The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-30
CLEVELAND WAS
CHIEF SPEAKER
Makes Address to Y. Nj. C. A.
at Philadelphia
CHRISTIANITY" HIS THEME
Conscious of the Immense RESPONSE
blIlty Resting Upon Us as Ma
tIon We Should be
Reverent People.
CHRISTIANITY" HIS THEME

Philadelphia, January %. = Former
President Cleveland was the principal
speaker at today's exercises in connec-
ton with the celebration of the fftieth
anniversary of the Philadelphia Young
Mems Christian association. Three gen.
eral meetings were held this evening In
different sections of the city. Mr.. Cleve-
land addressed a large gathering at the
Pennsylvania department of the 7. M.
c. A; Harry A. Garfield, son of the
martyred President spoke at a large
meeting in the northeastern section of
the city, and prominent local clergymen
were the speakers at the Garrick theatre
where the central branch of the Y. M.
c. A. observed the day.
w. A. Patten, assistant to President
Cassatt of the Pennsylvania railroad,
presided at the meeting addressed by
Mr.. Cleveland. The ex-President was
given a cordial welcome when he was
introduced.
christianity" was his theme, and
among other things he said:
Full OF Inspiration.
This occasion is full of inspiration for
those who delight in the success and
growth of a good cause. The contem-
plation OF the moral, intellectual and
educational results which the Young
Mems Christian association of Philadel-
phia has brought within its life of fifty
years, is cure of pessmism, and serves
to reinstate our belief that the value
our people place upon the things to be
desired, is not altogether measured by
immediate returns In money. AS we
view the unprecedented American rush
for wealth and trade advantages, we are
apt to give entrance to the fear that
pat>eotism and good citizenship are left
behind in the race.
I'VE do not always see through the
dust and turmoil that the fundamentally
of civic righteousness is still holding Its
own. We still hear the din and shouting
of money! getting, and we are not always
certain that in the midst of 1t al, the
steady voice of conscience Is pleading for
better things. 1t is well therefore that
occasions like that in which we today
take part, should be appointed to the end
that we should more fully know that
moral achievements should be added to
phenomenal success In taking an inven-
tory of our country's valuable possess
sions'
Mr. Cleveland then took up the meet
in of Christianity and continuing, he
said:
Should be Reverent People.
AS a serious minded people, conscious
of the immense responsibility resting up
OF. us in the solution of the problem OF
popular rule, we should be a reverent
people-not merely by lip service, but rug
gedly. strongly reyerent This is not to
say we should be a sad and gloomy peo-
pie. On the contrary, with free institu-
tons and with equality of rights and op-
portunities which no other country offers,
we should be the most hopeful and
li-ht-hearted people in world.
1T is not worth while to blink at the
fact that without going far from home,
We can gain a hint that nations called
civilized and even Christian, are liable un-
de- strong temptation to backslide to
barbaric standards, which permit war
and slaughter to count for a people s
greatness. and reckons ruthless conquest
among glorious deeds. There Is one con-
slant prevention against such dagger, and
that Is the sincere acceptance as guild
ance to national behavior of the honor,
the love of peace, the devotion to Justice,
and truth; the forbearance and inviolable
good faith which grew out of genuine
stream runs higher than its source; and
government by the people will be no
better than the people make 1t. If these
qualities are to be recognized as guides
of national conduct under our plan of
rule. the people must commend their
public servants"