The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-04
ST. BRIDGH7'S LYCHUI
Sketch Of a Catholic Gu
Now One Of the Most
Prominent In the
State.
PROJECTORS on TIE EHi RIFE
Jersey City Men Who Have Beer
Active NOTWITHSTANDING
the Churches.
PROJECTORS or TIE EN- RIFE

One of the most prominent Catholic
Lyceums in the State Nf New Jersey today
is st. Bridget's Lyeeum. which has been
in existence for nearly five years. Tht
idea of forming a lyceum in this parish
was first brought out in February. 1870
1t began with a membership of sixty-five,
but was ~reorganized on February 2. 1891
through the efforts of Thomas ]. Burns
and Director of Education Thomas J.
Degnan, After a mission of the Convent
Fathers at st. Bridget's Church, the
above mentioned gentlemen visited the
late Rev. Father Corr and had a long
talk upon the matter of reorganization
of the club, to which he consented. The
first meeting OF the Lyceum was held in
February, 1891, in the basement of the
church, with a membership roll of 123, and
at this meeting the following officers were
elected:-Rev. James Smith, now of Chat
ham, N. j.. President; John A. Tracy,
First Vice President; James F. Larl1in,
Second Vice President; Thomas j. Burns
Treasurer; Joseph NJ. Sharkey, Financial
Secretary, and Thomas j. Degnan, Cor
responding Secretary.
Two months had nearly elapsed when
the members began to raise funds for the
pun = "a AlS q 4OS oStOSS ill., 49,
from the church. Their first effort was
in the direction of a grand excursion up
the Hudson, the receipts of which were
more than the member ever expected.
1t Melted s., 264. Out of this amount $1,000
was paid for the lot upon which the pres
ent Lyeeum stands. After the excursion
the member settled down to hard work
and in a few months produced a play in
the school hall on Mercer street, entitled
1.-THE Colleen Bawn.'' 1t was given for
five consecutive nights and was very sue
c~essful, and after paying for the erection
of the stage and the painting of the
scenery and other incidental expenses,
81, 400 was realized.
The next thing on foot was the APP
pointment of a building committee, which
consisted of Mr.. P. j. Burns, chairman;
John Oxley, John J. Keilt, Thomas j.
Degnan. William Gallagher and Father
Corr, ex-oficio. 1t was not very long after
the above committee was appointed that
it began to receive bids for the erection
of a three-story brick building. After
following gentlemen secured the con-
tracts:-Mason work, 2. j.. Connolly; car
penter work, Patrick Byrns; heating,
Mulhearn, Pratti & Kirk, of New York;
a G4Lo 5&o NAA
Sprouts. The contracts for the interior
of the building went to the following
firms:-Pool and billiard tables, Wagner,
Sanford & Rink; furniture. John Mullins
& Sons, and the outfit for the gymnasium
was furnished by George S. Wood q Son
of New York.
in the month of August, 1892, and the SER
mon at this occasion was delivered by the
Rev. NJ. ]. Lavell. of st. Patrickls Cathe-
dral of New York. The building was
nHoaa6 On n 4 ~ / 1902 opa on ET5ITr1o rE
2, 1888. it was formally opened by a grand
reception held in the school hall. at which
an admission fee of S. a ticket was
charged. On this occasion among the
prominent clergy and gentlemen who sat
on the platform w~ere:-United States Sen
ator James Smith, the late Ex-Governor
Cleveland. Rev. Fathers Corr. Kelly and
Clancy of st. Bridget's Church.; Rev.
Thomas Donohue of ST. Thomas Aquinas
Church. Brooklyn; Monsignor Seton of
st. Joseph's, Rev. Father Stanford of st.
Mary's. Gillian of st. Lucy's. Mack of st.
Michae1's, Smith of Crawford, N. j.. and
Began of Newark, and a number of promi-
nent city officials. Letters OF regret We're
read from ex-Secretary of the Navy VIII
liam c. Whitney, Congressman Bourke
Cochran and the Right Rev. Bishop Wig
was served by Mazetti, and dance music
was furnished by a full orchestra.
The Lyceum building was built at a
cost of $40, 900 and there is still a debt of
building. The main entrance is of stone
with ornamental iron railing. On the first
floor is the parlor, 16x25s feet, and the
reading room. On the second floor are
pool and billiard tables and a smoking
room and the top floor is fitted out as a
finely finished gymnasium. The club now
has a membership of PAS, which is a first
class showing.
The present officers of the club are
Rev. William A. Keyes, President; T. F.
Maloney, First Vice President; Ambrose
Mohr. Second Vice. President; ]. J. Nc
Tiernan, Financial Secretary; Thomas f.
Murray, Treasurer; John McTiernan, Re-
eording Secretary, and John J.. Clancy,
Sergeant-at-Arms.
Executive Committee Rev. Father
Reyes, Thomas Kermode, Thomas f.
Murray, J.. ]. McTiernan and Michael J.
Nolan. The members are now rapidly
raising the debt from the club and they
expect to have it clear in about three
years time.