100 Years Ago, 1920, the SL Assembly had to Re-Make Itself and Became SL Institute; Our New Challenge: 2020

From what we can tell, the Summer of 1918 was a good one. The final repairs, upgrades and wood finishing had been completed on the auditorium and everyone present had the opportunity to enjoy the fresh, new looking, 30 year old auditorium as the beginning of the next productive and exciting 30 years.

It was just 10 years earlier that this robust group of faithful optimists had overcome the second biggest challenge in the history of the campgrounds--foreclosure in the midst of the Cleveland depression ending in circa 1907. The first challenge, of course, was the ruckus over the Bergen property and the court case which gave the assets to those bound for Silver Lake in 1872.

They were a victorious people, overcoming what seemed like impossible odds seeking to bring them and their big dream of Silver Lake Chautauqua down. They were now confronted with fresh, new ideas for continuing to rebuild attendance at the programs that had been lost during the depression and foreclosure. Thoughts of new programs excited them about the future. One of their best was the building up of the new Epworth League for youth started back up in 1908.

After the great Summer of 1918, suddenly and unexpectedly, it seemed like all the flames of hell had broken loose and attached themselves to the newly refurbished auditorium. The summer folks, already returned to their winter homes felt helpless at the distance between them and their summer love. Dry fall leaves served as excellent kindling that set the dry wood aflame and within a very short time the bulk of the damage was done--it was a total loss. Only two of the concrete footings remain today as a testament to the pride and joy of the auditorium's 2,000-strong attendances, now over forever.

100 years later, the grounds are as beautiful as ever, and the programs and ideas being offered have been referred to as the Renassance of the Silver Lake Institute. Between the popular concerts, the biennial Silver Lake Experience, and special events and "clubs," there is a ton of opportunities for interpersonal dialogue, education, and enjoyment.

But challenge is never far away from the mission of the Institute.  Perhaps challenge is the true mission, and overcoming challenge, our story. The summer of  2020 will confront the Institute with its third major challenge--shaping and forming a new way of personal interaction and enjoyment while abiding with conduct designed to keep us free from a pandemic virus. 

Even with treatments on the horizon and a vaccine hopefully within 2 years, we won't have those helps for the summer of 2020. Ideas, respect, and cooperation will be all the more essential to socially and spiritually survive this summer of challenge. Perhaps even prayer.