The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-05
THE PHILADELPHIA LIBRARY.

a
Library Company met in the Library building to re,
ceiye the report OF the special committee appointed
at the last meeting to report upon the adysablty of
! accepting the bequest Of DR. Rush.
The meeting was called TO order punctualv at the
time named by Judge Sharswood, chairman Messrs.
Ihgnman and hutchinson were appointed tellers, TO
see If majority of the stockholders were present
They reported that Mr.. Smith, librarian held proxies
Ior E2o l1embers and that more than the 2IO neces-
sary 10 constitute quorum were present
Ihe minutes Of the previous meeting were read
| ana approved Frederick Fraey ESQ., chairman,
presented and read the report OF the special COM
nlttee, which has been already fully published 1t
concludes with the following resolutions =
ResOtred That the stockholders of the philadelphia
Library Company do hereby accept the legacy of Dr.
James Rush according to the terms expressed in his
| ResolUed, That so much of the present collection
OF books and other property of the company as may
Dy tne directors be deemed eXpedient shall be re-
talned In the present other central position
| Tor general use and circulation.
heS0tCed, That q committee, to consist OF three
stockholders and three directors shall be appointed
1or the purpose OF consulting and advising with the
executor of DIR. Rush in carrying out the provisions
III the WILL in procuring such legislation as may be
heened and also for carrying into effect the second
| resolution by taking measures for procuring the
erection OF treproof building for the reception OF
those parts of the library to be retained at such
tlme ana In such place as said committee may deter
mine.
ReSolred, That a copy OF the foregoing resolutions
be transmitted to Henry j. Williams, ESQ, the eX-
ecutor Of Dr. James Rush, the acceptance Of this
company OF the bequest made by his will and that
the letter transmitting the same shall acknowledge
dence reposed in them by Dr. Rush. and of their cor
dial Willingness to unite in carrying out in the most
beneficial way, his phianthropic intentions,
Mr.. Fraley, on concluding the reading, moved to
proceed to the consideration OF the report.
MIR. W. L. latham, member of the committee,
presented the following minority report
Tot, ~ ila2,lphig Library Conpqay
feels compelled to declare his dissent from the reasonugs
% fha P OF the report 1 ned by the
would be to accept and eompy With the preliminary con
ACTION until the proper time for it under the proys9ns
Philadelphia, Oct g. 1869. ' IN Ai
At the suggestion of Col. Bidde it was understood
that the whole report of the committee would be in
order for discussion.
Wm M. Tilghman opposed the action of the COM
mttee in proposing the placing of portion of their
library in the building to be erected at Broad and
Christian streets. Such course he did not believe
would meet the intention Of DR.. Rush, who had de-
signed that the entire Philadelphia Library should
be there deposited as lasting monument to his
liberal bequest He favored the rejection
requirements OF the tesator and for the Philadel-
pha Library itself. The design of Dr. Rush, iu his
judgment, was to found library for students, for
men Of letters, to whom central location was not
essential. The question, therefore, TO be decided
library to that neighborhood and keep it there for
ever, for the mere cOnsderationsof being stored in
fre-proof building. The alternative of dividing the
apart, was unworthy of Consideration, as it would
destroy its value for reference and would violate the
fundamental designs of the testator.
Mr.. Fred Fraley thought it right to reply in a few
words upon the subject. The committee were aware
that great discrepancies OF opinion existed, and
that a plan to harmonize these discrepancies was
necessary. The committee had endeavored to con-
slider the entire subject, at great expense of time
and after considering all phases of opinion they had
taken the will of DIR. Rush and framed the present
report. 1t was evident from his will that Dr. Rush
did intend the Philadelphia Library Company to be-
come the residuary egatee of his estate, if they
would accept the bequest. The first consideration
| of the committee was whether Dr. Williams should
be instructed to erect building under the auspices
| Of the Philadelphia Library Company, or Tor the
Ridgway branch solely. Nowhere had DIR. Rush re-
! qured the entire library to be removed to the new
| building; and the plan of the committee would
money-the great students library alluded to-. If
the bequest was rejected, the result would be that
all the valuable books at present IN this library
at an expenditure that would give no additional
! value.
He regretted for himself the location at Broad and
Carpenter streets, and would have preferred that the
late old family residence of Dr. Rush had been given
for that purpose but the former lot had been pur-
| chased by the testator himself, and had to be ac
! cepted if the bequest was accepted. Years ago
Sixth and Chestnut streets was considered so incon-
venient location, that the Philadelphia Library
Company rejected the offer OF the State TO present it
lot equivalent TO that now occupied by the Philo
sophiCal Society," In time to come the growth of the
! city would make Broad and Carpenter streets far
more central than at present though, had Walnut
Chestnut street been selected, the choice would be
more satisfactory.
In his Judgment, no inconvenience would result
from the proposed division Of the library. place of
convenient access was needed for current literature
OF the day. that is consulted at its publication, ana
then becomes OF little value. This need not be larger
than the present space afforded, and thus the vaua
BILE works of reference would be stored where they
could be unlnterruptedly and studi0usly consulted
Under the viii the Library did not possess the
right to any portion of the beques for its own
expenses, or for adding to its own collection Of
works. Thus, in case of q subsequent separation,
each library would be able to claim its own peculiar
property. 1t was with this view that q dre- proof
building was recommended on the present location
to be sustained by the Philadelphia Library; and in
case the tocNhodeIs should prefer at the erection
OF the building Broad street several years hence
to remove the entire PHI delphla Library there, this
structure would be valuable to be leased as busi-
ness stand and produce an unfailing revenue.
n Ia mil
mended Itself to his approval, He would scorn to
eyade any OF the provisions OF DR.. Rushs will, but
the proposed plan merely endeaYored to harmOnize
the varying opinions OF the testatOr, and to secure
the best results for the students and citizens of
| Philadelphia
Henry NJ. Phillips, Jr., stated it was very evident
the committee would never have reported in favor
OF unqualedly accepting the beuuest without the
qualifying provisions embodied ia the report yet he
judged it was very questionable whether the Phila-
| delpha Library Company would he sustained by q
court of equity in the division Of its books as pro-
posed. 1t was not necessary for the bequest to be
| accepted at once, and he would have the executor
| allowed to erect the building as projected by the
| trust BY that time he trusted the stockholders
would have received such new spirit OF energy aud
vitality that they would be able to start the present
| library on new foundation, ana would escape the
| dsgraCeful anomaly OF limiting the number or It's
stockholders to less than thousand forever when
its original purpose was TO extend Its uses to all who
wished to accept To meet the legal objection that nat
| first resolution by inserting the second as proViso,
as follOws:-
Hesolped That the stockholders Of the Philadelphia IL
bray Company do hereby accept the legacy of Dr. james
Rush according to the terms expressed IN his Will pro-
yded that much of tho present collection OF books ana
% o5 the eGmP9ny % as may by tne ore
some other central position for general use ana crcula-
tion.
A SEVENTEENTH WARD OFFICIAL-Dennis Ma
money, one OF the assessors of the Seventeentil
ward was arrested at Charlotte street ana Grard
avenue yesterday, by Oficer McCOlgan, ON the
Gh9TRe OF being drunk and dlsordery but instead OF