Chautauquans, however, discriminate between this divine possession which captures and sways intellect and will week days and Sundays, in business and in church life steadily and effectively, and the mere spasms of resolution under pressure of occasion; the selfish efforts over fancied personal security; the studied outward conformity to religious duties according to the ebb and flow of religious emotion. They believe so firmly in the kingdom and patience of our Lord that obedience is worth more than comfort and faith, a firmer foundation than sight or feeling.
To Chautauquans, therefore, all things hold a measure of God’s infinite wisdom. All things are precious, for in all things one may find traces of his grace. All things are sublime, for all things are connected with a glorious unity, which fills heaven and earth, eternity past and eternity to come. Flowers, fossils, microscopic dust, foul soil, things that crawl and things that soar, ooze from the sea-depths, lofty heights that salute the stars—all are divine in origin and nature. A boot-black may be a king—boot-black and king—both at once. Human eyes see only the black hands, patched knees and crouching form that bespeak servility. There are eyes that can see deeper and further. Seeing so much they extend a hand of greeting. Then kings and saints converse.
Chautauquans believe in Wealth when honesty wins it, prudence protects it, and benevolence uses it. They believe in Position when worth secures it, work honors it, and humility attends it. They believe in Culture, when teachableness goes before it, and all the faculties in true harmony receive it and religion inspires and controls it. They believe in Labor, when true social relations distribute it, when no one family of faculties is abused by it, and when true, reverent and philanthropic motives direct it.
Chautauquans are believers in a common brotherhood—but are not “communists.” They are open to truth, and hold an inheritance in all truth, and are subject only to the truth. But they are not boastful free thinkers in
“Realms remote, mysterious, divine,”
dogmatizing and denouncing. They believe in truth, God, and humanity. They seek the first, rejoice in the second, and serve the third.
These are some of the ideas which belong to the Chautauqua movement—the thoughts within the things—the theories of which phenomenal Chautauqua is a visible expression.