The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-07
ST. LUCY'S CATHOLIC CLUB
First Annual Election Of the
Organization to Take
Place on Jan
uary s.
A POWERFUL AGENT OF GOOD
Wonderful Benefits to Young
Men In It's Year Of Elk
istence az Among the
Churches.
/ POWERFUL AGENT OF GOOD

iiC u ol tO III III tilC ~
Lucy's Catholic Club are interesting
themselves just at present in the coming
annual election of officers, which occurs
next Monday evening. 1t will be the first
annual election of that Organization. The
first year of It's existence was completed
in November last, but it was agreed when
the first officers were elected in Novem-
Der, 1897, that they should hold over until
the second Monday in January, 1895.
Interest is centred in this organization
in Catholic circles throughout the city, es-
pecially among those who are watching
the powerful church influence for the BET
terment of Catholic young men in the
various parishes. It is among the young
organizations of this class. st. Lucy's is
surrounded by older parishes. In the past
fourteen years of its existence it has ac-
eomplished wonders in building up one of
the finest church edifices and finest par
ochial school buildings and hall of any OF
the parishes hereabouts. These are the
solid foundations of parishes. Older
parishes are adorned with splendid Ly-
ceum and Catholic Club buildings where
the young men are brought under safe
church influences in the pursuit of their
various amusements in a manner that
makes them take pride in their church
and parish.
Young as is the parish, st. Lucy's has
been more or less unfortunate in this re-
spect. It's young men are loyal to the
parish, but some how or mother for the
first several years no young mems or
ganization seemed to flourish. The old
st. Lucy's Lyceum went under several
times. A number of the young members
of the parish sought their amusements in
the clubs and lyceums of other parishes.
Watching the success of these other
parish clubs and the defunet condition
of st. Lucy's Lyceum, a number of young
men of tho parish approached Father
Boylan early in November of 1897 and
asked him to assist them in the organic
alton of a youp5 mems club On a new
basis. Father IBoylan entered heartily
upon the task. 81. Luey's Catholic Club
was organized with the! presen6 officers,
every one of whom has proved most eff
ficient in the office to which he was elect-
ed:-
James Lambert, president; Timothy
Hearns. vice president; John MeAuliffe,
Jr., corresponding and recording secre-
tary: James Meehan, financial secretary;
the Rev. Father Boylan, treasurer and
spiritual adviser. Young McAuliffe, the
efficient secretary of the club, took up
arms for his country at the outbreak of
the war with Spain. Since then Thomas
Feeney has been acting secretary. DUR
ing the past year the club has been
ordinarily successful. 1t at least broke
down the prophecy of those who had
watched the career of the Lyceum
through the vicissitudes of several reor-
gGnizations, and energies, after a year
n a month, stronger and better than
when at first organized. 1t has kept it.
self free from debt, furnished the two
rooms it occupies in IA comfortable man
ner. Its janitor has been paid up in
full. The club occupies the old school
building, the first built in the parish.
Its dimensions are Sex40 feet, divided into
two rooms. One is carpeted and costly
fitted up as a reading room. Here all
the leading periodicals and many al
zines and literature of a wholesome
character are perused nightly by young
men of the parish. The other room has
been fitted up during the year with a
pool table and ~gyrnnastic appliances. All
these have been paid for, and there is
a su~plus in the treasury.
Every member is looking forward to
the time when the club will rear a hand
somely appointed club building on the
site of the clubs present home, and zone
is more anxious to see this brought about
than Father Boylan. When this is ac-
complished it is believed that a number
of loyal young men of the parish, who
are now prominent members of other
parish clubs, will lend a helping hand and
give the members the benefit of the ex-
perience acquired in the other parish
clubs.
The club will enter upon the new year
with renewed hope for its future success
and power.