let itself loose in fireworks of |
every description. Chinese lanterns and
gay streamers, together with red lights,
made the Assembly grounds resemble the |
Fourth of July paradise, or, more properly
speaking, the dream of the small boy as to,
L IL y L -