The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-03-20
MONTPELIER PUBLIC LIBRARY.

A Harmonious and Largely Attended An
nuai Meeting The Proposition OF Mr..
Wood Accepted by n Practically IMAM
imous Stock vste ~ The Books to BE
Moved as Soon as the Rooms Are Ready
for Use-The Proceedings in Detail.
When the trustees and stockholders OF the
Montpelier Public Library gathered last
Monday evening at the library rooms for the
annual meeting, 1t was at once seen that an
adjournment to some larger place was nee
essary. j. G. Houghton, the secretary,
called the meeting to order and read the
call. In the absence Of Colo 1el Fred K.
smith, the president, Rev. j. Edward
Wright was elected president pro tenn, and,
on his invitation, an adjournment to the
vestry of the Church Of the Messiah was
made. Mr.. Wright called the adjourned
meeting to order and asked to b. excus I'd
| from serving as charm An. General j. II.
Lucia was elected in his place.
The report of A. W. Ferrin, the treas urer,
showed the total receipts for the past ye ar to
have been S1,0S6 As; expenditures, SS02 43;
cash on hand, S284.03. On motion of j. A.
DeBoer, the report Of thu treasurer was ac-
cepted, adopted, and ordered recorded, 1t
was moved that the old board of trustee
E. Smith, II. A. Huse, Morton Marvin, j.
| w. Brock d. p Clark and f. W. Bancroft
be reelected. Mr.. Wright, Mr.. Huse and
Mr.. Brock declined to serve, and j. A. De-
| bO6r, M n. n(ll6 anu u. ". hOugntOQ
| were elected in the ir places. On motion of
j. g. Brown, the chair appointed commit
tee OF three on proxies as follows: j. G.
Brown, J. A. DsBoer and Mrs. A. d. Far
we'll
The secretary laid before the m ,eting the
following proposition to the STOCKHOLDERS:
"The Young Mems Christian Association
| OF Montpelier, in accordance with its vote
on March II, 1895. offers TO you the use of
rooms ON the second floor of the Vermont
81. t.,,l.
ing as a home for your books and other
property. Rent, heat, lights and janitor
services free, for 80 long a time as We IN y
occupy that building and thereafter wher-
ever we may be located, for 30 long time
as you may choose to occupy, the manage
ment remaining under your control, pre-
cisely as in the past, and under the sole di-
rection OF your trustees II also offers, as
special inducement, the intention Of Mr.
Thomas W. Wood, president Of the Acad-
emy of Design in New York, TO establish an
art gallery in connection with your library
| upon the condi ions as stated in the folio "
ing letter from Mr.. Wood: If the stock
holders Of the Montpelier Library will place
the books composing their library in the
building Of the Young Mems Christian As
sociation, it will give me pleasure, If 1 re-
tain life and health, to establish in the same
building, as q part Of the library, an attract
i've collection OF oil paintings, water colOrs
and etchings, for the benefit Of students
|
as well as for the qualification and educa-
ton of the public"
j. A. DeBoer then offered the following
resolution: Resolved, first, that the Mont
pelier Public Library Association acc pit
with thanks the proposal Of the Young
Mems Christian Association as recited in
full in the latter's vote of March II, 1895,
and now communicated to us over the sig
nature of A. j. Howe, president pro TEN,
and D. +. Clark, secretary; second, that tho
| Nnptpaliar pnh1ic library AaaNniafinn
gratefully accept the generous and valuable
offer of Mr.. Thomas w. Wood to establish
an art gallery in connection with its library
upon conditions set forth in his letter, CON-
tained within the aforesaid proposition;
third, that the trustees Of the Montpelier
Public Library Association be and are
hereby instructed to attend to the removal
OF its library so soon as the roo ms offered
for its free use on the second floor OF the
Vermont Mutual Fire Insuran 70 Company's
building are in readiness to receive them
Mr.. DeBoer spoke briefly in favor Of the
resolution. He had visited Mr.. Wools
studio in New York and had seen the c)l-
lection of paintings. etc., that the artist pro-
posed to donate to Montpelier. He charac-
terized Mr.. Woods offer as an impersOBa al
business proposition, and urged its accept
ance.
Rev. j. Edward Wright spoke Of the fears
OF the founders Of the Montpelier Pubic
Library, that it would perhaps be difficult
to find for 1t permanent home, and that At
this time there is an embarrassment VI
riches in that regard, as two homes are al
ready offered it, aud ais third that is as
present in the air or in mems mouths. nj :.
Wright said the offer OF Mr.. Wood was ou3
of great gravity aud Importance to Mont
| pelier He had hoped that some other con-
ditions would be offered and that Soma
compromise would be effected, but the only
thing to do is TO accept or reject the Original
proposition. He was as anxious as any M Al
| could be to secure gifts for Montpelier.
Continuing, he said: although this does
not seem TO me to bs the wisest course it
appears to be the only way to secure this
art gallery and will no stand in the way
of it. l may be disinclined to vote for it,
for reasons that very many OF you know;
but will not vote against the resolution
I am not so personally bound to the library
that am not willing to have 1t stcr tice
for the good OF the community, and II Tho
library, by its removal, can secure for Mo 1T
pelier grand art gallery and home for he
Young Mems Chri,tian Association, say
let it sink and let them rise. l have lived
in Montpelier more than quarter OF a Cen
tury, and l am not aware that in all that
period have acted in the dog. .intha mangsr
spirit. l will not begin to practics it nov.
No man shall say that, because of personal
reasons or sectarian jealousy, | have at
temp ed to defeat this proposition / say
all this in the interests of peace Procuring
an art gallery in Montpelier in exchange
for the public library is small prize, but
the loss OF the public library plus lasting
disse nsions AMI antagonism would % pay
ing an enormous price for it."
General Stephen Thomas spoke earnes ly.
advocating u spirit of psace aul harmony.
Fred Blauchard and A. j. Sibley oppo1ed
the resolutions, but stated that, in the in
terests of harmony, and in defrrence to Mr..
Wrght's expressed wishes, they should not
vote against their adoption.
III. A. Huse said he had been surprised 10
hear his friend Mr.. w cight 50 Ghe polr .c,.l
expression "me too" aud probably Ar.
Wright and tn, audience would be- nj Irs
surprised when he st ited that he waute -
say "Alnen 10 all that Mr.. Wright 1ad
said Oanghter) M. Huse said he wan I'd
to go step further and cast his vO N
favor of the proposition. He nd the NJ lt'
pelier Public Library owes its substan ,ve
existen ,e to Mrs. @. w. Willard and Il v.
j. Edward Wright more than To any nor
half dozen or IN )re oeopls in Montpel er.
Only one of IL ose is left. Mr.. Huse hsd
followed with intense interest what dr.
Wright had said in support of the res 'lu-
ton. He would have followed Mr.. Wrir us
| tn IN nan