The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-27

beleng presided The number Of persons present was
about 200 After the customary speeches, committee
sequcnt meeting was held on the 9th the month
at which the constitution adopted and the first OIL
GERS chosen. These officers were men of sterling merit
and untirng energy Their first movement was to enlist
the sympathes of men who could serve them by con-
ferring the compliment Of honorary membership on
sixty of the most pecable and influential In the
city, chiefly merchants Among these John Jacob
Aston, Philip Hone, c. c. Cambrcleng, Jona Goodhue,
Richard varick, James Boorman, John Haggerty, and
others. To each of the honorary members circular
addressed advising them of their election and So
Letting their contributions Of books and money A
committee OF three also appointed at the
same time to draft address to the public,
having q similar object in view. These appeals were
responded to in liberal manner, and the Board
couraged to take of apartment, No 40 Fulton
street. for three years. at an annual rent OF $3.50 This
room was opened 70 memoers, rep: -, ISL AZ winch
which enabled the Board to display seven hundred
volumes for the Of their subscribers The number
increased before the year expired to thousand
The donations in cash from November 81 1920 to No
vember Q, 1921, amounted to 5000. This ak or
nearly all invested in books the receipts from members
having been sufficient to expenses. The first Lii
braran received salary Of $3.50 per annum The dona-
lions not obtained without vigorous exertion The
city disricted and the directors with accord
set about commencing their association to public regard
In addition TO this labor they delegated alternately
Of their number to remain at the library every evening
We mainly indebted to these for the privileges
now enjoy. Had they displayed less wisdom in concev
ing or less energy in carrying out their plans the nst
tuition must inevitably have been crushed under the
weight of obstacles that impeded its progress They
carried their offspring through the evenu year 1921 in
triumph, and finished their work by presenting
nua report in which it stated that they numbered
IT'S members, and possessed 1000 volumes, and that
several of the principal publishers had generously agreed
to present the association with set Of every work Of
merit issued from their respective presses"
This was the first year of the Mercantile Library Asso
citation. From this it has been going steadily until
its late President Mr. George Peckham in his annual
report, in 1852, eoquenty spoke of it as follows =
We have thus in detail the your Board
Of Direction for the 1852 Your institution
Leave IT. y in most hourhing and healthy condition II
of that class for whose benefit founded Here
supply the deficiencies education and lay and
deep the Of practical knowledge and prepare
the Of the historian the Of Tie phoso
pher tie inventions of genius every
attainment in art Here also provided for him teach
Here If he will but avail himself of the advantages
suijectt heommand the clerk of to-day when he shall
Nifty that class Of who have left their footprints
the burning sands the equator and the frozen of
polar zone for the merchant the man Of this age He has
contributed more essentially than other break
down the barrier of feuda institution to change the spirit
Of chivalric from the love OF military glory
tons Under the influence OF the mighty spirit OF this
camille all the energies of the human mind and all the
principles progression called into action The
have been carried greater degree of usefulness and
perfection Commerce has enlarged its boundaries The
treasures Of the land and the of the
mostly the lightning has been wrcsted from heaven and
placed tho wires and is rapid enough to
to mart the changes in value aud the revolutions Of
Mingled with the Of the that the shores Of
engine Of the steamship and the hammers of the artisan
whilst from Oregon to Australia States and
These extracts the two pictures OF the library
at its birth and at the present time When it enters its
new home its prosperity, no doubt will surpass that Of
.ny previous year.