Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-25
Service in Church Work.

DIR. John @. -AmeS is a native of Ben
nington county. VT. where his early edu-
cation was received. He graduated from
| William College, Williamstown, Mass.
and from the Theological Seminary of
ONO Gambolia Ohio. Alter service AS
| the rector OF the Episcopal churches of
| Mcrristown, y. J., and OF Springfield
Ohio he became head OF the House OF
the Evangeists. New York city.
| From that post he was summoned in
| 49,; 10 investigate tie condition OF The
Mission Indians in southern California. A
| full report of this inquiry published
| by order of Congress.
! The next year Dr.. Anes was appointed
from New York by President Grant to be
| superintendent of documents in the De
partment of the Interior.
| From 1874 10 the present time he has
| held this post, or the one analogous 10
| II. of clerk in charge Of documents.
DR.. AmeS' service has extended nearly
through the administrations OF nine Presi-
| dents and Of thirteen Secretaries of the
| Interior The extent of Dr. Ames work is
probably best explained iii that portion
OF his letter of resignation in which he
said:
During this entire time | have been en-
gagged in the pleasant and congenial work
CT indeXing, cataloguiifg and distributing
the publications of the government, and.
through this service, have been brought
into most agreeable relations with all the
principa! public. college and university IL
braries of this country and many of those
in foreign lands.
In all this work | have had especially
! in view the interests OF these libraries
the awakening in the public mind of a
more adequate appreciation of the value
of public documents. and the establish
ment of such a system of sale and distri-
button of the same as would help bring
| them within the reach of the people to a
larger extent than had before been the
case. and thus populariZed their use.
In addition to these duties. for some
| time the library of the department was
in my charge and for twenty years the
official register of the United States was
compiled under my direction
| DR.. Ames was responsible for many rec
| concentrations to Congress which had the
effect of consolidating and centraiZing
the distribution Of public documents. The
ultimate effect Of these reforms has been
| such that when he leaves the Office of
| clerk in charge Of the docuElepts. next
week. the services of a clerk will be re-
quired for only part of the time.
Tribute of Secretary Pierce.
The acting secretary of the Department
Of the Interior. Frank Pierce, in his let
ter TO DIR. Ames. said;
In accepting this resignation, which
I do with reluctance. I wish to take this
| opportunity OF expressing to you my
| hlgh a. DreciatlOn of your long. faithful
and efficient service i'm this depart ment,
and OF your character as man.
| Your work will he apprecat ed
and its value recognized long after you
have passed from the scene of action. and
will be a monument such as few men
In the public service have the oppor-
| tunity to leave after them
| wherever you may go and upon what
ever line of effort YOU choose to enter.
you will always have the best wishes
| for your happiness of myself and your
other associates in the department.
| BESIDES his service in the government
, employ. DR.. Ames has always been active
| in projects for the public good
| He wrcte the first letter to be published
In The Evening Star advocating the es-
| Enlistment of a public library He
drafted the first bill to he introduced
in Congress to this end The principal
features of his bill were afterward in
corporated I'm the act which made posi-
Bile the Public Library of today
He also wrote the main portion Of the
constitution OF the Associated Charities
and was largely instrumental in the es-
Establishment OF that organization. Or
Ames resides at 11o2 Vermont avenue
northwest.