The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-12
Use HODGSON HALL
SOME ny COULD BE THERE.
NAY URGE IT IN CONFERENCE
r1s NECESSARY FOR SOCIETY
Sal TO MANAGE 1T.

Extract From Trust Deed FROM
b,,,cb Two Members of Georgia
teal society Deduce That
Hall May Be Used for
pubIic Library-They Say 1t
.as.ary, However, That So
HIVE COntrOI-City Might
nave Representation on Board OF
u.naaers-When Discussion OF
~..negie Endowment lis Had Be
rouuciI and Society Com
.,ttee, question Will Probably
Ne Brought Up.
.or+rary view to that taken by
~, George A. Mercer, president of the
wv C.orgfs Historical Society. will prob
w., ba expressed at the conference
IAN the City Council and the COM
49,. from the Historical Society APP
'-..d m discuss with Council the
'..b,;sbment of a free public library
sdor the endowment that, it is be-
r.rad Mr.. Andrew Carnegie stands
ID, n give should he find the proper
,.-it displayed by Savannah.
col Mercer has held that, under the
arms of the gift of the Hodgson Hall
n-onertv. now used by the Georgia
r;storical Society, it cannot also be
n,sd as a free public library. Some of
~. members of the society believe it
can be so used.
Tho trust deed made by Miss Telfair
vested the title to lot No. IA, Forsyth
ward on which Hodgson Hall is
erected, in Alexander R. Lawton, his
executors and administrators, and the
following is the extract from the trust
deed whereupon those who claim that
Hodgson hall can be used as public
library base their contentious:
aIn trust, nevertheless, to permit the
Georgia Historical Society to have the
exclusive use, possession, control and
MANAGEMENT of said building and lot,
provided said society will, through its
proper officers, accept the same ON the
following terms and conditions, to wit:
That the said building shall be known
as and called, Hodgson Hall; that no
public speaking shall be permitted
within the walls of said building, ex-
cent under the auspices or connected
with the business of said Georgia His
torical Society; that no entertainments
Or amusements of any kind, which in
clude or involve eating, drinking or
smoking, be permitted within the walls
Of said building; that the building is
never to be rented or lent out for any
purpose whatsoever; and further, that,
under the portrait of the said William
Brown Hodgson,- which is to be hung
on the wall of said building, shall be
Inscribed in permanent letters, the fol-
lowing words: In Memoriam, William
Brown Hodgson; this building is erect
ed by Margaret Telfair Hodgson, A
D.. 1873 or other words of similar
import; and that the other conditions,
on which the use and control of the
building are committed to the Georgia
Historical Society shall also appear
eolsprcuously on the wall of the prin-.
cipal hall in the building"
Two prominent members of the So
aety one of them lawyer, declare
mat 1t seems it is quite clear that I'M
der the trust, the building can neither
be rented out nor loaned for any pur-
pose whatsoever, other than some pur-
pose with which the Georgia Historical
Society is connected, but they take the
position that it would be possible to
use the building for a free public
library under the management and
control of the Georgia Historical So
| ciety
When the City Council and the com
mlttee confer. it is quite probable that
ihs plan will be suggested. One
Of the members of the society referred
% said that the City Council might
nave voice in the management of
me public library in return for the an
hual appropriation it might make to-
vsrd its maintenance. The Mayor, he
sald might nominate members of the
ooard OF managers, and the affairs of
me library could be largely directed
through such members.
some addition to the building, the
senleman admitted, would probably
nave 10 be made, but it would be nee
SsaFy to have but one room in the adj
lllon Such a room might be used for
saclng, all the books being stored in
ae present hall, or the new loom, if
lucy desired, might be used or stor-
. ss BOOKS, and the hall for reading and
"e business of the library.