The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-04
OCCASION TO BE REMEMBERED
Entire Community Turns Out In Honor of Distinguished
Guests-With Music and Oratory Noble
Pile Is Opened.

From Wednesdays Daily Gazette.
Billings made a holiday yesterday
in it's determination to show due ap-
probation of the splendid gift to
which it now holds deed-the Parmly
Billings Memorial library. Shortly
after noon all business houses closed
and long before the time set for the
doors of the opera house to open an
eager, impatient crowd was gathered
in front of them. AS soon as they were
opened the surging throng crowded
through them and rapidly filled every
seat in the body of the theatre. in
addition to the boxes. Even then
many were forced to stand and the
side aisles were packed. To add to
the size of the gathering the public
schools closed and contributed their
quota of juvenile enthusiasm and
youthful interest.
Although announced to begin at 2:30
O'Clock, it was much later when the
formal exercises began. On the stage
were seated the mayor and board of
aldermen, the library committee rep
r~esenting the Billings estate, Fred
erick Billings, Jr., S. E. Kilner and
the different speakers. Mr.. Babcock
of the committee presided. After a
selection by the orchestra the Bill
ings quartette sang the Lords Pray
err" Mr.. Babcock then spoke briefly,
giving a history Of the building and
told of the generosity of Mr.. Billings
in making liberal additions from
time to time to the amount he origi-
nally intimated he would be willing
to expend in the erection of the IL
brary.
Judge Goss was now introduced.
Ninety-five years ago., he said, the
first whitemen to visit this region
passed over the place where Billings
now stands. They were members of
an expedition returning from the Pa
cific coast which the government had
a sent Oug W lNSs3GkGn ll1C u
made a short time before from the
French government. The conditions
then existing, the speaker said, had
continued until within the memory Of
many of those whom he was address
ing, others had come and built up the
city, which like a mushroom had
grown up and taken a position with
the bustling, energetic cities of the
land. Coming to the time when the
city was given a name and place the
speaker dwelt upon the generosity of
the man for whom the town was
named, and told of his gift of a church
and school house which find place
among the public institutions Of the
city. Next Judge Goss spoke of the
early struggles of the citizens to Sc.
cure a library and then told of the
offer of Frederick Billings, Jr., tc
dead brother and asking among
others the opinion of the speaker
Fearful lest he tax his generosity toe
much he had said that about $4,000
would be ample to defray the cost o1
such an institution as would NEE
the requirements of the city. Instead
of combining himself to that amount
Mr.. Billings had expended over sever
times that sum. After paying tribute
to the memory of Parmly Billings ant
the philanthropy of the donor Judge
Goss closed.
Frederick Billings was now intro
duced and spoke of the pride he fel
in the progress made by the, cit.
named for his father. It was no
only a matter of money, but his low
had been built into the library an
he hoped that it would prove a bless
ing to the people and endure tt
further the cause of intellectualit.
and morality for all time.
Mr.. Billings read a dispatch from
his mother invoking Gods blessing
upon the library and the people o
Billings. After a few more remark!
Mr.. Billings handed the deed of gif
to Mayor George.
Mr.. George accepted the deed in
felicitious little address and in behal
OF the people of the city thanked
Mr.. Billings for his princely gift ant
said it was all the more appreciates
because offered at a time when Meth
er the R~ockefellers nor Carnegie
had taken to advertising themselye