The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-08-17

A program In order TO please, can
not be all temperance, as some would
have it. 1t can not be all religious, as
others might desire. 1t can not be all
entertainment, as others would wish.
But there should be happy medium
of all extremes. We have earnestly
endeavor to accomplish this in the
building of the 1911 program.
There is great danger if we divide
our efforts in the Chautauqua field OF
Mahaska county of killing the goose
that lays the golden egg, of making
deficit instead of surplus, of elimi-
mating the clean, moral, uplifting chau-
tauqua, and this making room for far
less elevating amusements. For be
it known that although the Oskaloosa
Chautauqua is not money-making in
stitution, 1t must pay its expenses or
eventually go down. Isn't it better to
have one great, big, live association,
giving due prominence to the various
moral, religious and educational up
lift movements, than three of four in
ferior ones with mediocre programs
and placing all the stress on any one
moral question, however urgent the
question may be. Or even the Circuit
Chautauqua, whish turns all the mon
ey to the bureau and makes the Chau-
tauqua purely commercial affair,
something it's founder never intended.
The Chautauqua was never founded to
exploit any one idea, be it moral, po-
litical or religious. Neither was it
founded on the idea of commercialism.
This is the distinctive mission of
Chautauqua," says Bishop Vincent,
the founder. 1T has message to the
whole world, to all classes of people,
to all grades Of intellect, to all schools
of religion and would life the so called
common people and the often mis-
named better classes to a common
and loftier level, where people will be
measured. not by their financial re-
sources, their society standing, their
ecclesiastical creed. their family name
and religious character, but their ap.
probation of the true, the beautiful
anu lllC 5oOu anu lAV hS1ouiS VI
their enthusiasm in the service of the
neighbor' and in the upbuilding of
noble Christian civilization"
The Board of Directors of the Oska-
loosa Chautauqua are anxious to do
the very best and please the most
people possible, ever keeping in mind
these great underlying principles OF
the movement.
In closing this greeting of welcome,
it gives me great pleasure in introduc-
ing to you your platform manager,
Rev. Alexander McFerran, whose
voice will be frequently heard during
the present session.
Rev. Alexander McFerran of the
First Presbyterian church, the plat
form manager of the Chautauqua, who
is noted for having the right thing TO
say at the right time, made few
timely remarks. He did not require
much time, but took occasion to an
nounce the program of the week and
to comment upon it's general eXcell-
ence. Mr.. McFarren called for Prof.
English of Chicago, who has charge OF
the boys of the camp this season. He
was asked to say word of the boy
scouts" and the Indians" and gave
do with the boys and the girls of the
Chautauqua in the time permitted.
Prof. English has been successful in
the field of Chautauqua work and is
a favorite wherever he has appeared.
The boys have a regular Indian camp
located in ravine in the woods at
short distance from the camp and they
intend to have an ideal time, to learn
many new things and to indulge some
special excursions and interesting
stunts, one of which will be an all
night pilgrimage into the woods.
Prof. English did not take up much
of the time of the session. He stated
the time and place for the starting of
his work and asked for promptness
on the part OF his pupils. What is to
come from day to day will be in the
nature of surprise for his pupils.
Entertainment for the evening was
furnished by the organization known
as the Williams Jubilee Singers" a
of eight colored vocalists,
each of whom is a soloist of rare at
tainment. The company Is recently
returned from an extended trip abroad
during which they were called upon
for one hundred consecutive concerts
in London alone. They have been
France, Germany, Belgium,
Holland and the British Isles and
scored a great success. This is the
highest priced company of its kind
on the platform today and Oskaloosa
Chautauqua was fortunate to secure
the number. The concert program
was of rare excellence and the hearty
applause which each number receiv-
ed attested the appreciation of the
Encore after encore was
called for, the audience demanding
more and more of the harmonies. The
pleased in the fore part of
their program, but in the latter part !
they surprised and delighted even in
greater degree, handling such compo-
sitions as the Misserari of 1t Troya- |
tore, and other grand opera selections
that fairly took the audience from