The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-21
URGES INTEREST
IN CIVIC AFT AIRS
Former Governor Montague De-
livcrs Notable Speech at
Academy of Music.
ApPLAuDED BY BIG CROWD
Called on People to Take Hold
of Y. NJ. c. A. Work With
Will.

| Hardly any recent effort has done
more to contribute to the splendid move.
ment for the proposed enlarged Y. NJ
C. A. building than the mems meeting
| held at the Academy OF Music yesterday
afternoon, at which an eloquent speech
by former Governor Andrew jackson
Montague was the CHIEF feature.
Nearly every seat in the house was
taken, and Secretary 8. K. Mckee had
charge of the proceedings. There were
appropriate hymns sung by the entire
audience, and prominent men were upon
the stage. Among these were Mr.. o. A.
Hawkins, president of the Y. NJ. c. A.
Judge A. L. Holiday, Mr.. George Bryan.
Mayor Mccarthy and others.
Literally Applauded.
The address OF the former Virginia
Executive was an appeal for the good
morals OF the community, and II he was
npplauded once he must have been ap-
plauded twenty times. The theme OF
Governor Montague was, "a Community
Worth Living In" and he handled it in
a most attractive manner.
This has been strenuous week on
me- he commenced, land I realize that
] am tired and not in good trim, but I
could not live in this community and
deny the request which has been made
Of me by this association.
1.-The character OF a city, he went
on. is very much like the character of
a man. There are some cities as large
as Richmond that are merely aggrega-
lions of people. You will permit me to
observe that men are not made for gov
neutrality-suspicious. are made for
men.
1--WE in this country were born into
families and into homes. great deal
of the world was not so born. The
honesty that prevailed in the days OF
Abraham is the honesty OF to-day. and
the love and sentiment which obtained
then are the love and sentiment which
now obtain.
1T is not streets. nsr parks, nor
water supplies nor fine buildings that
tend to make city great. Do not mis-
understand me, gentlemen. do not
mean to minimize these. They are
essential But, after all, 1t is the char
acter of the people that makes a city
great. There can be no real community
until there is a social conscience, and I
mean by this complete understanding
that this is right and that Is wrong
II take my stand on the side OF law
and order always. There Is no place
in our civilization for to he'll with the
law The proper sentiment is to heaven
with the law all the time
This climax provoked long-continued APP
p'ause, and the speaker looked at his
watch, as II about to stop, when there
was an evident disposition on the part OF
the audience that he should proceed
He did, and made number of other
striking points that aroused much enthu-
sasin. those on the stage often joining
heartily q the applause.
Responsibility of Citizens.
81 am no preacher" he proceeded. my
interest in this association Is based upon
the fact that there are enough things for
the common good of our community upon
which we can agree.
God being my judge, If have had one
virtue above another, it Is that r have
felt my responsibility as citizen OF
this Commonwealth"
The speaker urged all citizens to more
active interest in civic, moral and polit-
cal affairs. He said Albany, n. Y, with
a population of about the size OF Rich
Inond's, cast $500 votes as a rule, while
Richmond cast only about 10000. He was
not criticizing the way the Rtchmond's
votes were cast, but the fact that such a
large proportion of the people failed to
vote at all.
"A community worth living it. after all.
is not the gift of flesh and blood. my
friends, but It is the gift of the Spirit,
and comes from the character of the
people who compose 1t.
The speaker closed with n strong APP
peal for the proposed new building, and
when he bowed his acknowledgements for
the. splendid reception accorded him, he
was given a splendid ovation.
The meeting was complete success
in every respect.