The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-02-18
CITY LIBRARY
DEDICATION
NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY is OPEN.
ED BY EXERCISES ON MON.
DAY EVENING
DR.. GEO. A. PETT|GREW IS SPEAKER
For Its Size the Library Is as Complete
as Can be Found Anywhere
Or. Pettigrew's Address


Monday evening occurred the formal
opening of the new Carnegie library
of Brookings. The exercises which
were planned to grace the occasion
were held in the Presbyterian church
and all the lower floor of the building
was well filed, with the exception of
a few rows down in front. No ushers
was the cause Of that. The program
was not lengthy and went of with a
good deal of snap.
Shortly after eight O'Clock Mrs.
Powers at the organ played a very de-
lightful number as a prelude to the
entertainment. Mrs. Nina King
Thompson rendered a vocal selection
in her usually pleasing manner after
the speaker Of the evening and others
had taken their places on the plat
form.
Prof. Powers of the library commit
tee presided and made a few histori.
cal statements about the foundation of
the enterprise. Then M. G. Carlisle,
president of the Commercial Club,
read the letter from Andrew Carnegie
complimenting Brookings on the sue.
cess of the project. After this Prof.
Powers spent a few moments in call.
ing the attention of the public to the
uses Of the building and contents and
several ways in which the library, its
building and surroundings may be
made made valuable and attractive to
the city. The speaker of the evening
was then introduced.
DR.. George A. Pettigrew, president of
the board of education of Sioux Falls,
and grand secretary 8f the Masonic
bodies Of the state. needs no introduce
ton to a Bookings audience, especial
ly to any of the older residents. For
years he was our neighbor as q prac-
ticing physician at Flandreau and IL
we mentioned the dates he lived there
it would belle his vigorous manhood
and pleasing personality. His address
vas replete with fine ideas, good ad-
vice and sound common sense, and
being neither too long o too abrupt
it held the close attention of an au.
dience that seemed to enjoy every
word and appreciate every meaning.
The doctor is suffering from a w
cold and 1t impeded his voice, but all
Of his utternances were characterized
by that grace and dignity that have
made DR.. Pettigrew n Of the most
delightful speakers in the state. AS an
educator he ranks high, and as the
custodian of one of the largest Masonic
the occasion of this dedication bore
the weight and authority Of n who
knew whereof he spake."
After the exercises at the church,
every one present and some that were
not, visited the library building and
viewed the beautiful interior. The
contractor, J. H. Roberts, is to be
congratulated on the full value that he
has given the committee for the money
expended. In the crush of Monday
evening many of the details were pass
ed over, but we feel assured that for
it's size this library building is as COM
pact and complete as any that has
ever been built. The lack Of books Is
now what is bothering the committee
and all friends of the library. Let us
all plan, as a city and as individuals,
not to rest a moment until the con-
tents are in keeping with and as COM
plete as the Ease which has been pro-
vided to hold them. The Register
gave a complete description of the
building in a recent issue.
The committee in charge are con-
graduated on this accomplishment of
their trust and WI heartily wish the
Brookings Public Library a sincere
God speed. We will do all in u
power to help it grow.
The mayor of Brookings, c. A. john
SON, was a representative on the plat
form of the municipalities part in the
enterprise.
Below we give DR.. Pettigrew's ad-
dress in full:
The history of the human race is
a record Of development Of individuals,
tribes and nations. That the world Is
not further advanced In knowledge and
power to accomplish what we must be-
lieve Is the high destiny Of man. Great
ed In the image Of God. will always
stand out as the strangest fact Of all
the record OF the centuries. Yet,