and popular education, began
in the department of religion as taught in the Sunday School. Second, it
was an out-of-doors school, held in the forest, blazing the way and
setting the pace of summer schools in the open air throughout the nation
and the world. Third, although held upon a camp-meeting ground it was
widely different in aim and method, spirit and clientele from the
old-fashioned camp meeting. Fourth, it maintained the sanctity of the
Sabbath, closed its gates, and frowned upon every attempt to secularize
or commercialize the holy day, or to make it a day of pleasure. Fifth,
the enterprise was supported, not by collections at its services, or by
contributions from patrons, but by a fee upon entrance from every comer.
Sixth, it was to represent not one branch of the church, but to bring
together all the churches in acquaintance and friendship, to promote,
not church union, but church unity. And seventh, let it be added that it
was to be in no sense a money-making institution. There were trustees
but no stockholders, and no dividends. If any funds remained after
paying the necessary expenses, they were to be used for improvement of
the grounds or the enlargement of the program. Upon these foundations
Chautauqua has stood and has grown to greatness.

CHAPTER IV

THE BEGINNINGS

BUT let us come to the opening session of the Assembly, destined to
greater fortune and fame than even its founders at that time dreamed. It
was named "The Sunday School Teachers' Assembly," for the wider field of
general education then lay only in the depths of one founder's mind. For
the sake of history, let us name the officers of this first Assembly.
They were as follows:

Chairman--Lewis Miller, Esq., of Akron, Ohio.

Department of Instruction--Rev. John H. Vincent, D.D., of New
York.

Department of Entertainment--Rev. R. W. Scott, Mayville, N. Y.

Department of Supplies--J. E. Wesener, Esq., Akron, Ohio.

Department of Order--Rev. R. M. Warren, Fredonia, N. Y.

Department of Recreation--Rev. W. W. Wythe, M.D., Meadville,
Pa.

Sanitary Department--J. C. Stubbs, M.D., Corry, Pa.

The property of the Camp Meeting Association, leased for the season to
the Assembly, embraced less than one fourth of the present dimensions of
Chautauqua, even without the golf course and other property outside the
gates. East and west it extended as it does now