El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-26
ORIGINATOR Of CHAUTAUQUA MOVEMENT
IS GIVEN UNIQUE SHOWER OF LETTERS
Eghtieth Birthday Anniversary Of Bishop John H Vim
cent Is Made Neutrality-suspicious. Are Asked to
Contribute Million Dollars to Starving Chinese.
Catholics Work to Hold Poles to the Church.

Bishop John II Vincent originator OF
the Chautauqua movement for popular
education, and chancellor OF Chautau-
qua institution. received a unique
letter slower on his S0th birthday
anniversary, falling on February %
Iue bisnOp lives III chicago, enjoys Wig
ofoUs health. and the suggestion that
Ihis annivcI sary be made the occasion
OF a shower OF pedsonal letters ap-
pealed 10 thousands OF people VINO rec
ognlze their educational Indebtedness to
MN. Three quarters of a million rea l.
efs IN all paris or the world have
enrolled for the Chautauqua reading
course since bishop Vincent inaugu-
rated the plan So years ago
Fifty thousand visitors go to Cha
taGQua. New s orr. every year. and hum
dreds of Chautauquas modelled upon
me original are held every summer.
tered the ministry in PENNSYLVANIA al
the age of IS. He attended the old
WESLEYAN institute at Newark, y j..
but. denied college opportunities, he not
only deliberately set about to give
himself a liberal education. but from
his experience was able 10 devise a plan
OF self-educatiOn for adults which has
become tUnder the name OF the Chau-
tauQua Literary and Scientific Circlel)
one of the greatest educational influ
ences in the modern world
Gen L. : Grant attended John n.
Nincents church at Galena, Ill, IN
Rockford, H., was notable. The first
ChaUtauqua assembly in 1874 was held
to broaden the education of SUNDAY
school teachers DR.. Vincent having
established the sunday school Quarter
y and other means Of teaching under
the auspices of the Methodist Book
concern in New York. He led In the
establishment of the international sun
day School lesson system Contempt
TaneOus with the development OF the
Chautauqua idea of out-Of-schOOl edu-
cation for all sorts and conditions Of
people. his fame as preacher eX-
tended beyond the bounds OF his own
denOmina zion.
Besides the letter shower" a group
OF friends contributed special. Dir, hdav
messages on about 90 autograph cards
which were presented in special gift
box made by Tiffany This box is ma
hoganE. lined with amethyst velvet the
color Of the February birthstone. and
bears gold initials. An -engrossed. il
Illuminated presentation on Vellum under
glass bears personal congratulations
and official greeting from the board
Of trustees and all active members OF
the staff of ChaUtauQua Institution.
The cards include messages from Ly-
man Abbott. dean George Hodges.
bishops Charles D. Williams H. w
dent G. Stanley Hall OF Clark universe
ty, H q. King of Oberiin. Rush EheeE
Of Rochester. ". r. T. Fauuce OF
Brown. Tohn Finley City College OF
New FORK: Professors Palmer and Pea
hOdy OF Harvard. George Adam smith
Percy Alden. N. P: Jane Adams. Hen
~ Turner Bailey. John Graham BROOKS.
and many others
Some idea Of the enormous influence
eveTted by the one American viii be
gotten from the following data
The first Chautauuua assembly was
held AT ChautsUqUa lake. New York. for
three weeks In August. 1874. for the
broader treining of sunday school
teachers The ChautauQua Literary
and Scientific circle. which made Chau-
tauqua an sll-the-year-rOup educa-
tional movement was founded in Au-
gust 1873. The number Of readers
since the first year. 1883. when 5000
persons actually enrolled their names
and perhaps half as many more studied
with them. has reached three quarters
Of p million DeODle. Some ten thousand
reading circles hava been formed with
in the 30 years since its organization.
N spite OF the phenomenal growth
Of clubs. university extension courses.
UNCONVENTIONAL reading circles. night
schools. etc, the Chautauqua circles
still enrolls thousands OF members sv-
orr wear