The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-04

citizens in 1871, when they made sue
cessful war upon the illegal liquor traf-
tic. Engaged in the moral struggles of
that year We're some of the city's best
known men and their bulwark was the
Young Mems Christian association.
Considering the interest which has
been awakened by The Tribune's series
of articles about that organization, a
brief retrospection Of the presidency of
Colonel II. NJ Boies invites attention
and is not tresome. His was a lively
regime-lively in pursuit of crime, in
colossal works, in expansion and tn
many other things.
Its Early Democracy.
In December, 1869, Alfred Hand was
succeeded by Colonel Boies. The home
Of the association, then on the third
floor of 324 Lackawanna avenue, con-
sisted of a reading room, parlor and
a lecture room. Young women We're at
that time admitted to membership.
Another evidence of the early Democra-
cy of the association is found in the
fact that during Colonel Boies' 3-year
term the colored people of the city were
wont to gather in the hall, and an or
ganization was perfected which result
ed in the establishing of the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion church of
Scranton.
The Home of the Friendless was or
ganized at this time and house rent
ed on Penn avenue by Colonel Boies
and Secretary Mossman, personally, as
refuge principally for homeless girls.
Two mission schools were maintained
at an average yearly cost of $4,000 for
the first two years, and with member
ship of 429 in 1870 and 5S9 in 1871.
Shocking Sights on Sunday.
1t was during 1871 that the associa-
tion was actively engaged in the men,
orable campaign against Illegal liquor
selling. 1t was melted "by shocking
murder on Wyoming avenue; the two
melancholy suicides of victims of rum
and gambling following close upon one
another: the frequent outrages upon
our streets; the offensive spectacle of
open saloons and drunken men brawl-
ing and sprawllng upon the sidewalks
on the Sabbath; the complete immunity
enjoyed by the rumseller in violation
>,
absence of any effort by the proper au-
thorities to enforce these laws" These
were the immediate reasons, according
to the presidents report, for the cam
paign which resulted in 113 indictments
and an agreement by the Liquor Deal
ers' league, made before the court, to
observe the laws thereafter on condi-
ton that the indictments be quashed.
The result was remarkable.
There We're order and quiet on the
streets during the Sabbath for many
years, although feeling and excitement
ran high in the community at the time.
Il. b. Sturges, then recording secretary,
and c. w. Hartley, the librarian. de-
voted much time to the prosecutions,
which Judge Handley afterward stated
had decreased the cost of criminal ac-
tions and increased the license fees
$50, 900 per year.
Some Active Officers.
Colonel Meredith l.. Jones was treas
urer at this time, and the following
were among the active directors at the
beginning and have long maintained
their connection with the association
y. n. Liiiei' NeN. w. /. iiliHBs, y. II.
Welles, Alfred Hand, l.. b. Powell, A.
w. Dickson, ]. c. Bachelor and
Daniel Hannah.
In 1883 Colonel Boies was again elect
ed president and served three years.
He was active in the erection, in 1887, of
the present building on Wyoming
avenue and has been treasurer
of the trustees of the prop
crty ever since, and member of its
board of directors for twenty-five
years. In 1891 the membership had
grown to S3S and the expenses We're
1857 per annum.