John Heyl Vincent was a Methodist minister born in 1832 in Alabama who co-founded the Chautauqua Institution. He had a varied career as a minister moving between churches in Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In 1868, he met Lewis Miller in Ohio and they launched the Chautauqua Institution, which provided popular education through lectures, classes, and cultural activities. Vincent served as the Chancellor of Chautauqua and continued his involvement after retiring from the Methodist church in 1904. He died in 1920 still advocating for the educational mission of Chautauqua.

1. John Heyl Vincent By Matt Jost

2. The Early Years Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1832 Moved to Northumberland Country, Pennsylvania in 1837. When not in school he spent time working in his fathers country store in Chillisquaque. Followed a path from his early schooling to te aching in his own right. At age 18 Vincent became licensed to ex hort, in the Methodist E. Church First assigned to study Luzerne circuit

3. Early Years Continued It seemed that while Vincent was in the process of studying religion he was enjoying it, but looking back on his boyhood suffered and thus portrayed minimal excitement. Vincent later determined that he had been exposed to religion and the morbid strain that can accompany it, at too young of an age. Vincent’s mother died in 1852. Her death broke up the Vincent home in Chillisquaque. John moved to Newark, New Jersey and placed in charge of the City Mission. He was tempted to look into a college education but he eventually rejected the temptation.

4. The Next Decade  e actively worked ministering churches New Jersey, Rock River Conference Illinois. In Illinois served in Joliet, Galena, Rockford, and Chicago In Galena he befriended Ulysses S. Grant Also in Galena in 1858, Vincent met his wife Elizabeth Dusenbury In New Jersey he came up with two educational ideas A scheme for theological study by prospective ministers -  Who were not formally enrolled in a seminary or college Palestine Classes – Make Sunday school students thoroughly familiar with the geography of the Holy Land with general history as reflected in the Bible

5. More Accomplishments Rev. John H. Vincent founded two successful religious periodicals Northwestern Sunday School Quarterly (1865) Sunday School Teacher (1866)

6. Building a Name for Himself A journey that was crucial to his career 1862, General Sunday-School Convention in London Visited England, Ireland, Scotland and Europe Paris, Florence, Rome, Egypt and Palestine Then visited the Nile, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Carried out a journey from Jerusalem to Damascus (Helped make an impression on biblical students) Civil War – Served with the Christians Commission as a delegate among ministers He visited and helped men who had been wounded

7. Beginning of Chautauqua In 1868 Vincent met Lewis Miller in Akron, Ohio (Co-founder of Chautauqua) Lewis had a desire for education at a young age Studying various methods and philosophies Started teaching at age sixteen Six years after meeting Akron Lewis Miller they joined together and launch their Chautauqua venture

8. Vincent and Lewis’s Relationship Contrast between Lewis and Vincent Miller was layman and highly successful inventor and a man of business Vincent a cleric in his church Vincent had a natural platform presences and eloquence Miller would not be teased to a platform Similarities between Lewis and Vincent Shared similar educational ideas (Reached by different roads) Hospitable to science and general knowledge (Music and Arts) Possessed independence and curiosity of mind Neither was a theologian more concerned with the improvement of the mind Sense of humor

9. Chautauqua Institute More than just a Sunday School Offer teachings in music, art, and physical education Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) A program designed to offer individuals a correspondence curriculum Offered skills to individuals outside of Chautauqua home institute Provide individuals access to education and an activity to do other than drinking, gambling, dancing These activities were thought to not teach individuals the best morals

10. Chautauqua and Vincent By 1900 there were over 200 Chautauqua institutes in 31 states Vincent served as the Chancellor of Chautauqua Vincent also served as a bishop of the Methodist Church until 1904 when he retired Vincent continued to be heavily involved with the institute after his retirement He continued to lecture throughout the country, and write on topics discussed in Chautauqua Vincent died in 1920

11. References Morrison, Theodore, 1974, Chautauqua A Center for Education, Religion, and the Arts in America http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00143/smu-00143.html http://www.ciweb.org/our-history/ http://www.answers.com/topic/vincent-john-heyl