The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-30
Great and Enthusiastic Audience at Clos
 ing Meeting. ABERcRoMBIB PRESIDED
Executive of Old Dominion Introduced by Judge Jones.
Strong Address by Dr. A. P. 1cnta- gue of East Lake, Kinsman of the Governor-Dusiness Ses- sions Yesterday at Mont 
 gomery Theatre.

The Educational Conference at the Montgomery Theatre had last night glorious close illuminated by galaxy or brilliant speakers. including Governor A. J. Montague of Virginia; former Gov ernor Thomas c. Jones, of Alabama; President John w. Abercrombie of the State University and President A. P. Montague of Howard College. East Lake.
 A great audience, one of culture and intelligence and one worthy of the dis tinguished speakers, crowded the immense auditorium of the Theatre from pit to dome. The audience included the Gov ernor of Alabama, former Governor or Alabama in the persons of General Will liam c. Oates, State officials, State Sena- tors, Representatives, educators. County Superintendents of Education and great crowd of the people of the State who' are earnestly, intently interested in the cause of education.
 There was not room in the theatre for all who wished to hear the speakers although all seats and aisles were filled and people were banked against the rear walls of the pit and two galleries of the theatre. The great throng had assem- bled to listen and learn and the best of order was maintained from start to finish.
 virginia's Young Governor.
 Above all else the people desired to hear the brilliant young Chief Executive of the Old Dominion who had come to Alabama to lift his voice for and assist the educational revolution that has begun in the South. The dignity and greatness of intelligent trained labor, the doctrine AL %t, ,.f <Aa ohi of speaker of the evening and right well aid he expound his doctrine. He came to emphasize the extension of the com mon schools of the country, the domi- nant Idea at the opening of the twentieth century and to exalt the idea of self reliance and self-help.
 Governor Montague is gifted with an attractive personality. He has stage presence that commands attention and interest and he is possessed of clear, powerful but well modulated voice which carried to the remotest corner of the theatre. He speaks rapidly. but never indistinctly. His ideas flow naturally and logically. His style is at once refined and forcefuI. his diction is clear and lucid. such as command admiration. The Governor of Virginia is tall. much taller than he seems. with his compact, almost portly physique. His appearance suggests mental and physical vigor. His head, large and well shaped, is covered with curling auburn hair. His features are classical. He illustrates with grace full full armed gestures and he moved about the stage with an easy grace.
 Dr. Abercrombie Presided.
 The meeting was called to order promptly at o'clock by President John w. Abercrombie of the State University
 IT Q introduced Dr. J. A. Rice. pastor of the Court Street Methodist Church who open ed the meeting with prayer.
 The opening address was delivered by Dr. Abercrombie who spoke in part, as follows:
 ..When honored with the invitation to preside and introduce the speakers on this occasion, I was informed that, in calling ths meeting to rder. I would be exrected to make a short address.
 ."This conference ha5 been called un- der the auspices of the Southern Educa- ton Board and the General Education Roard Those organizations are. the out growth of the conference for education in the South, which is composed of repre- sentative rnen and women from the South and representative men and women from the North For severL years the sessions of the conference for education Tn the South were held at Capon Springs Va. The year before last the meeting was held at winston-Salem. ". .. Last year 1t was held at Athens, Ga. This year It Is hoped the meeting will be, held at some place in Alabama.
 The Education Board.
 ''The President of the General Educa- ton Board is M-. William H, Baldwin. Jr; its Executive Secretary is Dr. Wal 3uft doly aF Robert c. ogden of New York Is Presi- dent of the Southern Education Board; pr. J. L. M. Curry of Washington. D. C.. is the Supervising Director; Rev. Ed gar Gardner Murphy of Montgomery Is the Executive Secretary, and Hon, Joseph B. Graham of Talladega is the Field . Agent for Alabama While the personnel of these Boards is to a great extent the same, their functions are very different. The General Education Board exists for the special purpose of securing. holding and disbursing moneys. and its opera tons cover the whole country. The chief work of the Southern Education Board is the creation and development of educa- tional sentiment in the Southern States.
 ~The particular purpose for which this conference has been called is the study of conditions and the better organization of the friends of education in Alabama. We want to prepare for more effective effort fin the crusade which is being waged and which it is proposed to wage more vigorously against civilizations arch en- emy-ignorance, dense, dark. damnable ignorance-whose polluting presence is a barrier to business. church, state and so- ciety. To such a purpose no intelligent, observant patriotic person an find req sonable obpiection: on the contrary. to 1t every such person should lend his hearty endorsement and his active cooperation ''
 Dr. Abercrombie then treated of edu- cation as civic duty, declaring that the prospect for education Is brightening. s.the murky clouds are scattering before