By REV. J. H. VINCENT, D.D., SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION C. L. S. C.
Readings for the month: “Easy Lessons in Vegetable Biology,” by Dr. J.
H. Wythe; “Canadian History;” Chautauqua Text-Book No. 24; “Biographical
Stories,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne; Required Readings, in THE CHAUTAUQUAN.
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Memorial Day, Sunday, December 9, “Milton’s Day.” See “Memorial Days,”
Chautauqua Text-Book, No. 7. Monday, December 10, may be used if
preferred.
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Remember the 5 p. m. Sunday “Chautauqua Vesper Service.” Observe the hour
personally or as local circles. Now and then a brief public service at
this hour may be very profitable.
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There can be no substitute accepted for the “Preparatory Latin course in
English.”
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One of our faithful members—a member of the class of ’84—on the first
day of October sent this pleasant greeting to the Superintendent of
Instruction: “My Dear Doctor—This is opening day. I must send you a line
just to keep it—and the Lord keep you!”
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The Sacramento Circle last year answered in writing over 1,000 questions,
besides having prepared sixty-two original papers.
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A young lady who has charge of a Young Ladies’ Seminary in Washington,
D. C., recently remarked that she had adopted the Chautauqua Text-Books
on History as an auxiliary in her school, as they are so condensed and
so carefully arranged. She said that at the last examination of her
graduating class the influence of the little Text-Books was visible in
the remarkable proficiency of the pupils.
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Each C. L. S. C. Local Circle in the study of Biology should secure the
services of a local microscopist, if possible. Without the microscope,
Biology is like Hamlet with Hamlet left out.
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In one of the leading churches of one of the leading denominations in one
of the leading cities of the United States, a strange thing has happened.
The president of the local circle of the C. L. S. C. made application for
the privilege of holding bi-monthly meetings in a room in the basement
of the church, so many of the members of the circle being members of the
church. The matter was referred to the president of the board, a leading
lawyer, who refused the application. When asked why he should exclude
such an auxiliary of the church, and especially a circle containing so
much of the religious element, he responded that it “could not be a
religious organization, because they were studying biology.” This is very
hard to believe if it were not well vouched for. If the church had been a
Methodist Episcopal Church, the editor of this column would have felt at
liberty to make a few direct remarks; but, as it refers to another very
respectable and very orthodox branch of the Holy Catholic Church, he must
content himself with this general announcement. What would this leading
lawyer have said to the wise man who said: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard,
consider her ways and be wise;” or to that wiser teacher who commanded
his disciples to “consider the lilies.” Biology zoölogical and biology
botanical being commended in the Bible, and the study being necessary to
the fullest interpretation of the Bible, we commend our legal friend to a
little more biblical study.
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Apropos to the above item is the following communication from an earnest
New England member: “At a certain Sunday-school convention this question
was given me to answer: ‘What is the effect of the Chautauqua course of
reading on Christian zeal? Does it tend to increase one’s interest in
Christian and Church work?’ I answered in substance as follows: ‘I am
very glad of the opportunity for saying, and saying confidently, that,
judging from what experience and observation I have had, as also from
the nature of the case, just as whatever is calculated to enlighten
and invigorate the mind, deepen, broaden, elevate and strengthen
character, to enlarge the soul and warm and ennoble the heart, must
tend to intensify Christian zeal, so the Chautauqua course of reading
and study, when conducted or pursued in accordance with the projector’s
idea, can not but tend to have this effect—to deepen and to invigorate,
by enlightening, piety. Precisely what we need in our day is a more
intelligent piety—a broader and stronger Christian manhood. Our piety
generally is too narrow, or superficial, or feeble. We are apt to build
up too much on some one side. We are one-sided, unsymmetrical, sanctified
in spots only, as it were. We want to be built out more on all sides,
that we may be _thoroughly_ furnished unto _every_ good work—that we may
be fruitful in all directions. Meantime, if the cultivation of such a
thoughtful, intelligent, reverent piety as the prayerful study of the
works and Word of God is calculated to promote, is not calculated to
intensify one’s interest in and zeal for Christ’s cause, it would be
interesting to know what could.’ Subsequently I dropped a line to one of
the members of a circle which I organized a year ago—a bright, Christian
young woman, who, though an operative in the mill, yet clearly grasped
the Chautauqua Idea, and who, together with as fine a company of young
men and women as were ever grouped together for any cause, has most
enthusiastically and successfully pursued that idea for a year:—to this
young lady I dropped a line, submitting the question: ‘Do you find the C.
L. S. C. helpful, or otherwise, to Christian piety?’ Permit me to quote
from her reply: ‘Do I love my Savior, or his church, any less for what
I have learned the past year? No. A thousand times no. Jesus seems ever
so dear to me, as I look up into the starry heavens, and try to recall
something I have learned about those wonderful worlds. And when I think
of him who created, and who, by his almighty power and wisdom controls
and keeps them all in place; when I think of him as my own kind Heavenly
Father, though I am poor, and lowly, and ignorant, and weak, and sinful,
my heart throbs with gratitude, love and praise—for he owns me as his
child! O! I wish I could tell you how happy I feel to-night, my Savior
seems so near and dear to me. My heart is full of love to him and to his
people; and I do want to do something to help on his glorious cause. I
am praying day by day that he will show me my duty, and help me to do
it; and I know you will pray for me that I may be faithful and true.’
Does not this testimony have the true ring in it? Does this look much as
though the C. L. S. C. had secularized the writer’s mind, or diverted her
energies from church channels? This lady, together with several other
members of that circle, is a devoted Sunday-school worker. What is more,
not a little of the glowing, enthusiastic zeal expressed above, has been
kindled and developed during this very past year of C. L. S. C. reading
and study.”