The New York herald., 1877-11-18


The occasion win De an interesting one, and win At:
tract largo number Of Now York. Brooklyn and
Jersey City Methodists
YOUNG MEMS CATHOLIC LYCEUM.
NEW AND NOBLE INSTITUTION FOR THE
CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN OF NEW yoRK-THE
HISTORY OF YEAR AND THE PROSPECTS
FOR YEARs-A GRAND OPPORTUNITY FOR
MENTAL AND MORAL CULTURE.
There Is growing up In this city among Catholic
young men an institution greatly needed for that class
oil the population and which, II II pTospcrs In luture
as 1t has done for year two will long rival the
Young Mems Christian Association. II is tho out
growth partly OF necessity and In part tho suggcs
tion Of Cardinal McCIoskey, who readily saw tho
moral aud intellectual advantages to young men that
might accrue from their association. The Lyccum
was at first parocnial matter When the Rev.
Father Ducey became assistant to the pastor OF
81. Michae's Churcn, 6vc years ago. he in that
church large number OF young mon who with
out any religious organza In the winter OF 1874
he gathered about fifty ot them together formed
lyceum Having some little means OF his he very
generously hired tho house No 454 West Thirty fourth
street and furnished plainly but miorlably the
reception OF tho young men. In this house they
mained about three months, encountcring all the
verses that beset the pain OF infant organizations but
under Father Ducey's management safely overcoming
them all In the spring OF 1873 their number had In
creased to such extent that the house could not
mmodato them all. Father Ducey therefore,
hired tho house No 1886 West Thirtieth street, Upto
this period the organ had strictly
In its character Cardinal McCioskey heard OF II and
suggested ~ Father Duccy that he change charac-
ter to local and cndcavor to place
1t equal footing with the Young Mems
Christian Association. He remarked tho time
that the need OF such institution worry great
among the Catholics OF the city, who had every ther
institution but one representing their young men.
With this suggestion Of the Cardinal tho Lyceum
tered new sphere. and in May, 1876, bought and fur
nshed It's present headquarters No. 800 Vest Thirty
third street. Here everything Is done 10 make tho
place like 'homc" for the reason that many Of
tho members are very poor have place wherein
to spend their evenings that tho transition from
their poorly furnished apartments TO tho elegant
OF Tho Lyceum Is most agreeable and pleasant The
life they lead .hcro Is that of club but as
they would lead in tho presence OF her sisters and
mothers tho very essence OF poitencss and decorum.
In tho basement is billiard hall The parlors
the first floor, beautifully furnished. On The third
floor s library OF choice works, Catholic and secu-
embrace all classes, from tho hard worked mcchanc
TO the busy merchant Judge Brady member,
also many merchants and lawyers
A METROPOLITAN INTEREST.
The institution Is without doubt the beginning OF
great metropolitan Catholic interest, and its inausu-
ration here was not undertaken day soon;
for on tho young men depends the future OF tho
Catholic Church. as well as Of every other church In
this country. IL the Catholic youth Of the United
States remain faithful to the Church they viii be
to every high moral NJ 10 train children for
God their country aud their fellow mon. Tney will
thus prove a blessing 10 tho Rcpub ic and TO the
Church II Is the duty. as Il should be tho privilege,
OF every Catholic In tho city to interest himself and
herset IN all that contributes the education of
Catholic young mon.
New York SAID to bc tho third largcs. city in tho
4 IN hUh I'm fnP "A knth thnItc mann
lation OF 50OO 900 people to have IN this city
tute ana hall worthy Of their iaith ana numbers
Now, IT 10 the object Of the Young Mems Catholic
Lyceum and they are actively cxcriing themselves
10 establish institute aud hail central
location and tncy appeal TO the Catholics OF New
York TO Asss: them this work. They are laboring
under the direction 0f prost, and have the hearty
Endorsement, as already stated, o the highest cccle
sastca authority IN this archdiocese. Their work Is
for all classes, and their sim Is 70 guard educate
Catholic young mcn. and thus preserve them from
eprit O rrevcrcnce which at times, under the gnise
OF liberty, more worthy OF the namo OF lawlessness
aud license Tney do not seek, as they say in CIR
cuar, simply TO make headquarters Tor social pleas
ure and amusement, but rathor 20 advance the
oil neral and intellectual educat,on. In the year
1875 The centennial year OF Rep 1bc, the Lyceum
inaugurated Catholic lecture course. They also had
In their parlors, for themselves and thelr iricnds
most Interesting course OF lectures Church history
followed by q second course on literature, Its power
ana mission.
GROWTH or THE LrcxuM
The Young Mems Catholic I.yccum commenced Its
lnb0rs here IN May, 1876 with eighty members; Its
present membership Is nearly one hundred aud dity,
young men Of the city. The properly owned by tho
Lyceum Is substantial brown stone house well
pointed and fur nshed way that bespcaks comfort
aud the sancty OF q Christian home. Inc property Ia
valued ~ $3l 900 In to the question: Do tho
members of the Lyceum moan work they wish their
brethren 10 bear IN mind that all their members
hard working Catholic young mon, depending their
daily labor ior their subsistence From their little
savings and unremitting tolls they have given gener-
0usy Tor the establishment o this Hall and Institute,
the necessity Of winch has becn long felt BY Ca,ho
lies generally and Lathoc young men In par tcu lar
one member in tho work Of preparation for this foun
datloD: 81, 600 were contributed by another: some
hundreds and some 1itles ny Others aud hnally tho
sum OF S. 900 was sunk IN tho purchase aud the ap
pontmcnt o their house by one who lecis deep in-
tercst IL the welfare and CatuOc education OF you
On this sum, advauccd to aid the general work,
they have not been asked TO pay interest during tho
year Despite tho hard times tins large has
been largely paid over sixty cent has been paid
In various sums OF S., 900 TO $50 and Iess.
The Investment OF TINS money and the properties
connected thcrc with is done according occIc-
siaslicAl law Of this State winch vests all Caholic
property In a board OF trustees representing tho
Archbishop and priests and isynen Of his appoint-
mcnt Tho interest OF the mortgage on tho property
winch Is now about $l0,O 900, city taxes aud other
cessary expenses are met BY tho mutation iecs, dues
and other sources of revenue. But the young men
propose last as possible 10 wipe out every Kind OF
mortgage This properly am furniture, have
FREQ from debt that they call own
Hut their present quarters however beautiful and
we'll appointed tho institute they and
ecclesiastical director contemplate founding. 1t
not OF course represent tho numbers, woatn or In
poiitan CITY, nearly hall Of whose population Is nom
inaIly II not really Roman Catholic, can we'll
afford To erect here central location
building that shall represent them truly and shall
bo glory 10 the city, as well nm ecclesiastical
headquarters Tor the young men oi that aitn coming
hithor IRON any part OF the world TINS Is what tho
yccun desires 10 found here and Tor tnis object they
asK Inc operation o. The Cath0iics OF New York
Subscriptions have already been made 10 luna Tor
this purpose Ia nttics hundreds and thousand aoI
lars. But II a thousand would take interest IN
this work where now ono hundred do the enterprise
might BE- begun at ancc, while labor ana buiiding
teriais cheap The Catholic pastors OF the city
mucn TO encourage aud vitaIizc TINS orgh MIA
by bringing IT before tncir respective congrcya
tions ana urging the young men therein unite with
the Lyceum Association.
GROWTH or rBE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Catholic Church has wonderfully prog rcssed hero
withIn nifty years. Devoted priests ana laithul pro-
pie nave alike contributed 10 ts prosperity uniii u
stands to-day as the foremost denomination oi cy
but there ~ much woik 10 be done yet, and work
which Father Ducey Is engaged Is Tue most sacred
oi all. Tho 10y is aiways father TO inc As you
bend the twig 80 the tree grows. These are
old truisms 10 which sn0 ud pay especial attcn.
tion. Ihe hot blood oi youth demands enjoyment
ana II remains with people Oi more mature 10