The outlook which a friend from Maryland sends of the new circle at Frederick is very encouraging: “Through the energy of a lady of the Methodist church we have organized a C. L. S. C. local circle under the name of ‘Mountain City.’ We organized November 24, 1884, with nine members, elected a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. We are glad to say we now have thirteen members, and hope soon to increase this number. We have enthusiastic meetings every week at the homes of the members; read in the circle some of The Chautauquan required readings, and carry out as far as practicable the programs for local circles, and expect to observe all memorial days.”
We have just received a very encouraging report from the Madisonville, Ohio, circle which was organized last year. They have twenty-five members, all of whom take a great interest in the circle. The committee of instruction, composed of the officers, has a full program prepared for each meeting. Two ministers of the town belong and take an active part. Miscellaneous questions have been introduced, and beside a question on the lesson, each member is required to bring one on outside matters. All questions remaining unanswered are distributed, to be answered at the following meeting. There is no doubt that if the interest in the circle still continues there will be a second circle started in the town next year.——At Defiance a local circle was organized October 1st, with a membership of twenty, all of whom belong to the general Circle of the C. L. S. C. The president is the Rev. B. W. Slagle, pastor of the Presbyterian church in the town. They have prepared special programs for the memorial days, which have proved very delightful, as well as instructive. There is a good prospect of doubling the membership by next year.
The annual report of the work of Calvary church, Detroit, Michigan, for last year, includes an account of the work done by the “Calvary” circle, a society which has been made a part of the church organization. From it we learn that the society has thirty-three active members. They have held twenty-two meetings; the programs have included—essays, 36; select readings, 28; music—instrumental pieces 21, vocal pieces 17; general talks, 4; debates, 2. The regular Chautauquan review questions have been taken up at each meeting. There has been a great deal of interest manifested in the meetings and a disposition on the part of officers and members to make them a success; every one who has attended them has been benefited, not only in the improvement of his or her mind, but also in some degree morally.
Indiana reports two circles: the “Wide Awakes,” of Moscow, a circle of four, and the “Laconia,” of Gumfield. Some five years ago, when the “Chautauqua wave” was moving westward, it reached Gumfield in a modified form. Eight persons began taking The Chautauquan, but did not perfect an organization; only one of the number matriculated and kept up the required reading. In the fall of 1882 they began the work vigorously, organizing a promising circle. As time advanced their influence gradually widened and extended, until this year there are over twenty enthusiastic Chautauquans enrolled at the Plainfield office. The “Laconia” meets weekly, and has endeavored to make thoroughness one of the characteristics of its work. It is composed entirely of housekeepers, but they feel more than compensated for sacrifice of time by inspiration received from the reading and study. Most memorial days have been observed. By this means the public has become interested in the C. L. S. C., and a similar society has been organized among the young people.
One of the most enthusiastic circles of Illinois is a quartette of “Irrepressibles,” at Nokomio. The circle had the novel experience of graduating in a body at Chautauqua last August. Now they are working more vigorously than ever, trying to cover their diplomas with seals.——Elgin has four large circles, the result of the “Alpha” circle, an organization formed in December, 1883, with six members. Last fall this society increased its numbers to nine, and most zealous has been their work. A sad loss recently befell them in the death of one of the charter members, Miss Mary Warde.——The circle at Sullivan, was organized in October, with a membership of eleven—one “Progressive” and ten “Plymouth Rocks.” They meet once a week at the homes of the members. The president appoints the members in turn to act as leaders, and the circle is composed of enthusiastic workers. Seven members visited New Orleans in the holidays, and two are spending this month in the “Crescent City.”——From Prophetstown a friend writes: “We are a modest bouquet of ‘Pansies,’ counting only seven, but we feel the charm of the Chautauqua Idea, and propose to ‘Neglect not the gift that is in us.’ One of our number, Mrs. Amelia K. Seely, passed ‘beyond the gates’ December 15, 1884. We sadly miss her cheery presence and unfailing interest in the work.”——Wednesday, January 21st, was a “red-letter” day for the Chautauquans of Hinsdale. Their usual enthusiasm was raised to a high key by the long-looked-for visit to their suburb of Chancellor Vincent, who made a stop of two hours on his way to Aurora. He was received by the class, who were out in full force, at the residence of the secretary. A lunch was served, and the time was most agreeably and profitably spent in conversation upon topics of interest connected with the C. L. S. C.
The “Oak Branch” circle was organized at Oakfield, Wisconsin, in November. There are only seven members, and all are busy people, but they are zealous and interested in the work, and thankful that they may enjoy the benefits of the C. L. S. C. They meet once in two weeks, their circle being conducted similarly to others which have been reported in The Chautauquan.
The “Centenary” local circle, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, writes us: “Our city boasts no less than twelve circles, but Centenary, the pioneer circle, still lives, and while our members are about one half what they were when ours was the only one in the city, we are going on quietly and promptly with all our work, and expect to furnish ten graduates for the class of ’85. We have our cottage engaged for the coming Assembly at Chautauqua, and hope to send a good delegation next summer. We have some eight or nine members of the class of ’88, and several representatives of classes of ’86 and ’87.”——At Spring Valley, a circle of seventeen members organized last fall, the president being from the class of ’84, but the members from ’88. The interest in the circle is decidedly increasing.
The friends of The Chautauquan in Iowa have been unusually kind this month. The following brief clippings from their letters give an excellent outlook on the work there: “A circle was organized at Afton, in October last, consisting of eleven regular and fifteen local members. Although nearly a month behind in organizing, we intend continuing our society through July, so as to be able to commence the next year at the regular time. In making out our program for local circle work we usually follow the one given in The Chautauquan, and find it a great help, but occasionally vary our exercises to adapt it to peculiar circumstances. The average attendance is good, and most of the members seem to take quite an interest. We hope the society will prove of lasting benefit to each member.”——“Through the energetic efforts of our village doctor, there was started last October a C. L. S. C. circle at Le Grand, and we feel worthy of mention in your columns. The circle consists of eleven members of the great Circle, and four or five local members. We appoint a new teacher for each book. We are learning much, and very much enjoy the circles. We have chosen for our name ‘Philohellemon.’”——“The ‘Ladies’ Chautauqua Reading Circle,’ of Sioux City, Iowa, has seventeen members. We organized in October, 1884. Our society is full of earnest enthusiasm. We meet once a week, following with slight variations the programs suggested in The Chautauquan. Chemistry is a favorite study, made specially interesting by the fact that a gentleman familiar with the subject gives us lectures with illustrative experiments.”——The “Kelly Humboldt” circle, of Humboldt, was reorganized last fall with renewed energy and vigor. About fourteen new members were admitted. “Our circle being now so large (numbering about twenty-six) as to almost require dividing, next season we intend organizing one in the adjoining town, just half a mile from here; then those living in that vicinity can withdraw from our circle to their own, leaving room for more to join us. To say that we enjoy our study, would be saying but very little; we can hardly wait for Monday evening to come, so anxious are we to meet and discuss the topics prepared for us. The programs arranged in The Chautauquan are a great help to us, although we vary them a little, generally opening by prayer and music; then, as a sentiment, we each give a current event of the week. We observe all the memorial days, and are now making extensive preparations to hold a public meeting in the church on Longfellow’s day. So that we may not be confused with the other ‘Humboldt’ circle, we have, in honor of the originator, Miss Mary Kelly, named our circle the ‘Kelly Humboldt’ C. L. S. C.”——Wapello has the “Qui Vive” circle, which enjoys the work. It was organized in September, 1884, and is composed almost entirely of members of the class of ’88.——In a recent letter from Burlington, we find some entertaining news from still another Iowa friend: “You always have something in the local circle column from Iowa. You know Iowa has two great staples, corn and Chautauquans, and we think you would surely be glad to hear of our flourishing circle, as well as others of the thousands of Chautauquans. Our circle was organized for the year’s work on Garfield day. We have the best circle we ever had, and are conceited enough to think there are no better ones anywhere. Our president is a busy lawyer. Indeed, our circle is composed of the busiest people in the town. We meet regularly and promptly every Monday evening. Burlington is a city of seven hills. Then you understand what regular meetings are here, for the circle is comprehensive and takes in all the hills. Our chemistry lessons are taught by a practicing physician who is a thorough chemist and teaches intelligently and enthusiastically. We have the willing coöperation of many of the educated people of the city, and when necessary for either our own advancement, or more perfect instruction on a topic, we find them ready to give us an address or essay. Our most enthusiastic members are graduates of colleges, or advanced academies. We recognize each memorial day. One of our daily papers freely makes any announcement we have to make, and aids us all it can. I can not undertake to tell you the good our circle is doing for us individually. Some of us, deprived of early advantages, can not be too thankful for the C. L. S. C. It is an influence for good that enters into our everyday life, and overbalances and counteracts some of the other influences that every soul must encounter.”
With an excellent program of a regular meeting has come to us a notice of a circle at Hatboro, Tennessee. The secretary says: “With great pleasure I report a local circle in our little town. We started with two members; we now enroll thirteen. We all are deeply interested, and think the Chautauqua Idea a grand one. We call ourselves ‘Golden Flower’ (Chrysanthemum) local circle, and our badges are clusters of chrysanthemums.”