The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
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The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle |
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The oldest
book club in history, founded in 1878, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific
Circle (CLSC) is almost as old as The Chautauqua Institution and the
chautauqua ideal. Perhaps as good an understanding
of the ideal of the CLSC as any can be found in the reading of the following
letter, which was printed in CHAUTUAQUA
TEXT BOOKS No.7, Memorial Days
of the C. L. S. C.; published in New York by Phillips and Hunt in the
1880s. (The date is not printed in the book, but there is mention of
the death of President Garfield who died on September 19, 1881.) Written
in May, 1878, this letter was sent to Dr. Vincent near the end of Bryant's
life, who died later that same year. Dr. John Heyle Vincent, a co-founder
(with Lewis Miller) of the Chautauqua Institution in New York in 1874 and
the founder of the CLSC, called for the reading of this letter by Chautauquans
each Opening Day, celebrated November 1st of each year. November
3rd was declared to be Bryant Day, in celebration of Bryant's birthday
on November 3, 1794 -- each Chautauquan was to read "Thanatopsis," "A Forest
Hymn," and "The Planting of the Apple-Tree." Bryant's letter is reprinted
here as it was originally in the Chautauqua Text Books No. 7.
This is a picture of William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) published in 1896. Bryant was a poet and a journalist born in Cummington, Massachusetts. He was best known for the poem "Thanatopsis." He was also known for his law practice, then as a newspaper writer. He became a co-owner and editor of the New York Evening Post in 1929. Bryant influenced the layout of the city of New York, and was most interested in the development of Central Park.
John Hyle Vincent was the founder of Chautauqua. In August, 1879, Harper's New Monthly Magazine published on the subject of an infant organization an article titled "Chautauqua." This is an illustration of John H. Vincent that appeared on the front page of the ten-page article, which included news about the new Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. Part of that article is printed below. |
BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. Mr. Bryant, who was interested in the C. L. S. C., wrote the following letter to Dr. Vincent:--
NEW
YORK, MAY 18,
1878
MY DEAR SIR:--I cannot be present at the meeting called to organize the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, but I am glad that such a movement is on foot, and wish it the fullest success. There is an attempt to make science, or a knowledge of the laws of the material universe, an ally of the school which denies a separate spiritual existence and a future life---in short, to borrow of science weapons to be used against Christianity. The friends of religion, therefore, confident that one truth never contradicts another, are doing wisely when they seek to accustom the people at large to think and to weigh evidence as well as believe. By giving a portion of their time to a vigorous training of the intellect and a study of the best books, men gain the power to deal satisfactorily with questions with which the mind might otherwise become bewildered. It is true that there is no branch of human knowledge so important as that which teaches the duties we owe to God and to each other, and that there be no law of the universe, sublime and wonderful as it may be, so worthy of being fully known as the law of love, which makes him who obeys it a blessing to his species, and the universal observance of which would put an end to a large proportion of the evils which affect mankind. Yet it is a knowledge of the results of science and such of its processes as lie most open to the popular mind important for the purpose of showing the different spheres occupied by science and religion, and preventing the inquirer from mistaking their divergence from each other for opposition. |
NO. CCCLL--AUGUST, 1879--VOL. LIX.
[This portion of the article "Chautauqua," written by D. H. Post, appears on pages 358-360.]
... By far the most valuable fruit of
the Chautauqua plan, at least in an educational sense, will come from the
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. This was a natural outgrowth
of the assembly ; but it had its origin as far back as 1856 in an attempt
made by Dr. Vincent in Newark, New Jersey, to establish a course of home
study and reading for young ministers who had lacked early advantages.
Several meetings were held in furtherance of the project, but it was
finally abandoned for the time. In August 1878, Dr. Vincent felt that
the time had arrived for the resumption of the plan on a more extended scale.
His travel and experience had convinced him that there were hundreds
of men and women in all the ranks of life who had from various causes failed
to secure the benefits of a liberal education, but who were anxious for
knowledge, and would gladly pursue a course of home study if in some manner
their investigation could be placed under judicious guidance. They
were conscious of their needs, and willing to make the necessary individual
effort, but they lacked a knowledge of the right means and direction of their
labors. It was to meet this want the the C. L. S. C. was organized.
The plan, in brief, embraces the following features : first,
it has a prescribed curriculum covering four years ; second, its aim is to
give the college student's outlook ; third, it covers in special courses
the entire range of study in art, science, literature, and history (the general
and initial four years' course may be thought circumscribed or superficial,
but this only prepares the way for exceedingly thorough special courses
afterward) ; fourth, it is based upon religious truth, and embraces
Biblical studies from an evangelical stand-point ; fifth, the course
of study is carefully prepared by expert and practical scholars--college
professors, scientific students, and teachers of experience ; sixth,
a series of examinations is held by means of printed questions sent each
member of the class (the first list of questions is before us, and appears
to be devised with exceeding skill ; any one who answers a reasonable
percentage of the inquiries must have pursued the course faithfully, as no
system of "cramming" would make it possible to meet the test successfully)
; seventh, a diploma will be given to all who complete the four years'
course (to this diploma will from time to time be added seals for the "special
courses" completed, and it ma y in time become valuable from the number of
special seals attached to it, each of which, issued by the professor in charge,
shall certify to really hard and faithful labor) ; eighth, each member
is kept in constant communication with the president by reports and by printed
circulars containing suggestions and items of interest in connection with
the plan of study (the plan keeps alive the interest of the members, and
affords a constant stimulus of faithful study).
The register for membership was
opened on the 10th of August, and by the 20th of November--when entries for
the first class were closed--contained over eight thousand names. From
the reports received it is known that about that number are actually engaged
in the prosecution of the prescribed course of study at the present time.
When it is bourne in mind that the effort is entirely voluntary, the
the text-books for the year cost the members about five dollars, and that
on an average forty minutes must be devoted to the course each week-day for
nine months, the result will be admitted to be exceedingly gratifying and
significant.
The prescribed course of study for the first year is
a tentative one, and is arranged as follows: 1. English History and
Literature. 2. Biblical History and Literature. 3. Greek History
and Literature. 4. Astronomy: Science of Every-day Life. The
text-books required are :
Chautauqua Text-Book, No. 4.
(English History.) By Dr. J. H. Vincent.
A Short History of the English
People. By J. R. Green.
Primer of English Literature. By
Rev. Stopford Brooke, M.A.
Outlines of Bible History. By
Dr. J. F. Hurst.
The Word of God Opened. By
Dr. B. K. Pierce.
Chautauqua Text-Book, No. 2.
(Studies of the Stars.) By Dr. H. W. Warren.
Fourteen Weeks in Human Physiology.
By Dr. J. Dorman Steele.
Old Greek Life. By J. P.
Mahaffey.
Old Tales Retold from Grecian
Mythology. By Augusta Larned.
Memorial Days. A Series of
Chautauqua Readings. Extracts from Shakespeare, Milton, Addison, and
Bryant.
Chautauqua Text-Book, No. 5.
(Greek History.) By Dr. J. H. Vincent.
Chautauqua Text-Book, No. 6.
(Greek Literature.) By Dr. A. D. Vail.
A Book on Astronomy. By Dr.
H. W. Warren.
In addition to these works a
supplemental course to the studies of the first year is recommended, comprising
mainly such books as are usually considered advantageous to be read in connection
with the prescribed studies of a regular college course.
Judged by the results already achieved,
great permanent good will result from the plan for gathering up the fragments
of time, the spare hours that have been wasted, and turning them to purposes
of usefulness. It meets the wants of those to whom the doors of knowledge
and culture have hitherto been locked and barred ; it brings pleasurable
occupation to those whose leisure hours have hung heavy on their hands ;
it lightens labor, brightens life, and develops power. ...
... The eight thousand student members
of the circle are scattered though all the States and Territories of the
Union, and many are found in the Dominion of Canada. Nearly two hundred
local circles have been formed of members of the parent circle living in
the same cities or towns, and meetings are held for reviews and lectures
on the subjects of study.
This
is a November, 1887, issue of The Chautauquan. The ribbon below the
title reads, "A Monthly Magazine Devoted To The Promotion of True Culture
/ Organ of the Chautauqua Literary and scientific Circle / Society of the
Hall in the Grove / Order of the White Seal / League of the Round Table /
Guild of the Seven Seals." The different "seals" represent the advanced
specialized courses that a person who has completed the four year course
of study might pursue. The one pictured at right is one of the several issues
of The Chautauquan in my collection. They are 8-1/2" x 11-5/8"
and around 70 to 80 pages with consecutive numbering within the year
volume. I have some that are newer, but I think the ones in the 1880s
are the most fun to read because of some of the commentary printed from the
individual local circles whose members wrote in to the publication; there
are a lot more advertisements in the older issues; and the "Editor's Note-Book"
entries are sometimes very odd or humorous from todays perspective.
The Vincent Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Club of Indianapolis, Indiana, was one of the many local organizations that affiliated themselves with the C. L. S. C.. This local club was formed in 1908 and continued until the mid-1970s. Here is a link to a page of the Indiana Historical Society outlining contents of the archives which includes minutes of the Vincent Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Club.
