Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-28
LIE r II e r. III.

)
WIN. MILLER.
LETTE r. III.
To the Editor of the Vermont Telegraph.
Library BOOks.--Why not the public-
atoms OF the American 8. 8. Union more |
generally circulated in New.EngIandg
That our publications are not extensively |
circulated in New-England, know, partly
from personal examination and Inquiry, and
partly from the testimony of others in whom
| have implicit confidence. 1t may be safe
to say, generally, that in library of three
hundred volumes, seventy five to one hun
dred will be the books of the American S.
S. Union; thirty to fifty books of denomin-
ational societies, and the residue from the
miscellaneous stock Of booksellers. We
publish from three hundred and fifty to four
hundred library books, strictly speaking
and make this statement thus indefinitely,
to allow for differences of opinion as to
what is properly Sabbath-school library
book. Now, why should not these three
hundred and fifty or four hundred volumes
be found in every evangelical Sabbath
school in New-England2 Have they not
as strong claims to place there as any
other books in the market? Are they not
as cheap? as appropriate? as entertaining?
as useful as evangelical? Has any COM
petent person or persons examined and COM
pared them with other books of the same
class, and pronounced them inferior in all
or any of these respects IF so, who,
when, and on what grounds? / am per-
suaded that no such verdict has been re-
turned no such examination and cornpari-
son have been made-and that no books are
to be found in the language, Of the same
class, cheaper. more appropriate, more en-
tertaining, more useful, or more evangelic-
al. Why, then, are they not generally
circulated in New England, where, if any
, where, we may expect to find judgment and
discrimination in the selection Of the means
Of religious Instruction? Is it because thew
are supplied elsewhere with as many as
they need or can afford 10 purchase? BY
: no means. So far from it, the universal
, complaint is that new books are not TO be
had in sufficient number to supply the crav-
ings Of Sabbath School children. And
:, hence the necessity, we are told, of pub
o fishing everything that is written, and o.
e buying everything that is published, though
e it be Pug's Note Book, or Parley's Tales
e or even Robinson Crusoe!
: The gross abuses of the library system
which have arisen from this and other caus
4 es, are fully exposed in the pamphlet OF
e this subject. lately published, a copy o
r which transmit for your examination. |
1t is not to my purpose to examine them here
70 but simply to inquire, not why this and tina
: book are admitted into your schools, bu
>" why it is, that OF our three or four hundre
g volumes, only one-ffth, or at most one
10 quarter, are found in them? | have sal
81 that it, is not because they are supple
ID with better books from other sources-fol
=; after making all due allowances for 1ocs
10 associations and preferences, it will b
- found that at least one-half of most SAT
:: bath School Libraries in the country ar
d, made up Of books for the sentiments c
k which not an individual in the school Wi
y hold himself responsible. A newspape
- puff, or the general character of the put
>, Usher, or the recommendation of the book
p seller, is usually sufficient warrant for tn
of introduction of the book, and when ono
In introduced what probability is there that ii
~ errors or defects will be detected?
y We present to your community at lea:
&c four hundred bound volumes for the use
N your Sabbath Shchool children. Each or
On of them has been carefully examined, befo
all its publication, by committee composed
he two Metbodists, two Baplists, two EPise
We tpalians, and two Presbyterians. They ha'
re decided concerning each and all that thu
ie' are evangelical aid appropriate-tha thu
7rs inculcate the important religious trut
~ which these and other evangelical demon
~ nations hold in common, and which the II
'bo Iy Spirit employs to lead sinners to Chris
ri. These gentlemen have known intimate
by for years know their standing IN q
,ur community and in the churches with viii
'nyl they are connected, and assure you. ID