In 1904, Bishop Vincent was placed on the retired list, to dwell where he chose, free from episcopal service. From that year until 1918, he passed a portion of each summer at Chautauqua and took part in the program, but without the responsibility of supervision. Most of the time he was happy in his release, but there would come occasional hours when he longed to hold the reins once more.
In this year, 1902, a new charter was received from the Legislature of New York, giving a new title, "Chautauqua Institution." The Girls' Club and the Unitarian House were built this season, also the Disciples' Headquarters on Clark Avenue received its pillared portico. The Lutheran House was established during this season.
Senator Mark Hanna of Ohio, who was looked upon as "the power behind the throne" during the presidency of his friend, William McKinley, spoke at Chautauqua in 1902, also Mrs. Pennybacker of Texas, Dr. A. E. Dunning of Boston, editor of the Congregationalist, General John C. Black of Pennsylvania, Dr. Earl Barnes, Prof. Charles Zeublin, Dr. W. F. Oldham of India, afterward a Bishop, and the ever-welcome Frank Beard who had been absent for a number of years.
Chautauqua has always believed in the open and free discussion of vexed questions, and this year from August 4th to August 8th was held a most interesting conference on "The Labor Movement." The introductory address opening the subject was given by the Hon. Carroll D. Wright, U. S. Commissioner of Labor. Supplementary lectures, followed by discussion, were by President Harper on "The University and Industrial Education"; Mr. Frank P. Sargent, "Growth and Influence of Labor Organizations"; Mr. John Mitchell, "The Joint Conference between Employer and Employee." On both sides there was the frankest expression of opinion. I remember that when one speaker was asked whether he was an actual worker or a professional agitator, without a word he held out his hands that all might see they were the hands of a working-man.
This year was notable in the Department of Music, by the entrance of Mr. Alfred Hallam as Director. His whole-hearted, absolutely self-forgetting labor, and his reach after the highest standards in his art, from 1902 to 1919, made Mr. Hallam dear not only to his choir, but to all Chautauquans.
The year 1903 was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the C. L. S. C. in 1878. That event in popular education was commemorated by a great meeting in the Amphitheater and the laying of the corner stone of a new Hall of Philosophy on the site of the old hall, which, being a wooden building, was decaying. The Class of 1882 planted some ivy brought from the Palatine Hill in Rome, other classes planted oak and pine trees. A sealed box, containing portraits of the Founders and copies of Chautauqua publications, was placed in the corner stone, which was then lowered into place and made secure with mortar, the trowel being handled in turn by Dr. George Vincent and Director Scott Brown. As the stone was put in place, a cablegram was read from Bishop Vincent at Helsingfors, Finland—"Remember the foundation is Christ." Vincent.
This year, 1903, the Arts and Crafts shops, which had been in various places over the ground, were brought together by the director, Henry Turner Bailey, making the Arts and Crafts Village, in later years to become the Arts and Crafts Building. The Grange Building on Simpson Avenue was erected and presented as headquarters for that order by Mr. Cyrus W. Jones of Jamestown. This year, 1903, Dean Percy H. Boynton of the University of Chicago was made Secretary of Instruction, and placed in full charge of the Summer Schools, which by this time had grown to more than two thousand students. A few years later he received the title of Principal and gave to the summer schools his unremitting attention until 1917. To Dean Boynton's careful choice of instructors and watchfulness over details of management during those years the growth and success of the schools is largely due.
The Liquor Problem was the subject of the Conference on August 3-8, 1903. I find on the list of speakers and their subjects eight names to which might be added five times as many who participated in the discussions. Commander Frederick Booth-Tucker and his wife Emma Booth-Tucker, told of "The Salvation Army and the Liquor Problem." Mr. Raymond Robins, an eminent social worker of Chicago, spoke on "The Saloon and the World of Graft, Vagrancy, and Municipal Correction," although it may have been "municipal corruption," for I think he spoke on both subjects. Mrs. Lillian M. N. Stevens told of the work of the W. C. T. U.; Prof. I. P. Bishop showed "The Physiological Effects of Alcohol," Prof. Frederick Starr, the anthropologist, gave an interesting account of "Stimulants among Primitive Peoples." Other speakers were Rev. E. C. Dinwiddie, Mr. Frederick H. Wines, and Mrs. John G. Woolley.
A Corner of the Playground