Scholars, when seventeen years old, or sooner if graduates of the public
high school, are promoted into this department. The class may be of any
number; our classes have averaged about sixty. Ladies and gentlemen are
placed in the same class, one teacher having charge. They organize
themselves into a regular society, having a simple constitution, and
subject to the regulation and direction of the Sunday school society. To
the teacher is given the responsibility of seeing that proper decorum
is always maintained. As nearly as possible the regular Chautauqua
course of normal study is pursued. Regular monthly literary and social
meetings are held at the homes of the parents, which aid much to keep up
the interest of the normal study. At the end of two years the scholars
that have the proper standing on the several written examinations in the
normal studies receive, at the annual graduating exercises, suitable
diplomas, prepared by the school. The scholars do not understand that
they are expected to leave or are excused from remaining longer in the
school, but they are only now prepared for a better and higher work,
that of teaching and leading others in the good work. Many of these
graduates become volunteer teachers; they join what, in our school, is
known as our