The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
Tho Catholic Chautauqua.

It seems to be settled that a Roman Cath.
Ole summer school after the ChautauQua
plan is to be established temporarily and
perhaps tentatively ut New London. In Con-
necticut. The project Is to hold the first ses-
sion at that place during three weeks Of next
August. with the expectation that before an
other year enough capital will be obtained
to enable a stock company to purchase q
site to be occupied permanently. The per-
manent situation for the camp most gen.
orally favored is Carleton Island. one OF the
Thousand Islands Of the st. Lawrence
lying within the boundaries Of New York.
This Is very striking and significant
movement. 1t shows that the Roman Cath
olics are adopting purely American methods
Of propaxating their faith and stimulating
the zeal OF their followers. They are taking
lesson from tho Methodists and the Bap-
lists. the two religious denominations
which. together with themselves. comprise
about three-quarters OF the declared Chris
tan believers in this country.
The ChautauQua system Is q direct de-
velopmcnt OF the camp meeting which was
first held in the last year OF the last century
on the banks OF the Red River in kentucky.
Two brothers, the one a Methodist and the
other Presbyterian minister. were 80 far
successful in arousipg religious interest
in that region that tho little meeting
and they were obliged to conduct
their services out OF doors and In
the woods. The people tiocked TO the
place in great numbers. and as they had to
bring with them the necessary provisions,
III encampmeIt was the result The Bap-
fists also soon joined In the undertaking,
which proved 50 successful that the camp
meeting as regular agency for religious
teaching aud eyhortation was established.
The more staid and conventional Presby-
terians subsequently, abandoned the
method. but it has been followed by the
Baptsts. and more especially by the Meth
odists. from that day to this. The great
religious revivRls which built up tho Zap
lists aud Methodists were due largely TO
these camp meetings. They brought
under religious influences vast num-
bcrs OF people who were apart from
the churches; and unquestionably they
raised the moral and social standards
OF many parts CT tho Union: for in the early
days OF this century these were often
the civilzlng restraints and associations OF
the centres Of population. Tho church &C.
commodations in the country were also in
adequate; and the novelty OF the camp
meetings. the social needs they supplied
for a scattered and pioneering popula-
ton. and the attractions OF their
rural surroundings and open-air services
lent them peculiar fascination. They
gave new interest to men and women
whose lives were monotonously toilsome,
and the usual course OF whose existence
was lonely sordld. and unbeautiful. They
brought to these multitudes the poetry
OF religion. and tho people seized it with the
eagerness OF starved souls who had been
confined before to the husks Of low and ma.
terial things.
Tho camp meeting tourished because It
supplied u real want. Elections, training
days. and camp meetings. furnished the solo |
variety, diversion, stimulation, and excite
ment which saved great part of tho popu-
lation from descending into spiritual and In.
tellectual torpor. AS tho country became
more thickly populated. and churches and
meeting houses grew in number propor.
Lionately. the prime necessity for tho camp
meeting passed away. Yet its picnic charac-
Ter and its appeal to the social instincts have
served to keep it alive. and at this very day
there are more OF these camps conducted
md established every year than at any.
lime In the past.
III many cases they have developed into
summer colonies. as at Marthas Vineyard
md Ocean Grove. to which thousands of
people in religious sympathy resort regu-
arly for social qualification and to enjoy
he pleasures of u healthful vacation by the
sea or In the mountains. perhaps even more
han for purely religious instruction and
ALLEGATION. In place OF the old tents and ar