The Newtown bee., 1908-08-21

!
 ure; this was indeed human person.
 allty strong enough and rich enough
 and full enough of vital power to be
 trusted with all the books that anyone
 could have given him to read. Any
 poor victim by the roadside, espee.
 ially If he were in most desperate
 case of need(witness the anti-slayery
 agltation), would have found in this
 scholar and teacher his good Samar-
 itan.
 And so with prayer that these qual- ites, both in the school and in the vil-
 lage, may always endure for the bless ing of those to follow us, we come, to- gether to dedicate this library by, the name of that man. and of one dearest to him in whom his life and work found their completion.
 Will you allow me to offer my per- sonal thanks that you have given me the honor and privilege of speaking on this occasion? It is in one sense an unmerited favor, for my name was never regularly enrolled .among the students in the class rooms of the Gun nery. And yet l can claim matricu- lation in equally important depart ments of the curriculum. So long as l live l shall remember those games here on the Green, in which my eligibility was not questioned as a player on the Gunnery nine. Indeed, am disposed to think that MT Gum himself, by a pardonable confusion of thought, SUD- posed in later years that 1 must have been member of the school in the more conventional meaning of the term, for he always kissed me when l came back as if 1 were one of the old boys; and l question whether any boy of them all felt more keenly than 1 al- ways have felt. and still feel. the mag ical charm of this little ivillage about the Green.
 My brightest dreams of heaven al- ways take their color from the land scape of old Judea. with Samson's Rock properly located, in case that vigorous saint should stand in need of his daily exercise; with a glimpse up the valley toward the Pinnacle; with the old white westinghouse at the cen ter where Gods house ought always to stand; and on the slope of the hill, looking toward the western glory, Gods Acre with its promise of immor- tality.
 And now to come back to-day to this beautiful building Jn this wonderful hillside, with these revered .names and faces carved upon its walls, and these books waiting always on its shelves for all who wish to read, l speak for all of you in saying that it. is an experience which we shall remember with pleasure and gratitude so long as we live.
 HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY REV
 ROBERT E. CARTER.
 The blessing of Joseph among his brethern has come to the library lovers in Washington; they have seen the de- scendants of the first library movement to the third and even to the fourth generation. The Gum Memorial Li- brary, which here to-day we dedicate, is the grandchild of the first Washing ton Library Association, and the great grandchild of the small private library association which preceded the Wash- ington Library Association. Yet some of those who were influential in those first organizations are still with us. Surely they must see the fruits of their labors and be satisfied.
 A small, unorganized association, like book club, made the first public collection of books in Wash ngton. This was started by Mir and Mrs Frederick w. Gum, after whom this present library is named. It con- sisted of a few books. which were kept in the front of the room, now the fam fly meeting-room of the old Gunnery The Gunnery building was then owned by Lewis Garfield; Mir and Mrs Gum, who had just returned to Washington from Pennsylvania, were living with MT Garfield. These books were bought by circle of friends who would come to the shelf in the eastern end of the room, take book out, leave the book they had taken before, and al- 50 deposit in box the rental for the Use of the book. This book club could not have been started more than two ears before the first library organi- ! zation was formed. But it seems to nave been the nucleus out of which | that assoclation grew. We are glad to it to-day, for it links direct y the origin of the library movement with those after whom this library is named.