The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-05-04

was removed to the residence Of
Ma. Micajah Berry, where IL held
its meetings quarterly, until the
year 1841, when from the numer.
ous deaths, and removal Of mem.
bers from the country, the society
went. down, having had an exis.
tence Of more than twenty-five
years. -
The great object and aim of this
society, seems to have been (books
then being very scarce and at a
high price, and the people poor)
for the community to act in uni
son and thus accumulate a libra.
lry OF the best and mostful books.
then in print, for the benefit of the
mombers and their families. "
The society at once grew into
popular favor, and all Of the most
respectable citizens ofthe commun.
ity and surrounding country be.
came members. A fund, accunu.
lated from the fee of membership,
was then and subsequently, raised
in an amount sufficient to consti-
tnte and make mp most valuable
library. 1t ia here worthy of re-
mark, that DR.. Thomas w. Alex
ander, who was a Presbyterian of
the strasghtest sect, made motion,
which was unanimously carried,
for the Rev. Jonathan Deuces.
who was a deserving and popular
preacher of the Baptist denomina-
tion, to be received into member.
ship gratuitously. And on motion
Of Hewlett Sullivan, Esq, (the reli.
gicus proclivities of his family be.
ing of the Baptist order,) the Rev.
Michael Dickson q Presbyterian
minister, was also admitted anani-
niously to membership gratnitous-
ly; thus showing at this early
period, that religion was tolerated
and encouraged without denomina-
tional prejudices and differences.
b. j. Earle, Esq, then a young
man and prominent lawyer, (subse-
quently elected judge was receiv.
ed as q member in this year, also
Col. William F. Downes, a promi.
nent lawyer living at Laurens, @.
Il, B. j. Earle, Esq, was elcc.
ted by the Society to deliver an
address on the anniversary occa-
sion in 1918. The invitation was
accepted, and the address deliver
ed at the appointed time, and the
members being so wei! pleased
with it, by vote of the Society it
was printed and distributed in the
community.
This Society, from its history,
seems to have accomplished it's
high aims and ends, to wit-that
of giving mental culture TO the
numerous families who gave their
sanction and material aid In it's
organization and continuance and
the assertion could here be proper
ly made that no community in the
bounds Of the State has meritori.
ously borne higher rank in cast
OF mind aud general intelligence,
characterized by morality and 9th.
er ennobling attributes, which al.
ways elevate and adorn society.
A taste for reading and improving
the mind was encouraged and en-.
gendered through this channel,
giving life and spirit as the main
artery to the body mental, which
was instrumental in building ND
and supporting good English
schools, and ultimately az a later
period when the people had more
ability, schools of a higher grade /;
and further it might be truthfnlly
mentioned, that no community,
though wealthy before the war,
came ont Of o lost cause less EN-
barrassed in a pecuniary point of
view, than this, in the State; for
not a single person has applied for
the benefit Of the bankrupt law,
or relief under the homestead act,
in the bounds Of Dunklin Town.
ship, Gas laid down on the new
map OF the county, by William
Hudson, Esq.l in which Fork
Shoal Library Society was located.
Might there not here useful les.
son be learned from the past, to
encourage, foster, and build up
schools and circulating libraries,
as our fathers did In their day of
poverty and limited means for we
are now reduced in worldly wealth
ss they wore at the history of the
times mentioned, and as means
Of relief, TO better and improve
their condition, resorted to q noble
reliance on their own energies in
building up home institutions of
their own. n
Politically onsidered, our
country is now ruled and govern.
ed by the prejudices of party, look
ing only to preferment and person.
al interest, TO the injury and suf.
forsn.xu ~ kka a