The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-15

| ANNUAL MEETING or MEMBERS LAST EVEN
ING-rHE READING ROOM CHANGES AND THE
| PROPOSED NEW BUILDING.
The annual meeting OF the members Of the Mercan-
tile Library Association held In the upstairs sales
room Of the Messrs Leaviti, In Clinton Hall, last
| evening. Tho attendance was not largo. William II.
Guion, Jr., president occupied the chair, and read
the nfly-sevcnth annual report The report was re-
ceivcd and adopted despite an attcmpt to have II
thrown open to discussion, motion to that effect
being decided OF order Tho report OF tho Treas
also and accepted, those Of the presi-
dent ana Treasurer Of tho Clinton Hall Associ alton
In his annual report Mr. Wilson g. Hunt, president
Of tho latter association his resignation, TO
date from to-day
An amendment TO the constitution, by which clerks
may DO admitted mbers for three months in
stead OF SIX, whivh has heretofore been the minimum
torn OF membership, moved by Mr.. Wctnloro and
adopted In Mr. Guion's report the Of the as
ISOLATION in altering tho library and reading roomwas
defended aud explained length, and this rc-
port, as. before stated, adopted in spite Of an
effort 10 throw tho matter open discussion. In the
OF fow remarks by Rev. DR.. Bellows, who nd
dressed The meeting at the invitation ortho President,
exception was taken TO this summary quoting OF
protest against The action OF the officers OF the
institution. DR.. Bellows snd that the gentleman who
had entered his protest mad reason and good sense
custom The management OF all Institutions he con-
tnued, Will bear watcuing, and there is danger when
an annual meeting is so SHINY attended BY active
mbers that tho management will fall INTO tic con-
troll OF few persons, whose government may be con-
Quoted narrow rule OF conduct. Free investigation
ana meat should not only be permitted but
encouraged Dr. Bellows thought that tho room
now occupied ny tho Messrs. Leavitt should DO added
10 the present space OF The library even though
sacrI1ce would have to be made. He hoped tnat when
as 10 burden tho institution With heavy debt. MIR.
IL. N. Camp was the next speaker, and nc urged, IN
behalf OF tho Clinton Hall Association, tho great ne
COSTLY OF erecting spacious IRON ircproot library
building at carly day. The presenl edince with all
contents might be destroyed by Are at any Time.
The fund is already $73500, ana It viii soon DO 90
largely TO make tho erection oil the nee
cssary building possible without the probability OF
running into debt Mr.. Benjamin H. Field said there
need be dolicacy about appealing to the merchants
OF The city again assistance He had never known
BUSINESS. Mr.. NJ G D. Borden also spoke. and Mr.
| f. II. Jenny entertained tho meeting with reminis-
cenccs OF The library and us course OF lectures years
| agn
Tho following resolution, chased on tho department
managers OF the nstit ution Tor several
past, particularly with regard 70 the arrangements OF
tho reading ROOM" was then introduced by Mr. Fo
/ shay
ISOLATION that Board u Direclors has shown
b,rs OF tho associaon senreay for lew years and
s % the
Resolved That tho said Board deserves the severe CEN
Tho resolution was condemned by one gentleman as
insulting to the Board, and not being seconded, was
not considered, despite the earnest protest Of It's
originator who appealed to the meeting, which sup
ported the ruling OF the Char. Another gentleman
then moved that the thanks OF the association BIO
rendered to the Board OF Directors tor the earnest
careful and conscientious manner IN which the affairs
OF the institution had been conducted during tho past
year. Mr. Foshay objected 10 this, asserting
that the Board had conducted tho af-
iairs Of the institution conscientlously, having
displayed moral imbeciiy In matters o management.
and not only moral but intellectual imbccy as well,
as whoever Is moral imbecie Is an intellectual one.
by reason OF that moral Is the only ounda-
tion OF common sense. Ono gentleman present In
CURED how long Nj. Foshay had been out Of the
blood ana thunder rhetoric OF tho Bowcry. motion
adjourn was then carried vote having previously
been taken ndorsing the management OF the Board
OF Directors The annual election oftoIlcers Of the
Mercantile Library Association will take place next
Tuesday, from three to eight =. n. 8a8t