Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-20
4 CHAUTAUQuA ASSEMBLY.

The Proposed Esfablishment OF . Seat of
Learning ON the Banks of the Potomac.
TIER AIMS OF THE PROJECTORS AND THE GEN.
rRAL PROGRAM ExP1-AISKD AT A PUBLIC MEET
NO LAST SIaHr-AN ADDRESS BIZ THE CHAM
cKLLoR OF THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY.
In response to . general invitation extended
from the pulpits Of the various churches of the
city Sunday, about 500 people gathered at
Foundry Church last night for the purpose Of
receiving instruction as to the purposes and
aims of the projectors of the Chautauqua that it
IL intended shall be built on the banks Of the
Potomac near Glen Echo. The information on
this subject came in the form Of an address of
about half an hour from Rev. A. Fl. Giilet. chan
cellor Of the Warrington Chautauqua, who has
been largely instrumental in starting the new
project. The meeting was opened with prayer
and song. and then Chancellor Gillet was intro
duced to the audience. His address was very
well calculated to arouse the interest and en-
thusiasm of his hearers. growing in intensity
from q plain. calm statement of the theories Of
the central organization TO outline of the
docs that are the foundation of the new
scheme that is now being brought into life.
The word Chautauqua, he said, represents
both an idea and place. The idea embraces
three forms or phrases. which he proceeded to
sketch First comes to the assembly which
takes the form of large gathering on the banks
Of Chautauqua lake each summer OF people in
terested in their own education. Last year
a.. 600 was expended on the program Of eight
weeks course of instruction alone. The man
ayers Of the assemblies are quite aware OF the
fact that il is impossible to convey n liberal ed
ucation in six or eight weeks, but IL il aimed to
give folks impulse toward education. The
second phase is that Of the ''circle." which is a
form Of education for those people who cannot
visit Chautauqua in the summer. but who are
carried through a course Of instruction by
means Of reading matter sent to them through
the mails. For the purpose OF better results
these people are gathered in circles in cities
and towns
The plan was conceived by Bishop Vincent in
1878 while on midocesn, on his way from Eu-
rope and from q small beginning it has grown
until there are today upwards of 100000 read
els Of the Chautauqua literature in this country.
There are some said Mr.. Gillet, who began
their reading in 1878 and who are not through
vet but we hope to keep the organization alive
long enough TO get them through. anyway. 1t
NAV be at the end of this century and it may
be at the end Of the next, but they are going to
get through some time
The third phase is that Of the university,
which conducts the education of its students
entirely BY means of correspondence. There
are now ! 900 nonresident members, who are
slowly. carefully going through their studies.
that in all the eight years that the university
has been in existence there have been but eight
diplomas granted.
AN ASSEMBLY TO BE ESTABLISHED HERE
After this exposition of the plan Of the Chau-
tauqua in all of its features the speaker went
on to show what is intended to be done here.
Thew are planning. he said. for a Cha1sau 1ua
assembly pure and simple, with summer
meeting. possibly two. and maybe long OF e,
~ - ~ ~.
summoned to tbs city he said, by lady inter-
ested in the work 70 confer with certain people
about the formation of an assembly here. An
offer was made by some gentlemen-the Messrs-
eighty acres Of land on the banks
Of the Potomac, provided the assembly were
organized on a sure basis. The condition has
been fulfilled. the board of incorpo-ators Sc
cured. the articles Of incorporation filed, and
there has been q meeting Of the board. The
plans have been so far matured that 1t would
be safe to announce some of the general
features of the assembly that is proposed. The
FIRST session will be held from June to June IS
next. II is proposed to secure as much intel
lectual strength as ii Is possible to command
for the filing out of these seventeen days with
one continual round Of entertainment and in
ssruetion- There has been no limit placed to
the expense Of the program. as 1t Is well known
that the best talent is the only sort worth while
getting for such an object as education.
THE GENERAL PROGRAM.
There will be three lectures or entertain
ments each day-one at II am, one at 2:30 or
8 pm. and the last one at 8 pm. Besides the
actual lectures and educational movements
there will be supplementary items to maintain
q continuous interest, such as musical selec
tons, Evolutionary displays and other general
Thus there will be forty-eight
different lectures and entertainments during
this course of seventeen days. Among the
contracts already made for the course is one
with the Rev. I. Dewitt Talmage. who will
open the meeting on the first day and will de-
liver the lecture on the second day. Chancel-
Tor Vincent will deliver the last lecture of the
course. There will also be concerts, illumina-
ton of the grounds and all sorts of plans to
keep the interest going from the start to the
finish without a dull moment. There will be
several special lines of instruction besides
those usually taught in educational centers.
The department for Sunday school teachers
will be under the charge of Jesse l. Hurlbut,
assisted by Rev. Wilbur r. Davidson. There
are to be three classes-for seniors. juniors and
for children. The department of music will
be under the charge of Prof. G. c. Case. There
will also be a department of art. with special at
t<ntiOr paid to decorative art Of all sorts. For
the summer school for ministers there will be
provided q very complete course in Hebrew
and Greek, under the general charge of DIR. w.
T. Harper of Chicago, assisted by efficient
corps Of teachers 1t is proposed, although
the plans for this feature are not vet con-
summated. to establish a department for
vOman's work There viii also be kinder
garten.
The cost Of all this instruction will be very
small, about half what is charged at the regu-
lar Chsutauqua in New York, where the sessions
are much longer, however. The rate for the
whole term here Of forty-eight lectures and en-
tertainments will probably be $3.50. Mr.
Gillet closed his address with an appeal to
the generosity and interest of the audience,
and an explanation OF the fact that in all of its
work the Chautauqua is absolutely nom sec TARTAN
He added. as an additional fact of interest, that
the projectors are now endeavoring to secure a
lease Of the river front adjacent to the Baltzley
grant and also of the small islands in the river
30 that the entertainment Of the students and
others frequenting the grounds will be en-
BANGED
OTHER sPEAKERs.
Chancellor Gillet was followed by Mr. E. W.
Halford, who spoke for few minutes, and gave
some substantial encouragement to the hearers,
made BY Mrs. j. Ellen Foster and Rev. Mr. e.
lott, the latter announcing that the subscrip-
ton books are now open at the Office of the
company, 6l2 18th street. The meeting was
presided over by Mr.. VIM. Redin Woodward.
the president Of the local Chautauaua union.
who introduced the speakers in a clever
manner.
meeting Of the incorporators Of the Chau-
tauqua Company was held yesterday afternoon
and the following officers were elected: Edwin
Baluley, president; A s. Pratt vice president:
Rev. A III. Gillet, chancellor; Edward Baltzley,
treasurer: l. De F. Jennings, secretary.
Foot Ball Tomorrow.