nce between a natural consequence and a
miracle?" Mr. Beard _did_ explain thus: "This difficult question can be
answered by a very simple illustration. There is Professor Sherwin. If
Professor Sherwin says to me, 'Mr. Beard, lend me five dollars,' and I
should let him have it, that would be a _natural consequence_. If
Professor Sherwin should ever pay it back, _that_ would be a miracle!"
It is needless to say that the opportunity soon arrived for Mr. Sherwin
to repay Mr. Beard for full value of debt with abundant interest.

Mention has been made that at each address or public platform meeting a
chairman must be in charge. In the old camp-meeting days all the
ministers had been wont to sit on the platform behind the preacher; and
some of them could not reconcile themselves to Dr. Vincent's rule that
_only_ the chairman and the speaker of the hour should occupy "the
preachers' stand." Notwithstanding repeated announcements, some
clergymen continued to invade the platform. The head of the Department
of Order once pointed to a well-known minister and said to the writer,
"Four times I have told that man--and a good man he is--that he must not
take a seat on the platform." Whoever casts his eyes on the platform of
the Amphitheater may notice that before every public service, the
janitor places just the number of chairs needed, and no more. This is
one of the Chautauqua traditions, begun under the Vincent regime.

Before we come to the more serious side of our story let us notice
another instance of the contrast between the camp meeting and
Chautauqua. A widely known Methodist came, bringing with him a box of
revival song-books, compiled by himself. He was a leader of a "praying
band," and accustomed to hold meetings where the enthusiasm was pumped
up to a high pitch. One Sunday at a certain hour he noticed that the
Auditorium in the grove was unoccupied; and gathering a group of friends
with warm hearts and strong voices, he mounted the platform and in
stentorian tones began a song from his own book. The sound brought
people from all the tents and cottages around, and soon his meeting was
in full blast, with increasing numbers responding to his ardent appeals.
Word came to Dr. Vincent who speedily marched into the arena. He walked
upon the platform, held up his hand in a gesture compelling silence, and
calling upon the self-appointed leader by name, said:

"This meeting is not on the program, nor appointed by the authorities