The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14
TOwN Torres.
BEACH MEMORIAL LIBRARY.

BEACH MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
 TConfinued From Page Four.7
 tone and yet wielded his legal knowl edge with euch feet upon the court and hls array of facts with such power tc availed little when pitted against him It is true that he did not happen to be born here, but I think he always regard ed Newtown as his home.
 l The most of these men and of theil compeers, and their sons and wives and daughters had to make their way in life without the aid of many books, but those which they had were faithfully used. l In the early times of which l speak novels were hardly kn,wn; science, as now understood, rathe lets SO. History | of the individual inns gin attun. I remem- Der hearing the Rev Ella ard Everett Hale say tn at he once 8. ked his father why he studied Ht brew in college and whether he had some idea of entering the ministry. "No," said his father, II studied Hebrew becaut there was noth. ing else to do." But that time has gone by. I do rot know whether we think less, but we certainly read more and think, study more. We cannot get on without books, and in community with | such history aud such traditions as this | library is a matter of course.
 But, while library Is a necessity, 8 comfortable, convenient and elegant building for it is a luxury, and of course, luxuries are what we pine for, and happy are they that get them.
 I do not know what may have been your past history in this respect, but can imagine that in the future this place may be, the heart, the vital organ of this community; that into and out of 1t shall pulsate thos streams of education, cul. tivation, charity and humanity that shall make the town living, organized, homo geneous unit, to combat with ignorance, coarseness, passion and every debasinG form of life. That here you will hold your literary club meetings and will as- sist and educate each other by deliberate ly dividing the work of acquisition so that each may contribute something to the intelligence of all.
 You will never forget that local histo- ry and environment calls you to high things-and can only repeat to you St PauIs advice to the church at Corinth, "Be ye not, beseech you, too much puffed up.'
 The formal speech of presentation was made by John Kimberly Beach, broth CT of Miss Rebecca D. Beach, the donor of the building. After a brief word of Introduction MT Beach said he thought the Association and Miss Beach were to be congratulated on the building, for in point of architecture, in utility of design, 1t is worthy ornament to this charac. teristic and picturesque New England town. He then brie fl y sketched the life of Rev John Beach, in whose memory was born in October, 17O0 He early 172l. In 1725 he came to Newtown as pastor of the Presbyterian church. In 1732 he went to England, and entered the ministry of the Church of England. On his return to Newtown large num- OCT of his former parishioners followed him into the new church he formed. In
 he spring of 1733 the first. Episcopal church was built. His ministry extend. ed to Bedding, and also to Ridgefeld. In 1772 he reported to the venerable mis- sionary society that for 40 years he had preached in Newtown and Bedding and had only missed his appointments twice Church of New England in Connecticut voted to close their churches, but Rev John Beach said that he should con- tinue his ministations, and he did. In 177l he reported to the missionary sOci. ety that although over 80 years of age he did continually preach in Newtown and Bedding, having often congrega- ton of 300 in Bedding and 600 in New town. In the spring of 1782, in his S2d yesr and the 5O;h year of his rectorship he rested from his lsbors.
 Tn ho npift nP tho y,y,f1 siv1 behalf of the Association MT Linsley spoke in happy vein, substantially az
 accept, sir, this splendid gift, in the name of the Newtown Library Associa. tion, in the name of all Newtown people of the present time, and of those that shall be hereafter, and I hereby tender through you to Miss Beach our sincere thanks.
 feel quite sure that voice the unan. imous sedtiments of large constituency when l say that this building will be the source of untold possibilities for good It is not a gift of mere momenrary value which will perish in the using. It is not ot mere ephemersl interest, exerting an influence only temporary, but this sub- stantial and suitable building will be of permanent benefit to this community, of enduring interest, of abiding il Lfiuence for good.
 I recognize in such gift the bestowal of a sacred trust. It is ours to manage and control and ours to carry on and per petuate for the bene fit of ourselves and our fellow men. We cannot, therefore, overlook the fact that involved in our acceptance of this generous gift is . serious responsibility. This library is ours to use, to care for, to equip with ever incres sing stores of literature.
 Next only to the churches which crown this commanding hill will hence- forth be this building. Next to religion must come education, and the church and the school must be supplemented by this library.
 It will have missionary work to do in this intellectual field. Our aim must be not only to provide good reading for those who desire it but also to influence those who are not yet interested in good literature to learn to improve their minds by using some of the treasures to be found here.
 We must not forget that this building is ever to be associated with the name of one who is worthy of all the honor that we can bestow upon him-the Rev John Beach. His loyalty to the truth as he saw it sta :ds out as prominent trait in his noble character. And whatever we may think of his political opinions, and whatever others may think of his relig- ious position which, by the way, my brothov (Pou Mr vn;1l lIou, mo