The record-union., 1891-11-07


tectorate, Mr.. Clendenin, Rector of st. Peters,
and Rev. Mr.. Mcmillan of the same church,
rather McKinna of st. Raymond,s and Mr..
Maths of the Presbyterian Church to say q
few words, as | am quite sure you will all like
TO hear them, and to have each bid the little
institution God-speed.
Mr.. Hillhouse then read the rules and
regulations of the library and reading
and correspondence rooms.
Rev. Father McKenna then addressed
the assemblage, and, in the course of his
remarks, said:
This building is intended, if understand IL,
as building where honest recreation may be
obtained for those who labor, whether at the
bench or at the desk, or whatever their occu-
patton may be; to assemble here during their
leisure hours. A gift of this kind is a
great thing for this community. AS Mr..
Huntington has so well said, it is q great
privilege, and great training as well, for the
young, II they Will only avail themselves of
the advantages of this library. Even those
who have libraries may not have them large
enough-those who have no books may come
here and have their wants supplied. And
how greatly may those who come here benefit
their intellect? Take our young men; would
IL not be much better thing for them TO come
in here and take up one of Waverly's novels,
or one of the novels by Dickens or Thackery-
any one of those fine works of standard liter
ature-and pass the evening with them, in
stead OF gong to a lager beer saloon? Look
at the contrast. When a young man leaves
this reading-room he leaves it with the con-
seriousness that he has done good deed; that
he has done what an honest young man ought
10 Go.
Rev. Mr.. Maths was the next speaker.
He rejoiced that he was privileged to be
present at the dedication of such an insti
tuition, given not by the cold hand
stretched from tie coffin, but by living
man with his heart in his hand and sim
cerity in his deeds and words. He con-
tinued:
Mr. Runtinoton has recoonized the fart that
a good deal of trouble comes from what we
call simply weakness, and also that other fact
which has passed into a proverb, that
the fact that that knowledge which shall be
strength Will come TO us more and more as we
acquire the stores of human experience that
are laid up in books. He has therefore struck
at the root of many evils at once when he
gives TO his fellowmen books-he has placed
in their hands the root and source ofpower.
Now, tonight in this opportunity
ofexpressing our appreciation of the kind
and generous heart which has given all this to
us, ii has been granted to me (and | consider
it a great privilege 10 say that this pleasure
is greatly enhanced by having Mr.. Hunting
ton still with us; enhanced by this, that we
are not (as is too often the case upon occasions
like this) merely doing honor TO some memo
rial tablet fixed in the wall. We are not here
to eul0giZe some man who has gone where
the eulogieS of men are become of very little
moment. But Mr.. Huntington has by the
tlmeiineSS OF his gift given us the pleasure of
saying TO him face to face that we are grateful
for his beneticence, which has gone up and
down through this country from Maine to
Mexico seeking out soil that needed cultiva-
ton, seeking the proper tree 10 be planted IN
that SOIL and then seeing that that the tree
was properly watered and pruned and fertil-
iZed-and that we are grateful that that bene-
ficence is brought among us in this way. and
that tonight we may express our thanks to
him personally and not TO a Board of Trustees
in the presence of some sculptured tablet on
the wall.
Rev L Nj Clapdonip tI,ap rood tho fol :
poem by Joel Benton:
THE LIBRARY GIFT.
TO C. P. huntingdon
You give sfrom your generous hand
Far more than gems or glittering gold,
Food for the mind, by genius planned,
That rolling years shall not make old.
For books outlive our narrow life,
And save the heritage of time;
Theirs is q SOlace free from strife,
Embalmed with prose or edged with rhyme.
What Plato thought, what Shakespeare wrote.
Are more than all our passing days;
While we their wit or wisdom note
Our privilege shall be thy praise
Though centuries come and centuries go.
And all that live return TO dust,
This noble gift shall live and grow
Beyond the reach of moth or rust.
Rev. a. Mcmillan followed in a witty
and stirring speech. We quote a few
sentences:
We always value an action according to the
measure by which it is free from any selfish
motive. A good deed penetrates TO the heart
of the recipient according TO the freenesS of
love that seeks to express itself. What can we
find of selfshness in this? We can only wish
and pray Gods blessing upon the good man
who has distinguished Westchester with such
an institution as shall make it a reputation
among the villages and towns of the world.
Here there is place which is to be q
blessing to US. Every one can come here, and
no matter how poor, how rich, here viii be 8
place for every one. Those who perhaps have
enormous libraries, those may not feel the
need OF it; and because-and l speak now as
one of you'll know what good there is to
come out of such place as this, can feel the
gratitude for the gift.
Rev. Brother Leontine spoke next. He
expressed his gratitude for the gift and
the pleasure he felt in being present at
the dedication "of this edifice that is an
ornament to our growing town and a
standing monument of the munificence
of the donor-one that will speak to
future generations to instruct and amuse
them, as I hope it will do to this.
Brother AZariaS was then introduced
and spoke Of the value of such gift, the
beneficence of good books. and the in
fluence Of such library in the COM
munity.
Rev. F. NJ. Clendenin was the last
speaker. He addressed the people al
length, spoke of their gratitude for the
princely gift, and referred to many other
noble and generous deeds of the donor,
Mr.. Huntington, of which the world
knew but little and of which because of
his presence little could be said, but that
''came from heart full of sympathy and
most courteous consideration, from a life
which feels not only for the sorrows and
misfortunes which come to men here and
there, but which feels for the sorrows and
se-f.N, yNf{ h Is,
where, and which stands ready-I am
speaking very calmly-from life which
stands ready to do anything il it's power
to help its tellowmen. To such thoughts
as these, though pleasant. we are not to
be allowed to give expression. We may,
/ suppose, however, refer to them, which
is some satisfaction"
He referred next to the proofs of the
value of libraries and reading-rooms, to
the pleasure they give, to their educating
influence, and continued:
TO what happy results this reading
room will lead no one here can fully say.
1t will, | am sure, give to many pleas
ant and profitable hour. You have but
to read the well-planned course of lee
lures, TO see the games and other health
ful recreations which have been pro-
vided, and well-appIied writing-room-
above all, that kingly company of splen-
didly selected books-to know that here
is gain without loss. enjoyment without
reaction.
''Then, too, this reading-room will,
doubt not, lead US in its kindly way to q
better recognition of the fact that we are
brother men here, bound by sacred obli-
CATION, each TO do his part for the COM
mon welfare. In such town as ours, in
any town bordering upon a great city,
there is danger of q selfish spirit getting
into fashion, and all people saying in ef-
feet: Every man for himself, and the
devil take the hindermost.' Into such a
community comes q man and gives for the
general welfare and happiness not only an
enormously costly gift, but, what is far