Macon County, Illinois - Chapter 6: The Churches, Etc, 1876

Chapter 6: The Churches, Etc

It would be idle to speculate as to which of the various denominations has done most in bringing about the present condition of society, so far as morals are concerned. Which they have all accomplished in the aggregate there are no methods of ascertaining. If

We are disposed to believe that He in his providence has devised . the church in all its branches for the accomplishment of certain purposes, and the whys and wherefores are matters of little concern to us. If the theological disquisitions and discussions that have taken place in the last hundred years had been devoted to the eradication of evil rather than heated contests, long drawn out, as to whether this denomination or that one was i/ie church specially recognized and sanctioned by holy writ, perhaps equally as much good would have been accomplished. If there shall be a time coming when the lamb and lion shall lie down together and a little child shall lead them, then the asperities engendered by the wordy warfares over the ipse d/xi'^s of creeds and doctrinal points, whether essentials or non-essentials, will have entirely disappeared. The millennium will in all probability obliterate all the speculations of doctrinaries and consign to oblivion many learned theories of innumerable learned D. D.'s. He that shall stand in the light then shining may, perhaps, look into the past centuries and see the paths of at least twelve tribes all converging towards the promised land. There is no royal highway leading up to the New Jerusalem of which anv particular corporation has exclusive JDrivileges and sole control. On the contrary there are many ways. That which, for designation, we call the Methodist way, may be a little rough, and its trains may run, at times, at what may seem a reckless speed; and that other wav, which we may call the Presbyterian way, may seem more solid and better ballasted, and its trains may run with a more solemn stillness, as it were; yet they both tend to the same point. The trains on each are through trains. The managers of each may speak in terms of praise of the safety and ease and peace of mind vouchsafed b}- the respective routes, but the passenger, when through, on either, is tired and glad to escape the incidents of travel. It is not our design, therefore, in the very brief sketches of the various denominations mentioned in this chapter to enter into any analogies of their differences, their accomplishments or special characteristics. We give the dates of their organizations, as near as attainable, present membership, etc. Before that, however, we may be pardoned for mentioning specially the

Pioneer Preacher

About as far back as we had settlers we had Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. By and by along came the preacher, and he selected out his followers. The sheep, though terribly scattered, heard the voice of the shepherd, and came following. Those early shepherds - those pioneer preachers - deserve a passing notice. Their's was no easy lot. Their lives did not fall in pleasant places. Those who stood upon the outskirts of civilization and proclaimed the Word of God, held no enviable positions. It was no place of ease and comfort. It was like picket duty, and just as necessary.

Those early pioneer preachers were men of endurance, and sometimes their hearers as well. They wore their homespun and preached homespun sermons to homespun hearers, in similar logic, and on similar subjects. They had no fine churches with carpeted floors and cushioned seats, and windows of stained glass, and Gothic roofs, frescoed over with bugled angels. None of this. Their meeting houses .were often groves, with grass for carpets, rude logs for seats, and the broad canop^y of heaven for a covering. Their position, however, was not unenviable. Their songs mingled with the songs of the birds. Their prayers ascended to heaven on breezes bedewed with the perfumes of millions of wild flowers. Their voices echoed through the forests planted and decorated by the hand of God himself. There were no reverberations from painted and papered walls, borne upon an oxidized atmosphere filled with gases from cracked furnaces, and poisonous from diseased lungs. With pure and gentle breezes playing around him, the preacher preached to reprove, persuade and convince, and not to keep his hearers awake. He kept on preaching, too, after his thirty minutes were out, for his hearers came to stay all day. He finished up his subject to his own satisfaction, at the end of an hour, an hour and a half or two hours. It was not necessar}^ to bring part of it up at the next meeting as luifinished business. That subject, or doctrine, was nailed down and riveted. No, the thirty minute executioner didn't stand over your pioneer preacher ready to lop the sermon in two at the end of secondly. The pioneer preacher was also in the habit of speaking out in meeting. No subject laid upon his mind for weeks and months waiting for a favorable opportunity for expression. He had no wrestling with his conscience about whether he ought or ought not to reprove brother or sister so and so. He spoke as he was moved by the spirit, as it were, unmindful of what brother was hit or missed. He preached what he believed to be true, no matter if it ruffled the belief of half his congregation. He had no knack at tempering the winds to shorn lambs. He was bold and fearless in this respect. He could preach Perseverance of the Saints to a whole conference of Methodists. He could pi'each Falling from Grace to a synod of Presbyterians. When he saw the enemy attempting a flank movement, he moved on him and attacked him in his most vulnerable point. When the devil showed himself he was sure to be struck then and there. There was no coaxing and diplomacy resorted to to dislodge satan from his stronghold. The pioneer preacher never used tufts of grass. He took a stone in the first instance, and he threw it. A two-edged sword was his constant companion, and he kept it whetted sharp.

Ami then again your pioneer in the wilderness was a man of no great pretensions. He was what he was, and made no effort at appearing to be anything else. While his calling was high, yet, like his Master, he was found among all classes and conditions of society; among the rich and those that dwelt on fine lands and in pleasant surroundings; among the poor and the wretched, where the wolf was continually at their doors. He was a man of simplicity and plainness. What he was upon one day of the week he was sure to be upon all the others. He had no special Sunday cloak that covered up a multitude of weekly sins. His conduct was as the crow flies, straight on, without shadow of turning. He was always a poor man. Like Goldsmith's parson, his income was exceedingly meagre.

The Circuit Rider

The next who followed in the footsteps of the pioneer preacher, was the regularly appointed circuit rider. As the early schoolmaster was a revolving genius, so was the circuit rider, except that his territory was larger and he revolved on horseback. With a bible, hymn book, horse, bridle and saddle, and a pair of saddle bags that contained a change of raiment, the circuit rider's outfit was complete. He had long rides to make across wide prairies and through dense forests. He faced the cold winds like a hero. He battled with the elements with bravery. The rain was scarcely ever too hard or the snow too deep to stop him. Like the train conductor, he felt bound to meet his connections. He studied and practiced on his sermons and " pitched his tunes " on horseback, as he rode from one appointment to another. The good old mothers often stuffed his pockets with new socks, carded, spun and knit with their own hands. Now and then a new pair of trousers were given him as the result of the " chipping in " of two or more neighbors. They did not always fit exactly, for thev were made "by guess," but that was a small circumstance, for the circuit rider was none of your fastidious men. He could not afford it and his calling was an embargo in that direction. The pioneer preacher and the circuit rider are about numbered with the things that were. Meetings are no longer held in the private houses as in very early days; nor in the school houses, as in a later day. The substantial and most expensive church houses that exist in our cities, and the

The Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist church was estabhshed when tliere were but few inhabitants in the country, and has kept pace with the population, constantly advancing until it has reached its present membership.

The first Methodist preaching done in this county, was in the Steven's settlement; and the first organization was effected there by Rev. W. L. Deneen, which formed part of what was then known as the " Salt Creek Circuit," Peter Cartwright being the presiding elder. This organization was formed in the fall of 1829, and consisted of about twelve members, of which the following are some of the. names: Buel Stevens and wife, Luther Stevens and wife, Dorus Stevens, Joseph Stevens, Hollenback, David Owen and wife, and John Frazee. In the following year several additions were made to the society from the families of Jonathan and Isaac Miller, who moved to the county.

The same year Dr. Wm. T. Crissey, Alonzo Lapham and their families moved from Edgar county and settled in Decatur and vicinity, and connected themselves with the church.

The first Methodist camp meeting was held the same year, in the Stevens neighborhood, on the farm of David Owens, on what is now known as the Andrew .Williams place. This was reserved for a camp ground several years.

So far as is now known, the first preaching by a Methodist minister in Decatur was in May, 1831, by Rev. W. S. Crissey, who came from Indiana on a visit to his uncle. Dr. W. T. Crissey. In the same year several preaching places were established in Macon county.

The first Methodist church building in the county was erected in 1835, ih the town of Decatur. It was a frame building, twentyfive feet by thirty feet, and a very rude, insignificant structure compared with those of 1876. From this beginning as seen from its early history, it has progressed to what is shown by following facts concerning its present standing:

The above church property is valued at $140,000. There are also of this denomination fifteen Sunday schools with about 2000 scholars, and a requisite number of teachers and libraries.

In addition to the above, there is in the city of Decatur an African M. E. church of forty members, with a church house valued at $1500. There is also a flourishing Sunday school of forty members at the same place.

The First Presbyterian Church Of Decatur

Was organized in the house of Mr. Samuel Powers, on the ist day of May, 1852, by the Rev. Robert H. Lilly, who was appointed a committee for that purpose by the Presbytery of Palestine. The members at the organization were, David Hopkins, Catherine, his wife, and Lydia, their daughter, Nancy Eagar, Mrs. Mary Lilly, Miss Agness McCormick, John Nicholson and his wife Julia, and Robert Motfit and his wife Elizabeth. David Hopkins was elected and installed first ruling elder. Rev. Augustus F. Pratt gathered up this little church and preached to them one year. After him the Rev. David Manfort, D. D., then quite an old and feeble man, served the church faithfully till October, 1S54. About the middle of the next month the church secured the services of the Rev. Erastus W. Thayer, who preached ably to them till the spring of 1S57.

The congregation up to about this time worshiped in the old court house, then in the old academy, and in a new building which was erected on east Main street, on a lot belonging to Dr. Roberts and designed ultimately for a store house. About this time, the congregation, having increased in numbers and pecuniary strength, began to take the first steps towards the erection of a church edifice, which resulted in the brick church on Prairie street.

The next minister was the Rev. P, D. Young, who preached one year, and left, for reasons to the writer unknown. Rev. T. M. Oveatt was invited to the charge of the church in July, 1S5S, and was, in the following spring, installed as the first regular pastor of this church. He continued in the pastoral relation till Jan. 1863, and was succeeded in the following spring by Rev. D. C. Marquis, who was called from this church to the North Presbyterian Church in Chicago, in January, 1866. The church, during the pastorate of these last two men, had a steady and a much more rapid growth. Mr. Marquis, though a young man, just out of the Theological Seminar}^ at Chicago, had preaching powers of no ordinary character. His sermons were evangelical, clear, and profound, and were delivered with great force and animation. If he has had any equal as a sermonizer among the young men in central Illinois, it was his immediate successor, the Rev. Samuel Conn, now of New Albany, Indiana. Both these gentlemen were early honored with the degree of Doctor Divinitatis; because by native power and hard study they earned the distinction. Mr. Conn's health, which was never firm, suffered under the labor and care of the church, and in September, 1868, he closed his labors here. During the last year of Mr. Conn's pastorate a second church was organized in connection with what was called the New School General Assembly, with forty-two members from the First Church, and seven from other quarters. This branch of the church enjoyed the very acceptable services of the Rev. A. L. Brooks till after the union of the two General Assemblies, when he accepted a call to Danville, Illinois, and the two churches united into one harmonious church. The elders of both churches were elected to constitute the session of the re-united church. After Mr. Conn left the Rev. John Brown, D. D., came over on Saturday and supplied this church during the greater part of the next winter.

In the spring of 1869 Rev. James E. Moffatt, a young man from the Chicago Theological Seminary, was settled as pastor, and remained four years. After him came the Rev. Robert McKenzie, and preached a few months over two years.

The church, which began with ten members and one ruling elder, now has about three hundred members, a full bench of ruling elders, and full boards of deacons and trustees.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church

The first sermon by this denomination ever preached in Macon county, was by Rev. John Berry, and was in an old log school house three and a half miles southwest of Decatur, near the present residence of P. M. WikofF.

The Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized on the 34th of April, 1S30, at the house of the Rev. David Foster, with the following members: Allen Travis, Peggy Travis, Andrew Wilson, Mary A. Wilson, Alexander M. Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Katharine Wilson, James D, Campbell, Lovina Campbell, Andrew Davidson, Asseneth R. Davidson, Elizabeth Bell, Alexander Bell, Nancy Jane Bell, John Davidson, Rhoda Davidson, Rebecca Travis, David Davis, Polly M. Davis, John Smith, Peggy Smith, Samuel Davidson, Elizabeth Davidson, Nancy Davidson, Eleanor Davidson, William D. Baker, Marilla Baker, Robert Smith, Nancy Smith, Robert Foster, Margaret Foster, David Foster, Anna Foster, Wm. C. Foster, Isabel Foster, and Nancy Allen Foster.

The following are the names of the ministers who have had charoe of this congregation: David Foster, by whom the church was organized, Neil Johnson, Daniel Traughber, Samuel Ashton, John D. Cowan, J. T. A. Henderson, John C. Smith, R. T. Marlow, R. T. Lester, R, G. Carden, N. M. Baker, and P. H. Crider, the present pastor.

The church has at present about 175 members, and a Sunday School of about 70 members. The first Sunday School in the county was organized at this place by the Rev. David Foster in 1831. The first superintendent was James Scott, and Andrew Wilson, assistant.

The North Fork C. P. Church was organized in April, 1855, by the Rev. John C. Smith, at the Emerson school house, and consisted of 54 members, all but six of which had previously been members of the Mt. Zion congregation.

The successive pastors have been, Daniel Traughber, John C. Smith, Joseph R. Lawrence, G. W. Kinsolving, W. P. Baker, M. Dillow, W. L. Bankson, and N. M. Baker, the present pastor.

The first Sunday school in this a icinity was organized by Miss Charlotte Emerson, sister of the late Judge Emerson, who acted as superintendent and teacher. This was organized in a small house in her father's yard, in the year 1S40.

Bethlehem C. P. Church was organized in 1S50, by the Rev. John C. Smith. It consisted of 51 members; some of which were from Mt. Zion and Mt. Carmel congregations. At present it has 100 members, and a Sunday school of 60 members.

The Madisox C. P. Church was organized by the Rev. John C. Smith, from members formerly belonging to the Bethlehem and Mt. Carmel congregations, and has a flourishing membership and Sunday school. The present pastor is Rev. Jesse Beals.

There are also organized churches of this denomination near Argenta, in Friend's Creek township; at Prairie Hall, in Mt. Zion township, and at Shady Grove, in Wheatland township.

The Christian Church

This chuch was organized in the year 1S30, bv Elder Joseph Hostetler, of whom a biographical sketch may be found in another part of this book. The place of organization was in the old log court house, which then stood on the west side of the old square, but has since been moved east of Decatur.

The charter members of the organization were, Thomas Cowan and wife, Warner G. Strickland and wife, Elizabeth Cantrall, Stephen Shepherd and wife Dr. Bartley Gorin and wife. Col. Joseph Johnson and wife, Charlotte Turpin, and Mrs. Harrold, none of whom are now living.

The following have served this church in the ministry: Joseph Hostetler, John W. Tyler, George A. Patterson, James Fanning, B. W. Henry, Robert Foster, J. P. Lancaster, Hughey Bowles, Walter P. Bovles, Wm. Harrow, Tobias Grider, A.J. Kane, W. B. Happy, Wm. Ebert, Dr. John Hughes, Wm. C. Dawson, P. D. Vermillion, Ira Mitchell, Lucius Ames, A. D. Northcutt, and the present pastor, F. S. Haynes.

The present membership is 235. Its Sunday school was organized in 1S55, by E. M. Nabb, who was its first superintendent. Ransom Wright, W. E. Nelson, W. W. Shockey, W. E. Brigham, L. B. C. Leffingwell, N. S. Haynes and W. L. Hammer have succeeded to the superintendency. The present enrollment of this school is 154. The value of church property is $10,000.

The United Brethren Church

The first sermon preached in this county by a U. B. preacher was by Rev. James Parks, in the spring of 184S, at the house of Rev. M. T. Chew, five miles southwest of Decatur. The first class consisted of these two persons and Mrs. M. T. Chew. In the fall they petitioned to the annual conference to send them a preacher. James Parks was licensed b\- the conference and returned to act as minister of this small class. There were but three families in the community, and often there were but two or three present at the meetings.

The first church in Decatur of this denomination was organized in 1856, by the Rev. M. Ambrose, in the old Masonic Hall. The charter' members were, S. B. McClelland, J. E. McClelland, Rachel McClelland, S. W. Hamsher, Sarah Hamsher, Jacob Bohn and Mary Bohn. The next year they succeeded in erecting a church house on Cerro Gordo and North Main streets.

The following are the names of the ministers who have had charge of this congregation: M. Ambrose, A. Winsett, T. A. Tawney, S. P. Hay, L. M. Bennett, H. H. Hilbish, A. A. Shesler, S. Levi'ck, H. Elwell, L. Fields, and Isaac Kretzinger, the present pastor. In 1873 the church purchased two lots at a cost of $2350, and erected a new house at a cost of $5000. This is located on the corner of Broadway and Edwards streets. The present membership is 85, and a Sunday-school of 115 scholars.

Baptist Denominations

It was composed in its first organization of the following members of the United Baptist church of Springfield : David L. Allen, Julia E. Allen, Thomas H. Read, Elizabeth Read, David Brett, Margaret Brett, Henry Rigs, Malinda Rigs, Lemuel Allen, Robert Allen, Margaret Pratt, and S. C. Allen. It was organized by Elder H. W. Dodge.

The first house of worship, on the northeast corner of Water and William streets, was dedicated Dec. 37, 1S57. They have now a much more commodious and elegant building on North street, between Water and Franklin streets. The successive pastors have been, H. W. Dodge, Moses Lemon, B. Carpenter, C. H. Gates, N. Alvord, J. N. Tolman, B. F. Thomas, S. G. Miner, F. M. Ellis, F. G. Thearle, S. F. Holt, J. C. Banham, and W. G. Inman. The present number of members is about 175. It has also a flourishing Sabbath School of over 200 members.

The Rolling Mill Chapel Antioch, African

This church is located five miles southwest of Decatur. It was organized in 1846, with the following members: John Burke? Micajah Burke, L. B. Ward, Elizabeth Ward, Coleman Brown, Elizabeth Brown, Ephriam Cox, Nancy Cox and Amos Walker. The successive pastors have been, Robert Henson, J. W. Vaughan, John Turner, F. S. Randolph, S. B. N. Vaughan, and others. The membership at present numbers about 40. It has a Sunday school of about 40 members.

The cemetery at this church, perhaps the oldest in the county, was commenced in the year 1S29 or 1830. A Mr. Mangrin and wife were the first buried there.

Old School Or Presbyterian Baptist

This church never had a regular church Organization in this county, though there have been ministers and preaching since a very early day indifferent localities throughout the county. There is a membership of about 50 persons, who belong to the different societies throughout the Sangamon Association, which extends throughout Central Illinois. The first minister of this denomination who preached in this county was William Shields, who was the contractor for the old court house. The next was Michael Mann, from Logan county. John B. Moore, C. B. Stafford, John Alsbury, Charles Alsbury, Stephen Hugle, Chester Carpenter^ Richard Newport, Daniel Parker, P. McCary, Lemuel Davis, William A. Thompson, Joseph Richardson, Edmund T. Morris, William L. Campbell, A. W. Murray, James H. Ring, and John H. Myers have successively preached to the people of this denom ination throughout the county. Mr. Myers, who is one of our oldest native born citizens, is now preaching regularl}^ in the city of Decatur, and expects to organize a church during the spring of 1877.

Universalist Church

This society was organized in 1854, by Rev. D. P. Bunn. The early members of the organization were Joseph Spangler, sr. ; Joseph Spangler, jr. ; Jacob Spangler, J. B. Hanks and wife, John Rickets and wife, John Capps and wife. The present membership is about 75. The successive pastors of the church have been, D. P. Bunn, (14 years,) S. S. Hebberd, S. F. Gibb, and M. W. Tabor. The present value of the church property is $10,000.

A Sunday school was organized in connection with the church in 1854, and has continued uninterruptedly since, with a present membership of 50.

Church Of God

Decatur Church, - This church was organized in May, 1S57, by Elder A. J. Fenton, with 1 1 members, viz : Jackson Fisher and wife, Mrs. Howenstine, Mrs. David Givler, David Hamsher, John Hamsher and wife, J. Fenton and wife, Mrs. Fisher, and Jacob Knisely. The successive pastors have been, A. J. Fenton, David Kyle, J. H. Hurley, James Worner, Connelly, Thomas

Catholic Church

St. Patrick's Church was organized in 1S54, and the present church building erected in 1S63, which, at the time, was the most costly church edifice in the county. There is a membership of something over three hundred families, and a large Sunday school in connection with the church. The present pastor is the Rev. Mr. Hickey.

Protestant Episcopal Church

St. Johns, of Decatur. - This church was organized in 1S56, with the following members: Wm. Prather, C. H. Fuller, M. S. Fuller, Cyril Fuller, Maurice Fuller, Chas. B. Smythe, Elam Rust, M. E. F. Rust, Chas. M. Smythe, J. W. Richardson, Jas. Simpson, Sarah Simpson, Emma Lutrell, S. D. Macy, A. S. Halbert. The successive Rectors of the church have been, Rev. S. R. Child, Rev. W. L. Bostwick, Rev. E. P. Wright, Rev. Wm. M. Steel, Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., Rev. S. D. Pulford, Rev. P. McKim, Rev. W. W. DeWolf, and Rev. Stephen H. Cranberry. The latter is the jDresent rector.

Masonic Organizations Macon Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M.

This Lodge was chartered Oct, 5, 1S41, by the Grand Lodge of the State. Its charter members were George A. Patterson, Joseph King, William Laforgee, Henry Prather, Elijah League, Leonard Ashton, and James Ashton. The officers were -

Ionic Lodge No. 3 1 2, A. F. & A. M.

This Commandery was organized Nov. 3, 1859, by the Grand Commandery of IlHnois, with the following named persons as charter members: Robert Green, S. T. Greer, I. C. Pugh, C. H. Fuller, John N. Fuller, Geo. W. Bright, Jerome R. Gorin, Henry Hummell, Wm. Dewees, Wm. Martin.

Odd Fellows' Organizations Decatur Lodge No. 65, I. O. Of O. F.

This lodge was organized in July, 1S50, with the following named persons as charter members: S. K, Thompson, H. Hummell, J. R. Turner, B. F. Oglesby and John W. Koehler. This is the oldest lodge of this order in Decatur, and has considerable property.

This lodge was organized Oct. I3, 1855, with the following named persons as charter members: W. W. Oglesby, P. D. Kline, S. K. Thompson, Henry P. Elliott, R. F. Jones, Joseph King,Jas. Shoaff, J. L. Peake, A. J. Wolf, C. H. Fuller, Geo. W. Baker, B. H. Cassell, and John J. Ballentine.

I ^This encampment was organized Dec, 1S56, with the following persons as charter members: G. A. Smith, H. Kain, B. F. McCoy, Hamilton McCoy, William T. Peake, Stephen Grimes, Peter Terrell and Alonzo Pierce. The present officers are :

Daughters Of Rebekah

This lodge was organized October 14, 1S73, with the following persons as charter members: I. N. Martin, P. L. Kline, Wm. Towling, G.W.Baker, Newton Edwards, B.J. Schock, Joseph Mills, Wm. McDonald, B. Stine, John Ulrich, M. Forstmeyer, E. Swartz, O. F. McKim, Mrs. I. N. Martin, Miss Kate Towling, Mrs. Kate Baker, H. Swartz, Mrs. R. Jones, Mrs. Ballentine.

Decatur Lodge No. 568, of the Independent Order of Good Templars, was chartered on the 23d day of February, 1874. The following named persons are among the 60 charter members who assisted in the organization and who still reside in the county: D. L. Bunn, Jesse Lefargee, Aurilla Culver, S. A. Jones, Jennie Young, S. H. Gorman, Sallie Blair, Mattie Hanks (Righter), Theo. Goleman, J.J, U. Young, W. H. Hubbard, M. Y. Givler, Gasper Bazou, Mary Bazou, and Ben. H. Righter.

Decatur Public Library

This library was the result of the labors of the Ladies' Library Association, which was organized some eight years ago. The library was collected and managed by that association until Sept. 9, 1S75, when all the books and furniture were transferred to the city of Decatur, and is is now under the auspices of the city council. There were in the library when control was assumed Dy the city 1693 volumes and at the end of the first half year there were 1300 borrowers. During this period 17,572 books had been loaned, or an average of 117 per day, and 28,345 persons had visited the rooms. At the end of the first year 24,933 books had been loaned, or 3130 per month, and 40,138 persons had visited the library and recorded their names, which the librarian estimates is not more than half the actual visitors, as many visitors do not record their names. At present the[number of volumes in the library is in excess of 2000 and is being increased as the funds under the control of the library board will justify. The library is supported by a tax levied upon the city property under the law of the state. There is in connection with the library a reading room, on the files of which are kept all the leading newspapers, journals, magazines, etc., of the United States. Fifty different newspapers alone are on file. The books in the library have been selected with care and judgment, and it is useless to add anything more than the above exhibit of the number of readers to show the benefit being derived by the public through this small library. It is hoped that the number of books will soon be increased so as to meet the public demand, as it is felt that the present facilities are entirely inadequate. The interest the community takes in reading and general information derived from a general library and reading rooms, is a matter of education to a large extent. The aggregate value to be attached to this channel of information cannot be estimated. Many young persons are found daily at the library and reading rooms, engaged in reading useful books or papers who otherwise would be denied any privileges in that direction for want of means. Othei's are there who have cultivated a taste for the study and perusal of useful books, who otherwise might be cultivating a taste for vice in some one of its thousand enticing forms.