The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-05-24

maj oi fopuihr F-uuChtion IN AmefiCN
The Hall OF the Christ, Permanent
Structure Helen Gould's Gifts to
INC Assembly.
CHAUTAUQUA, N. Y. May.
All Chautauquans whose steps turn
each summer towards the city In the
forest which for 25 years has been
known as a center of popular educa-
tion, will see and hear much this year
of the New Chautauqua." Lest these
thousands of loyal friends might gain
from this an impression that some
time honored feature of the old Chau-
tauqua had passed away, the writer
Of these letters, after personal investl-
cation can assure the readers of this
paper who anticipate again coming
under the spell of the Chautauqua
spirit, that the hand Of Change has
been laid upon the organization dur
ing the past IL months solely for its
proSiessive betterment There will be
an E.,proved condition which the visi-
tor tA.S season will find In evidence the
moment he enters the gates of the
city, and while those pleasant Gus
toms which year after year have OBJ
tanned among all good Chautauquans
will continue as its unwritten law,
with them will have become incorporat-
ed g.me of modern service with
mvariSS,e hospitality and official cour-
tesy, il D4e pnrase may be allowed,
which viii at once establish in the
visitors mind his true status as
guest and thereby a Chautauquan.
This reorganization has been the work
or the months since the farewells of '9S
were said throughout the great gather
ing at the last services and the plan of
conc ntration in both the educational
and administrative departments is the
result of combined deliberations by the
broad-minded educators and keen busi-
ness man who place their ability at the
command of this parent of all the
Chautauquas.
Chautauqu's Quarter Centennial.
During the coming season the quar-
ter centennial of the Assembly will be
celebrated with fitting ceremony and
tete and the memories of 25 years will
be brought to mind by the sight of
many who during the past have been
active in some of the many phases of
lie here. The meaning of this ami
versary has far more than a mere local
significance, for this quarter century
mas seen the conception of a thought
which in its realization has grown and
expanded until no one mind can de-
fine its bounds.
This system of popular or general
education was the first of all instru-
mental in placing in the hands of thou
sands not only reading matter but
good literature in convenient form and
at moderate cost, gaining on ever
widening circle of readers and there
by turning countlesss minds from
thoughtlessness and possible trivallty
into new channels in which they have
developed new force as n power for
good. From this turning of many
minds of home dwellers into studious
thought has resulted in large meas
ure the Woman's Club Life and other
literary movements of today which
with the passing of time become ever
more potent factor in the life of wide
spread communities.
Thus in this fitting observation of
the first quarter centennial of popular
education in America, Chautauaua
will receive a tribute from the COM
monwealth Of minds whose boundaries
are known by no physical confines.
The Hall of Christ.
The year of Chautauqua's Quarter
Centennial marks another noteworthy
event in its history in that 1t introduces
with the erection Of the Hall of Christ
an era Of permanent public buildings
and of a definite scheme in the ar
rangement of IT, sites. This Hall
is to portray in every significance the
life of the Master 1t is to be con-
structed OF terra Gotta and white brick
and its outlines will be of classic pur-
ity. The fund for its erection came
from many Chautauquans. Miss Helen
Gould, a member of the Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle of SO
giving it an impetus by the unsolicited
gift of her check of S., 900. This was the
first manifestation of a deep interest
in Chautauqua upon the part of Miss
Gould who has recently shown her
faith in the institution and her belief
in it's necessity in the field of popular
education by a subscription of $25, 900
toward its endowment.
Thus the beginning of Chautauqua's
Second Quarter Centennial will find its
absolute permanency not only SYM
bolized by the first of a series Of struc-
lures built TO endure the flight of years
but assured by the nucleus of an en-
dowment fund now in hand and which
is destined to grow until Chautauqua
shall have become independent of mere
ly local or temporary conditions.
An Unprecedented Attendance.
The united attractions of this 25th
anniversary with its remarkable series
of lectures entertainments and sum-
mer schools, has already had its eff
feet towards bringing what is expected
to prove an unprecedented attendance,
and the general offices at Cleveland are
receiving information of the coming
of parties from all over the country.
These parties usually number ten or
more, thereby securing special railway
rates and are largely from Southern
states in which interests in Chautau-
qua seems to be rapidly growing.
The catalogue of the summer schools
has already been issued, announcing
the work of that important department
for 1899. The scope of this work may
be inferred from the fact that four
teen schools at Chautauqua offer one
hundred and twelve different courses
under seventy-three instructors. The
lecture schedule for 1899 includes the
names Of many speakers distinguished