The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-01
THE BOYS BRIGADE.
Mayor Wanser Awards Medals fol
Good Drilling at DR..
Herr's Church.

The first anniversary of the organiza
ton of the Boys Brigade of the First
Presbyterian Church. was celebrated last
evening by an exhibition drill. The
lecture room was thronged with the
friends of the Brigade when the exercises
commenced. On the platform were Mayor
Peter F. Wanser, the Rev. Charles Herr.
and Messrs. Flavel MCGEE and Frank o.
Cole.
The exercises opened with a short drill
by the Brigade Fife and Drum Corps
under the leadership of Drum Major
Hough. Considering the short time the
corps has been organized, the young men
drilled and played exceedingly well. As
soon as the Drum Corps had been dis
missed, the Brigade entered under the
man. Captain Wightman put the a d
through a series of manceuvres which
were we'll executed.
Mr.. Flavel MCGEE offered prayer. Mr..
Herr delivered a short address, in which,
on behalf of the Brigade, he welcomed
their friends aud thanked them for at
tending the drill. Mr.. Herr gave a short
history Of the Brigade. He said that the
association dated a great deal further
back thar February. 1892, indeed there
were on the records the minutes
of a meeting held in Novem-
Der, 1890. The organization existed
fully a year before this, but only in the
form of q boys prayer meeting. 1t grad
TALLY developed, and the young men
came to feel the need Of a more useful
scheme, and when they heard of the
Boys Brigade, which was in existence in
Great Britain, they concluded this was
what thew needed. So, in February,
1892, the Boys Brigade OF the First Pres
byterian Church was organized.
RIZ DRILL.
The drill which was held in the early
part of the evening was for the purpose
of awarding two medals-one to the best
drilled non-commissioned officer and one
to the best drilled private. The Judge
was Mayor Wanser, but owing to the
number of men in line, the Mayor was
unable to make a decision SO the company
was divided into two squads composed OF
non-commissioned officers and privates.
Captain Whightman drilled the nom
commissioned officers, thirteen in num-
Der, first. The drill was solely on the
manual of arms. After the officers drill.
the Captain took the privates in hand:
At the conclusion of The privates' drill
Major Wauser addressed the company.
"Oficers aud men of the Boys Brigade"
said he, 1.-The exhibition in the manual or
arms you have just given shows skill that
would 90 any company great credit, but
one thing has been rather lost sight of.
and that is that part OF the good form OF
a good soldier is to stand erect,
to keep the head aud eyes to the
front" The Mayor regretted that he
was not personally acquainted with
all the members as there were many
whom he would like to mention by name
az being among the best. fhe Mayor an
nounced that the medals had been
awarded to Sergeant Willard Reid and
Private Edward Mclean. These young
- ~ II - x,oxv Atrontinf, fn
details than did the others, as, for in
stance, the alignment and the setting uD.
Mayor Wanser, in concluding, said that
he bad no doubt but that If the organize
tion continued to improve as 1t had in the
past, the result would be a noble auxii-
iary to the Militia, anil an auxiliary
which could be depended upon In time OF
need.
MI. Herr presented a medal to Quar-
termaster-Sergeant John Dykes as a
mark Of the appreciation in which his
services were held. A medal was also
presented to Captain Thomas Wright
man, the instructor of the company, to
whom the present efficient state of the
company can be accredited. Captain
year uufiagging enthusiasm, and has al
ways been ready to make any sacrih ce for
the good OF the brigade.
A PRESENTATION.
In behalf of the friends OF the Com
pany who have hitherto had no op-
portunfty of showing their regard to it.
Mr. Herr presented a beautiful silk
American flag AMI staff. Mr.. Herr
said:-"It would a impossible to have
made a lovelier gift. For what this flag
signifies is the backbone of the Company.
The lesson 1t teaches u is. subsection to
the law, and the one great lesson the
Company was organized to learn was sub
lection to law" Mr.. Herr concluded by
reading a number of passages from the
American poets which were written in re-
gard to the flag.
The Quartette of the Brigade Their sang
a selection, Rally Around the Flag"
Before inviting those present down stairs,
Mr.. Herr called attention to the meeting
of the Law and Order Society at Trenton
today and and invited all those interested
In the repeal of the race track bills TO ac-
company the church members. Refresh
ments were served down stairs.
During the concluding part of the e
ercises some confusion was caused by one
of the young soldiers fainting. He was
t AIKEN out into the air n Immediately
revived.