The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-05
SPENCER L|BAlY is
GIVEN RAEB0oks
Over Two Hundred S,um-.
Belonging to Morri.F nily
Presented to Tw.
ARE 500 YeAHsNp
,cluded in the List Are Books By
ley and Bunyan, Printed Coz
temporaneousIy with Their
Lives.

1lVSSs 3,
What is probably the most interestiA &
set of old book in the state of Iowa,
from Il historical n literary standI
point. a recently been donated to The
new Carnegie library of Spencer, Ia.
The set numbers over 200 volumes,
printed in the English md Welsh Ian
guascs and the dates of their publica-
ton range from 1919 to the middle of
the nineteenth century, a period of
nearly 300 years. While many of the
books are still in good condition and
have been well taken care of the older
of them are quite yellow with age and
are badly torn from constant usage.
The most Of the older books are leather
bound and in a few cases where the
leather binding has been Worn off, the
books have been rebound in cloth. A
few of the older volumes are so yellow
as to require IL reading glass to d%ecipher
them
The ook were formerly the property
of the late Miss Hattie Morris, of Spen-
Ger. Ia. who died last year. At her
death this valuable library Went to her
sister, Mrs. G.. A. Wilkins, who, not
having u library of her own. donated
them to the Spencer library that they
might be preserved for future genera
lions. AS indicated by the dates of
publication the books have been ac-
cu1nulating in the Morris family for the
last 800 years and thus not only give
d. history of the Morris family. but
form a connecting link between the sew
enteenth and nineteenth centuries. The
Norris fanilyfor generations back have
been preachers n educators. The
books We're given to Miss Morris by
her father, Richard Morris. who was a
Congregational minister i'll Rembrick-
shire. England. AS far back as the liv-
ing relatives could trace the books they
have been in the Morris family.
Two Hundred Unpacked.
AT present over 200 books have been
received and unpacked by the library
authorities, n there is still a large
box OF the books to be catalogued. The
most valuable books will be placed in
a glass case under lock and key, and
will not be where h general public
can handle them. Quite a number of
men,.
OF the most recent books in the set
there are about ten or twelve by John
Sunyan, author OF Pilgrims Prog
ress,' the book which has been trans
lated into more languages than any
ottSi ever written Wlln tne exception
of the bible. These works of Bunyun
We're printed In London between the
years of 1900 and 1915. Another very
interesting book which was published
about the same time is a copy of the
sixteenth edition OF ga Short View of
Scriptural History" 1t was written by
Isaac Watts. a famous London divine,
was published at London in 1892.
Sermons by Royal Chaplain.
A yNo1poe f1oGof1,n, ~%o~oo1- 49,
Of this nature are four commentaries
the book of Matthew, written by
Jeremiah Burroughs, another London
divine, and published in London in
1863. There is also a big, thick leather
covered book. quite yellow with age,
entitled Sixteen Sermons on Religious
Subjects" This contains the sermons
OF one "John Leng, Chaplain in Ordi-
nary to His Majesty the King of Eng
land" 1t is supposed that these are
the n which were delivered be-
fore the king Of England during the
years 1717 and IT'S, according to the
title page, and that the book was print
ed at London in 171s. These sermons
are particularly interesting in view of
the fact that they were delivered while
King George l., the first of the Han
overian kings, Was upon the English
throne. George I. was a German by
birth and could speak no English, so
~ 40 " NC uouOkS0 WIIClllcI lC really
appreciated the sermons of the elo-
quent divine any more thar does the
present day parishioner who sleeps
through the Sunday morning ermon
the time these were delivered there
was much disturbance in both church
and state affairs and Sir Robert Wall
pole was the real head of the English
government. It is only reasonable to
suspect that these sermons were all
edited by Walpole before they were de-
Nvered before the English court.
There r also lectures by famous
instructors at Oxford university in
early days. When these were deliv-
cred, Oxford. with it's rival, Cambridge.
were considered two Of the strongest.
universities in the world, and they were
largely attended by students from the
various nations of Europe. These lee
lures. therefore, give some OF the best
instruction that was to be found in the
world early III the seventeenth CEN
fury. The majority OF the lectures
George Whitfield and are upon religious
subjects. They were published at LON
don between the years 1920 and 1929.
The books are leather bound, very yell
lew and give ct having
much used. It is quite likely that
the generations of preachers through
whose hands these books have passed
H. A0@N @ANAA 1S LIN DOONS HI
preparing their sermons. 1t is notice
able that the books which are COM
upon h bible have the app
pearance of having been the most used.
and are the most worn. Nearly ali
nave notes written on the margins of
the pages and on the blank pages in
the back of the book. Scattered,
through the books poems are to be
found, which were written by the Rev.
Richard Morris, who brought the books
with him to America. In one of the.
books is a poem which was q proposal
of marriage from Mr.. Norris to the
woman who later became his wife.
a Number BY Wesley.
Among the other authors who became,
famous is to be found q number of
books OF the famous John Wesley.
Perhaps the most interesting of these
IS entitled. IAN Introdnctton Into the.
English Languase.' On the title page
the name Of. NE author = given az
With the Information that the book was
Enkland. This is significant, In that
the date includes thedaywhen the book.
was first placed on sale. something
OF the present day: There are several.
books. all smaller than the ordinary
the bibles Is that they are all printed.
bottom and at the outside edge of the
Is rs nruch as two inches. One or