Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-23
CITY AND COUNTY.

Lyceum and Library Association.
The annual meeting of the Lyceum aud Library
Association was held Saturday evening at the medl
cal library rooms on Foster street. The report of
the board of directors submitted by the PRESIDENT
Edward Earle Esq, makes appropriate reference to
the great change in its operations which has been
made since the last annual meeting. Its own colee-
ton of books and the well-known Green Library
which had been entrusted to its care, have passed
into the possession of the public, and become the
common property of every citizen. sit is well
known" says the report 'that our library has been
built up and supported largely from private dona-
tons, and its steadfast friends have kept it up espe-
cially with view that it would eventually become
free public library in some form or other; and they
now feel just pride that has terminated as they
Wished The report recommends the continuance
of the Lyceum branch of the association, with
convenient and simpliied form of organization for
the purpose eff securing the annual courses of lee
lures.
The report of the library committee, prepared by
Rev T. w. Higgnson, sketches more particularly
the history of the library from its humble beginning
to the present time. 1t first opened to the pub
lie June IS, 1858, with the modest number OF 100
volumes, and there taken out $500 books dur
ing the first year. During the second year the small
but well-chosen library of the Rhetorical : oclety
was incorporated with ours, and in the third year
the union with the Lyceum was contaminated, thus
enarging the library to the total amount Of $500
volumes. In this year also the Green Library OF
$500 volumes placed for five years in charge of
the association. During the fifth year QS57-5S) our
library increased to 400 and the Green Library to
$500 volumes. The valuable and increasing library
of the medical association, numbering 240O books
was also placed in adjoining room, and put under
the care of our librarian. In the sixth annual Ie
port the first public suggestion was made of per-
fecty free library. 1t was no new suggestion, but
was the hope repeatedly expressed from the first
foundation of the library sour TREND aud faithful
librarian, Mr.. Gray" the report continues, chad
chung to it from the beginning, and it is probable
that he furthered it not by his life alone, but by the
suddenness of his death, which necessitated some
new arrangement, and at suggested, both to the
board of directors and to Dr.. Green, that the time
had come to make the proposition for Free Public
Library The rest is matter of municipal history
1t appears from the supplementary reports that
the whole receipts of the association for the last lee
ture S761 3d. the disbursements S60S 25;
leaving the net proceeds of $153 49, The receipts of
the association from all sources for the year were
S1026 81 expenses 1915 g. leaving in the treasury
$40 Is, with two shares of the Peoples Insurance
stock yet undisposed of The above reports were
severally accepted and ordered TO be printed uni
formly with the past annual reports.
On the motion of Mr.. Higginson, new code of
by laws substituted for the old, establishing the
conditions of membership, and changing. the form
of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. like those of the old
Worcester Lyceum. Under the new code the fol-
lowing officers were elected for the current year.
President-Mr Edward Earle; Vice President-Dr
George Chandler; Secretary-James S. Rogers
Treasurer-Richard Hammant; Trustees-Messrs
I. w. Higgnson, Henry Chaplin Nathaniel Paine
Daniel fainter, and Albert Tolman. The meeting
adjourned after the transaction of some further lus
mess Of no public interest.