CLASS OF 1888.—“THE PLYMOUTH ROCKS.”
“Let us be seen by our deeds.”
CLASS ORGANIZATION.
President—The Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D., Boston, Mass.
Vice Presidents—Prof. W. N. Ellis, 108 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.; the Rev. Wm. G. Roberts, Bellevue, Ohio.
Secretary—Miss M. E. Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio.
Treasurer—Miss M. E. Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio.
All items for this column should be sent, in condensed form, to the Rev. C. C. McLean, St. Augustine, Florida.
We give name, locality, and number of members of new circles formed: “Kate F. Kimball,” Minneapolis, Kan., 12; “Delta,” Norwich, Conn., 16; Orlando, Fla., 20; “Evening Star,” Torreyville, N. Y., 7; “Oird,” Oird, Mich., 27; “Lawrence,” Chillicothe, O., 18; “Souri,” Blair, Neb., 22; “Progressives,” Danielsonville, Conn., 16; “Colton,” Colton, Cal., 16; “Gleaners,” Zumbrota, Minn.; “Euclid,” Vicksburg, Miss., 18; “Olympic,” Yarmouth, Me., 14; “Adelphic Union,” Holden, Mo., 21; South Manchester, Conn., 50; oldest member seventy-four, youngest sixteen; West Lebanon, N. Y., few members; Carpinteria, Cal., 8; Hopkinton, Ia., 12; Tiffin, O., organized with 6, now 13; “St. Johns,” Toledo, O., 26, was organized by a “lone member.” In Barrie, Ontario, Canada, the enthusiasm of 5 enrolled 24 more; smallest attendance has been 16. Two teachers of Brainard, Neb., have failed but twice during the severe winter, to meet every week. Their walk is several miles to the home of an invalid, who, with them, composes a circle, “The Triangle.” “Straight Line,” Matawan, N. J., 2. These object to name, saying “it speaks of poultry.” Can not the class suggest names and have them given in our column, and be voted upon, selecting the one receiving the highest number of votes? Portland, Ind., circle desires a change of name. One from Darlington, Ind., also objects to name. One member from Chicago, Ill., suggests change of motto to “Let us be doers of the Word, not hearers only:” Matt. v:16. “Evening Star,” Terryville, N. Y., “started late, but worked hard and caught up, and have not yet had a dull meeting.” “Oird,” Mich., writes: “After starting, no one wishes to turn back.” Quite a number have written regarding their “Longfellow” day. One circle, “Delta,” of Norwich, Conn., sends a poem respecting their “Washington” day. Want of space crowds out this, and much more.
THE PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
Why should we take with such pretense
A name so great? and in what sense
Should we be likened to the stone
Which to the Pilgrims first was known?
This answering thought then came to me;
“The teachings of our class should be
A stepping-stone for coming youth,
From seas of doubt to shore of truth.”
So, when the ocean waves of wrong
Shall dash about us fierce and strong,
We may not fear, nor be dismayed—
Truth never in the grave was laid.
And when the surging waves subside
And calmed shall be the raging tide
We, like the “rock,” may firmly stand
To “welcome home” the storm-tossed band.
These principles our lives will lead,
If to our name we give good heed;
True helpfulness to others give,
And firmness for the right to live.
Our influence will then appear,
Proving more clearly year by year,
The motto which our class now leads,
“Let us be seen by our (good) deeds.”
—Marietta S. Case.
Many write of the “unbounded pleasure” they find in our reading course.
“Adelphic Union,” Holden, Mo., says their circle has neither “flaw nor break.” They have sent us a program of a symposium. Each member assumed a Greek name and wore an appropriate costume. The Greek idea was carried out even to the “Master of Revels.”
“Kate F. Kimball,” Minneapolis, Kansas, sends us their menu. The invitation to this tempting repast we could not accept, though the food was prepared in accordance with The Chautauquan’s directions. We must also decline the kindly invitation to the reception tendered our president, the Rev. A. E. Dunning, by the Congregational Sunday-school Superintendents’ Union, of Boston. The card is itself a treat.
Make your items for this column very brief, as we are not allowed much space. Write no more words than are necessary, and yet state everything of interest.
Illinois.—“The North Side C. L. S. C., of Chicago, held a public examination and reception at the parlors of the Grace M. E. Church, recently; it was a great success. There were about 150 persons present, and they evinced great interest in the exercises. We belong to the class of ’88, and this is our first reception, and we all feel delighted over our success, and we will have another in a short time. We know that our meeting will be of interest to all Chautauquans, particularly those of Chicago and vicinity.”
From a packet on the Tensas River comes a bit of history telling how one new member has been added to the class of ’88: “Having complained to a passenger on board my steamer that time hung heavily on my hands during a portion of each trip, and asked her to suggest a remedy, she immediately named the Chautauqua school, and advised me to become a member of the class of ’88, and gave me a list of questions I would be obliged to answer. As my education has necessarily been limited, I thought favorably of the scheme of self-improvement, as a relief to the monotonous long watches.” The master of the packet is now a member of the class of ’88.
Way down in Texas, at Hempstead, is a faithful band of fifteen C. L. S. C. workers of the class of ’88. They are college folks, the president of the institution—Soule College—to which they belong being the president of the circle. They are very enthusiastic over the course, and do a great deal of work.