Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-04
SOLDIERS OF CHRIST.
a Patriotic Sermon to the Members
of the Boys Brigade.
THE CHRISTIANS FOURTH OF JULY
hev. Dr.. David Gregg breaches From q
Presbyterian Pulpit.
LAST SERVICE In THE OLD CHURCH.

Rev. s. W. McCorkle, at the First Con-
Neregasional Church of Allegheny, last
evening delivered patriotic sermon. The
charch was crowded, but especial interest
attached to the attendance of the First AL
iegheny company of the Boys Brigade.
These young men, 80 strong, marched into
she church and filed into reserved seats near
the front.
The Boys Brigade is new religious
military organization which is bound to at
tract great attention in the United States.
Not one person in thousand who yester-
day morning read in the church announce
ments that this brigade would attend Rev.
McCorkie's service knew what was meant.
The Boys Brigade was started in Glas-
gov, Scotland, few years ago, by man
bearing the name of Smith, who desired to
secure some tie to bind the young men to
the Sabbath school and church after they
reach the age of IA or Is. 1t is at this age
that most bows lose their interest in the
Sabbath school lessons and prefer to go fish,
ing rather than study the Berean leaf
Brigade of Youthful Soldiers.
Taking advantage of the love of every
u
was formed, to be composed of youths from
the age of IA to the age OF is, who should
bind themselves to attend the Sabbath
services and at the same time should be
made a member of a military company
which should enjoy the privileges of public
drill, in neat uniforms, before the eyes of
Rdmirlng friends.
This organization secured instant favor
among the Sabbath school workers of the
United Kingdom, and there are now in the
British Isles 400 companies with member
ship Of over 20, 900 well-drilled young men.
This organization was introduced into the
United States two years ago, taking its root
in San Francisco, where the national head
quarters now are. Several companies have
been formed in Boston and New York City.
The First Pit,sburg Company.
A few months ago the First Pittsburg Com
pany was organized at the Wylie Avenue o.
p. Church, of which Rev. W. H. Knox is the
pastor. 1t now has membership of 100
with Captain j. A. A Brown as drillmaster.
The boys wear a neat uniform of dark blue
and drill with remarkable accuracy.
The second company in this county, and,
In fact, in the State-for the scheme has not
yet aroused interest in Philadelphia-was
formed last Friday evening at the First Con-
called the First Allegheny Company. There
is a membership of so. Captain Brown at
tended the first meeting and gave the lads
their preliminary drill. Frank E. Burkhart,
OF the Eighteenth Regiment, was elected
captain and drillmaster The boys have not
yet been uniformed, but they soon will be at
the expeEse of the church. The brigade is
non-sectarian, and other companies will be
formed in the churches OF the two cities.
Duties of Christians as Citizens.
Rev. Mr.. McCorkle, on the eve of the
Fourth, addressed his congregation on the
duties of Christians as citizens. He took as
his text the words which David on his death
bed addressed to Solomon: "Be thou strong,
therefore, and show thy self a man." To be
a true man in the State, the preacher said, a
man must first of all look to the homely vir-
rs, honesty, faithfulness, purity, courage.
must appreciate and love the work of the
who offered in the upbuilding and
ensthen e of the Government. He must
Ike broad view OF the future of the
United States and of his responsibilities as q
citizen. 1t 1b in this country that there are
now on trial and will be settled, the stability
of republlcaa government, the true relation |
ship OF free education ana religion, the pos
sibilities of purity in municipal government. |
The true citizen must appreciate the /
dangers which threaten the church and the |
nation, and estimate to their full measure |
the value OF the saving and character-mold- |
ing institutions-the church and the COM
mon school. The minister gave some inter-
esting views concerning religion and the
common schools and the control of the
liquor traffic in its relation to politics.