On the evening of the 9th of June, the well-known Secretary of the
Chautauqua Assembly, Mr. A. K. Warren, died at his home in Mayville,
N. Y., after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Warren was in the
fifty-ninth year of his age, and, since the close of the third
Assembly, in 1876, he has had charge of the business at Chautauqua,
under the leadership and direction of Mr. Lewis Miller and the Board
of Trustees. He grew in favor with the Chautauqua management and the
general public from the time he first assumed the duties of his office.
It was Mr. Warren that effected the purchase of the one hundred acres
of land to add to the original Chautauqua grounds, and with taste and
untiring zeal laid out pleasant walks and public parks, continually
increasing the convenience and the beauty of the grounds.
Several of the most valued public buildings were erected during these
years of his connection with the Assembly—the Children’s Temple and
Hall of Philosophy, the Amphitheater and the commodious Hotel Athenæum.
He has shown himself to be wise and skillful in executing the plans of
President Miller and the Board. His loss will be keenly felt and the
position he occupied difficult to fill. In addition to the office he
occupied at Chautauqua Mr. Warren has served as sheriff of Chautauqua
County, and at one time was manager of the Buffalo, Pittsburgh &
Western Railroad. In every position he proved himself to be a man of
superior executive ability, born to be a leader of men and a manager
of great movements. He leaves a widow and one daughter, well provided
for by certain property which he owned and by an insurance of seven
thousand dollars.
The funeral services were held in Mayville, June 13, at his late
residence, being conducted by the Rev. Milton Smith, of Mayville. The
Scriptures were read by the Rev. Dr. Flood, and the prayer offered and
remarks made by the Rev. Dr. Vincent. Although not a member of the
Church, Mr. Warren was a believer in the Christian religion. Were we
permitted to break the confidence of the private correspondence which
passed between Dr. Vincent and Mr. Warren just before his death, much
would be revealed that would be comforting to the friends of the
deceased and inspiring to all believers in Christianity.
His death brought together a large number of people, among them many
of the Executive Board, who were obliged to call a meeting at once at
Mayville in order to reorganize the working forces of the Assembly and
supply the place left vacant by Mr. Warren’s death.
Notwithstanding the great loss sustained, it is expected that under the
direction of President Miller and the Board, the work of improvement
and building will be carried on as usual. The management is so complete
that no work will be neglected nor any department be slighted. The
grounds are in excellent condition as are also the streets, walks and
public buildings, and improvement will constantly go on.