Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-08-18
COMMUNITY WAS
BENEFITED MANY
TIMES THE COST
EVERY BUSINESS, PROFESSION
AL AND INDUSTRIAL CITI-
ZEN WAS HELPED
CHAUTAUQUA WAS AN
INSPIRATION TO ALL
An Annual Assembly Should Be
Made A Permanent Commun-
ity Affair

Belongs 1915 Chautauqua is over,
and with it the people of the commun-
lty are satisfied in the fact they have
been given wonderfully good educa-
tional and entertaining course at a
real bargain. The course was en-
thusiastical and inspirational from
start to finish. Interest in the good
things kept growing.
Everyone feels that in having the
Chautauqua here a grand work has
been done for the social, mental and
moral uplift of the community. Many
people received from the seven days
program an education for only $3.50
that thy could not have received in
college or university for many times
the amount. In addition to that they
would never have been able to spend
the time and expense necessary for
attending college. In the addresses
of Dean Kline the fathers and moth
ers of the community received
thoughts that will be worth thousands
of dollars to the future development
of the youth in their homes. Questions
of vital Importance were discussed
in a frank and open manner, which
warned the ignorant of their danger
and encouraged the well-informed in
their commendable effort to better
and improve the conditions in their
families and in society. Every faith
er and mother should have heard the
discussions by Mr.. Kline.
Lovers of music were enthused with
the many accomplished renditions
that were given in the art. Business
men were given bigger and broader
view of the great work they are in
and their possibilities in their chosen
fields. Professional men were shown
how with diligence, they might better
themselves and also society. Thinkers
were furnished with thought for
many days deep andp rofitable
thought. Children were encouraged
in their lofty ideals and warned of
their chances of falling out by the
way. Young people were made bet
ter and cleaner and in fact no branch
or phase of the community's intricate
life escaped being benefited or sup
ported by some part of the weeks
program.
Now that Chautauqua is over, are
we as a community, going to be per-
manently benefited by these many
suggestions and thoughts? Are we
going to forget the scores of sem
tences that were uttered for our bene-
fit, after stamping our approval OF
them so strongly during Chautauqua
by our presence and applause? We
40 rot dare to think such will be the
case. Is there some certain subject
or group of thoughts, which especial
ly affects US, let US ponder well and
try to make the thoughts govern our
future actions. We do not believe
that great and good assembly, like
the one just passed, can be brought
to any community, without leaving
with that community many times Its
cost in permanent good. Then does
this city and community want con-
tlnuance Of the Chautauqua as an an
nual affair? With the character Of the
assembly being kept up and improved
every year, unquestionably the COM
munity wants it. The assemblies
have been grand successes In the
past two years and the committee OF
men who have made the bringing OF
them possible, feel that they have
done little enough for the community,
even if as a matter OF money con
sideration they have not appeared to
be overwhelming successes. The
benefit has been lasting, and of ma
ture that will increase and grow with
the coming years. And anything that
benefits a community in such way,
cannot help but be a good financial
success in the ultimate end. Neither
is a mans mission in society filled
when he has extracted only the money
from the individuals of community.
His duty to society embraces much
broader scope than that. Those peo-
ple who attended the Chautauquas are
extremely fortunate, and IN reality
there is only very few people liv-
ing within a radius of ten miles of
Belding but could well have afforded
TO attend the meetings Of the week.
The spending of $3.50 for a season
ticket by a person is nothing COM
pared with the increasing of that in
dividuaps earning power by scores OF
dollars. And that is just what
Chautauqua will do for every individ-
ual that attends. 1t cannot help but
beneft.
Upwards of eighty people have
signed a guarantee asking them for
the return of the Chautauqua. The
list should be increased to two hun
dred, all of the signers being loyal
citizens of Belding who have faith in
the city's future, and then it may be
possible to insure its return another
year and also insure it being
grand success both financially and
educationally.