Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-04-07
1DvANraoEs or CONSOLIDATION

The Young Mems Christian Association
building is an edifice of which the town has
reason TO be proud Whether its manage.
ment shall be alike matter for pleasure, profit
and pride, is something for the future to deter.
mine. As planned, one of its features is to be
library and reading room. Blu, there is
already library and reading room in Homo
lulu. Is there sufficiently large reading pub
lie here, prohtably to employ both We think
there is not. The plans and objects of the
two societies are nearly identical Each
aims to provide a cheerful, profitable place
where young and old may spend portion of
their leisure. Each is carrying out its scheme
OF usefulness in similar spirit and in about
the same way. 1t seems impolitic that either
the efforts of the managers of the two nsttu.
tons or the interest Of the public TO be bene.
fitted by them should be divided as they now
are ; or, as they are likely to be in the near
future. The most active workers in the Y. NJ
{. A. have generally been in full sympathy
with the library organization. 1t is TO be pre-
sumed that the present directors of the library
are not less in sympathy with the Y. NJ. c. A.
What, then, can be objected to such union OF
the two institutions as shall result in the trans.
fer OF the books, periodicals and other material
OF the existing library to the new, commodious
and comfortable quarters in the new building ?
To this will be objected by some-for the
chronic objector is ubiquitous-that any con.
nection with the Y. NJ. c. A. is likely to make
the conduct of the library too straight laced,
to narrow the range of its usefulness and to
harbor sectarian and illiberal literature while
excluding advanced thought and more popular
reading. The best reply to this is the condi
ton of the public library in the past 1t,
books and periodicals have been in no case
such as might not be admitted to the library o.
any good family questions of literary taste
and individual preference aside. Then, too
it distinctly ought to be understood that tn,
churchgoing part of this community is tn,
portion that reads most and can best convers,
about what it reads. The periodicals most il
vogue here, as in the United States, have beer
founded and largely conducted by religious, o,
strictly moral, men. The Century, Sc
long !Se'76ner'S Monthly, is notable example
The Harpers were always religious family
The principal editors of the atlantic, previou
to Mr.. Aldrchs promotion TO its charge, wer,
actively religious or in full sympathy with re
ligious methods of social work. Many, ma,
most of the popular authors of America, are re
! ligious. And modern Christians are the yer,
last people to exclude such irreligious writing
as are honestly and temperately written an,
are in no way immoral. II is your out and .ou
anti-churchman who is most rigdly and con
sistently intolerant. Fortunately. among tn,
most active and intelligent supporters of tn,
library are to be found the active and ntellieen
workers in the Y. NJ. c. A. So that ",
REASONABLE, may hope that frequent consultation
and carem examination will make il clear tc
the trustees of each body that the interests o
both may bes, be subserved by merging tn,
two institutions in one, or at least gathering
them under one roof.