e prescribed forty lessons, a year's work divided between the study
of the Bible, the Sunday School, the pupil, and the principles of
teaching. Comparing it with the official course now adopted by the
International Sunday School Association, we find it for a year's study
remarkably complete and adapted to the teacher's needs. For years it
stood as the basis of the teacher-training work at Chautauqua, was
followed in the preparation of text-books and pursued by many classes in
the United States and Canada.

The Centennial Year marked a note of progress in the music at the
Assembly. Up to this time scarcely any music had been attempted outside
of the church and Sunday School hymnals. This year the choir was larger
than before, perhaps as many as forty voices--think of that in contrast
with the three hundred now assembled in the choir-gallery of the
Amphitheater! Some anthems had been attempted, but no oratorios, and no
songs of the secular character. It was Professor C. C. Case who ventured
with the doubtful permission of Dr. Vincent to introduce at a concert
some selections from standard music outside the realm of religion.
Nobody objected, perhaps because nobody recognized the significance of
the step taken; and it was not long before the whole world of music was
open to Chautauquans.

This writer remembers, however, that when at an evening lecture, Dr.
Vincent announced as a prelude "Invitation to the Dance," sung by a
quartette of ladies, he received next day a letter of protest against so
immoral a song at a religious gathering. If it had been sung without
announcement of its title, no one would have objected. On the following
evening, Dr. Vincent actually offered a mild apology for the title.
Since that time, the same title has been printed on the Chautauqua
program, and the song encored by five thousand people. Surely, "the
world do move!"

Another step in the advancement of Chautauqua was the incorporation of
the Assembly. Up to this year, 1876, the old charter of the Erie
Conference Camp Meeting Association had constituted the legal
organization. On April 28, 1876, new articles of incorporation were
signed at Mayville, the county seat, providing for twenty-four trustees
of the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly. In the charter the object
was stated "to hold stated public meetings from year to year upon the
grounds at Fair Point in the County of Chautauqua for the furtherance of
Sunday School interests and