Big Corner, Small Corner

Before the standard of “Americanism” was compared to a nine inch pastry filled with sliced pomaceous fruit, there was another, far more extensive, touchstone. “Theodore Roosevelt called it ‘the most American thing in America,’ Woodrow Wilson described it during World War I as an ‘integral part of the national defense,’ and William Jennings Bryan deemed it a ‘potent human factor in molding the mind of the nation.’ [1]” You are certainly not alone, however, if you have never heard of the Chautauqua Circuit.

This was a national pastime that began in the 19th century as a Sunday School training camp in New York, but by the 20th century had morphed into a traveling education in culture, religion, politics, history, and more. The American Symphony Orchestra of Chicago, The American Jubilee Singers, and the San Francisco Ballet Company were just a few of the world famous talents to take the stage. Lecturers such as William Jennings Bryan, the former President William Taft, and Joseph McCarthy joined hundreds of other scholars, statesmen, and preachers on the stage. Debates, plays, revival meetings, and the first correspondence school were all part of this enormous circuit that continued through the first half of the 20th century.

Undoubtedly, it would have been an honor just to attend such an event—one person commented, “[our] town was never the same after Chautauqua started coming.... It broadened our lives in many ways [2]." But to speak or perform in the circuit—could you imagine? Just one speaker who was part of Chautauqua is estimated to have reached “10,000 communities in 45 states to audiences totaling 45 million people [3].” Such an audience was nearly impossible to reach in any other way during that time, and even now would be difficult to obtain. (A TV show would perhaps be the closest one could come—and 45 million hits on a YouTube clip remains exceptional and elusive).

All of these thoughts must have been going through one young lady’s head when she was invited to speak on the tour in 1912. Excitement at the possibilities for advancing God’s kingdom filled her, but nervousness surely overcame her too at the thought of speaking before so many masses. She agreed, however, and bought her tickets, and eagerly told all her friends of the upcoming tour. Commitments were finished, her lectures were outlined, and prayers were being offered for her safe journey and Spirit-filled sessions. All that remained was to pack, say her good-byes, and be on her way. But while she was in the very act of gathering the necessities she would need for the trip, the terrible news came that her father had been seriously injured in a horseless carriage. There was nothing to be done but to call the directors of Chautauqua and cancel, to throw away her tickets, to unpack her bags, and to ask all her friends to change their prayers for her father instead of her.

What a terrible blow it was to young Ina Duley Ogdon to give up what she had hailed as an opportunity from God to glorify Him. And yet, in those quiet moments at home, nursing her father back to health, God worked in her heart. Although she could almost hear the thunderous applause of the Chautauqua audience ringing in her ears, and her poor father, in pain from the accident, could barely muster a smile, God’s pleasure warmed her soul. There would always be other Chautauquas—and there would always be other lecturers to take her place. But at that time—in that place, the world would have to wait, for God wanted her most of all in a quiet, dark sickroom. Would she have brought glory to God as part of the Chautauqua Circuit? Probably—but the glory from man was just as tempting. Now, she had no glory or thanks or notice from men, but she had all those things from God, and she gave all those things back to God.

It’s little wonder that from those sober days, so far removed from the flamboyance of Chautauqua, Ina wrote “Tho into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer, brighten the corner where you are.” Ina glorified her God best when she was where He wanted her, and her corner shone bright and true indeed. How is your corner doing?

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[1] Canning, Charlotte. What Was Chautauqua? University of Austin, December 2000. http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/traveling-culture/essay.htm

[2] Canning, Charlotte. What Was Chautauqua? University of Austin, December 2000. http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/traveling-culture/essay.htm

[3] Canning, Charlotte. What Was Chautauqua? University of Austin, December 2000. http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/traveling-culture/essay.htm

[4] Photo Credits