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Show THE MASONIC LIBRARY AND MISS IDA E. HILL. The friends and patrons of the Masonic Library, and they are many, will learn with regret that Miss Ida E. Hill, the librarian, is about to quit her post and depart from our city. It is just five years ago to-day that Miss Hill entered upon her duties as librarian of the Masonic Ma-sonic Library. During this time the library has grown in popularity and usefulness, use-fulness, and with this popularity and usefulness use-fulness none have been more intimately inti-mately associated than''' Miss Hill. Her duty was her pleasure, and the gracious gra-cious manner in which she complied with are all requests of visitors and patrons made each of them think that a special favor had been bestowed. It will be of interest to the public to know of the growth of the Library durinn the time that Miss Hill has been in immediate charge. When she went there, October 1, 1SS0, the books in the Library numbered num-bered 3,783, while to-day the number of books is 7.G10. During the first year Miss Hill was in the Library, she gave out 8,509 volumes, while during the last year she gave out 16,018, and during the five years 63,327 books, which shows the great popularity of the Library, and the satisfaction of the public with the manner in which Miss Hill has presided. pre-sided. During these five years only eight books have been lost, which speaks ; ; well . for the : character of those who have patronized the Library. With all the books and their contents Miss Hill was familiar, and none knew so well as she the resources of the Library upon any subject. If a book was not in the Library, she always .wrote the title down and ordered the book so that all might be accommodated. In her attention atten-tion to young boys and girls she was very particular, and she always exercised the care and solicitude of a friend to see that they did not obtain books which were not proper for . their young and plastic minds, fully realizing that the influence of literature upon the mind of youth is an influence which lasts for life. The Grand Lodge of Masons fully appreciated the services of Miss Hill, "and at each meeting of the Grand Lodge, Mr. Diehl, the Grand Librarian, reported her good work and spoke favorably and in praise of it. In one of his reports Mr. Diehl said: j I am not able to express in words the thanks we owe to Miss Hill for the care and attention she gives the Library. I do not believe be-lieve that a more painstaking librarian can be found anywhere, and I do not hesitate to say that the largest share of our success is due to her efficiency. Visiters coming to the Library to consult books, no matter on what snbject, found in her a ready adviser, and none left the room without having gamed the desired information. Besides, she does all her work so kindly and at the same time so thoroughly, that she has won for herself the love and esteem of every I l iipiui tiiwuw iimnmiiB m winmii i r r visitor, and I know that each and every one of them, and you, my brothers, will join me in thanking her again and again for the aid and assistance she has rendered the library." j And again Mr. Diehl said in his last report, 1885: "We continue to be under obligations to Miss Hill. The popularity of the Library is largely due to her exertions to make it a public resort of learning. Her knowledge of every branch of literature and her familiarity famil-iarity with our books makes her the guardian of the reading public that seeks her advice and receives it from her cheerfully. As a teacher, she is deserving of the thanks of the reading public, and as the librarian, of our gratitude. I hope she will continue in the good work for many years to come." Miss Hill goes to Mount Vernon, Ohio,-to Ohio,-to visit friends and relatives, and then to pursue some special studies. All who are acquainted with her and the Library with which she was so long identified will wish j her a happy and prosperous time, and that she may find as many new friends as she leaves old ones. |