The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-05
GEN. pERRIGO TO HIS BOYS
FIRST CONN. BRIGADE 4T SERVICE
 TN THE EPWOEYH CHURCH.

 Church Decorated With National Colors-
 Rev. MT. Nipple Makes a Brief Address
 Captain Edward Willis Also Speaks
 Companies Were Present from Several
 Churches-words of the Speakers.
 The First Connecticut. Boys Brigade, held Fourth of July patriotic meeting last evening in Epworth M. E. church. The decorations were martial, as befit- ed the occasion. The organ pipes were decked with a large American flag. A string of signal flags extended across the auditorium from gallery to gallery. On the platform were two stacks of guns, two banners bearing the pledge and principles of the organization. The reading desk was hidden behind fes- tooning of various flags. The hymns and music were also such as partook of the spirit of the meeting.
 The members of the brigade were seated by companies in the center of the church.
 The companies and their commanders were Company H, Epworth M. E. church, Captain Barton; Company D, West Haven, Captain Cosgrove: Com pany K. Mishkan Israel Temple. Cap- tain Greenbaum; First battery artillery, Lieutenant H. $. Williams.
 Rev. MT. ripple, pastor of the church, in introducing Brigadier General Peril go, said:
 Tt Is not always that on state oc- casions an assembly of people can have their governor present. It is rare pleasure when regiment of soldiers comes together to have their general present It is counted good fortune when a church has an especially inter- esting exercise to have a bishop pres ent Therefore we are favored in hav ing with us the brigadier general of the Boys Brigade of this state.''
 Brlgadier General Perrigo, after a few preliminary remarks compliment tary to the pastor, said:
 My talk will have to deal largely with figures and plans. So trust you will bear with me while I tell you some- thing of what has been accomplished in the past, and what the Boys Brigade hopes to do in the future, The First brigade comprises the companies of the entire state with the exception of the Third regiment About year ago il was organized with the First regiment of Waterbury and the Second of New Haven. At that time the country com panies had not been looked after, and had been so loosely organized as to rem der many of them far from permanent. An executive was necessary. Dull times made it hard to secure funds. but yet the work has gone on and from July Il of last year up to the present three new companies have been organ iZed, one in Stamford, one fin Bridge port and another in this city. There have been added in all 15S new mem bers.
 The organization has been solidified and perfected, and men of experience and strength have come in, among whom I may mention Captain George Wood, of the Light Guard The pros. poets for next year are much brighter than last year,
 The religious interest in the compa- nies has been more earnest even than the military. and the best soldiers are the best workers
 Mir Perrigo then alluded to the very successful field day of the brigade re- gently held in Derby. In spite of the expenses connected with the triI enough companies were present to more than surround the ball field at Derby It was a striking object lesson of fhe strength and interest of the brigade A silver cup was offered to the best drilled company. Several of the com. panies made so creditable a showing that it is an open question whether they might not rival some companies of the Connecticut National Guard Continuing General Perrigo said:
 As to the coming year, We hope dur. ing the winter to hold meetings, sucf as this one, in various churches. We shall also extend the number of com panies There are three companies ir this vicinity which would have beer formed had the season been longer They will be brought into the organi- zation in the fall. We are planning also for a reading room down towf where officers and men may drop ir and spend leisure hours, and where evening meetings may be held once ol twice week. We have a printing of flee where orders are printed, and oul little monthly paper. The work is done by members"
 One strong feature of the meeting was
 the spirited singing of the church guar. tet. After Sing to the Flag had beer | rendered, Captain Edward Willis wa: introduced as "a lover of young mel who eompels success in whatever ht ! undertakes with them' He spoke o1 the Model Brigade" and said in part What I have to say I may divide 1 under five heads or qualifications. The | first that I ask you to think about 1: 1 manliness It is not easy to define tha
 quality, but as somebody says it i: grace. grit and gumption.' Anywa, it is what is needed in the Boys bri | gade. All boys like to see a mani,
 man, one who can look you square il 1 the eye because he has nothing to bt 1 ashamed of. My idea of manliness i: | well illustrated in a military sense by 1 the way the West Point cadets carried | themselves in the Grant monument dedication parade. They had beer warned that at a certain street corner | their picture was to be taken. and every
 man was on his mettle. Every hand
 and every gun was in exactly the righ | angle ' My, IN;l1i, II,,da.l 4l,o xroI,,.