A PRINCELY BEQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8192, 1 March 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PRINCELY BEQUEST.

.A Scotch-Amsbioak, Mr. John Crerar, has just died, leaving a vast fortune, acquired by Scottish thrift,-in the main to charitable objects. " Nearly a million dollars , are given to various charities and Church benevolences, including 20,000 dollars to his pastor. The ho gives 100,000 dollars to erect a colossal statue of Abraham Lincoln, and directs hat the rest of his estate, perhaps throe and a-half million dollars, be devoted to the erection and maintenance of a public library." This shrewd Scotchman, however, knew that books are forces as potent for evil as for good unless wisely chosen, and he inserted in his will a stringent clause as to the character of the books to be placed in the new institute :—"I desire that books and periodicals be selected with a view to create and sustain a healthy moral and Christian sentiment in the community, ar/d Sifaab all nastiness and immorality bo excluded. I do not mean by this that there/shall not be anything but hymn-books and sermons; but I mean that dirty French novels and all sceptical trash and works of questionable moral tone shall never be found in this library. I want its atmosphere that of Christian refinement, and its aim and object the building up of character." Who will not admire the shrewd Christian sagacity which marks this great bequest ? Would that all groat libraries everywhere were administered on Mr. Crerar's principles !