The Chautauqua Association

When Dr. Vincent, in 1872, visitea he Chntauqua región, it already had omething of a name as a healthful nd attractive resort for summer toursts, and a immber of hotels were loated on its shores. Thoroughly satised with the location for his proposed Asseniblv, the arrangeraents were comileted, and in July, 1874, the meetings were inaugerated at Fair Point. Lastng through two weeks, they were sucessful bevond anticipation. The programme, containing the names of many minent speakers and writers, attractd people who entered lieartily into the work, and the novel movement ereated a furor in the vicinity. Encouraged y tlie result of the flrst meeting, the iational Sunday, School Association acquired by purchase the eighty acres omprising Fair Point, and at once set on foot many improvements. Among other appliances for the protitable tudy and understanding of the Bible, )r, Vincent had suggested a model of Palestine in earth and rock, over which men could walk, and from which they ould learn more of the topography of he Iloly Land in an hour'a study than y the use of an other means. Itev. W. W. Wythe, M. D., a minister with the iiind of a scientist, a careful innv of igator of natural laws, took chargeeshe working out of this idea, and the esult was Palestine Park, which rorms one of the peculiar attractions of. Fair 'oint. This was supplemented by a arge model of Jerusalem, a model of ;he Jewish tabernacle one-fif th the size of the original, a model of the Great 'yramid of Cheops. By means of this ollection of models, and with the aid of stereoscopic views of scènes in the loly Land thrown in a magnitied 'orm on an immense screen at night, he student of Bible history is enabled -o secure a more vivid comprehension of Eastern life than is attainable without making a transatlantic voy age to the )rient itself . To still f urther increase ;he facilities for a thorough undertanding of the life depicted in the Bible, competent persons who have ived in Palestine have been present at each Assembly with Oriental costumes, and some of the most entertaining and nstructive evenings of the Assembly ïave been those devoted to lectures on ,he manners and customs of Bible ands, illustrated by tableaux vivante representing scènes in the daily life of dwellers on what Christianity calis ïoly ground. The Assembly in its second year was n all respects fully as successf ui as its enthusiastic projector had desired. On the day of a visit by President Grant more than 20,000 persons were present, and the average daily attendance was not far from (5000 In 1877 the meetngs comprised a Church congress, re'orm council, and a scientiflc congress. Che succeeding year demonstrated an ncrease of earnestness oii the part of hose who were drawn to the gathering, and the attendance surpassed that of 1877.