The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-09-24
OHAUTAUQUA.
LAST SUNDAYS MEETING.

LAST SUNDAYS MEETING.
The usual fortnightly meeting of the prison
Chautauqua Circle which was held in the chapel
of this institution last Sunday afternoon was un.
doubleday the best and most productive OF good
that has yet taken place since its organization.
With but two absentees caused by illness-there
was a full attendance of members, and the dis
-cipline and harmony which prevailed throughout
the protracted sitting was highly commendable.
The meeting was exclusively devoted to the con-
sideration of the constitution and bylaws re-.
vised by the committee appointed for that pur-
pose at previous meeting, and the election Of
officers for the ensuing year. The committee
report was taken up and discussed clause by clause
and, after some few amendments. was passed as a
whole after which the election of officers, consist
ing of a president. vice.president and secretary
took place. The two first.named outgoing officers
we re reelected with reclamation, but the posi-
ton of secretary brought forth spirited contest
Four candidates were presented each having their
own friends and admirers. One of the candidates
urged the postponement of the election until next
meeting in order, he said, to give the office.
Sc ekers the opportunity of adopting the American
system of buying up the voters but as this was no
political contest the motion was voted down by an
overwhelming majority After an informal bal.
lot. during which stubs of pencils and old envel-
opes were used and misused in most extrava
CANT manner. the contest came down to a fight be.
tween "Leonardus" the present secretary and
"Innisfalen' who held the Office last year. When
the vote for a formal ballot was called the excite
ment high. AS il proceeded the hopes and
fears of the friends Of the two candidates fuctu-
ated to an alarming degree; and it was not until
the press delegation was reached that victory
80 al ceoI1n
"Leonardus" attributes his defeat to the long
tongue of his opponent. while the victor stoutly
maintains that it was solely his good looks and at
tractive Irish accent, the powers of which no
gender, masculine. feminine or neuter can with.
stand, that secured for him the victory. After the
election the Rev. Critic took occasion to offer his
hearty congratulations to the members for the ex-
cellent order and good humor which prevailed
throughout the meeting. He urged upon them
the necessity of adhering strictly upon all occa.
sions and under all circumstances to the rules
they had that day formulated for their own guild
ance for he said if it be otherwise those rules will
disappear little by little until after short time
nothing will be left of them. He congratulated
the president upon the able manner in which he
had conducted the meeting and was lavish IN his
hopes of a great future for the circle. The
to the request of the members for few remarks.
He expressed the great pleasure he felt at being
present at the meeting, and being witness to the
excellent manner it had been conducted. He
strongly urged upon the members the ACCESSIBILITY
of not taking any into the circle who had not at
least rudimentary education. If men were ad.
mtted whose proper place is the night school
then the progress of the circle bound to be
tarded and that proficiency which is expected of
every Chautauquan could seldom if ever be
reached. He wished the circle to be its own dis.
ciplinarian. and the only way in which he wanted
to be connected with it was as helper, and that
he would be such to the furthest limit of his capa
bility. The text books for the current years
study-which is American history-were dis.
tributed for the first time after which adjourn.
ment was moved and one Of the most successful
gatherings Of the Chautauqua circle was brought
to a close The constitution and bylaws are
printed below
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE
n cnIU I'M