EP 6.11

EP 6.11

For a “Philanthropist”, John Jacob Astors charitable contributions, are seemingly lacking of effort. “His benevolence did not extend far, and in proportion to his means, we never had a wealthy citizen who did less, in his lifetime, to promote charitable, religious or benevolent objects.” Given the reputation these men of money had during the mid 1800’s, I can’t imagine that Astor was the only one from his social circles to be lacking in substantial, and legitimate philanthropic works. Cogswell, Samuel Ward and Astor, the three men solely responsible to for establishing the Library, were also, all Free Masons, a supposed benevolent society known for its “philanthropic works”. Does this mean anything on its own? Of course not, but all of these things do seem to become engaging when your Library has been sited at least twice, that I have found, in association with books and events attempting to transcribe a new history for the world we now live in. “History is a set of fables, agreed upon” Napoleon Bonaparte