The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-17
SHOULD ACCEPT
LIBRARY OFFER
Rabbi Calisch Points Out the Advan-
tage the City Would Derive
From II.

Rabbi caiiscl, in his sermon at Beth
Ailaba yesterday morning mace an
earnest plea for the acceptance oy the
city OF AIR. Carnesie's offer looking 10
she establishment of a public library
His thcnne was Education ana Merai-
ity..' r.,..,,
In concluding his sermon. DR.. Caiisch
said:
..F.reyy parent owes It TO the child
whom he has brought iato the world TO
afford it every possible means to Sc
cure the armor Of life. The State recos-
.izinc tho value and the necessity OF
education. recognizing that the educated
,itiyen is a better citizen than the iS-
norant one. supplies the opportunity Tor
education in The public schools These
sre The yeritahle safeguards OF the re-
-,,,t,;c more powerful than armies and
nsries. Every school-house is a fortress
.n,nreCnable 80 the attack of foreign
enemies.
But unfortunately there are all too
many to whom, Tor one reason or an
other, even these ample opportunities
sre denied Poverty is an ogre that de-
,nand. every sacrifice. Death or sick
n.ss removes or incapacitate the natural
breaasinner. and young feet must be
sr,ned from school to factory, young
hands from books to machines. youftS
heads from progress 10 drudGerE- We
have practically hut one night school IN
this city, and that is technical and spec
islized in its instruction. Yet even TINS
school cannot accommodate the eager
seeker. after knowledge Young minds.
receptive and impressionable. are com
pelled to be turned away to be influenced
by the temptations of the streets or lhe
tll-adyised counsel of their own unguided
inclinations.
Tho great need of an institution Tor
Tho dissemination of knowledge has long
been felt By those who have given even
the slightest thought TO the subject; and
The recent offer OF northumberland
10 give a sufficient SUM for the erection
of a library provided the city would ap-
nropriate annually a sufficient sum Tor
Cts maintenance, was hailed with delight
hy those who have long experienced the
great need and value Of IT. 1t is SIN
ccrcly TO be hoped that this offer VIII
be taken advantage Of IT'S penents are
so great SO faI-reachipg. SO valuable
morally for the city and for the indi-
,-jduai. that no effort should be spared,
no sacrifice considered too great to Sc
,,,tre them Our city is Just entering
anon an era of splendid material pros
perity On all sides we see ana near the
si-as OF commercial and industrial Prog
ress. He is indeed not appreciatire OF
The truest interest Of the city who would
deny 1t this magnificent opportunity tor
intellectual and moral advance in keep
ing Herewith The library will prove a
refuge and a safeguard in more ways
than one it will create an atmosphere
of intellectual refinement, it Will stiInu-
late mental growth. it will encourage
noble ambitions, it will present the OK
amples of noble lives, it will WHY COR
,naiIt powers, it Will place Il: the hands
of the young the weapons for LIES con-
f,,ct. and to the old it will give pleasant
hours of benefit and peace. Let all thosc
who now enjoy the advantages OF
library conceive. if they can, their posi-
lion if they would be deprived OF tins
advantage, and then let us all resolve
that this blessed privilege shall be ex-
tended to every man. woman and ch1id
within the confines of our city. little
foolish pride 10 he pocketed, a little
.usging at the purse-strinss, ittie
1udsmen, in the system of municipal
expenditure and the problem is solved.
Ma it be speedily done"