El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-16
Chautauqua Season Viii Draw
Two Million To Assemblies
Movement Now Covers Forty States and Has Spread TO
Foreign Lands.

A T least two million people in
~ the United States this summer
Will attend one or more of
the Chautauqua assemblies, which
now form great network extending
over 40 states of the union. AS an
educational movement, the Chautuaqua
has done more to interest the peo
pie past school age in educating
themselves than any other influence,
with the exception of the church
The Chautuaqua Home dircle mayl-
truly be called the beginning of the
correspondence system OF education,
which has now so large a following.
1t is 4 years since bishop John H.
Vincent, of the Methodist Episcopal
church, organized the first Chautuaqua
assembly at Chautuaqua Lake park
in New York. He intended it chiefly
for Sunday school workers, and its
first courses of stucy were chiefly
biblical. A model IF Palestine was
one of the attractions of the earliest
assembly at Chautauqua Lake park,
and this enabled Bible students to
have a correct knowledge of appear
ances and conditions during the New
Testament period, which had not be-
fore been possible 10 those unable
Since then. teaching from models has
become SO general that the early
model of Palestine was allowed TO
fall into ruins, as newer attra ctions
overshadcwed It. Because Of it's his
toric connection with the founding
of the Chautauqua, however, this
model of Palestine has lately been re-
stored. and will be one Of the at
tractive features at the assembly Of
he cin institution
this year.
Local Branches Formed.
The interest in the Chautauqua move
ment was perpetuated by the forma-
ton of local circles or branches, which
now extend not only over the United
States, but to Europe and other parts
Of the world as well. In Italy much
interest has been aroused in this sys-
tenn, and the Chautauqua delegates to
The Educational Conference held in
Rome last month were greeted enthu-
siastically as THE Educators of Grown
up Persons"
In France and Germany the move
ment is well understood. and in Eng
land there are many Chautauqua cir
cles connected with the parent body
dn the United States. A circle has been
formed recently On the southeastern
coast of Africa, and one of its members
last year came to the Chautauqua as
lsembly in New York to be graduated
In Japan the work is well established
There are several circles, which for
a number OF years have been following
all the work outlined by the Chautau-
qua Institution N America.
Has Home Study Course.
In addition to the lecture course OF
the Chautauqua assembly. the Chau-
tauqua Educational system consists OF
a prescribed course of study which can |
be taken at home. This course extends /
over four years and at its completion |
a diploma is awarded. Formerly, all |
the graduation exercises were heM /
at the New York assembly on /
the grounds of the Chautauqua Lake
park. but during the past five years
the Chautauqua assemblies have so In
s.reased and developed in various parts J
OF the country, that graduates may re-
ceive their diplomas at the assembly |
nearest them. The ChautauQua gradu-
,ation day is known as Recognition l
Day, and its services constitute the [
most important event on the program |
of most of the assemblies.
Chautauqua assemblies in the United /
Ctatss have come 10 include many sub
jectS never considered by the founders
of the movement. Notwithstanding
many criticisms, the scope Of the work
ls constantly broadening. Any vital /
question Of the day is now likely to be
discussed at g Chautauqua assembly
by a lecturer who has arranged his
itinerary months in advance. One Of
the complaints made during the past
five years is that the assemblies are
becoming factor in lalitics. This |
is denied, although many OF tie lead
ing politicians OF the nation are en-
gagged at high salaries TO speak at
gatherings. 1t is natural
that each of these men should do his
best to show creditably his own view
point.
No Place for Mediocrfty.
Mediocrity has little. place in any
program. especially in the
middle west, where farmers sometimes
drive 20 or 80 miles TO hear favorite
speaker, often camping out along the
way, after the manner of the early
pioneers. A lecturer must have un-
usual eloquence and personal magnet
sm for the assemblies are held In
rustic tabernacle which is open on both
sides This gives easy egress to any
one becoming tired of the speaker, so
the problem of holding a Chautauqua
audience is greater than that facing |
The lecturer upon any other platform
William Jennings Bryan, senator La
4
Clark and governor Folk are a few Of
the men who have been most popular
with Chautauqua assembly audiences
ately. Capt. r. P. HobSon, the hero |
IF the Merrimac, is another favorite-
His pleasing personality, no less than
lis lecture entitled Americas Mighty
have no doubt been stronger
arguments in favor of the large navy
han the most impassioned speeches
qua assembly reaches the masses and
he possibilities of its future political
influence may be greater than its lead
RS anticipate.
Are Sources of Revenue.
The local Chautauqua assemblies
ire a great source of revenue to the
communities in which they are held
The usual price for a season admission =
icket is two dollars and as many as
200 are frequently sold In addition,
arge numbers of extra tickets for
pecial lectures are sold at so cents |