The Washington herald., 1912-02-25
REMEMBERED BY FRIENDS
ON EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY
Bishop Vincent, Founder of Chau-
tauIun, Receives ConEratulations
of Thousands of Methodfsts.

Bishop John II. Vincent originator OF
the Chautauqua movement for popular
education. and chancellor Of Chautauqua
| Institution, received a unique letter
shower on his eIghtieth birthday, fall
ing on Friday. The bishop lives in
| Chicago, enjoys vigorous health. and
/ the suggestion that this anniversary he
made the occasion OF shower of per-
| SOnal letters appealed to thousands OF
| people who recognize their educational in
| debtedness to him. Three-quarters OF
million readers in all parts Of the world
have enrolled for the Chautauqua read
| ing course since Bishop Vincent inaugu-
| rated the plan thirty-three years ago.
Fifty thousand visitors go 10 Chau-
| tauqua, y. Y. every year. and hum
dreds of Chautauquas modelled upon the
original are held every summer. Born
at Tuscaloosa, Ala. he entered the min
istry in Pennsylvania at the age OF
eighteen. He attended the old Wesleyan
Institute at Newark, y. J., hut denied
college opportunities. he NOT only DELHI
erately set about to give himself a liberal
education. but from his experience was
able to devise plan OF self-cduCatiOn
for adults which has become Under tho
name Of the Chautauqua Literary and
Scientific CirCleI one Of the great edu-
Cational influences in the modern world
Gen. = NITant attended John II.
Vincent's rlurch at Galena. Ill in IS6O-6I
Palestine study class at Rockford,
Ill, was notable. The first Chautauqua
assembly in 1S7i was held to broaden the
education OF Sunday school teachers; DIR.
Vincent having established the Sunday
School Quarterly and other means nf
teaching under the auspices OF the
Methodist Book Concern I'm New York
He led n the establishment of the
n
tenn. Contemperaneous with the devel-
Opment OF the Chautauqua idea of out
of-sChool education for all sorts and
conditions of people. his fame as a
preacher extended beyond the bounds OF
his own denomination. He was elected
bishop of the Methodist Church in
lSSS, residing in Buffalo and Topeka. In
1910 he was resident abroad, retiring in
1904, but serving as preacher to IIIr-
ward. Yale Cornell. Wellesley and other
colleges, and widely called to communi-
ties for conducting unique weeks Of in
terchurch service known as Seven days
of church life" His only son. George
Z. Vincent, is president Of Chautauqua
Institution and OF the University OF
Minnesota. He is the author Of many
religious and educational books and
pamphlets.
Besides the letter shower a group
of friends contributed special birthday
messages on about 100 autograph cards |
which were presented in special gife |
box made by Tiffany. This box is
mahogany, lined with amethyst velvet |
the color of the February birthstone |
and bears gold initials. An engrossed, |
illuminated presentation on vellum un-
der glass bears personal congratulations |
and official greeting from the board of |
trustees and all active members OF the |
stafr Of Chautauqua Institution. The
cards include messages from President |
Taft, Lyman Abbott, Dean George |
Hodges. Bishops Charles D. Williams. II. |
W. Warren. William F. Mcdowell; |
Presidents G. Stanley Hall. OF Clark Uni
versity; H. c. King, OF Oberlin; Rush |
Rhees, Of Rochester: W. Fl. P. Faunce. |
OF Brown: John Finley. City College of
New York: Profs. Palmer and Pea
body. OF Harvard; George Adam Smith.
Percy Alden. NJ. P, Jane Adams. |
Henry Turner Bailey, John Graham
Brooks, and many others.
Some idea of the enormous influence ex-
erted by Bishop Vincent will be gotten
from the following data:
The first ChautauQua assembly was
held at Chautauqua Lake. n. Y. for
three weeks in August. 1874, for the
broader training Of Sunday school teach
ers. The Chautauqua Literary and Scien-
tifc Circle, which made Chautauqua an
educational movement
was founded in August, 1878 The num-
Der of readers since the first year. 1883,
when eight thousand persons actually en-
rolled their names and perhaps half as
many more studied with them. has
reached three-Quarters of a million peo-
pie. Some ten thousand reading circles
have been formed within the thirty-three
years since it's organization.
In spite of the phenomenal growth of
clubs, university extension courses, de-
schools, &c. the Chautauqua circle still
Its four-year plan of the college Out
ook" appeals to people who want definite
leadership, worldwide in its viewpoint.
,ffording distinct literary culture and
.asily carried out by old or young peo-
pie. 1t reaches those who don't want to
waste time by reading at random and
dea that Education ends only with
ife.' The kinds Of people reached by I
are: In
Fathers and mothers who want to keep I
.head of their children. lT
Young men leading Isolated lives on '
Western ranches. Ii
Teachers eager to keep out OF ruts and !
o be able TO suggest a practical plan I
4 self-culture for those whom they can =
influence. d
The wife, who wants TO share the in a
ellectual outlook of her husband. q
The husband anxious to live in a world T
lot merely business
The old person who is reminded that lu
Intellectual achievements are the peculiar Q