Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-01
THE CARROLL INSTITUTE.
A Sketch of this Large and Prosperous
Association.

Association.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED DURING ITS SIX
TEEN YEARS OF ExIsTENcEAA FREE NIGHT
SCHOOL FOR POOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN-rTs
PRESENT HANDSOME HOME.
An association which has done a great deal
OF good in the community in a quiet way, and
yet of which comparatively little is known, ex-
cept among those who are familiar with its OBJ
jects and its workings, is the Carroll Institute.
The splendid reception which the institute
gave to Bishop Keane, the rector of the new
Catholic university last week brought it promi-
nently before the public and brief sketch Of
Its history will prove of interest at this time.
Its origin dates back to September Z, 1873.
when meeting was held in Carroll Hail Of
members of the Young Catholics Friends
society and others who we're interested in the
formation of literary society TO be composed
OF Catholic young men, for their mutual enter
talnmert and improvement. Among those who
participated in this preliminary meeting were
Messrs. j. Carroll Brent, John Bingham. Ed
mond Mallett. James Lackey, Thos. j. Myers,
Daniel Mcmahon, ID. l. Murphy, George Bogus,
and W. j. Quinn, and it was to organize the
carroll literary association" for the purposes
'of mutual improvement and social inter-
course the dissemination of Catholic literature
and the furtherance of Christian education"
week later a constitution was adopted aud
oihcers elected. Mr.. Daniel Mcmahon being
chosen president and Mr.. ID. i. Murphy secre-
tary. Stated weekly meetings were held, at
which essays were read and other literary exer-
cises, including debates upon selected subjects,
were INDUCED in for couple Of months, when
rev. Father Walter, who had taken deep
interest in the new association, rendered to it
the use of the tLree-story building on q street,
next to Carroll hall
THIS GENEROUS OFFER
afforded an opportunity to enlarge the useful
ness OF the society by opening up additional
ways in which to carry out the objects of its
formation, and on the 30th of October a new
constitution was adopted and the name of the
society was changed to that of The Carroll
Institute"
The institute at once moved into its new
quarters, which were fitted up with library
reading and chess rooms and later a school
room was added. A nucleus of library
formed by the donation of the library of the
81. vincent de Paul society, and gift of about
100 volumes by the Mast family.
FREE NIGHT SCHOOL,
for boys and young men. whose duties would
not permit them to study during the day time,
was organized, which has been one of the dis
tlnguishing features of the society ever since
hundreds of young men now successfully en-
gagged In professional and mercantile pursuits
owe the foundation of their education to the
Carroll institute night school. While it was
originally intended to teach only reading
writing and the rudments of mathematics. the
desire for knowledge on the part of the pupils
has compelled the enlargement Of this educa-
tlonal scheme, and French and Latin have been
for several years taught to those who desired
TO acquire knowledge of these languages
Tuition at this night school is absolutely free.
DISSEMINATING LITERATURE TO SOLDIERS
Another good work performed by the insti-
tute has been the dissemination of literature to
the Catholic soldiers and sailors wherever sta
toned. This commenced in 1877 and
papers and periodicals were mailed regularly to
every army post throughout the country and to
such naval stations as were within easy reach
AT that time there were no post libraries and
the soldiers had to depend for their reading
upon the kindness of their personal friends or
the philanthropy Of organizations similar to
the Carroll institute. Thousands of papers and
periodicals were yearly sent to these army
posts, and IN that way the name of the Carroll
institute became known from Maine to Califor-
ma and from the great lakes to the Gulf of
Mexico.
ITS NEW BUILDING.
The institute continued to prosper and in
1884 it was found that it needed more commo-
dious quarters than those which it occupied on
q street. Besides il felt itself then in a posi-
ton to seek home which should be its own.
committee was appointed, and it was finally
decided 10 purchase the building No. 602 L
street. This had been used as a public school,
and was somewhat out of repair, but it had a
good frontage, was eligibly located and was
considered desirable an investment One
of the prominent members said in speaking of
this purchase: I'VE bought the building when
we didn't have dollar, but We raised So, 900
by subscription in thirty days to make the first
payment" The ease and celeritv with which
amount raised showed 10
OF the friends of the institute in its stability
and III the wisdom of its management
Many repairs and improvements were made
upon the building to render it equal to the
needs OF the society, but now it is as well
equipped as the home of any similar association
The cost of the building to the institute was
$4,000. to which must be added some hundreds
for repairs. but the value of its property has SO
enhanced that it is easily worth S25. 600 now.
To aid the building fund a fair was held
under the auspices of the institute in 1885,
which was very successful, realizing something
near $4,000.
THE CARROLL INSTITUTE GAZETTE"
feature OF the history of the society has
been the Carroll Institute Gazette paper which
was originally prepared for reading at the
meetings of the institution, but which deyel-
oped into a publication that was exceedingly
interesting. The late Francis McNerhany was
for many years the editor of the Gdz.tte and
Will MIN was IL cor pS VI DrlSnt young men who
wrote well and made the reading columns of
the paper attractive. During the fair the Ga
zette was issued daily in eight-page form and
was highly-creditable publication.
THE LIBRARY OF THE INSTITUTE
now numbers some 5000 volumes, but it is one
of the most valuable collections of Catholic
books in the country excepting, of course those
in the theological schools and Episcopal libra
ries i'll the older bishoprcs. 1t is particularly
rich in catechetical and controversial works. re-
ligious biographies. histories of the church in
the United States, the writings of the fathers of
the church, and general ecclesiastical history
Besides this class of books it has n large array
of works covering every depart ment of history
science, travel. and also the best of the lighter
literature and modern fiction. During the in
cumbency of Mr.. NJ. w. Saxton as librarian a
neat catalogue of the library was published.
THE INSTITUTION Is CLOSELY IDENTIFIED
with the Catholic Young Mems National union
and annually sends delegates to the convention
of that body. When the union met i'll this city
the institute the host of the delegates and
entertained them very handsomely. 1t has
done great deal of charity in a quiet and I'M
ostentatious way. and its members seem to be.
thoroughly imbued withthe spirit of the motto,
which is the guiding principle of the associa-
ton. 1t has at times borne upon its list of
officers the archbishop of this diocese as hon.
orary president, and others who have filled the