On the thirteenth of January the Chautauqua Board of Trustees held its annual meeting in the elegant rooms of the Young Men’s Christian Association of the city of Pittsburgh, to prepare the way for the next great Assembly. Mr. Lewis Miller, Dr. J. H. Vincent, Messrs. F. H. Root, Jacob Miller, E. A. Skinner, W. A. Duncan, Dr. J. T. Edwards, Rev. J. Lester, Rev. H. H. Moore, and most of the trustees were present, but as usual, of the twenty-four members, letters of apology were received from a few who were detained at home by sickness or urgent business matters. Those present, however, were fully prepared to go forward and meet the responsibilities of the hour. Dr. T. L. Flood, editor of The Chautauquan, and Judge Holt, attorney for the corporation, were present to look after their respective departments.

As they came together for deliberation the trustees felt the inspiration of a history of grand successes, of a present satisfactory, and of a future full of hope. Hence the boldness of their plans, and the energy with which they were carried into effect. Chautauqua has a constituency which is of inestimable value, in the prayers and sympathies of many thousands of people who have never seen those beautiful grounds.

Wherever the Board of Trustees hold their annual meetings a lively interest is created, especially among press reporters and in the C. L. S. C. part of the community. In this respect Pittsburgh surpassed any other place ever visited, Jamestown and Cleveland not excepted. On reaching the city it was found that a reception had been arranged by the alumni and members of the Chautauqua Circle, to be held in Christ Church on the evening of the 13th, and that an elaborate program of exercises had been provided. The Rev. Mr. Williams, of the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate, occupied the chair. Music was furnished by Hamilton’s Junior Orchestra. Dr. Hirst, pastor of Christ Church, delivered, in chaste and eloquent language, an address of welcome. Prof. Holmes, Registrar of the Chautauqua University, in reply, spoke at length, explaining its aims and method of operation. President Miller followed in his happiest vein, and made clear the point that the educational scheme of the Circle was well suited to meet the constant and progressive changes ever going forward in society. On being introduced, Dr. Vincent was received by the great audience with a storm of applause. In his own usual taking way he unfolded the principles embraced in the Chautauqua Idea. We deal mostly, he said, with the mature mind that is athirst for knowledge. We make use of practical methods to supply the great want of the day, which is a rational society.

Dr. Flood, editor of The Chautauquan, was presented and spoke for a few moments. The music was fine, the speaking the happiest, and after the formal exercises had closed a season of free social intercourse followed. The power Chautauqua had exerted upon the city of Pittsburgh appeared in the great number present, who rose to their feet as witnesses; and most of the cities of the nation could produce like evidence of its popularity and influence.

The lavish expenditures of money which have been made upon buildings at Chautauqua in the past have created such facilities for work of all kinds that at present nothing further is required in that direction. This was a satisfaction not only to those who have heroically carried heavy financial burdens, but to those who have regretted that they were able to give only their sympathies to the cause. The brief address made by President Miller to the Board of Trustees consisted of a brief and cheery review of the past and a hopeful glance into the future. There is, he said, much yet to be done, sacrifices to be made, for Chautauqua is yet in its infancy, and its enlarged work from year to year will demand increased attention. Secretary Duncan in his annual report informed the trustees that during the past year his receipts had exceeded his expenditures by nearly ten thousand dollars, and that this sum had been used as far as it would go to liquidate the floating debt.

The following written report was presented by Chancellor Vincent:

“For the first time in the history of the Chautauqua Assembly I present to the Board a formal report. This has hitherto seemed to me unnecessary, and you have generously accepted a verbal statement in lieu of a full, official communication. I no longer thus tax your generosity, but under a keen conviction that an important crisis has arrived in our history, I beg leave to lay before you the following statements and suggestions:

“The Chautauqua movement is a marvel even to its projectors. However all-embracing may have been the original conception of our noble president, Mr. Miller, when he proposed a summer gathering in the grove at Chautauqua, the gradually unfolding scheme has been a source of surprise and delight to the world of curious and interested observers.

“Chautauqua in its various departments is a unit. However diverse the outward forms, the name which marks them all proves them one. The ‘Chautauqua Assembly,’ the ‘Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle,’ the ‘Chautauqua School of Languages,’ the ‘Chautauqua Teachers’ Retreat,’ the ‘Chautauqua Young Folks’ Reading Union,’ the ‘Chautauqua School of Theology,’ the ‘Chautauqua University’—all are but developments of the radical idea of Chautauqua, which is popular and symmetrical education; education for all people; education in all lines, according to varied tastes, needs and opportunities.

“Our constituency is as broad as are the aims of the institution: Sunday-school and other Christian workers, day school teachers, students of language, ministers of the gospel, citizens who mold the nation, mothers who mold citizens by making homes—these all, and all beside who seek knowledge, character and usefulness, are the people for whom Chautauqua was organized.

“With this wide reach of purpose it was necessary that Chautauqua should project the lines of its intention in plans and departments, that the world might see its magnitude, and that the full territory it proposes to occupy might be preËmpted. Until this projection was made, the Chautauqua Idea was irrepressible. And now Chautauqua with its variety of departments is not like a mere pile of buildings, with additions, lean-tos, unrelated edifices, and other after-thoughts, the results of unmanageable ingenuity. It is a growth and development, a provision according to the highest law, to meet the necessities which called it into existence.

“In this growth of twelve years there have been no unnecessary additions. To have omitted any of them would have made Chautauqua less than it is; and to have made Chautauqua less than it is would have been a mistake—almost a disaster. Because of the broad and varied provisions now included in the Chautauqua movement, it will be greater and stronger for all time to come.

“It would not have been easy to organize these departments at first under a single charter. The separate schemes under separate constitutions came into being. Each is stronger to-day because of the relative independence of its origin. The time may have come, I think the time has come, for an external union of departments which have all along been practically one. No antagonism between them has ever seemed to me possible, but there is a way of preventing even the seeming or fear of such antagonism.

“At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of Chautauqua University, I proposed the appointment of a committee whose business it should be to bring into complete external unity all departments of Chautauqua. This committee has never acted. I now renew the proposal, with some practical hints looking toward this result.”

Dr. Vincent then presented several suggestions designed to harmonize the various Chautauqua interests.

The report continues:

“The financial condition of Chautauqua is a subject to which I have heretofore given little attention. I trusted implicitly to the wisdom of the Board, whose large ideas of the Chautauqua work, whose enthusiasm in it, and whose generous courtesy toward me, have caused them to give me the largest liberty, and to treat with great gentleness what they have sometimes felt to be excessive expenditure.

“My dreams and aspirations concerning the development of Chautauqua have led me to plan largely, and to spend liberally, that the attention of great-hearted men might be attracted to our work, the sympathy of progressive educators secured, and the great centers of influence in pulpits, colleges and newspapers be commanded in the interest of Chautauqua. A careful analysis of these expenditures will show that there has been no extravagance, although a greater economy might have been exercised.”

The report of Dr. Vincent closed with the following words:

“Trusting that you will see your way clear to coÖperate in the plans proposed, and commending our great institution to him who is the ‘Master of Assemblies,’ this report is respectfully submitted.”

The report of Dr. Vincent was submitted to a special committee, which presented the following report, which was adopted as below:

The special committee to which was referred the report of the Superintendent of Instruction, begs leave respectfully to report:

1. That we recommend to the Board to reorganize the union of the several associations, schools, and departments of the Chautauqua Assembly, the Chautauqua School of Theology, the Chautauqua University, and the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, under a single organization to be known as The Chautauqua University.

2. (This article calls for necessary legislative action.)

3. The work of the new organization shall be carried on under the following departments:

I.—The Chautauqua Assembly, embracing:

II.—The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle;

III.—The Chautauqua School of Liberal Arts, now known as “The Chautauqua University,” and with powers as provided in its charter;

IV.—The Chautauqua School of Theology, with purposes and powers as in its charter;

V.—The Chautauqua Press.