The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-01

Library Building, July 4th, 1890
The Fac-Simile Being Furnished BY
the Courtesy of the Boston journal
The address of Mr.. Josiah Benton
Jr., of Boston, was a very scholarly
and exhaustive discussion of the sub
iect of libraries in general, and tree
public libraries in particular, with a
most interesting sketch of the origin
and growth of the latter class and the
place it holds in popular education, as
we'll as glance at the Legislative en-.
actments by which the free public IL
brary system has been begun and de-
ve1oped.
1.-The true university of these days
is a collection of books" said Mr.. Ben
ton, quoting Carlyle, as he began.
And throughout his entertaining
speech Mr.. Benton brought out promi-
nently the fact that the public library
is a means of education, and is in the
future to be an essential part OF the
public school system.
The speaker sketched the career OF
John Lunn Woods, the generous giver
to the Bradford Public Library, and
called attention to the still earlier eff
work of establishing and maintaining
a library, which, indeed, suggested his
gift to Mr.. Woods. 1t was in 1875 that
the nucleus of library was establish
ed and the assessment was then but a
dollar annually.
Continuing, he said that Bradford
enjoyed the peculiar honor. OF being
the first town in Vermont in which an
incorporated public library was estab-
1ished. 1t was incorporated upon TINS
petition, reduced fac-s1fn1le OF WHICH
is given herewith.
Mr.. Benton exhibited the original
petition from the State files and pre-
sented a Photographic copy of it,
handsomely framed, to the library.
Then followed the act of incorporation
which was the first ever passed in Yer
mont chartering public library. 1t
was as follows ,,jE
An act incorporating certain persons there
in mentioned, a society, by the name OF
Bradford Social Library Society.
Whereas certain persons in the county OF
Orange, influenced by conviction of the
many advantages that have arisen from Ut
erary societies and public libraries, nave as,
sociated themselves under the name an anu
title of the "Bradford Social Library Socle-
ty:' and whereas said society are deslrouS
to promote and encourage literature, ana
cieties, tend, in very great degree 10 pro-
mote knowledge more universally, have pc
titioned to the Legislature that the members
of said society may be created body cor
porate forever, with the power OF choosing
their own officers and of making laws ana
regulations necessary for the goVerhlnlentt lt
of said society, in such manner as may pest
answer the laudable purposes Whlch the
members of said society may have IN view;
wherefore, to assist and encourage the mem
bers of said society, in promoting uselul
knowledge and literature.
/ 1t is hereby enacted by the General AS
sembly of the State OF Vermont t1at @ tne
following persons, to wit, Gardner Kellogg
Micah Barron and Ezekiel Little and thelr
associates be and they are hereby created a
body corporate, to be c9llsd ana Kn0WH hrorI s NY
ciety, and they, by the same name, and
their successors, are hereby constituted ana
confirmed body corporate in law.
II. And it is hereby further enacted thal
the said society shall be capable in law tC
sue and be sued, plead and be implicated
answer and be answered unto, defend and
be defended against, in all or any court o.
Justice, and other places. in all manner OF
suits, actions, complaints, pleas, causes ana
the name of Bradford Social Library So;
ciety. And that it may and shall be lawful
for the said society, hereafter to have and
use common seal, and the same at the VIII
and pleasure of said society to break
change, alter and renew. .
III. And it is hereby further enacted thai
the said society shall have full power tc
make their own bylaws and regulations
such as the appointing the time and place
of holding their meetings regulating the
mode of electing their officers, determining
the authority and duty of each officer, es-
tablishing the mode of admission OF mem
bers, and regulating all other concerns and
interests of said corporation, and 10 enac'
penalties on such persons as transgress such
rules and regulations.
Provided, that such penalties shall not ex'
tend to any thing more than the forfeiture
of the share or shares of the respective de-
And provided also, that such bylaws and
regulations of said corporation, hereafter
made, shall not be repugnant to the consti'
tuition and laws of this state.
". Provided also, and 1t is hereby further
enacted, that no bylaws or regulations o.
said corporation hereafter made, shall bt
binding upon the officers or members there
of, unless the same shall have been pro
posed at one regular meeting of the saic
society, and enacted and received at an
other, after the intervention of at leas
V. And it is hereby further enacted, tha
Micah Barron be, and is hereby author
ized to warn the first meeting of said so
ciety, and duly notify the members OF th'
Provided nevertheless, it shall be in tn,
power of the Legislature of this state Il
regulate or dissolve said corporation, a
any time when they shall see fit, any thinl
in said act to the contrary Notwithstanding
Passed Nov. 2, 1875.
1t would not be possible today, will
the experience of a hundred years, tC
frame corporate charter which woulC
better provide for the creation anC
government of a corporation. 1t i:
peculiarly interesting, also, as con
tanning provision that the Legisla
ture may dissolve the corporation, this
being a quarter of a century before
the Supreme Court of the United
States decided that a charter was ;
contract, and was the first act to re
serve such power.
The petition here given is quite {
historical find and throws an interest
ing side-light on the history Of th'
town and the customs Of century
ago. There were some quaint things