The Story of Chautauqua

by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut

The Department of Religious Work was carried on with a strong force of speakers and teachers under the direction of Dr. Shailer Mathews, its details supervised by his efficient assistant, Miss Georgia L. Chamberlin of Chicago, who also gave daily lectures. Among the instructors were Dr. Charles F. Kent of Yale, and Dr. James Hope Moulton, one of the richest minds of the age in Biblical lore, who gave a series of lectures, learned yet simple, on "The Origins of Religion." None of us could have thought then that this noble life in its prime was destined to end in the Mediterranean by a shot from a German submarine.

The Devotional Hour and the Sunday services were led for a week by the Rev. C. Rexford Raymond of Brooklyn, who told in several chapters the old story of Joseph, yet seeming new in its application. The Rev. G. Robinson Lees, Vicar of St. Andrews, Lambeth, England, who had lived in Palestine and among the Arabs in the desert, had written a book forbidden by the Turkish authorities, and had been banished from the land, preached one Sunday morning and gave graphic pictures of Oriental life through the week. Dr. W. H. Hickman, a former President of the Chautauqua Board of Trustees, Rev. Peter Ainslie of Baltimore, Dr. C. F. Wishart, Dr. Washington Gladden, one who was ever welcome at Chautauqua; and a great-hearted man, Dr. George W. Truett of Texas, were also chaplains, each serving a week.

This year also the new golf course was opened on the field beyond the public highway, to the rejoicing of many patrons. At the close of the season the annual convention was held by the International Lyceum and Chautauqua Association, the union of bureaus and speakers in the "Chain Chautauquas" held all over the continent, of which we shall speak later. Their meetings were continued until September 10th, making 1914 the longest session in the history of Chautauqua.

In 1915, the war of the world was bringing its unspeakable terrors to Europe, and America was looking on, yet hesitating to plunge into the welter; but Chautauqua held on its even way, its courses of instruction as many, and its classes as large as ever. This year Dr. George E. Vincent felt constrained by the pressure of his duties as President of the University of Minnesota, with its eight thousand students and as large a number in its University Extension courses, to withdraw from the direct supervision of Chautauqua. He resigned his office as President of the Chautauqua Institution, and Dr. Arthur E. Bestor became President. But Dr. Vincent retained his membership on the Board of Trustees, was named Honorary President, and has continued to come to Chautauqua almost every year. Even for a few days, and with a lecture or two, his presence gives strength to the Assembly.

In 1917, Dr. Vincent resigned the presidency of the University of Minnesota to accept the same position with the Rockefeller Foundation, disbursing millions of dollars every year in the interests of world-wide education and health.

The lecture platform of 1915 was arranged under six great weeks, each making prominent one subject, while popular addresses and the devotional services went on parallel with them all. The first week was devoted to the study of community service. Mary Antin, whose book, The Promised Land, had been read by everybody, was greeted by an audience far beyond the reach of her voice, speaking in her ardent manner. Dr. Lincoln Wirt proclaimed "America's Challenge to the World"; Mr. E. J. Ward explained the why and the how of "Community Service," and Norman Angell set forth "American Leadership in World Politics." During this week Chancellor McCormick of the University of Pittsburgh conducted the services of the Devotional Hour.

The second week was devoted to the Drink Problem. Bishop Francis J. McConnell of the Methodist Episcopal Church preached on Sunday morning and spoke at the Devotional Hour each day. The opening address was by Governor George A. Carlson of Colorado, who set forth powerfully the methods and results of prohibition in his State. Dr. H. A. Gibbons spoke on "The Prohibition Question in Europe." The Hon. J. Denny O'Neill, on "Booze and Politics." While the temperance question was discussed in the Hall of Philosophy, there were concerts and lectures in the Amphitheater, one especially by Mr. Sanford Griffith, who had been at the battle front as a war correspondent, on "Fighting in Flanders." Also Dr. Hamilton Wright Mabie, editor and essayist, spoke on "The East and West, Friends or Enemies?"

The third week was entitled "Justice and the Courts"—with such subjects as law, legislation, the administration of justice, and penology. Among the speakers were George W. Alger, Thomas Mott Osborne, Katharine Bement Davis, Judge W. L. Ransom of New York, and Dean James Parker Hall of the University of Chicago Law School. Mr. Charles Rann Kennedy, author of The Servant in the House, a drama with a sermon, recited the play, aided by Mrs. Kennedy. The play had already been read a year or two before by Mrs. Bertha Kunz Baker, and also enacted by the Chautauqua Players, so that we were familiar with it, but were eager to hear it recited by its author. Mr. Kennedy also gave some dramatic interpretations from the Bible. This week the Devotional Hour was held by Dr. Charles W. Gilkey, of the Hyde Park Baptist Church in Chicago, the church nearest to the University and attended by many of the faculty and students.

The music week was notable from the presence of the Russian Symphony Orchestra, led by a great player and delightful personality, Modest Altschuler. One of his company said of him, "He rules his orchestra by love." The Recognition Address this year was by President E. B. Bryan of Colgate University, on the all-important question: "Who are Good Citizens?"

The forty-third Assembly in 1916 found our country in the throes of a presidential election, party strife bitter, and the nation divided on the impending question of our entrance into the world war. The feverish pulse of the time was manifested in the opinions expressed by the different speakers. Dr. George E. Vincent gave a lecture on "What is Americanism"—a sane, thoughtful view which was needed in that hour.