Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-05-17
The Dayton Library Association to be
EYangelized

GNhukoAAACu
An arrangement is IN contemplation we un-
derstand, by which, for a consideration in mo.
ney, the Directors Of the Dayton Library AS
sociation are solicited to grant the use Of the
Library Rooms TO the Young Men s Christian
Association one evening each week, for year;
also TO grant The members Of the latter society
free access TO the Room at all times, to give
them the privilege Of using the vacant newspa
per forms, to put such newspapers on as they
may desire to place there, aud to allow them
the use Of the room every Sunday TO impart re-
ligious instruction to classes.
The Dayton Library Association has been,
we believe, hitherto, entirely free from any
imputation Of sectarian tendencies and all re,
ligious entanglements. Neither Catholics nor
Protestants, Orthodox, herelics, nor, indeed, un
believers, have had any reason to complain Of
partiality in the selection Of its books, or the
administration Of its affairs, so far as weknow
II was originally designed for public literary
institution--one that should be equally acces-
sble to persons of every persuasion, religious
or political IL 1t is to be converted into a
Sunday School on Sundays, and prayer mee;s
ing room one night every week, It not only
speaks i'll for the liberaliiy of this community
in furnishing houses and places Of public wor.
ship, but is a total perversion Of the purpose
for which it was originally intended and for
which it has been hitherto supported. II the
Library Association needs the money, and that
Is the only real reason why the proposition for
this extraordinary partnership is entertained,
there are no doubt many other ways in which
the rooms could be sub.let with greater pecu
MARY advantage or II the association cannot
be supported as similar institutions are supper
ted elsewhere, without becoming the beneficial
ry Of occasional concerts and sub letting its
rooms end privileges TO other and Independent
bodies. II is time for il to dissolve and assume
some new and different organization. Its mem.
bers are now members of the Dayton Library
Association" when they desire to become
members ofthe Dayton Library and Young Men's
Christian Association, II is to be hoped that the
Board Of Directors will at least allow them the
credit Of making that choice.
We have no word to say in disparagement of
the objects Of the Young Mems Christian Asso.
citation. 1t is no doubt composed Of excellent
and conscientious young men. There is not
the slightest objection to kny or all Of Them be-
coming members of the Library Association,
and perhaps many Of them are. What we pro-
test against is a connection that will give rise
to objections to the Library Association on re.
ligious or sectarian grounds, or may lead to un.
=. II. Al l.,
stitutiou. In no country 10 the world perhaps
is public sentiment SO aVerse as it is in this, 10
any connection whatever between religious and
secular institutions. 1t is mainly to this wholer
some and really christian sentiment, that the
Church owes much Of its prosperity and
strength--we say "Ohristian" for when Christ
was confronted by the Pharisees, who took
counsel together how they might entangle him
10 his talk, and asked him whether il was law
full to pay tribute unto Ceasar, he replied by
asking them 10 give him piece Of the tribute
money; "whose is this image and subscrip.
tionf" he asked. They say unto him "Cnsar'o"
--then saith he unto them "render therefore
unto Caesar the things which are CRsar's, and
unto God the things that are Gods"
1t was thus that the Great Author OF the
Christian Dispensation himself taught the
wholesome lesson Of the distiDctness and sepa.
ration of religious from secular matters, and to
the disregard Of this wise and valuable admo
milton, is to be attributed the bloodiest and bit
terest conflicts that have convulsed the world
1t was reserved for this government to set the
6pt example of perfect religious federation
amongst mankind since Christ assembled from
the EVrlb and the present strength, iDdepsn-
dencs and prosperity Of the Christian Church
attests the wisdom of our fathers. The more
and strictly religious organizations
are left to themselves, the better il is for Them
and the more likely are they to effect their pur.
poses with the community.