Part 14

=Vermont= (West Brattleboro).—For the past three years, there have been at West Brattleboro, Vt., informal gatherings of from eight to twelve members of the C. L. S. C., who called themselves a “circle.” But until this year there has been no formal organization. At the meetings subjects were taken up in the way decided upon at the previous meeting. These meetings were found to be of much profit and interest to ourselves. As we learned to know and appreciate the “Chautauqua Idea,” we began to see growth could not be expected without organization. Accordingly a meeting was called for the evening of September 20, to which all were invited, whether they proposed to join or not. At this meeting the aims and methods of the C. L. S. C. were fully discussed, and an organization was effected under the name of the “Vincent Circle,” with a president and secretary. There was also a committee for program chosen, to serve for two months. It was decided to hold meetings once in two weeks, at houses of the members. We are happy to say that we start upon our new year with a membership of thirty-nine, eighteen of whom are regular members, representing classes ’84, ’86 and ’87. Nor is this all the gain. Another circle has been organized, under the name of “Pansy.” This circle is composed wholly of new members, who thought they could work to better advantage separately. It has twenty-two members. No doubt the secretary will report to you, as the circle is very wide-awake, and means to profit by the experience of the ’84s. It has been thought best to devote the time at the meetings during October and November to Grecian history, as that is the principal subject for study during those two months. The following was the program for the first meeting, October 4. The second meeting was similar in character:

1. Responsive Reading from “Assembly Hymnal.”

2. C. L. S. C. Song No. 6, from “Assembly Hymnal.”

3. Report of Secretary.

4. Introduction of the subject of “Grecian History,” by Prof. H. H. Shaw.

5. Paper on “The Advantages of the Study of Grecian History.”

6. Instrumental Music.

7. Reading of Selections pertaining to Greece, from the Second Canto of “Childe Harold.”

8. Blackboard Drill on “Outlines of Grecian History,” by Rev. C. H. Merrill.

9. Question Box, Questions to be answered at next meeting.

10. C. L. S. C. Song No. 19.

11. Closing Prayer.

After the regular exercises, which began at 7:30, closing at 9, an hour was spent in a social way.

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=Massachusetts= (Lawrence).—Immediately after the Assembly at Framingham, a meeting was called in the interests of the Circle in one of our city churches, at which its purpose and method of working were fully explained. Two circles were already in existence, and with these as a basis we put in some hard work during the month of September, securing to date forty-two new members, with more to come. Two additional circles have been formed, so that we now have four, with a total membership of about one hundred. October 1, Opening Day, was duly observed by a union Round-Table of all the circles, and a large number of invited friends. A program consisting of music and readings was given, all appropriate to the occasion. We have engaged Prof. W. C. Richards for a course of lectures in November, and shall have others from time to time through the winter. We have also arranged for a monthly union meeting, each local circle in turn conducting the exercises for the evening.

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=Massachusetts= (Franklin).—As the Bryant Bell at Chautauqua rang out its call to study on October 1, the members of our local circle assembled to celebrate the first anniversary of their existence as a local circle. Complimentary tickets were issued to their friends, and at the hour of opening the chapel was filled, the audience numbering not far from five hundred. Promptly on the hour, the new members of Class of ’87 (the Pansy class) marched into the room, and taking position in open ranks allowed the Class of ’86 to pass through; they taking position on the right, opened ranks, and allowed the president of the circle and the speaker of the evening to pass through, receiving as a greeting the Chautauqua salute. The program consisted of instrumental music, singing of selections from Chautauqua Songs, an address of greeting from the president, Rev. G. E. Lovejoy, the commencement address by Rev. A. E. Winship, of Boston, and the recital of the anniversary poem by Miss Laura Pond. The whole affair was a helpful and enjoyable opening of the Chautauqua work for 1883 and 1884. The circle starts upon its work with increased membership and enthusiasm, and one and all are ready to say God bless the originator of the C. L. S. C., and God speed the work in the days to come!

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=Connecticut= (Meriden).—The Meriden branch of the C. L. S. C., held Opening Day exercises; nearly every member was present, together with a few invited guests, mostly those who have especially assisted them in their work during the past three years. The exercises were opened by the circle singing from Chautauqua Songs a song of welcome, after which an address of introduction of the several classes to the guests and a synopsis of the work of the Circle, was delivered by the president, who also took occasion to speak encouragingly to each class, and referred to their several colors and what they symbolized. At the close of the address a prayer of thanksgiving was offered, when the company sat down to a banquet of good things. After supper several toasts were offered and responded to, and several testimonials of interest in the success of the organization offered. The C. L. S. C. feel justly proud of their success, and all who have taken time to examine into its aim and the results accomplished, commend them highly.

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=Connecticut= (Hartford).—Within a few days a general interest has been manifested with regard to a C. L. S. C. circle in Hartford—more than fifty having expressed their desire to become members of the Class of ’87. Last year, however, Hartford had but a few Chautauqua readers. Among them was a little circle of five young ladies not long out of school. They found the Chautauqua course just what they needed to give form and direction to their studies, and they sat down to the table of good things spread before them as to a mental banquet. A severe bereavement met the circle in the loss of one of their members, a young lady who had been an eager student and whose enthusiasm had done much to help the circle. By her suggestion Greek had been introduced into the course, and the Iliad was being read in connection with the Greek literature. At the last meeting before her death when it was proposed to omit some of the less interesting portions, she said, earnestly: “Don’t let us skip any. Let us do our duty.” The shock of her death was such that at first it seemed that they could not go on with their work, but the words of their departed friend came back to them with peculiar meaning: “Let us do our duty,” and with chastened hearts they took up their work again. They did not find the course too laborious, but were able to add to it the White Seal course and some valuable supplementary reading upon the topics in question. Now, with undiminished interest, they are ready to go on with the second year, hoping that a large band will be ready to accompany them.

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=New York= (Johnstown).—A meeting for the reorganization of Johnstown C. L. S. C. was held September 26, 1883. The names of fifteen new members were enrolled; so we launch our little craft of twenty-two members, with a prospect of taking an occasional recruit as we journey on. We have decided to meet every alternate week. At our next meeting, October 10, we read an outline on Greek History, Vol. ii., Part vii., a paper on American literature, and selections from THE CHAUTAUQUAN.

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=Pennsylvania= (Erie).—The officers and members of the Erie local circle of the C. L. S. C. presented a very elaborate program at its opening session Monday evening, October 8, at the Y. M. C. A. Hall in this city. The hall was densely crowded, and the interest steadily increased to the close. The organization was completed, and its roll bids fair, this season, to be seventy-five strong.

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=Delaware= (Wilmington).—Through the zealous efforts of the pastor of Asbury M. E. Church, the Asbury local circle was organized during September last. It has about thirty members. Among the members is one graduate of the class of ’83. Considerable interest in the course has been aroused through the city, and there are more persons to join.

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=District of Columbia= (Washington).—A meeting of the Banneker Circle was held September 17 for reorganization and general talk concerning the work for 1883-84. Quite a large number of our members of last year attended, and from the number of applicants for admission, it seems that we will be compelled to abandon our idea of meeting from house to house of the several members and meet at the church. It is exceedingly gratifying to note the continued interest in the work. Our meetings are held every Monday night. The pastor of one of the churches in another section of our city, attended our last meeting, in order that he might learn enough about the C. L. S. C. to organize a circle among many of his members, who seem anxious to join. We spent many pleasant and instructive evenings last year over our work, and hope to realize as much benefit from the studies of this year. Knowing of the benefits of the C. L. S. C. we are always glad to help others to join. One of our members has been influenced, through last year’s work, to attend college.

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=Ohio= (Cincinnati).—The reception to the Class of 1883, of Cincinnati and vicinity, took place on Friday evening, September 28. The spacious parlors where the reunion was held were fragrant with flowers. A beautiful piece of crayon work—“Welcome, 1883,” with C. L. S. C. monogram—prepared by the superintendent of penmanship of Cincinnati public schools, together with a fine portrait of Dr. Vincent, held conspicuous places. The following was the program:

Piano solo—Miss Clara Looker.

Address of welcome to the Class of 1883—Mr. John G. O’Connell.

Class song of 1882.

Toast—“The Class of 1882.” Response by Mrs. M. J. Pyle.

Class song of 1883.

Toast—“The Class of 1883.” Response by Mr. Clifford Lakeman.

Vocal solo—“The Flower Girl.” Miss Clara Looker.

Toast—“The Cincinnati Circles.” Response by Miss Bessie Hicks.

Song—“Join O Friends in a Memory Song.”

Toast—“Chautauqua.” Response by Mr. M. S. Turrell.

Song—“C. L. S. C. Commencement Carol.”

Toast-“Our Chancellor, Dr. J. H. Vincent.” Response by Miss Harriet Wilson.

Song—“Sing Pæans over the Past.”

Letters of regret were then read from unavoidable absentees. Time and space will only permit of the publication of the following letter, which is an embodiment of the sentiment contained in the others:

HOT SPRINGS, ARK., September 24, 1883.

_Rev. J. G. O’Connell, President C. L. S. C. Alumni Association of Cincinnati, Ohio_:—Please accept my thanks for your very kind invitation to attend the C. L. S. C. reception, Friday evening, September 28. The intervening 700 miles will prevent. But does not the Chancellor of the Out-of-Doors University say that, “When the bell at Chautauqua rings on memorial days, all true Chautauquans hear its echo?” And as this same Chancellor teaches so diligently the superiority of mind over matter, why may I not apply this teaching to my own case and say to you that I will be with you in some sort of soul-telephonic manner, and hear your speeches and join in your songs, and enjoy with you the feast of reason and the flow of soul?

I am sorry I said I couldn’t go. I think you may expect me. I read most carefully the report of Commencement Day, and welcomed (in my heart) all the ’83s.

A popular writer in a most popular magazine says: “There are in this life three stages of existence. The first, when we believe every thing is white. The second, when one is sure every thing is black; the third, when one knows that the majority of things are simply gray.”

Members of the C. L. S. C. have gone a step further than that. To us, all the world has a _golden_ hue. How _can_ one fully understand the meaning of the terms, “communion of Saints,” and “brotherly kindness,” unless he has spent a season at Chautauqua _as a student_, in full sympathy with the great work being done there? What grand opportunities are there afforded for growth and symmetrical development of character.

Please tell your Alumni Association how glad I am to be counted one of its members. I thank you again for your kind remembrance of me.

Wishing you a most joyous reunion, and uniting with you in warmest love for our Alma Mater, I am yours sincerely,

HATTIE N. YOUNG.

The officers were elected for the coming year, and after a handsome collation bountifully served, the society parted for the evening, filled with additional enthusiasm for the success of their Alma Mater. President, Mr. John G. O’Connell; Vice Presidents, Mr. M. S. Turrell, Mrs. M. J. Pyle, Miss Mary E. Dunaway; Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Clifford Lakeman; Recording Secretary, Miss Julia Kolbe; Treasurer, Miss Selina Wood.

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=Illinois= (Mattoon).—This is the first year of the C. L. S. C. of Mattoon. We organized the last of September, and have an enthusiastic membership of over twenty. We take the lessons as given in THE CHAUTAUQUAN, sometimes assigning the work to individuals, and again we have general recitations. During the winter we had an afternoon with Longfellow; also a lecture upon the History of Greece, and one upon the Sun, with diagrams. Most of us have completed the work for the year, and have written the memoranda. Our meetings have been both profitable and interesting.

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=Iowa= (Anamoso).—Our C. L. S. C. circle was organized in January, 1883, with a membership of nine ladies, all of whom have taken up the four years’ course of study. The order of exercises varies somewhat, but is always exceedingly interesting, each study receiving due investigation and research. Generally, however, our president assigns the different subjects to the members on the preceding meeting, thus giving each leader time to prepare questions which will bring out all the points of interest in the lesson. Amid crowding duties we are glad to note in our membership an increasing enthusiasm over the C. L. S. C. work.

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=Iowa= (Quasqueton).—We are a struggling little company of two regular members of the C. L. S. C. We have not been lacking in interest ourselves and are heartily in sympathy with the C. L. S. C.; think it is a grand, good thing.

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=Missouri= (Kansas City).—The Kansas City local circle was reorganized on September 25, and was ready to begin work promptly the first week in October. We have at present forty-four members. Our circle has propagated the Chautauqua Idea, and sent off branches until now there are at least six circles in the city, and about three hundred of our citizens are reading the course.

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=Missouri= (Independence).—A local circle was organized here in September with forty-seven regular members. We have a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and board of managers. We meet every Friday evening, and thus far have followed the conversational plan. All are interested, and the Chautauqua enthusiasm has the true ring. Already the ’87s are looking forward to the day when they will pass through the Arches.

C. L. S. C. ROUND-TABLE.

From the record of ’82. Held in the Hall of Philosophy in August, 1882, at 5 p. m. [This report had been overlooked, and as it contains much that will be interesting, is here published.]

DR. VINCENT: What are the advantages of the C. L. S. C.? What are the advantages to our homes?

A VOICE: Unity in the family, in study and spirit.

A VOICE: System of reading at home.

A VOICE: It brings good literature into the house.

A VOICE: It trains intelligent citizens in the house.

A VOICE: It saves time that would be otherwise wasted.

A VOICE: It gives pleasant subjects of thought while we are about our daily work.

A VOICE: It promotes conversation.

A VOICE: It leads us into new lines of work.

A VOICE: It makes us more attractive to each other.

A VOICE: It keeps husbands at home in the evening. [Laughter.]

MR. MARTIN: It keeps wives home in the evening.

A VOICE: It crowds out unprofitable occupation.

A VOICE: It leads to farther investigation.

A VOICE: It cultivates the conversational powers.

DR. VINCENT: It not merely brings subjects of conversation, it brings the power of conversation.

A VOICE: It makes the Southern people love the Northern people.

A VOICE: It lifts the home up a little higher.

A VOICE: It crowds out gossip.

A VOICE: It cultivates a missionary spirit.

DR. VINCENT: In what respect?

A VOICE: In getting people into the circle and into all kinds of work.

A VOICE: A lady says it makes the evening hearth exceedingly pleasant.

A VOICE: It inspires us to want to help others.

A VOICE: It has in one instance made a Christian of an Infidel.

A VOICE: In more than one instance.

A VOICE: There is a book in the course that will do that every time it is attentively read.

DR. VINCENT: What is that?

A VOICE: “The Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation.”

A VOICE: And the “Tongue of Fire.”

A VOICE: And “The Outline Study of Man” is a wonderful book.

A VOICE: It helps fathers and mothers to grow up with their children.

A VOICE: It helps them cultivate their memory.

A VOICE: I found that I could remember dates much better than before.

REV. W. D. BRIDGE: It brings the old into sympathy with the young.

A VOICE: It gives even old men books they would not have read.

A VOICE: It creates a spirit of union among all kinds of people that belong to it.

A VOICE: It brings the grown people into sympathy with the public school and its work.

A VOICE: It makes us better Christians and workers in the church.

A VOICE: It was suggested a moment ago that it brings the older people into sympathy with the young: I think it brings the young people into sympathy with the old.

A VOICE: It increases the respect of the young for the old also.

A VOICE: It teaches old people to become younger.

A VOICE: It makes old people wish that the thing had been thought of earlier.

A VOICE: It brings us to Chautauqua.

DR. VINCENT: That is a great thing for Chautauqua as well as for us.

A VOICE: It teaches us never to be discouraged.

A VOICE: It teaches us the spirit of propriety.

A VOICE: The first of the Chautauqua mottoes has been noticed; the other two should come in for their share.

DR. VINCENT: The other two mottoes should be recognized. It helps us to “keep our Heavenly Father in the midst.”

A VOICE: It shows in the class of ’82 the proof of the third motto, “Never be discouraged.”

A VOICE: It teaches us to “look up, and not down.”

DR. VINCENT: To “look forward and not backward,” to “look out and not in,” and “to lend a hand.”

A VOICE: It leads to an investigation of science by people who had never thought of it before.

MR. INGHAM: It teaches all classes to find a book store.

DR. VINCENT: Brother Ingham is in the book trade. [Laughter.]

A VOICE: It teaches people that no one is too old to study.

A VOICE: It gives a higher idea of the responsibility of life.

A VOICE: It makes the bookseller keep good books. [Applause.]

DR. VINCENT: It makes the bookseller keep the books at a lower figure.

A VOICE: It develops the habit of systematic thought and work.

A VOICE: It discovers people to themselves, showing themselves their natural bent and power.

A VOICE: It breaks down the deep seated denominational prejudices.

DR. VINCENT: Without in the slightest degree diminishing our loyalty to them.

A VOICE: It fits the mind for its eternal mission and home.

A VOICE: It makes one see what a wonderful thing a book is.

A VOICE: It puts the divine idea into all the study: “We study the words and works of God,” and this promotes unity of scientific and religious pursuits.

A VOICE: It selects a course of reading that we would not ourselves select.

A VOICE: It teaches us the value of time.

A VOICE: It teaches us to recognize God in everything.

A VOICE: It furnishes a good channel for the expenditure of money in connection with young people.

DR. VINCENT: We ought to say in connection with that, it builds up an individual library that acquires an individual preciousness; when a man looks at it he is rich, for he owns books bought himself. The square yards of books are not worth much. The books that are mine are worth much to me.

A VOICE: It makes it plain that the world is going forward and not back.

A VOICE: It helps the world to go forward, and helps others to acquire knowledge.

A VOICE: It gives us a hint as to the powers and possibilities of the mind.

A VOICE: It teaches me how very little I know myself.

A VOICE: I think it teaches old and young to appreciate art in its different forms.

DR. VINCENT: It enables people to distinguish between good preaching and poor preaching.

A VOICE: It teaches that faithful labor, though in a very limited degree, will be rewarded here and hereafter.

A VOICE: And that it will accomplish a great deal of good in addition to the reward.

A VOICE: It awakens latent energies in the mind.

A VOICE: It makes the common people better critics.

DR. VINCENT: It makes what they would call where caste prevails “common people” better critics. We have no common people in this country. We are all kings.

A VOICE: It makes us understand better the Chautauqua Idea.

A VOICE: It makes us patient in weakness and suffering.

A VOICE: It helps us bear the burdens of life.

DR. VINCENT: In many places there is no social enjoyment for those who do not dance. The C. L. S. C. gives us congenial society. I have known many people where the habit of dancing and card playing prevailed, to justify these indulgencies on the ground that there was nothing else to do. In a few such places the C. L. S. C. has turned the dance and the card table out of doors. Of course some of you do not look at that matter as I do. There may be some of you who dance or allow your children to attend dancing school, and some of you allow your children to play cards. I have avoided dogmatism on all subjects where the Word of God does not come in as the final authority. I never like to dogmatize about these things. But I do believe that such is the condition of society to-day, and such are the unseen perils of the day—perils always present—that the family that can enjoy itself thoroughly in an intellectual way, so as not to create a taste for the stimulating power of the dance and the card table and of the theater is a safer, and in the long run, a happier family than the family otherwise controlled by so-called worldly tastes. [Applause.] It becomes us to be very free from dogmatism about these things, because we do not want to lay down laws that have not been laid down for us; but if we can, let us substitute the influences of the C. L. S. C. for these things.

WRITTEN PAPER: The C. L. S. C. gives new hope and courage to those who have thought that the days for personal improvement had gone by.