The times., 1901-04-01
THE new HALL DEDICATED
CommOdious Structure at the Boys
Reform School Ready for Use.

Keys of the Building Turned Over
TO Colonel ShnIIenberEcr, the
supertutendeut-An Address Made
nv Commissiouer MacfHrIand
The new assembly hall at the Reform
School of the District OF Columbia Oh the
BIadensburg Road was formally opened
Yesterday afternoon. Commissioner Mac
farland, the board of trustees, Instructors
and pupils Of the school and large num-
her Of invited guests were present, and the
auditorium was filled to It's utmost ca
pacity The keys of the building were
presented TO Col. George \. Shallenberger.
the superintendent Of the school by Mr..
James r. Fitch the senior member Of the
board OF trustees.
The assembly hall Is a separate build
ing Of an attractive appearance. ana Is 10
Gated at the summit Of the slope OF the
school grounds from the Bladensburg
Road. II has q seating capacity OF aoout
500. At one side there is a pipe organ
OF splendid tone and volume.
At the exercises yesterday nearly All inc
members Of the board Of directors were
r,resent. Commissioner Macfarland mace
q brief address to the teachers ana ofneers
of the school. The Hon MeTTlh r "d1es
made an address to the boys.
The pupils of the school to the number
n, about Two hundred occupied seats at
.be front of the hall There arc about
,u,ice ss MANY colored as white boys. ana
they range I'm age from eight TO eighteen
wears Each was clad in the blue military
uniform Of the school Throughout the
exercises their attention was closely peh'
on the proceedings. They joined IN the
singing and their voices quite drowned
out ali sounds save that of the organ ana
coruet which provided accompaniment.
NJ Donald b Mcleod, the instructor III
music and organist Of the school, olehe"
-be programme with an organ preluue-
Gen Cecil Clay. President OF the podIu "l
trustees. then extended greeting to All VINO
o++.,sad the services and sketched in a
brief manner the progress OF the Schooi
and the place II was intended TO MI III the
,,,,blir service. The opening prayer WaS
delivered by Rev John G. Butler u. j.
At the conclusion Of the prayer all joileN
in the recital Of the Lord ; prayer
MIR lanes T. Fitch the senior heIhlti
Of the board of trustees ana 1he nan
man of the committee which hau Ciiai -
Of the construction OF assembly hali' Was
the next speaker His part in the cste-
monies consisted Of the deliVerance OF 'nt
KEYS of the hall TO Colonel Shaiienpefeet'
the superiutendent. In handing lne heHS
Of the building to Colonel ShaAehpefs'i
Mr.. Fitch said: Colonel ShailenocTger' II
= ,,,, nl,asant duty To deliver 10 you, as
superintendent Of this INSTITUTION 'hs
l,e,s +o this assembly hall The trustees
g xo,, well know. have long felt tie want
,f such a building. and when the 10
.rality Of Congress at length rendered It's
ERECTION possible. steps We're Immediately
taken resulting in this beautiful aud com
rnodious structure. IN its completeness Il
reflects credit upon its architects an"
builders It's beauty and attractlNeiess
cannot fail TO prove an inspiration ana an
incentive to higher living To the boys
,,,5er your charge and be an aid 10 You
IN your efforts for their reformation
In accepting the keys Colonel Shalleu-
berger said: Mr.. Chairman, ] accepl
this key at your HANDS from the b"afd
of trustees and with it all the varied
obligations its care ana sale keepii-s m
nose. / accept il, further, as a sTetlai
trust and thank you sincerely Tor tiiIs
latest evidence Of your confidence. .7
Looking out from my present stla9-
ing uDon this spacious hall WITH All ltH
beautiful appointments, ana kAo"IlE
full vel the many eaIS - ,,,I,T,. ,,r,,
pended 10 secure II, coHgfdtu.'''S E'1
1lrou its successful complexion
Colonel Shallenberger then delivered q
few words OF advice to the boys
scripture for the y was recIted' the
bows reading the responses
Commissioner Macfarlaud was tnen IN
froduced and opened his address To the
officers and teachers Of the school by re-
marking that he felt himself present 1T ~
q dual capacity that Of a member 81 the
board Of trustees and that OF SoIilfElis-
sioner- He said. in part:
Yours is n great responsibility IN tht
day Of nnal reckoning you will answer J1
God for the boys Of this institution, wn'
will turn out largely what you MAKE
them Nou have voluntarily assumed
most solemn trust in taking any meas
Ire OF care Of these boys IN the lorna
tive period Of their hves- Inc lnpreS
sfoRs YOU are making upon their mind!
and hearts will determine their chara cter
in large degree, for all eternity.
Those who have the training of Onl!
one boy I'm the best Of homes may wei
feel that il is Of the utmost Importance
How much more must you have Jhii
feeling, as you deal from day TO dal
with scores OF boys. standing in the plac
OF father and mother. II must help yOl
TO avoid falling into a dull routine or
material way Of looking at your work
You are making men. not machines, an,
YOU shall give account OF every one o
them For they are God's $ children an,
precious ia his sight There is profOun
inspiration as well as profound respou
sibility. IN this thought
1T is in this spirit. / confident
that you have been working here som
of you for years. in modest patience
You do not have to trumpet Il forth
Your graduates speak for you IN the eC
oueuce Of deeds. They show forth in tn
market place the sterling virtues WhiC
YOU have brought out in them and b
their actions reveal your examples q
well as your precepts.'
Mr.. MaCfarland was followed by IN