Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-02-27
Beginning of the Exercises.

The advent of the above party was the
signal for the commencement of the
musical programme under the general
direction of Mr.. c. c. Mellor. From the
programmes, especially prepared, the
audience sang with the assistance of the
Mozart society and grand organ, the
first, second and fourth verses of
America" standing. Rt. Rev. Cortland
Whitehead, bishop of the P. E. diocese,
of Pittsburg, then delivered the invoca-
ton. The Mozart society, under the
direction of Mr.. James P. McCollum,
and with Mr.. C. C. Mellor at the organ,
sang "The Heavens Are Telling" from
Haydn's oratorio, Creation" Mr.. Car
negie was then introduced by Mr.. Scott
and spoke as follows:
MR. PREsIDENT-My wife, were she here to-
night, and she is here in spirit, would join
with me in saying 1T is more blessed to give
than to receive Before formally presenting
this library to the people Of Allegheny. L
wish to return my thanks to the building COM
mittee, who have brought the building to its
completion, and who have made me see as
never saw before: That committee have
done so well that their efforts will ever be re-
membered with pleasure, and am sure that
you will all agree with me that he upon whom
devolved the principal work, Mr., j. B. Scott,
deserves special thanks. He has done this
city a great service, and / trust it is not the
last service of this character for which We
may be under obligations to him. l must
thank the president of the United States for
the transcendent honor which he has bestowed
upon US. / must thank the governor of the
state and must thank the representatives of
congress. | must also thank Mr.. Enoch Pratt,
of Baltimore, and Professor Langley, who is
the honOred president of the Smithsonian in
stitute, for their presence at the dedication of
this building: Permit me to say to the city of
Allegheny that l think this building has
started under most auspiclouS circumstances
The holder of the highest political office in the
whole world stands forth as an illustrious
sponsor at this christening. / must not pass
from thanking without thanking the archi-
tects, who have given us so beautiful an
edifice. Mayor Pearson, never had the least
doubt but that you and your successors vii lso
manage this institution that it will be of the
highest service that it is capable of being to
the people. To the workingman, to the work
ing woman, to the toilers, to all the toilers of
this city is it especially given for their prop
erty, their instruction and their advancement.
The poorest citizen possesses it equally with
the richest. No man or woman who tolls but
can walk through the halls. read the hooks
hear the music and say Behold it is mine. l
am proud to be joint proprietor here
Mayor Pearson, now hand over to you the
keys, which places you, as the representative
of the people, in possession of this building.
My earnest wish for the prosperity of every
citizen of Allegheny is from the depths of my
heart"
Mayor Pearson accepted the key of the
library in few well chosen remarks.
When the president was introduced his
appearance on the stage was the signal
for burst of applause rarely equaled.
1t was only after the people had tired
themselves in their enthusiasm that quiet
was restored and the president could be
heard. The president then formally de-
clared the library open and dedicated to
the people, saying in substance:
81 have spent the day in instructive sight
seeing. | have seen the ore transmitted into
that which serves as aid to the highest forms
of our life. l have seen that which was of the
greatest weight swung around as lightly and
fant by its loving mother. l have been a wit
ness this evening of a greater and more grand
transformation than these. The ore of the
mines is transmitted into those forms which
serve the purpose of our present life; thus
have seen the ore transformed to the steel rail
which forms highway for commerce through
our glorious country, to the engine which con-
trolls the power which drives our trains, to the
steel plates in which the commerce of our
country is carried over the ocean, yet here |
have seen something greater. | have seen
transformed that which was of baser ma
terial into a structure that will outlast the
giver, something that will last to eternity.
Here it Is that the coming generations shall be
and the instruments of good. | hope that thi,
institution may. grow, and that its readers
may read thOughtfully, for reading without
thinking is done with the reading there is not
much profit in books. | am proud that you
have citizen who could conceive of sogrand
a work as this. l am sure that it will be an
example to Others, and that his influence will
spread until those who have wealth will find
that it is to their greatest happiness to use
that wealth for the benefit of mankind. May
l not add that highly may we honor that clti
zen whose kindness of heart and magnificent
generosity prompted him to make such
princely gift to his adopted city. i now de-
clare this building to be open to the public
and charge you that your care of it be cir
cumspect, and that it may not in your hands
retrograde from the standard of its dedica-
ton"
After brief addresses by Governor
Beaver, Mr.. Enoch Pratt, Congressman
Dalzell and others and the rendering OF
the grand Hallelujah chorus by the
Mozart club, the audience was dis.
missed by a benediction by Bishop Phe-
Ian. After the benediction the presiden,
tial party inspected the balance of the
building, especially the art gallery, from
which they drove directly to the station,
taking their special train for Washington