4. At the meeting show a set of the books for the year’s reading, and set forth the plan of the C. L. S. C. Then distribute the copies of the application blanks, and proclaim a recess, during which time the names of members will be received by a Secretary pro tem. [Obtain the blanks in advance of the meeting from the general office at Plainfield, N. J.] Two conditions of membership, in my judgment, should be named. First, that every member of the local circle should also be a member of the general C. L. S. C. “Associate members” have been the bane of many circles, for they are without responsibility; follow the course only so far as they feel an inclination, and are not true Chautauquans. You are uniting a company of people for a definite purpose of study, and no others should be admitted to membership. The second condition of membership should be, that each one joining shall take part as assigned in the meetings. If there is an implied distinction between members speaking and silent, between workers and listeners (who are apt to be critics), your circle will fail to accomplish its highest mission, to develop the dormant abilities of its members. The principles of the local circle should be “every student a member, and every member a worker,” and it will be far easier to establish these as conditions at the outset than to work up to them afterward.
5. The second meeting should consist of members only, and those who come for the purpose of becoming members. At this meeting it may be desirable to prepare a simple set of rules, though it is not necessary, and an elaborate constitution and by-laws have crushed to death many societies. The better way is to make rules as you need them, and to change them as circumstances may require. Let the leader or organizer bring to this meeting fifteen or twenty written or printed questions on the readings for the coming week or fortnight, and distribute them among the members, in alphabetical order of names, to be answered at the next meeting. A better plan, if practicable, is to print the program for the next meeting, with names of participants, by means of some duplicating process like the papyrograph or hektograph, and give a copy to each member. Assign your fifteen topics among the first fifteen names, so that all will be on an equality, but assign them with some regard to fitness, so that the most difficult question will not fall to the most untrained student.
6. The only officers needed are a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer; and as everybody knows what their duties are it is not necessary to define them in a written constitution. Two committees may be chosen, each of which might consist of a single person. [Spurgeon says that the best committee consists of three, of whom one is sick and another out of town.] One committee to prepare the program of the meetings, another to provide music, either vocal or instrumental, to vary the exercises.
7. The mention of a treasurer suggests that there may be small expenses to the circle, for secretary’s book, postage, printing, etc. This may be obtained through voluntary contribution, through assessment, or through fines on absent members. In some circles it is obtained by making some person, generally the local bookseller, the agent to procure the books and receive subscriptions for the Chautauquan. The members pay the agent the full price, of which he gives a certain percentage to the treasurer, thus supplying a fund upon which drafts may be made for necessary expenses.
These are our hints concerning organization. The local circle is now launched, and we give it the Chautauqua salute, wishing it a successful voyage.
THE LOCAL CIRCLE.
BY LEWIS C. PEAKE.