I think the reference is probably to the "Chautauqua Literary and
Scientific Circle" (SLSC), a course of reading.  This is mentioned in histories
of Chautauqua such as Theodore Morrison's "Chautauqua: A Center for Education,
Religion, and the Arts in America" (Univ. of Chicago, 1974).  It was the focus
of a dissertation by Charles R. Kniker c. 1969 (Teachers College, Columbia and/or
Union Seminary; he also published a book on the subject.  The New York Times
had an article on CLSC in July or August 1998 - may have been an anniversary
year.
        Natalie Naylor, Hofstra University