Back in the 1990s I watched a documentary on British television about the huge growth in the number of Elvis impersonaters around the world. There were black Elvises and Asian Elvises and women Elvises. It was all very interesting in a bizarre sort of way. As I watched the documentary in incredulous wonder, the comment that stuck in my mind as the most amusing and mind-boggling was the statistic that, at present rates of growth, every third person in the world would be an Elvis impersonater by 2020. Now that’s an intriguing thought …
 
Although the tide of Elvises has abated somewhat, a new wave of enthusiasm is emerging to take its place. I am speaking of course of the phenomenal rise of G. K. Chesterton. I note, for instance, that there will be two Chesterton conferences on the same day at the end of the this month. I will be speaking at a Chesterton conference in Spain on February 27, along with Dale Ahlquist, President of the American Chesterton Society, and Aidan Mackey, the Grand Old Man of Chestertonia. On the very same day, on the other side of the Atlantic, the Chesterton Institute for Faith and Culture will be holding a Chesterton conference in New York City, at which that other great Chestertonian, Father Ian Boyd, will be speaking. Details of the NYC conference are given below. 
 
The fact that there will be two Chesterton conferences on the same day presents Chesterton junkies with a huge dilemma. Which conference should they attend? Only the holiest of Chestertonians, those capable of bilocation, will be able to attend both. There is, however, some good news on the horizon. At the present rate of growth in the number of Chesterton conferences worldwide, I calculate that every conference in the world will be a Chesterton conference by 2050. Now that’s a quixotically delightful prospect!
 
Here’s the notice of the New York Conference:    
Dear Friend,

Below you will find an invitation to attend our upcoming program  “Chesterton and the Bible,” co-sponsored with the American Bible Society.

We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us. Please R.S.V.P. to chestertoninstitute@shu.edu