The fifth annual Pacific Coast Assembly convened at Monterey, California,
on Monday evening, June 30, 1884. The president, Dr. Stratton, was
not able to be present at the opening of the Assembly, and Dr. C. L.
Anderson, of Santa Cruz, vice president, took the chair and made the
opening address. It was an admirable review of the studies of the year,
a cordial greeting to all present, and an enthusiastic explanation of
the Chautauqua Idea. His audience was a large and intelligent one. The
hall was beautifully decorated with evergreens, flags, bunting, and the
C. L. S. C. mottoes. The evening was one of rare beauty, and altogether
the Assembly lacked nothing but the genial presence of a few of its usual
leaders. The summer was unusually cool, and consequently there were
fewer people at the coast than last year, but the Chautauquans turned
out well, and there was a perceptible increase in the daily attendance
over that of last year. The musical department was under the excellent
management of Mrs. R. L. Higgins, of San José, and was a matter of great
pleasure and congratulation during the whole session. Various clergymen
were in attendance, and a brief devotional exercise opened each meeting.
There is not space here for extended notice of the ten days’ literary
feast, but we will briefly recapitulate the points of interest. Miss
Lucy Washburn, of the State Normal School, gave two admirable talks upon
the “Circulation of the Blood,” and two others upon “Methods of Bible
Study,” all of which were precisely what the audience liked to hear,
and were as profitable as they were pleasant. Professor Moses, of the
Berkeley State University, gave three historical lectures of great value,
upon that period of Roman history during which Christianity became the
religion of the empire. Rev. Dr. McLean, of Oakland, gave a brilliant
description of a recent trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. F. B. Perkins,
of San Francisco, talked wisely and wittily of “Methods of Historical
Investigation.” Mr. Adley Cummins lectured eloquently upon “What the
Orient has done for us.” Mr. Clee, of Berkeley, talked interestingly
of the “Date Palm.” Mr. Matthew Cook, of Sacramento, lectured upon
“Entomology.” Rev. Dr. Vance, of Carlisle, Penn., read a charming paper
upon “Africa.” Mrs. M. H. Field, of San José, had two papers, one upon
“Holy George Herbert,” and the other upon the “Women of Ancient Greece.”
Miss Jessica Thompson, of San José, also had two beautiful literary
papers, one upon Shakspere’s “As You Like It,” and the other upon
Tennyson’s “Princess.” Mr. Joel Bean told of the “Council of Nice,” and
Dr. C. L. Anderson unfolded the marvels which lie in “A Drop of Water.”
Dr. Stratton gave the closing lecture—a most noble one—on “Potential
Ideas.” The Sabbath included in the session was devoted to Temperance,
under the excellent management of the W. C. T. U. of California.
There was a glorious sermon in the morning by Rev. Dr. Briggs, of San
Francisco, upon “Woman’s Work,” a grand children’s meeting in the
afternoon, and a women’s mass meeting in the evening, when Mrs. McCall,
of San José, read an excellent paper upon “Temperance Education.” Mrs.
Browne, of San Francisco, the State President of the W. C. T. U., made a
grand address, and others made brief remarks. Beautiful weather prevailed
during the entire Assembly, and the utmost good fellowship. The regular
business meeting was held on the afternoon of the 10th. The reports of
the secretaries and treasurer were read, and an election of officers
held. The old officers were reinstated, and various committees appointed.
Rev. Dr. Stratton is again president; Dr. C. L. Anderson, Dr. Wythe,
and Professor H. B. Norton, vice presidents; Mrs. M. H. Field, general
secretary; Miss M. S. Bowman, Assembly secretary; Mrs. Eloise Dawson,
treasurer. C. L. S. C. day was the closing day of the Assembly. It was
as bright and sunny as could be desired, and all things were propitious.
The Chautauquans gathered in the parlors, each distinguished by an oak
leaf badge, and then marched two and two in long procession over to the
Assembly Hall. There were but eight graduates present. Four graduating
essays were read, all of marked merit. The general secretary read some
clippings from her note book. Dr. Stratton made a brief address. Mrs.
McCall read a beautiful memorial paper on Mrs. M. H. McKee, of San José,
one of last year’s graduates, and a most efficient and brilliant member
of the C. L. S. C. The diplomas were presented, and then the Assembly
adjourned to meet in the afternoon on Chautauqua Beach for a Round-Table
talk and a mussel-roast. The names of the graduates present were: Dr.
C. L. Anderson, Santa Cruz, Cal.; Mrs. Helen Dryden, Gilroy, Cal.; Mrs.
J. A. Whitney, Gilroy, Cal.; Mrs. Lillian Shuey, Brentwood, Cal.; Miss
Gussie H. Wilcox, Sacramento, Cal.; Mrs. Eloise Dawson, Mrs. C. P. Baily
and Mrs. Eliza Mantz, San José, Cal. There are thirty others who have
completed the course but who were prevented from coming to Monterey. The
Round-Table on the beach was a lively affair. Some fifteen or twenty
circles were represented, and all reported their respective circles as
wide-awake and pursuing their readings with unabated zeal. After this
exchange of experiences the Assembly laid aside its dignity and gave
animated attention to the steaming mussels which were generously passed
around by “the muscular committee.” The tempting bivalves had been
gathered by the bushel in the early morning, and at precisely the right
hour laid upon great beds of coals in full sight of the Round-Table
gathering. A bevy of young ladies assisted in serving the multitude, and
a merry feast it proved. The California mussel-roast and the down-east
clam-bake are convivial cousins. The Monterey Assembly closed its fifth
meeting in peace and good will, and with the hope of many and many
another summer school by the sunset sea.
_THE PACIFIC GROVE RETREAT, 1884._