St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-27
MIR. MOORE REPLIES.
Pleads Justification for. His Public
Library Structures.


Rev. Addison Moose The pastor of the
Woodland Park Baptist church, whose COM
ments on the public library in recent SER
mon have been severely criticised. in a pre-
lude to his sermon yesterday morning replied
to his critics as follows: a
l usually refrain from using my pulpit as
place from which to defend myself from
personal criticism. But as I am not In the
habit Of making public statements that are
not supported by personal investigation,
feel justified in replying this morning to cer-
tain criticisms that have been made upon my
recent sermon on "The Public Library" es-
pecialy as 1 have been accused of speaking
without regard to facts.
An editorial in the | o b e takes me to
task for three statements in my sermon.
First-That the public library is chiefly dis
tinguished for books 1t does not possess.
Second-That the rooms used as a loaf
ing place by undesirable parties.
Third-That the library is not open on Sun
days.
In regard to the first point, my personal
experience in calling for books and reviews
has been such as to fully Justify my state
ment. also have the testimony of many
friends who corroborate4 my criticism, and
also find the point granted in the. very edi-
torial which takes me to task, for the writer
says, Many books which ought to be in the
course, for library Of 40 900 volumes, our
library is as good as any of its class. But
my criticism dealt not with what ought to be
found in public library OF 10000 volumes,
but with what ought to- be found in library
suited to the needs Of city the size of St.
Paul. .,- ~-..--yssisr -
exception Is taken to my second point
on the ground that we have no library
building of our own, and so, apparently, we
n fho osryJo rio in, fho
attic OF the city hall from being used as a
loafing place. 1t is not possible to dispute
the statement I made and the editorial does
not attempt to deny it, but says: 1.-THE serv-
ices OF policeman have been called into
requisition frequentlyi,1 7 consider that my
point is well sustained. My editorial critic
puts the blame on the authorities who toler-
ate the presence of idle men in the. city hall;
but that does not excuse the library man.
agement from insisting that the proper au-
thorltles shall prevent undesirable parties
from invading the slihgary fzprecncts.
AS to the matter of Sunday opening ]
am and was aware that the reading and
reference rooms in the city hall attic are
| not closed on Sundays. But the iron gates
| before the entrance .tosethe building are
| closed, and the library itself is closed, as the
editorial acknowledges. 7tsbeeause there is not
patronage enough on,,that. day Sunday to
keep 1t OPEN" And for. all practical pur-
| poses, the reading rooms are as much closed
to the general public as isythe circulating de-
| partment. 60 g..
While favored few may know that en-
trance to the city ha4h oa Sunday can be
secured through unaccustomed ways the gen.
| eral public is led to believe, by seeing the
! iron gates closed. that the authorities have
closed the gates to keep the people out
My criticisms were certainly not ill-consid
cred, but carefully stated after personal In
| vestigation. The words OF friends whose ex
perience substantiates my own, and the In
dorserlent Of my position by letters from
men one Of whom is well known by the
! public though not known personally by me
convince me that my criticisms were no
biased upon insufficient information