By J. H. VINCENT, D. D., SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION, C. L. S. C.
The Sunday Readings of the January and February numbers constitute the
“required” reading on “Bible and Religious History and Literature.” If
now and then you consider the selections “a little too long,” read them
carefully for your profit.
* * * * *
On the Sabbaths of January and February we read outlines of Bible
History principally from the abridgement by Dr. Collier. It will be
well (although it is not required) also to read and study the outline
lessons in the History of the Bible and in Bible History, as given in
Chautauqua Text-Book No. 36, “Assembly Bible Outlines,” pages 7-37.
Price of Chautauqua Text-Book No. 36, only ten cents.
* * * * *
The people who most need the ministry of the C. L. S. C. are not
likely to take it up at first, and therefore those who appreciate its
advantages should seek out persons likely to be profited by it. Think
over your list of acquaintances, rich and poor, people of wealth and
people engrossed with business or domestic care. Go with personal
explanations and appeals and induce them to join the Circle, or to take
up some part of its work, the reading of one book, or the reading of a
special course, like the Bryant or the Shakspere course.
* * * * *
I want to call your attention to a valuable book for every student’s
table—“Roget’s Thesaurus.” It enables one to find a whole family of
words by knowing one of them. The classification is well nigh perfect.
Phrases, as well as words, are included in the list. For example, look
into the index for the word “circle.” Your attention is called at once
to paragraph 181, which gives synonymous words of circle, as defining
a “region:” sphere, ground, soil, area, realm, hemisphere, quarter,
district, beat, orb, circuit, circle; pale; compartment, department;
domain, tract, territory, country, canton, county, shire, province,
_arrondissement_, parish, township, _commune_, ward, wapentake,
hundred, riding; principality, duchy, kingdom, etc. Or we turn to
the word circle, as “form,” in paragraph 247, where we have: circle,
circlet, ring, areola, hoop, roundlet, _annulus_, annulet, bracelet,
armlet; ringlet; eye, loop, wheel; cycle, orb, orbit, rundle, zone,
belt, _cordon_, band; sash, girdle, cestus, cincture, baldric, fillet,
_fascia_, wreath, garland; crown, corona, coronet, chaplet, snood,
necklace, collar; noose, lasso. Or take the word circle as a “party,”
paragraph 712, where we find: party, side, faction, denomination,
communion, set, crew, band, horde, posse, phalanx; family, clan, etc.,
etc.; community, body, fellowship, sodality, solidarity; confraternity;
brotherhood, sisterhood, etc., etc., and so on through one thousand
paragraphs, filling 429 pages, and then followed by a four-columned
index on each page for 271 more pages. The book is indeed a treasury of
the English language. Price, sent to members of the C. L. S. C., $1.60.
* * * * *
The Cincinnati local circle has great enterprise. It announces a
third annual course of free lectures for the coming winter. Our
correspondent, Miss Eleanor C. O’Connell, writes: “We are now planning
for the organization of a branch ‘Society of the Hall in the Grove,’
for, besides having an alumnal meeting, it is our desire that next
year, and each succeeding one, the older graduates shall give in
October a reception to the last graduating class, and thus, by
welcoming them into this fraternity, help keep up their interest in the
Circle. I hope that when you come we will have a good report to make
concerning ’82 welcoming those of this year.”
* * * * *
Have you put our “university property” in order? Have you a cozy corner
in your house belonging to the C. L. S. C.? Is the “dormitory” well
ventilated? Is the food in the “refectory” healthful? Are the “hours of
reading” regularly observed?
* * * * *
Such words as these are refreshing: “Though only a two-year-old
Chautauquan, I feel that these two years have been richer and more
valuable to me than twice their number before. They have indeed changed
the whole tenor of my life. Next year I expect to attend Michigan
University as a result of the work of the C. L. S. C. I feel that
whatever may be the degree of usefulness which I hope to reach, it will
be owing to the inspiration received from my present course of reading.”
* * * * *
While members of the C. L. S. C. should read the whole series of books
prescribed, each member _should select one book to which he is to give
especial attention_. The others are books for outlook; this is a book
for mental discipline. He must master it, drill himself on it, study it
critically, doing with it what, if he had the time, he would do with
every book of the course.
* * * * *
As far as practicable, follow the prescribed order of the reading,
taking up each month the work prescribed for that month. There is no
law of the Medes and Persians about it, but the work will be very much
more satisfactorily done where this rule is observed. It is always
easier to make reports, and fill out the memoranda, etc., when the work
is performed in the prescribed order.
* * * * *
I suggest to all students the value of much conversation and council in
the departments of study. Is there not some teacher or other specialist
in your community who would be glad occasionally to give you helpful
hints in history, or other branch of study? Is there not, for example,
some one who takes a special interest in geology, and who, during the
months devoted to this study, would be glad to guide you to a more
practical knowledge than you can get from mere books? Learn to utilize
the talent of your community. Ask questions. Do not be ashamed to
betray ignorance. State your opinions. What if you make a mistake? You
will not be likely to make it a second time. The introduction into your
life of casual conversations on useful subjects will give both strength
and dignity to your life. Watch therefore the people of your community;
pick out those who know and can help. Get help out of them. They will
delight to serve you, and the service will do both them and you great
good.
* * * * *
It matters little whether a man be mathematically, or philologically,
or artistically cultivated, so that he be cultivated.—_Goethe._
* * * * *
Members of the C. L. S. C., in addressing the Plainfield office,
are requested to give complete addresses, town, county, state, and
also the class to which they belong. This will prevent the necessity
of referring to the records before the letters can be answered.
Secretaries of local circles in cities, in sending to the office,
should always give the street address of each member to whom a fee is
to be credited.
* * * * *
The filling up of the blank pages in Dr. Wilkinson’s Preparatory Greek
Course in English, while earnestly recommended, _is not required_.
* * * * *
By a mistake, the Little Classical Dictionary, published by J. B.
Putnam’s Sons, New York City, was announced at thirty cents, by mail.
The price is forty cents. Let all students take note of this.
* * * * *
Our friend, Miss Myrtie C. Hudson, from California, a graduate of the
Class of 1882, has entered Michigan University, at Ann Arbor. She
reports meetings of the students’ association. She says: “On Sunday
morning the hall was filled for the opening prayer-meeting, and there
was manifested a working Christian spirit which surprised and delighted
me. I believe one can grow in grace in such a school. The crucial test
of character will there be developed. The five o’clock quiet hour on
Sabbath afternoon is growing very dear to me. That beautiful suggestion
is one of the many things for which I can never thank you enough. If
the hours help all the members as they do me, they are no doubt a power
in the Circle. I am already looking forward to that time as the best in
all the week. A portion of the time I spend in preparing Bible readings
on themes suggested at Chautauqua, beginning with ‘God in Nature,’ with
Romans i: 19, 20 for the key. I shall always look lovingly back to the
weeks I spent at Chautauqua. They were wonderful weeks, and I lived
more in them than in as many years before.”
* * * * *
There is strong temptation to take substitutes for the regular
books. You have a great cyclopædia, and prefer to read articles on
the appointed subject rather than to take up the book required. Or,
you have some other history, or other scientific treatise. In order
to economize, I have allowed substitutes. Comparatively few of our
students have used them. It is much more pleasant for all members of
the C. L. S. C. to travel one way. The sympathy of the members is
increased by such unity. The reading of Green’s “Short History of the
English People,” and Merrivale’s “Rome,” bound together by very strong
cords the members of the Circle. While there may be other valuable
books, we think that the “required” books are the best, and we desire
our members as far as practicable to use them.
* * * * *
Edward A. Spring, sculptor, who has charge of the clay-modeling
department, at Chautauqua, lingered for several weeks after the close
of the Assembly the past season. He studied the old trees in St. Paul’s
Grove, measuring them carefully, and also numbered them. He finds
twelve maples, five beeches, one butternut, and one hemlock. “The
largest maple, No. 6,” he says, “is nearly eight feet in circumference.
It stands in front of the Hall. A butternut, No. 8, is a grand old
tree, and full of nuts this year; but it leans very much toward the
hemlock, and can hardly last long without some skillful forestry work.
All the trees, except Nos. 2 and 9, are too large to reach around with
my arms. No. 13 is one of the finest trees on the whole grounds—a very
symmetrical tulip on the west side of Cookman Avenue.” He adds, “I had
been all about the Grove many times, but now that I have held each one
of these giants of the old forest clasped in my arms, I feel toward
each as if I had said farewell to a dear friend. For five Sundays
the setting sun has lighted a little band of friends in the Hall of
Philosophy—five little gatherings, where a lovely spirit prevailed,
and I think all there present will long remember it. Dr. Eaton and
Mr. Martin have led the service, which took the form of devotional
expression,
‘A song of service, of faith, of praise;’
with frequent allusions to our book-mates of the great Circle at whose
center we were met. Several times each one in turn repeated a verse of
Scripture; and, day before yesterday, upon closing, we joined hands and
closed the circle, repeating in concert the three mottoes of the C. L.
S. C. Now, I started out to tell you of these meetings with an express
purpose, namely, to urge the desirableness of securing a sunset belt
from the Hall of Philosophy, so that no intervening structures shall
cut off this glorifying of the maples at the hour of the Round-Table,
and other favored and favorite gatherings.