Oh, to be sure of passing safely through the ordeal of examination by the Judge!
When I think of the immense enthusiasm of the C. L. S. C., I am glad. I believe in enthusiasm. I believe in the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. Yet I wonder, often, whether we, as Christians, can not learn something from the eagerness of many scholars who are not of the royal family, and yet are eager to learn all they can, about our Father’s handiwork in earth and air and sky.
I am writing longer than I meant. I only wanted to say this: Let us make sure of clasping hands at last in our Father’s house.
Yours in His name,
Mrs. G. R. Alden.—“Pansy.”
Desiring to promote the interests of the C. L. S. C., the Chautauqua circles of Rhode Island, numbering about twenty-five, have united and formed the “Rhode Island Chautauqua Union,” with the following officers: President, Prof. John H. Appleton, A.M., of Brown University; first vice president, the Rev. J. Hall McIlvaine, pastor of the Union Congregational Church; second vice president, Hon. Thos. B. Stockwell, A.M., Rhode Island State Commissioner of Public Schools; third vice president, Levi W. Russell, A.M., Principal of Bridgham School; secretary and treasurer, Wm. D. Porter, D.D.S., all of Providence. There have been three new circles formed this year in Providence, R. I., one of them bearing the popular name of “Vincent.” “Hope” circle, formed in 1882, is still in a flourishing condition. They were favored last month with a very interesting and instructive address by Prof. Appleton, on “The Value of the Study of the Natural Sciences.” The executive committee arrange the order of exercises and find the monthly programs in The Chautauquan of great benefit. The circle has now about seventy members, and most of them belong to the C. L. S. C.——Another newly organized circle of Providence is the “Esmeralda Bachelor” circle. It numbers twenty members, all gentlemen, and they give as the only excuse which it seems to us could be at all valid for forming a circle of bachelors, that they can get more young men into their club by restricting its membership. “Whittier” circle, of the same city, has been reorganized, and a most pleasant item comes to us from them. On the birthday of the beloved poet, the circle sent to him as a souvenir a paper weight of serpentine, from a quarry in Newburg, Mass. It had been cut into a design of oak leaves and acorns. Their remembrance brought back a kindly response from Whittier.——A newly organized circle also exists at River Point, R. I. It was formed in October last, and numbers thirty-five. Their plan is that laid out in The Chautauquan.
The New York circles are doing wonderfully energetic work. At Jordan there is a new and growing organization of twenty-four members.——At Medina, one of thirteen, which has already begun to scatter seed, some of it so far away as the Pacific coast, where our Medina members believe they will soon have an offshoot.——The “Wolcott” C. L. S. C. has been organized at Wolcott, with over thirty members, who write most enthusiastic words of the benefits they have already received.——At Brocton the veteran circle, composed of members of the S. H. G. and C. L. S. C., held a delightful Milton memorial.——At Rochester, the circle which is connected with the Academy of Science in that city, wins this appreciative notice from a local paper: “Public sentiment in favor of the Chautauqua movement is spreading with marvelous rapidity. Such certainly is the fact in regard to the circle in this city. There are now upward of forty members enrolled, and beside these a large number of persons attend the semi-monthly meetings who have not yet identified themselves with the regular work. The practical benefit derived from this course of home study becomes more apparent as it is investigated, constantly confirming the wisdom of its founders in setting in motion a plan for the intellectual and moral elevation and culture of thousands who have only spare minutes for such an object.”——At Glens Falls, not long ago, Chancellor Vincent greeted his C. L. S. C. pupils, delivering his lecture on “That Boy and His Friends,” before them, and meeting them afterward at a reception.——At Ocean Grove, the circle under Dr. Stokes’s genial management is doing admirable work. A delightful social was recently held by the circle at the Sheldon House.——The Marion circle has reorganized this year, strong and hopeful as ever. Says a member: “The ‘Inner Chautauqua’ is taking a deeper hold upon us year by year, and we propose that our connection with the C. L. S. C. shall continue indefinitely. We are trying to extend the knowledge of it by distributing the ‘Popular Educational Circular,’ by inserting an occasional item in our village paper relating to the doings of our circle, as well as by personal conversation with our friends and acquaintances.”——The circle at Carmel has also been reorganized, with seventeen members. Their programs show excellent work.——At Sandy Hill, during the holidays, a special meeting commemorated the season. Among the exercises was a poem on “The Triumph of our Language,” which deserves special mention.——The Brooklyn circle, of Hansom Place M. E. Church, has increased its membership to over one hundred. It owes to the Rev. George E. Reed, its president, the large increase. Having outgrown the capacities of private parlors, they have met lately in those of the church, where, while losing some of its more social elements, there is a far better opportunity for map display and the general working of the monthly class. Following out the assignment of an instruction committee, they find no lack of willing participants. One of the most popular exercises is the five minutes’ essay on some person or incident connected with the current reading. In good hands, the information condensed is of the most direct kind, and at its conclusion an opportunity is given the class to ask any questions relevant to the topic. All this is clear knowledge, and has proven one of the most agreeable of their methods.——At Fort Plain, the circle carried out on Bryant day a highly enjoyable program. That this circle is enthusiastic, the fact that some of its members come from four miles away, is a proof.——A second New York circle which has enjoyed a visit from Chancellor Vincent, and had the pleasure of tendering him a reception, is that at Chatham. Several new members have joined the circle there, the result of the inspiring talk which the Chancellor gave them.——The “Ionian” circle of Burlington, N. Y., is winning friendly attention from the local press, its meetings being noticed, and its exercises commended.——The “Vincent” circle, of Troy, invariably sends out to its members, on its announcements of monthly meetings, some bit of inspiring thought. On the January program we find this sentence, useful, we suspect, for other than Troy readers: “Remember this: In proportion as you put thought and work into these monthly meetings, in that proportion, with high interest, will you draw out in enjoyment and profit.”
The local circle of Bridgeville, Pa., was organized November, 1881, with a membership of thirteen. During the intervening three years there have been many changes, but the good work has been steadily going forward. The circle reorganized October, 1884, with eight members, and has taken up the work of the year with increased vigor, the meetings being well attended and very interesting. The monthly meetings are held in the village church, though none of the members live in the village, some having to travel the distance of two miles to attend the meetings.——At Reading, the “Cleaver” circle has been reorganized, with double its old membership. Their program they make very interesting, by introducing variety into the exercises.——Nine ladies and gentlemen formed last fall the “Castelian” circle, in Philadelphia. Happy are they to have a large map of Greece. What a treasure it is to a circle these days!
The “Meridian” circle, of Washington, D. C., has been having a feast of good things. How can it help it? It lives in Washington, and Washington offers peculiar advantages to literary and scientific clubs, not only on account of its immense professional library and large scientific collections in the Smithsonian Institution and National Museum, but also through the personnel of these institutions and of the many other scientific bureaus of the government, who, making literature or science their daily vocation, afford a large field from which to draw essayists and experimentalists of a high order. “Meridian” circle has been fortunate in availing itself of these advantages. Last year, during the course in vegetable biology, they had an evening’s instruction in the microscopic examination of bioplasm, by Dr. D. S. Lamb, the eminent anatomist of the United States Medical Museum, who had charge of the autopsy of President Garfield. This year, at their last meeting in November, they had an essay from Mr. Lee Shidy, of the United States Coast Survey, on “The Tides,” a most interesting subject, and most interestingly and ably illustrated and explained.
A seven-years-old circle certainly deserves a warm corner by The Chautauquan’s fireside. Most cordially do we grant it, for we mistrust that a circle so experienced will be unusually good company, and will be able, too, to give us some suggestions of value. It is the “Trojan,” of Troy, Ohio, which claims this rare distinction, and we believe we are not wrong in saying that their history will be of great interest to all. The ‘Trojan’ circle was organized with a large membership in 1878. Eight members graduated in 1882, five of them being at Chautauqua that season. In the fall of that year the circle increased greatly, and has been growing in interest ever since. Now it numbers thirty-two members. Their plan of work is as follows: They open with singing, and responsive reading from ‘Chautauqua Songs.’ At roll call each member is expected to respond with a Bible verse. The questions in The Chautauquan on the week’s lesson are asked, and also original test questions from some or all of the members, on the readings. Sometimes the circle reads alternately from one of the text-books, or from The Chautauquan. They always have a critic, and a committee of two that gives a digest of the topics of the times, often in the form of questions, which thus makes a pleasant conversazione. Memorial days are faithfully remembered and made interesting and attractive by essays, readings, recitations, and music.——At Perrysburg, Ohio, ten persons are in the circle, which has been in existence for about four years. One entertaining feature is novel. Occasionally a paper of interesting general news is added to the program. The question box, too, is made a feature of each evening, a practice which is always worth all the work it takes. Memorial days find pleasant observance, the Milton memorial being celebrated with peculiarly pleasing exercises. The circle is rejoicing in their readings, considering them of great benefit.