The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-15
CHURCH SOLDIERS.
Officers of the Boys Brigade
Given Their Commissions.
An Interesting Service at the Westminster
Presbyterian Chursh-The Pledge Taken
By the Young Soldiers.

The interior Of the Westminster Presby-
terrain Church presented a strange appear
aace last night There were present several
officers wearing the garb Of United States
soldiers, ard there were about forty boys
and young men who also wore the blue.
The occasion was the installation Of the
officers and tie recognition Of the members
of the San Francisco Company, First Cali
fOrna Battalion Of the Boys Brigade.
The brigade is The Oldest organization OF
the kind in the United States. II was
formed three years ago, and at once became
popular 1t is a military organization made
up Of young church members. There are
twenty-fcur companies In this city and
fOrty-two in tie California. There are
thirty-three companies scattered through
out the stern States. Their headquarters
are in this city in the Nevada Block. The
company which attended the Westminster
Pres byterian Church last night had seven
teen members when it was formed on
August 10, 1889. 1t now has foTty-siX mem
bers who wear the uniform Of the United
States Army. II has four officers. The
average s.ge Of the boys Is II years.
THE BRIGADE MARCH.
An interesting feature Of last ights pro-
gramme was the singing for the first time
of The Boys Brigade March" 1t is writ
ten to the tune OF the March Of the Men Of
y /
was sung by Robert Lloyd and the men,
bers Of the company joined in the chorus.
The first stanz and the chorus are:
BOYS OF columbia young crusaders.
Warning with he SOUPS Invaders,
knights OF God ga INST Satan's raiders.
Firm as men we sIAudi
Sure and Steadfast our foundation,
Bread OF life each soldiers ration,
We're the sinews Of the nation,
Strength unto our landi
Cborm.-Tbe Cross Of Christ is flashing
From hand to hand. and mASsing
The flower OF Christian chiVary
Through b0yhO0d service passing
Trusting God and dong rightly,
Dutys path for US shines brightly
Prayer Will canopy us nightly
Through lies Holy War.
OBJECTS OF THE COMPANY.
The pastor Of the church stated the OBJ
iects Of the company and calling the COM
missi0ned officers before him said: do
you, A. ii. Fish, captain, and do you, L. X.
Tabor. Thomas Smith and j. II. D0ane,
leutenauts, in accepting these offices in the
First San Francisco Company, First Cali
fOrna Battalion, Of the Boys Brigade in
the United States, to which you have been
elected by the company, which election has
been approved by the battalion officers and
the session Of this church, acknowledge
your obligation, under Jesus Christ, our
great captain, to be loyal TO this church aud
to this company, ana 10 do all that lies in
your power, God helping you, TO promote
the supreme object of the Boys Brigade,
viz, tire advancement Of ChTiSts kingdom
among boys and the promotion of habits Of
reverence, discipline, self-respect and all
that tends toward true Christian manli-
nessP
: Is this your purpose"
1t is, the officers replied.
II is then my pleasure on behalf of this
church TO present you with your commits
sions as officers of this company for the
year 1892.
Flight the good fight OF faith, lay hold on
the life eternal, whereunt0 thou was called
and didst confess the good confession in
the sight of many witnesses. / charge thee
in the sight of God, who qulckeneth all
things, and OF Christ Jesus, who before
Pontius PLATE witnessed a good confession,
that thou keep the commandment without
spot, without reproach, until the appearing
Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May God help you in your work, and
when you give III your commissions at the
last great day may yru have the joy Of
knowing that you have led these boys along
the path of righteousness 10 a victorious
end"
OFFICERS INSTALLED.
Besides the captain and the lieutenants
the following officers were Installed: Ser
geants II Q. Vanderlip, Z. j. Clark. w.
Rodgers, g. Smith, j. Smith. Quarter
master f. L. Wood, Armorer w. Aickie.
CorDorals n. Freiermuth, G. Holland, Ii.
Webster, c. G. Swift, Carl YeaTiaD, +. A.
Earle, w. Brown, A. Chandler.
The pastor, after giving the officers their
commissions, made a stirring address on the
duties of the Christian soldier and pre-
sented an American flag to tho company
which had been given to ii by Charles
Geddes. An appropriate acknowledgment
was made by the captain Of the company.
The brigade will give an exhibition drill
at the Preside on WashingtOn's Birthday.