Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
HALLOWED HAWARDEN
GIadstone's Home and Its
Great Religious Library.
NOBLE AIM OF ITS FOUNDER
Owed Little to Living Teachers, But
Much to Books.
LOVED THEM, NOT THE COVERS
st. Deiniol's Silent School Of Divine
Learning-Why It Was
Established.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.


vine Learning at Hawarden, together
with a country home for the purposes of
study and research into the Holy Scrip
lures He intended it to become center
of religious life, a fountain Of religious
thought. community Of resident stu
dents. men Of scholarly habits and pro-
found thought, who, by Mr.. Gladstone S
thoughtful generosity. are given coun-
try home "far from the madding crowd.
with surroundings that encourage con-
temptation and associations Of the most
inspiring character.
Gladstone Pounds Religious Library.
Mr.. Gladstone described his purpose in
these words: Convinced that the future
Of the human race depends. in the main.
upon the great question of belief. and
that the most special and urgent present
need is sufficient means for the effective
promotion Of divine learning. I am en-
gagged in the foundation of library.
of an institution. under the name of St.
Deiniolds. Hawarden. adapted to that
end. Divine learning, In order to reach
its fullest efficiency. has been and ought
to be associated with the various branches
of human knowledge. especially with his
tory and philosophy, and it is upon the
widest basis that the library is being
formed. While the principles OF the In
stitution will be those of the historic
church of this country. and while the
governing body will be appointed to work
upon that idea, 1t is my earnest desire
and full intention that the hospitality of
the institution and its conveniences and
advantages should as far as possible be
made available for persons beyond the
pale Of the Anglican Church or even OF
the Christian religion"
With this object in view Mr.. Gladstone
accumulated library Of $1,000 volumes.
which. since his death. has been Increased
to about 10000, mostly concerning the
Holy Scriptures, ancient history and the
ancient religions. He formed a trust.
composed of sympathetic friends, and or
ganized a school. of which the Rev. Canon
Drew. rector Of the churh at Hawarden
and his son-in-law was ,. made the hrst di-
In 1893 Immediately after Mr. Glad
stones death. the committee formed to
erect a national memorial came to the
conclusion that part of the money
could not be more appropriately applied
than to the erection Of a permanent
building to contain his books and pro-
mote his plan for the development OF
Christian knowledge. The sum Of $4,000
was offered to the board OF trustees and
stone lifted the first shovelful of earth
for the foundation. and the late Duke of
Westminster. on behalf Of the national
memorial ommittee, laid the corner
stone in the presence OF a distinguished
assembly. The following inscription was
chiseled> upon 1t:
'.In this building, erected to his memory
by a grateful nation. is preserved the
library OF William Ewart Gladstone. VINO.
eminent no less as q theologfan than as
statesman, established this foundation for
the advancement Of divine learning.
Noble Purpose Of the Founder.
On the 14th Of October. 1902. the instf-
tuition was formally opened. 1t Is dig
nified building Of red sandstone OF appro-
pirate design and the interior arrange
ment Is admirable both for appearance
and convenience. In the main building
are two large halls reaching to the roof,
with galleries supported by pillars. The
walls are lined with bookcases OF oak:
Adjoining the halls are alcoves formed
by bookcases and private rooms for
study. Attached to the main building Is
a residential house. sufficient to accom-
modate thirty-two students in addition 70
comfortable and commodious quarters lot
the warden and his family and assistants.
and comfortable, and are provided with
every convenience necessary. They are
much more homelike and attractive than
the cells of the monasteries to which men
have resorted for similar purposes
through all the ages. There has been no
intention on the part Of Mr.. Gladstone or
the trustees he selected to carry out his
plans to encourage monastic lie. Oh
the contrary the students have every Ia
cility for healthful sports. physical ex-
ercise and social pleasures, and they min
gle freely with the people of the village.
many Of whom are highly educated and
cultured.
It is not necessary the students should
be clergymen or even theologlans: al
though the institution naturally attracts
those who are In the Christian ministry
or are preparing for holy orders. No con-
dition whatever Is made as to ADMISSION.
although the hope was expressed by Mr..
Gladstone that the knowledge acquired In
the library shall not be used for purposes
hostile to the Church OF ENGLAND.
ut Is my earnest DESIRE" he wrote,
that II should be. not school. not col
lege. not a free library in the ordinary
sense, but home for mental and spiritual
refreshments and research. open to think
ers Of every class. even to those to whom
the gift Of faitS has been denied. to all
earnest inquirers, seekers and searchers
after the truth that is divine. A spirit OF
reverence. a love Of truth, sympathy with
the aims Of the founder-this is all that
| is demanded Of the visitors"
Students, Fees and Endowment.
Admission Is granted upon application
by mail to 1.-The warden Of st. Deiniors Ii
brary. Hawarden, Wales" who will sup
ply all necessary information concerning
terms. regulations. privileges. etc. There
lis no fee for tuition or for the use of the
| library, and the charge for rooms and
board is only cts Cd ($6.75 in American
money! per week. This. OF course. Is
merely nominal and intended to cover
| only the actual expense. There has been
| an average Of twenty students. mostly
clergymen Of the Church of England.
| theological students and writer's who are
preparing lectures or books on church