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The First Chautauqua Assembly in 1874 Are Scarce 25 5 BY JONATHAN D. SCHMITZ In southwestern New York State at a Methodist camp meeting ground, two men began the adult education movement that enriched and benefited millions of Americans well into the twentieth––and twenty-first––centuries. CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION unday schools of the nineteenth century taught more than religion; for many American children, these “Sabbath schools” provided their only general education in reading, writing, arithmetic, and social manners. Although Sunday schools declined in the years following the Civil War, starting in 1865 the Methodist Church began to restructure the curriculum, and Reverend John Heyl Vincent, corresponding secretary for the Sunday School Union and editor of several related journals, planned to hold two-week normal school ses- sions to teach this new curriculum. Left and above: Nineteenth-century postcards advertised Chautauqua as a tourist destination. www.nysarchivestrust.org 26 York State. Chautauqua Lake advertise the Assembly was rapidly becoming a popu- throughout America. Well- lar tourist destination after known Christian journalist T. the introduction of railroads, De Witt Talmage heartily and both Vincent and Miller recommended attendance via realized that this location a Biblical analogy: would allow them to bring in Reverend Doctor J.H. audiences and speakers from Vincent, the silver-tongued across the country to make trumpet of Sabbath- the “New York Chautauqua Schoolism, is marshalling Assembly” a national event. a meeting for the banks Miller was elected president of the Chautauqua Lake of the Assembly’s organizing which will probably be committee and took on the task the grandest religious NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY of preparing Chautauqua’s pic-nic ever held since the grounds, which were typical of five thousand sat down a camp meeting. There were on the grass and had a about 125 cottages, mostly surplus of provisions to rooming houses, encircling an take home to those who outdoor auditorium composed were too stupid to go. of benches between trees, Vincent and Miller’s Reverend John Heyl Vincent In 1872, Reverend Vincent with a speaker’s stand in the ambitious enterprise brought (left) and Lewis Miller (right). approached Lewis Miller, center. Beyond the cottages together three American insti- superintendent of Sunday were lots for tents, with a tutions: the camp meeting schools in Akron, Ohio, for help gated fence enclosing the (a religious gathering held at in organizing these sessions. grounds. A primitive pier for a campground), the lyceum The two men had Miller was a successful indus- steamboats provided the (a public educational meeting trialist and inventor of the primary means of access. Much space), and the Sunday school. much in common: Buckeye reaper (a grain-har- work needed to be done, how- Each of these was in decline, neither had attended a vesting farm machine). The ever, to upgrade the facilities but Miller and Vincent used two men had much in com- for the hoped-for crowds: the remaining appeal of each university or college, mon: neither had attended a besides adding accommoda- to address the deficiencies of university or college, but both tions, stores and booths were the other two. From the camp but both shared a love shared a love of education engaged to sell books and meeting, they took the concept of education and and appreciated its impor- food and to rent all that a of welcoming back a commu- tance for developing Christian visitor might need, from tents nity each year in order to allow appreciated its impor- character. Their partnership and bedding to furniture and people to step away from their was the beginning of the lamps. A large tent was also regular routines and reacquaint tance for developing Chautauqua community. erected for dining, a museum themselves with one another was built, and a scale-model and with their faith. From the Christian character. Taking It to the Woods was made of the Holy Lands lyceum, they took the idea of Rather than hold the normal (which still exists today). lifelong learning and the use school sessions in Akron, Vincent was put in charge of leisure for self-improvement. Miller proposed that they of the Assembly’s program. And from the Sunday school, “take it to the woods” by He invited the best-known they took their mission of using as a summer venue the religious speakers of the day spreading enlightenment and Methodist campsite at Fair and used his connections faith so that people could Point on Chautauqua Lake in with the Christian press and become better-educated the Southern Tier of New Sunday school journals to Christians. NEW YORK archives • SUMMER 2013 27 Daily Life at Chautauqua torium for a family prayer On the evening of August 4, service, after which the 1874, the New York Assembly broke into various Chautauqua Assembly classes. Around 10:30 or 11 opened. A crowd of 2,000 to a.m., everyone reconvened for 3,000 gathered in the out- a lecture or sermon, followed door auditorium, renamed by a two-hour break for lunch Miller Park. After a brief and general recreation— ceremony and concert by the croquet, rowing or sailing, lake, a bell was rung and long walks, special excursions, people headed off to bed. or perhaps a visit to the Reverend R.M. Warren, head museum to view the three- of the Department of Good thousand-year-old mummy flirting (Chautauqua provided Top: A voluminous crowd turned Order, explained: on display, or to listen to Mr. ample opportunities for young out for the opening of the first Believing with Solomon Van Lennep speak at Palestine people to meet acceptable Chautauqua Assembly in 1874. that there is a time for Park dressed as a Syrian spouses.) Classes and lectures Bottom: A postcard of Palestine Park. shepherd or a Muslim warrior. everything…the time to resumed in the afternoon. IMAGES: CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION sleep…is at 10 o’clock PM One observer wrote: “The After supper, the Assembly and the time to refrain… Lake was alive this afternoon gathered to hear one or more is at 6 o’clock AM…your after lecture hours with scores speakers, view a show of sleep must be quiet… of sail and row-boats, full of lantern slides (transparent Snoring is held by the Fair boating parties full of delight; photographs projected onto Point authority to be a every croquet ground was the a surface, which allowed vulgar amusement, with scene of eager contestants… viewing by a large audience), demoralizing tendencies. each the center of applauding or listen to Professor William In the morning, after just spectators.” There was also Henry Perrine give a tour of the enough time to wash, dress, time, as the newspapers Holy Lands as he unrolled his and eat breakfast, attendees reported, for the traditional enormous canvas panorama. gathered in the outdoor audi- camp meeting pastime of Before the bedtime bell rang www.nysarchivestrust.org 28 each day. There will be no it was left for Chautauqua to recreations during lecture and show how to use it.” institute hours.” The Assembly In 1878, the Chautauqua Police were on hand to Literary and Scientific Circle enforce this rule, and did so, was created as a correspon- even to the point of escorting dence reading course designed idlers to lectures and confirm- to give those who could not ing that they remained to attend college the opportunity hear them before being to have an equivalent educa- escorted off the grounds. tion. Chautauqua’s mix of education, edification, and A Movement Is Born entertainment would be copied CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION The press declared the by the many “daughter” “Mother Chautauqua,” as it Chautauquas that followed— Top: Chautauqua’s main “Plaza.” at 10, the crowd would walk was dubbed, a success. It at least 255 in North America down to the lake shore to see was estimated that 20,000 and a few overseas at one Left: A docked steamship is reflected on Chautauqua Lake. fireworks and listen to brass or more had attended the time or another, most of them bands and singers serenade Assembly during the inaugural created between the late 1880s them from rafts. British two-week session, and plans and World War I. The agents Ambassador Viscount James were made to reconvene the who provided the speakers Bryce later wrote, “I do not following year (as they would and entertainers coined the think any country in the be made every year up to the term “Chautauqua Talent,” world but America could present). M.A. Chase wrote in which referred to entertain- “Lectures will be produce such gatherings.” the Christian Standard: ment that was intended to At Chautauqua, time was …Few would have imag- both educate and edify: to be provided for those not to be wasted. In the early ined that such a feast of both good for you and fun. who don’t care to Assemblies, one was not good things, intellectual In 1904, these agents began required to take exams or and spiritual, could have putting circuit or traveling attend the institute classes, but one had to do— been crowded into two Chautauquas on the road, something. The Assembly’s weeks. Two and some- reaching millions in both the sessions proper, but governing committee stated: times three of the best United States and Canada. all must attend “Lectures will be provided for pulpit orators in the land Eventually the movement those who don’t care to spoke the same day, and split over social, political, and something.” attend the institute sessions all the intermediate hours religious issues, and only a proper, but all must attend were filled with classes for few venues besides the origi- something.
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