The San Francisco call., 1896-04-11
INFLUENCE OF
THE LIBRARIES,
The Subject Discussed at
the Convention in
Alameda.
MANY BOOKMEN LISTEN.
Delegates From All the Cities
That Are Represented in
the Association.
THE NEW BUILDING PROJECT.
Plans for a $4,000 Structure Sub.
mitted by Architect Wright
of Alameda.

ALAMEDA, CAL, April 1O.-The con-
Association was held at the new City Hall
this evening. Nearly all the memb bers
were present and the council-rooms we're
well filed. The subject discussed was:
Pulpit, Press and Public Library as
Means OF Influencing Public Opinion and
Elevating Humanity" The speakers were
Rev. George R. Dodson OF the First Uni
tartan Church, Editor T. G. Daniels of the
Alameda Argus, Superintendent D. ].
Sullivan of the Alameda Public School
Department and Principal Ergo Majors of
the Alameda High School.
Rev. Mr.. Dodson spoke in q general
way and did not argue that the pulpit was
greater power than any other in shaping
public opinion. He said that public
opinion and social condition are products
OF numerous factors. Humanity is a vast
organism, and a change in one of its parts
reverberates through the whole. Progress
Is the result Of many forces and influences
in human society. The day has gone by
when the preacher and schoolmaster were
the only educated men in the community.
They no longer have anything like a
monopoly OF intellectual and moral in
fuence. The speaker continued:
The preacher especially is affected by the
change. 1t is not that he has become less but
that other factors in social Improvement have
gained in Importance. The printed book is
one of the greatest civiliZing agents in history
Through ii the stimulating and helpful ideas
oil the hnest minds are sown broadcast through
Gus the world. 1t is largely through books that
the crowd is being transformed into the
people.
Thanks TO Gutenberg, g new and enlightened
n ia ha pr,h 1ia
Library is great social factor.
The ideas that are to-day making their way
IN the public mind will inevitably find appli-
cation Venerable and age-long errors are
disappearing, not so much because they are
being argued out OF existence as because the
public is becoming too well informed TO retain
them. With enlargement of mental horizon
inevitably come wider sympathies. Books and
Teaoing promote the sentiment of the brother
hood OF man.
Said Victor Hugo: "Henceforth all human
advancement will be accom- plished by swell
ing the legions of those who read. For the
desire TO read being train of powder, once
Iighted IL Will not stop; and this, combined
with the simplifcation of hand labor by ma
chlnery, and with the increased leisure of
man, the body less fatigued, leaving the mind
ireer, vast appetites for thought will spring up
IN all brains; the Unsuitable thirst for knowl-
edge and meditation will become more and
more the human preoccupation; low places
Will be deserted for nigh places-en ascent ma
tural TO every growing intelligence. People
Will taste the noble, and, once tasting it, they
Will never De S6uRteQ. men Will make the
oeauuful their food, because the refinement
OF minds augments in proportion to their force /;
ana day Will come when the fullness OF civil
iZation, making itself manifest those noun
tain tops. Lucret1us Dante, Shakespeare for
ages almost deserted and visited only by the
select few. will be crowded with inteliigences
seeking their food upon the heights"
While the press is not Intentionally philsn-
throplc and leaves largely unused its magnif-
cent opportunity 10 direct public opinion in
the right way it must nevertheless be credited
with q vast amount of good Inhaad of
the best work done for the cause of humanity
is performed without intention and uncon-
above provincialism. They make US citizens of
the world, interesting US in the thoughts,
labors and the life of other nations and peo-
pies The result is a feeling, constantly grow
ing more profound, OF the oneness and solid
arlty OF the race. The brotherhood of man is
already something more than phrase and
for this we are considerably indebted TO the
press.
Every influence that tends to the enlighten-
ment OF the people reacts benefcially upon the
pulpit. A reading public necessitates IN edu-
Gated ministry. Libraries and schools force the
preacher upward. A candle could give light in
medieval darkness To-day there must be in
telligence in the pulpit or the pews will be
empty.
=. On the other hand, it is a very great help to
the minister 10 have his people read, for he
can then teach them things that were other.
sents Jesus as ssying to his disciples, '1 have
hy many things too, say unto you, but ye cannot
peAI lnen now.
NO wonder, for they were mostly illiterate
peasants In proportion as people learn are
they pie to bear what is said 10 them. Happy
me minister whose people are always ready
Tor the highest word he is able to speak.
ihe press, the pulpit and the library are to
pc regatued as cooperating and mutually
helpful factors in the elevation OF humanity
that is, In us salvation. for salvation is coming
10 De regarded as something progressive as a
historic process. 1t is almost synonymous
with education, for this word, with all the
oeep meaning now being put into it, is among
the very greatest that we have
The work of the minister is becomino Grad
pally ana necessarily special and partial. It is
MS 10 develop the sentiments of men 10 inter
pret lie In the light of the best thought and of
the nob!est moral ideal. He should be able 10
make people feel that all great political and SO.
clAi quesuons are also moral questions. He
may render a social service by bringing to the
support OF practical reforms the Tremendous
sanctfylng and sustaining power of the moral
and religious feelings His work is not to in
gestigate and settle questions of economic and