The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-27
LOCAL MATTERS.

The RIcHMoND SAcsED Music SocrRrY.--Ths
managers OF this new and commendable organIza-
ton, which has In view " the acquisition OF .
thorough knowledge of sacred music, its promo
don In the community. and the instruction of the
young, without regard to the denominational dis
tnctions, presented a petition to the City Council
on the 18th of last July asking the grant of the lec
ture room of the Athen@um for its weekly prac
tcings, believing that such use came within the
scope of the O. dnance regulating the occupancy of
the building The managers who, with the mem
bers of the Society, gentlemen Of the hghes.
respectability, and leading members of the different
churches of the city, guaranteed to keep the
lecture room In perfect order, pay the necessary
expenses of fuel, light and attendance, and furnish
at proper intervals, competent lectures on the
science of music.
This petition was referred to the Committee on
the Athep ssun, who at the last regular meeting Ct
the City Council, presented report adverse to the
granting Of the request. The reasons assigned in
that report for the declination have not yet been
made public, and being matter of interest to the
Soci ty and its friends who com prise larger class
IF our population we subjoin them. The principle
involved also is an important enc, aside from the
application.
The report sets out with stating the objects of
the establishment of the Atheneum, which are the
encouragement and promotion of learning, the
cultivation of taste for literature among the
es and the provision of meas for its qualification
These objects are effected throug popular lectures
and scientific library and scientific apparatus at
the Athen@un. The reasons inducing the rejection
of tie application of the Sacred Music Society the
committee state lst, that the dedication of city
property to such an object was not contemplated
by the charter of the city, nor in unison with the
practice of the State; 2ndly, it would be depar-
ture from the principle of the ordinance relating to
the Athen@um and its use, hich extended equal
privileges to every citizen, without distinction in
favor of any, except the INDECENT chdrenof public
schools, because the petition of the Sacred Music
Society asked that peculiar privilege might be
granted to this private association. All other be
nevolent and charitable societies might with equal
propriety ask the use of rooms in this building.
3rd would be inconsistent with the uses to which
the building especially dedicated by the ordi-
nance. Young men whose daily employment pre-
vented their visiting the library during the day
would be disturbed, and in fact debarred from the
privilege of quiet evening study by the sound pro
ceeding from musical practitioners under their feet
and 4th that such use by the Sacred Music Society
would probably result in injury to the furniture of
the lecture room and besides, where series of
lectures were delivered on scientific subjects, for
several nights in succession EN- ploying scientific
apparatus, it would be necessary for that apparatus
to remain in the lecture room northumberland at
such times it would be inadmissible to permit
others to use the lecture room. This report, after
discussion, was laid the table for further con.
sderation, together with resolution offered by Mr..
Allen, granting the of the lecture room agree.
ably to the terms of the petition of the Sacred Mu
sic Society. And thus the matter stands