USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 43
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CHAPTER XXII.
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
PRIVATE libraries, as the words are here used, include those belonging to individuals, and those which are formed by a com- pany clubbing together, and using the books in common. The volumes may be used exclusively by the owners, or let out at a small price, per day, or week, or month. By a public li- brary is meant one which belongs to a parish, church, town, or city, the volumes of which are circulated, without charge, among the families composing those bodies.
The first library of which any trace is found in the annals of the town, was the property of the first minister, Rev. Joseph Rowlandson. No catalogue of it remains, but it is believed to have been respectable in the number and value of its vol- umes. Being a man of some culture and taste, it is safe to assume that he enjoyed good books. In order to sustain him- self twenty years in the ministerial office in the same parish, he must have had some resources besides his native sense. Living remote from other towns, he must have depended mainly on his own library for works needed in the prepara- tion of his discourses.
His parishioners probably had little leisure, even if they had the taste for reading. Every family had its bible and psalm book, and some religious reading besides. Probably some brought volumes of sermons and other works, like Fox's Mar- tyrs, from England. We can easily believe that such a man as Major Willard, though his life was filled with business, both private and public, would have a shelf or two of val- uable works in his house, relating to religion, history and biography.
538
539
MINISTERS' LIBRARIES.
The Rev. John Whiting and the Rev. Andrew Gardner were " university men," or graduates of "old Harvard," and without doubt, owned and used books in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, besides a commentary, a body of divinity, volumes of sermons and other works in different branches of reading or study. The next minister, Mr. Prentice, must have had a respectable collection of books. Mr. Hancock in his funeral sermon says, that " God gave him the tongue of the learned." As that gift of God is always conveyed to a man through the use of his own faculties in studying the works of God and the writings of other men, the inference is warranted that Mr. Prentice was familiar with valuable works in sacred and secu- lar literature. Like other ministers in early times, he gave instruction to the young men who were preparing for college, as well as to other young men and women who desired to pro- ceed farther in their studies than could be done in the town schools. Before his decease there were several families in the town-Wilders, Willards, Houghtons and others-who were above the average in cultivation and intelligence. The elder Joseph Wilder was a judge, and his son Joseph was rising in reputation as a public man. Col. Samuel Willard was prom- inent in the colony, and his three sons who resided here, Abijah, Abel and Levi, were all men of ability and informa- tion. Abel was a highly respected lawyer. Doubtless their houses contained many volumes of substantial, though few of light reading.
The Rev. Timothy Harrington was a man of letters. He read and taught the classics. The testimony of his survivors warrants the conclusion that he was familiar with a large range of literature. As there was no library nearer than Cambridge, his chief supply of reading must have been in his study. Among his students was Mr. Samuel Locke, afterwards a minister, and president of Harvard college. His influence was in favor of liberal culture, and a generation grew up around him who were interested in good books. Just before the close of his ministry a library was formed, which proved
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HISTORY OF -LANCASTER.
that there was a reading class in the town, and which served . to promote a wider and deeper interest in the better grade of literature.
THE LANCASTER LIBRARY.
On the fourth of October, 1790, there was a meeting of the Proprietors of the Lancaster Library, over which Dea. Cyrus Fairbank presided. Timothy Whiting, jr., Esq., was clerk. A committee of five was chosen to frame by-laws, and report a list of books to be purchased. The members of the com- mittee were Israel Atherton, Esq., Capt. Samuel Ward, Lt .- Col. John Whiting, William Stedman, Esq., and Timothy Whiting, jr., Esq.
This committee reported on the eighteenth, and the " Reg- ulations " which they recommended were adopted. The pre- amble will bear perusal. It reads as follows : "We the subscribers to the following Articles, being sensible that a general diffusion of knowledge has a tendency, not only to promote individual happiness, but to strengthen the bonds of society, by making ' man mild and sociable with man ; ' and it being incumbent on us as members of a free and independent community, to use our endeavors to preserve the liberty, free- dom and happiness we enjoy ; and convinced that we cannot effect this in a more eligible way than by enlarging our minds with such useful knowledge as will best serve to increase our estimation of such invaluable blessings,-do for the purpose aforesaid, severally and reciprocally promise and agree to and with each other that we will associate ourselves together, and purchase a Library, to be denominated Lancaster Library, and to consist of such books as we shall in future agree to purchase under the regulations hereafter expressed, which reg- ulations we solemnly promise to observe and keep."
This preamble is followed by twenty-one Articles which provide for the election of officers, the purchase and custody of books, and their circulation among the proprietors. The library was always to be kept within a mile and a half of the
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PROPRIETORS' LIBRARY.
meeting-house. A person could become a proprietor by being elected by a two-thirds vote, and paying three dollars, at least, and signing the articles of agreement. A proprietor living within five miles could keep a book six weeks ; between five and ten miles, three months ; upwards of ten miles, four months. A fine of two pence for every day beyond the time was levied.
Many will be gratified by seeing a list of the original pro- prietors, as it includes a large proportion of the leading fami- lies in the town, at the time, as well as some from other towns, including Rindge, N. H.
Samuel Ward, Timothy Whiting, jr.,
Daniel Stearns,
Benjamin Wyman,
David Phelps, Jonas Lane, Michael Newhall, Isaac Fisher,
John Maynard, John Whiting,
Nathaniel Wyman,
Levi Holden,
Edward Clarke,
Jona. Wilder,
John Wilder, Edward Goodwin, Sam'l J. Sprague, W. Cleveland,
Jeremiah Ballard, Nathaniel Eaton, Samuel Rugg,
Jonas Fairbank, jr.,
John Carter, jr., Charles Bridge, jr.,
Elisha Allen,
William Wilder,
John Goodwin, William Bridge,
Jolın Thurston, William Stedman,
Josiah Flagg, Ch. Carter,
Titus Wilder, jr.,
Asa Warner,
Jona. Prescott,
Seth Payson,
Daniel Goss,
Catharina G. Hickling.
Josiah Bowers,
Pearson Thurston, John Ballard, Thad. Pollard,
Paul Willard, Thomas Ballard, Jacob Fisher, Joseph W. Page, Eli Stearns, John Prescott, jr., Benj. Houghton,
Nath. Willard, Robert Phelps, Thomas Legate, jr., Robert Townshend, Joel Phelps, Joseph Rogers,
Amos Farrington, Isaac Willard,
Joseph Wales,
Richard Haven, Cyrus Fairbank, Israel Atherton, Jonathan Whitney, Edm. Heard, Eben'r Torrey, Ephraim Carter, jr.,
Henry Haskell,
Joseph Carter,
Joseph Leach, John White, jr., Seth Sergeant.
Moses Smith, jr., John Prentiss, Joel Wilder, Moses Rice.
The company was organized by the choice of the following officers, giving names and titles, Mr. Joseph Wales, librarian ; Mr. Ebenezer Torrey, treasurer ; Timothy Whiting, jr., clerk ;
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Lt .- Col. Edmund Heard, Lt .- Col. John Whiting, Mr. Josiah Flagg, committee. The Rev. Mr. Harrington, and the master of the Latin grammar school for the time being, were by an- nual vote, allowed the free use of the library. The same privilege was given to Rev. Mr. Thayer, after his settlement.
The first list of books comprises sixty works, but the num- ber of volumes is not given. It was probably above one hun- dred, as it included Addison's Spectator in eight volumes, and the historical works of Gibbon, Hume, Rollin, Robert- son, Voltaire, Catherine Macaulay, and John Adams' Defence of American Constitutions. It was really a choice collection, containing one or more of the works of the following authors : Milton, Cowper, Pope, Gay, Thomson, Young, Barlow, Dwight, Goldsmith, Sterne, Mason, Blair, Richardson, Bec- caria, Brydone, Montesquieu, Ferguson, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Price, John Adams, Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, Dr. Morse's Geography and others. The first bill for books after deducting " ten per cent. for part, and five per cent. for part," was £38-13-2. American history was not neglected, as shown, by the purchase, at first, or later, of Ramsay's American Revolution, Hutchinson's Massachusetts, Belknap's New Hampshire, Williams' Vermont, Trumbull's Connecticut. Volumes of sermons and other religious works added value to the library.
In 1792 these works were added : The Man of Feeling, The Lounger, The Mirror, Evelina, Man of the World, and Children's Friend. Miss Burney was then in the full glow of her reputation, and her novels were eagerly read, not only by the crowd of novel readers, but by such men as Burke and Johnson, with delight. Mr. Torrey, the treasurer, was also authorized to subscribe for the Encyclopædia, which came in numbers.
It would be needless to give the annals of the Lancaster Li- brary from year to year. There were changes in the mem- bership by additions and removals, and changes in the officers by election ; there were frequent additions to the library by
543
SOCIAL LIBRARY.
purchase or gift, and occasionally volumes were sold or ex- changed for others more desirable. For example, the meet- ing in 1795 voted that the standing committee should "ex- change Smollett's History of England for other books, giv- ing a preference to those included in the catalogue of books to be purchased, and those on the subject of Divinity." The reason for dropping Smollett is not given, but perhaps it is to be found in that elaborate dulness which is so unlike the vivacity, sense and wit of his novels.
Forty-eight volumes were bought in 1797, among which were Hunter's Biography in three volumes ; Addison's Evi- dences, Watts on the Mind, Paley's Philosophy, and Eviden- ces of Christianity, Baron Trenck, Life of Franklin, and Goldsmith's Poems. In some years there were purchased as much as forty dollars worth of books.
In the year 1800, " seven of the proprietors of the library, desirous of forming themselves and associates into a society or body politic, for the express purposes of holding, increas- ing, preserving and using such library," requested William Stedman, Esq., a justice of the peace, to grant a warrant to some one of them, directing him to call a meeting of the pro- prietors, for the purpose of reorganizing. The subscribers were John Whiting, Samuel Ward, Ebenezer Torrey, John Ballard, Josiah Bowers, Edward Goodwin and Joseph Wales. By this operation the Lancaster Library was changed to the " Social Library," at a meeting held May 5, 1800, when Is- rael Atherton was called to the chair. Thanks were voted to Dea. Wales for his services as their clerk and librarian for the last ten years. Josiah Flagg was chosen clerk and li- brarian ; Ebenezer Torrey, treasurer ; Eli Stearns, collector. The standing committee elected were Jonathan Wilder, Josi- ah Bowers, Edward Goodwin. An assessment of twenty- five cents on each share was levied. The Records show low- ever, that the title of Lancaster Library was occasionally used.
Among the volumes added in 1801 were Lathrop's Ser- mons, Whitby's Discourses, and Camilla, by Miss Burney.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
The next year these were bought, besides other valuable works, viz., Campbell on Miracles, Mrs. Chapone's Letters, Volney's Travels and Lectures on History, Winthrop's Jour- nal, and Hannah More's Strictures on Female Education.
A new set of regulations and by-laws was adopted in 1805, which are of no interest now, and probably were of little con- sequence at the time, it being one of the amusements of soci- eties of the kind to tamper and fuss with their constitution and laws. A matter of much more serious importance was the lay- ing of taxes, and the collecting of those unpaid. In 1811 an ex- amination brought out the fact that the " unpaid taxes " between 1804; and 1811 amounted to more than forty dollars. The income, however, enabled the committee to make valuable additions to the library in 1812, such as Clark's Travels in Russia, Turkey, ete., and Silliman's Travels, both works of great interest at the time, and still readable, Marshall's Life of Washington, and works of Hannah More and Mrs. Opie. In the years following Shakespeare's Works were purchased, and the Novels and Poems of Sir Walter Scott, as they ap- peared.
In 1823 it was voted to allow the account of the clerk and librarian, and the policy of paying him for his services was endorsed. Ten dollars was the compensation for two years. By this time many of the generation who instituted the li- brary had passed away, but their successors appear to have supported it vigorously by making additions of standard as well as less durable works. The North American Review, Blackwood's Magazine, and other periodicals of the first class were taken. By degrees, as new authors became conspicu- ous, their writings were obtained. Prescott, Dickens, Irving, Bulwer, Allison, and Stevens the traveler, furnished a large quantity of choice reading. Taken as a whole the collection was of a high order of literature for general perusal. It re- flected credit on the community which could be interested by it, and it could not fail to raise the tone of thought and sentiment in proportion as it was read.
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SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
At length in 1850, for some cause unrecorded, the com- pany ceased to be, and the books were sold at auction. The whole number sold was about one thousand and twenty. The price obtained per volume was small compared with the cost or the value of the works, but as they were purchased in great measure, by the owners of the library, the loss was of no account, and the books went into families where they sup- plied the next generation with a generous and nourishing mental pabulum.
SCHOOL DISTRICT LIBRARIES.
Before the Social Library was scattered, a new enterprise was started which resulted in the opening of hundreds of small libraries in different sections of the commonwealth. The plan was to have a small but choice library in every school district. It is not known how extensively this plan was car- ried out, but it is certain that a large number of towns em- ployed these auxiliaries to the system of public instruction. Lancaster was in this list of towns, and some of its districts, at least, had libraries of their own.
For example, the old third district, according to the ancient book of Records, whose first date is December 1, 1800, avail- ed itself of this aid. The first minute relating to the district library is under the date of August 21, 1844, and reads as follows : "Chose B. Whittemore, C. Atherton and C. Studley a committee to report rules and regulations for the library." The rules having been reported, they were adopted by the meeting. They need not be recited, as they simply provided for the custody, circulation and security of the books. The circulation was confined to the district, unless by special per- mission, they were allowed to go beyond its bounds. Some- times districts whose libraries consisted of different works, made an exchange, and thus doubled their facilities for good reading. The selection was judicious, having been recom- mended by those who knew the wants of the public in the line of miscellaneous literature. The "Family Library " so
35
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
called, well remembered by elderly people, was a component part of many school libraries.
This arrangement lasted in district No. 3, until the year 1859, when it was " voted to sell the Library at auction, Mon- day evening, March 9, at 6 o'clock, and the proceeds to go for paying in part for the outline maps, and varnishing the same." This last item indicates the time when outline maps were introduced, and hung upon the walls of school-rooms. It was a starting point in the better study of maps. The action of the third district may be taken as an example of what was done in other districts of the town. By this means an entertaining and useful kind of reading was supplied to families in all sections of Lancaster.
SUNDAY SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
Before the district libraries were sold and scattered, the churches had begun to supply the children and youth with a new species of literature, under the name of Sunday or Sab- bath school books. These books are well printed and hand- somely illustrated. With some exceptions, the reading is of a wholesome character, tending to promote the religious ed- ucation of the young. Probably the books of this kind which have been read, worn out and given away by our Sunday school libraries, would amount to several thousand. The li- brary of the First and the Evangelical Sunday school, each numbers between two and three hundred.
THE AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY.
About twenty-five or thirty years since, there was an awa- kened interest in the business of agriculture, horticulture and landscape gardening. At that time agricultural libraries were established in many towns. The same set of works formed the bulk of these collections. Lancaster had a library of the kind. At first owned by individuals, it was afterwards given to the town, and became a part of the public library. The number of volumes was above one hundred and fifty, includ-
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LIBRARY CLUB.
ing thirty-six volumes of Massachusetts and United States Agricultural Reports.
This was a valuable collection of books, as will appear by the following list of authors : Liebig, G. P. Marsh, H. Col- man, J. F. W. Johnson, Dodd, Langstroth, C. L. Flint, Nichols, Donald G. Mitchel, Stephens, Buel, Fessenden, Breck, Downing, Emerson, Olmsted, and others.
LIBRARY CLUB OF LANCASTER.
The Social Library was dissolved in 1850, but as there was a need of something of the kind, a new organization was effected the next year which took the name of the LIBRARY CLUB OF LANCASTER. The preliminary meeting was held at the town-house, December 1, 1851, with Henry Wilder in the chair, and Henry C. Kimball as secretary. A commit- tee of three-Henry Lincoln, J. L. S. Thompson and H. C. Kimball -was chosen to request some magistrate to call a legal meeting, and also to prepare a code of by-laws, for the association. Accordingly George R. M. Withington, Esq., issued a warrant, under which a meeting was held on the seventeenth of December. Dr. Lincoln called the meeting to order, when John M. Washburn was chosen moderator, and C. A. Rand, clerk. It was voted that those present should " become a corporation under the provisions of the law in such cases made and provided." A code of by-laws to the num- ber of fifteen, was adopted. H. C. Kimball was elected secretary and sworn into office. A paper containing the names of twenty-four signers was read, each signer pledging the sum of three dollars annually. After appointing a com- mittee to nominate a list of officers and a book committee, the meeting adjourned.
Monday, December 22, the Club met, and placing Mr. Henry Wilder in the chair, proceeded to the choice of offi- cers, as follows. President, Henry Wilder ; Vice-president, J. L. S. Thompson ; Treasurer and Collector, Julius H. Sied- hof. The following were the first committee for the purchase
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
of books. Rev. George M. Bartol, Rev. Charles Packard, Henry Lincoln, M. D. and H. C. Kimball, the secretary, and Miss Mary G. Chandler. Then follows a list of the original members, with their own signatures.
George M. Bartol,
Samuel J. S. Vose,
Charles Packard,
Emily Leighton,
Henry Lincoln,
Jacob Fisher,
H. C. Kimball,
H. L. Thurston,
Julius H. Siedhof,
J. Forbush, of Bolton.
Francis F. Hussey,
S. B. Dodge, Sarah A. Lane,
Christopher A. Rand,
C. T. Symmes,
J. E. Edwards,
C. Sweetzer,
. J. L. S. Thompson, Henry Wilder.
Mrs. P. T. Homer,
The following joined soon after. C. L. Wilder,
John M. Washburn,
Mary G. Chandler,
G. R. M. Withington,
Eliza Ann Walton.
The same officers were chosen at the next annual meeting, with the following book committee, Rev. Messrs. Packard and Bartol, and Mary G. Chandler.
At a meeting held, January 8, 1853, it was provided that an "inventory be kept by the librarian of the cost of all books purchased for the library, and of the time when they are pur- chased ; " also that the book committee should procure a book in which a list of the books purchased, and at what price, should be kept. The meeting discussed the question of es- tablishing a "Natural History Association in connection with the Library," after which it was moved by Mr. Bartol that a " committee of three be appointed to ascertain the expenses necessary for commencing, and to suggest a plan for further action." The motion was adopted, and Messrs. Bartol, Wil- der and Thompson were chosen.
The first gift of books to the new library was made by C. Gayton Pickman, Esq., of Boston, but formerly a resident of Lancaster, and owner of the estate now belonging to Mrs. Elmina Greene. He presented the " Works of Daniel Web- ster in six volumes." This was the edition prepared by the Hon. Edward Everett.
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LIBRARY BOOKS.
The first annual report was made at the meeting. in the early part of 1853, but was confined to proceedings previ- ous to November 29, of the preceding year. At that time there were twenty-five members, all of whom except the li- brarian, Mr. Vose, had paid an assessment of three dollars. As the librarian provided a room and gave his services, he was not assessed. The sum of $73.38, including $1.38 in fines, had been received into the treasury, and $58.30 had been expended for books and periodicals. As showing the character of the library, the following list of periodicals, and the titles of some of the books are given. North American Review, Silliman's Journal of Science and Arts, Edinburg, North British, Westminster and London Quarterly Reviews, Blackwood's Magazine, and Horticulturist. Among the books were Lake Superior, by Agassiz and Cabot ; Young's Chron- icles of the Pilgrims ; Young's Chronicles of the First Plant- ers of Massachusetts ; Life and Correspondence of Southey ; Irving's Columbus, Sketch Book, and other works ; Life of Franklin by Sparks ; Old Red Sandstone, by Hugh Miller ; Earth and Man, by Guyot; Life and Letters of Lord Jef- frey, and Parkman's Conspiracy of Pontiac. The number of volumes purchased was thirty-five ; the number given, was sixty-seven. Among the donors were Henry Wilder, Mary G. Chandler, George M. Bartol, Charles L. Wilder, Capt. Hussey, Dr. Thompson, G. R. M. Withington and H. C. Kimball, besides several from members of congress and other men in public life.
The officers were re-elected, December, 1853, with the ex- ception that Dr. Siedhof ceased to be treasurer, and Mr. Kim- ball took both offices of secretary and treasurer. Mr. Kimball was added to the book committee. Provision was made for printing one hundred copies of the catalogue, and it was voted that any person might have the " benefit of the library by pay- ing one dollar per quarter." The committee voted the ad- dition of several new works of great value, such as Macau- lay's England, 2 volumes ; Sparks' Life of Washington ;
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Frothingham's Siege of Boston ; Crayon Miscellany and five other works by Irving; Natural History of Selborne, Long- fellow's Poems, and others. Quite a number of volumes were received by donation ; among others, ninety-six numbers of Littell's Living Age, from Rev. G. M. Bartol; eight bound volumes of Niles' Weekly Register, from Dr. Lincoln, and Harris' Report on Insects, from the secretary of state.
In 1854 Dr. Thompson was librarian, and continued in that charge as long as the Club existed. Rev. Mr. Packard had left town, and ceased to be a member of the book committee. Otherwise it remained the same. The officers were unchang- ed. And here it may be stated that Messrs. Wilder, Thomp- son and Kimball retained the offices of president, vice-presi- dent, and secretary and treasurer, until the Club was dissolved in 1862. The same was true of the book committee, except that the librarian, Dr. Thompson, was added in 1857. Among the works in 1854 were five volumes of Bancroft's History of the United States ; Works of Addison in five volumes ; Household Words, eight volumes ; Boswell's Johnson, two volumes ; Life and Works of Robert Burns, four volumes ; the Poetical Works of Campbell and Rogers, each one vol- ume, and the Autobiography of Hugh Miller. The whole number of bound volumes amounted to two hundred and forty-one.
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