BY CHANCELLOR J. H. VINCENT, D.D.
For the past year I have given in The Chautauquan a series of articles on the interior significance and higher aims of the Chautauqua movement, instead of the answers to questions which filled the C. L. S. C. column in former years. The closing article of this year must be made up of answers to questions which are of general interest.
1. A correspondent inquires “whether Alfred Ayres, author of the ‘Orthoepist,’ and editor of the English Grammar of William Corbett, is a recognized standard authority in pronunciation, and whether he should be preferred to Webster or Worcester.” To this I can only reply that I do not so understand Mr. Ayres’s claim or position in the field of letters. He certainly is not accepted as are Webster and Worcester; and the chief advantage of his little volumes is in showing what one man who has given much attention to the subject of pronunciation thinks on the subject. That is all.
2. “How can a knowledge of Greek, Roman, or any other history be of any benefit to me? I prefer to study the works of God, and in chemistry and other departments of science to trace the signs of his wisdom.”
Answer: It is important to study God’s great gifts to the race in the great characters of history and literature. The genius of Homer is as much a wonder as is any fact in physical science. Acquaintance with the vivacity, enterprise and energy of the Greek character is as valuable to people who now live in the world as is a knowledge of the physical constitution, shape, habits of life, and movements of the colossal creatures reported by geology as having occupied this planet ages on ages ago. No education is complete that has not to some extent been influenced by the spirit of the old Greek culture. The whole history of that people shows the impotence of mere culture without moral character, and we may trace through the ages of Greek history the evidences of divine wisdom and justice. By all means let us study natural science, but let us not abandon history. Whatever pertains to man in any age of the world should possess peculiar interest to us.
3. “People in our neighborhood often say to me: ‘Why study those books? You will not live to finish the course; and if you do, what good will it do you or your children?’”
Answer: Ignorant people often ask the question, “Of what use is education, beyond a small amount of reading, writing and arithmetic? Why should people who have to work in kitchens and fields study the stars? Why should men who neither care to act on the stage, or to write for the press, give much attention to William Shakspere?” Whatever our business may be, we need to read general literature because we are members of society, and owe something as rational beings to society. Parents should keep in sympathy with their children, whose world of knowledge must of necessity in this age grow wider and richer all the time. We are, moreover, members of this universe, and God is our Father. We have a right as his children to know something about his works and ways and wisdom. Life is a wearisome thing to people who are ignorant. There is sustaining power in the large thoughts which a true culture brings. If one expects to live forever with God, he should cultivate noble and worthy character on this side the grave, and such nobility is increased and such holiness promoted by a wide range of reading and study with worthy motive.
4. I am happy to announce that the “Chautauqua Press” has been fully organized. Under its direction some of the books of the C. L. S. C. will be published, and a series of standard books will be issued at once for the formation of home libraries; books adapted to the special courses and bearing also upon the Required Readings.