The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-07
What Use is the School House Hall.

have been led to ask myself the
above question on reading resolution,
recently passed at meeting of the Pru-
Dental Committee of School District No
4. The resolution was this. Resolved
that the hall in the graded School House
should not be opened to either ofthe religi-
ors denominations of the village for any
social or UNCONVENTIONAL purpose" Now
as almost every conceivable purpose, to
which hall, may be devoted can easily
be brought under the head of either So
cial or UNCONVENTIONAL, this resolution
if enforced, virtually closes the hall, and
leaves it an useless ornament, like the
handsome orse," celebrated by Thack-
cray, that was $50 very 'andsome he
would not Co."
1t is certainly an anomalous thing, to
refuse the use of the hall to the people,
who furnish the money to build it. l
think, | may safely say, that there is
large number, of the citizens of Middle
bury unwilling that the privileges of the
hall should be extended, to public lecturers
from abroad however respectable, show
men, or strolling women, while they who
build the hail. and must bear the ex-
penses of maintaining it, are deprived Of
its use.
If, any thing so unfair is intended
| hope that every legal. and orderly
means, will be taken to prevent it.
Only that am too modest to lecture
my superiors, | would say that it was an
unwise action, on the part Of the pruden-
tial committee to make any reference to
UNCONVENTIONAL purposes, or to mix up relig.
ion, with the question of refusing, or
granting the hall. Considering all the
circumstances, | am unable, despite the
best intentions, to divest myself of the
opinion that such has been the case.
The hall has already VERY properly in
my opinion) been granted to a Musical Con-
vention, which was a very social, and
agreeable affair. And | might add de-
nominational too.
The Catholics Of Middlebury, being
bad logicians,as the sequal proved, thought
there could be no objections made to their
having the use of the hall for few even
ings; seeing that it had been granted to
a convention, that had no right to it, ex-
cept through the courtesy Of the people
Of Middlebury. However, when the ap-
plication was made on the part of the
Catholics, the hall was very bluntly refus-
ed them, and the resolution. referred to.
drawn up.
| may be wrong, but | cannot help
thinking, that had any others applied for
it under the same circumstances, this re-
solution would not have then been pass
cd.
Would it not be much wiser to allow
the use ofthc hall, Charging for the same
if Judged besD for every proper purpose,
as is done in Rutland Brandon, Nergen-
mes and other places
| do not write to excite any angry
feelings, but simply to call the attention
Of those who feel aggrieved by the
action of the Prudential Committee, to
few plain, undoubted truths. lst, That
they have contributed their share toward
building the school house. I'd, That
they must continue to share the burden
of supporting it. 3D., That they are EMIT
led to share Of whatever advantages it
is capable of affording.
| humbly hope, that the commit
tee may be pleased to reconsider their
resolution and make the hall not only
an ornament. but ofbenetit to our village.
A. G. j.