The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-25
BOYS BR|GADE'S
ELEGANT HOME
Presented By Mrs. Henry
M. FlagIer.
IN MEMORY OF FATHER
CIV. Glenn Among Speakers..-Worthy
Tributes to Col. Walker Taylor,
The Founder and Mainstay OF
The Organization Uplifting
Young Men.
(special Correspondence.l J


Wilmington. n. c.. June PA fit
ting monument in memory of Captain
William Rand Kenan. whose memory
is hallowcd IN this section where he
spent a life of usefulness. was dedi-
Gated under the most favorable au-
spices. The event was brilliant and
the occasion was marked by eloquent
addresses by distinguished orators
The monument is in the shape of a
magnificent armory for the use of the
Boys Brigade. of Wilmington, who
was d sympathetic friend and wise
counsellor of the brigade during its
earliest years of usefulness.
The dedication ceremonies attracted
brilliant. .aSsemblage of the best peo-
PIE of Wilmington, who came to lend
their approval to the great work &C
Complished by the brigade, to pay
tribute to the memory of Capt Kenan
and to applaud with zest the words of
praise for Mrs. Flagler, to whose gen
erosity the Boys Brigade is indebted
for the handsomest armory in the
state
Mrs Flag'er had kept the matter q
sccret. This had been accomplished
through Colonel Walker Taylor. COL
tl1bl tOIUtiidDuilS tfIe icoNS pIiSsettt'
Snd whose work for wears has been
devoted to raising from lowest states
the boys who mako the rank and file
Of this military organization of young
men who fight for what is right and
iul the cause OF christianity. without
restriction as to ereeds. Col. TaNlor
received an ovation. and the boys of
the brigade paid due tribute to "the
one without whose assistance all of
Colonel Tayior's. efforts would have
been in vain Mrs. Walker Taylor.
The name of this benevolent and
sympathetic friend of the brigade met
with the heartiest applause from the
fine looking bunch of young manhood
in the uniform of the brigade.
Mrs Flagler's name was applauded
ana her gift TO Wilmington greatly
admired and appreciated.
Governor Glenn. Col. John F. Bru
ten. of Wilson. and Mayor Waddall
made the addresses of the evening.
the only other speaker on the pro-
gram being Hon. A. M. Scales. of
Greensboro. who was detained >
home by Duty" the subject of his
speech Col Taylor made the address
OF welcome, and c. G. Loughlin.
member of the brigade. told in a frank
and interesting manner of the history
of the brigade and what it has ac-
ccmplished. He is a fine example ~
what can be made out OF maynard
youth whose environments were not
conducive to the best future develop
ment He joined the Boys Brigade.
and now he. like others. has climbed
the ladder of success and obtained the
confidence and respect of the business.
social and religious life of the city.
History of the Brigade.
Nine years ago. the fourteenth Of
last February there occurred in VIII
mington a big snow storm. and upon
that night in small room at fmman-
uel Presbyterian church, a mission
in the southern part of the city. about
fifteen youngsters assembled to or
ganize the Boys Brigade. Col. Wal
ker Taylor. to whose credit the move
ment belongs was present in spite Of
the buster of the evening. The idea
of the brigade was enthusiastically re-
caivod and the coldness and bleakness
of the night was not sufficient TO cool
the ardor of those handful of young
sters and the prominent citizen who
talked and laid plans for the future
i'm that small room. Col. Taylor made |
an address to the boys and instilled |
into them the great possibilities of
life to a man. That night the brigade
was organized Col. Taylor was Se- |
lected as the commander and two non |
commiss ancd officers were elected. /
They were Thad. TYLER. Jr.. first ser |
Teant: and p. q. Hall. second sergeant |
Soon afterwards two commissioned |
others were elected and were Edwin |
p. Dudley. first lieutenant and Joseph !
J. Loughlin. second lieutenant.
The only requirement for member
ship is that Il boy be Il member of n
SUNDAY SCHOOL IF any denomination
and that he be a regular attendant.
The Youngsters could not only not
afford fine uniforms but were to small /
to wear them. They appeared in short
pants of ereyish color and carried
rroudlv little wooden guns. This was
the brigade that Col. Walker TavIor
net with night after night and drilled
with as much interest as he had drilled
the r1en of the State Guard He was
painsta king. and never for one minute
acknowled@ed that there could be
failure. He worked on against Oh
stacles with the brigade as an organi- /
ae individuals heIpir~ each to solve
the hard problems of life.
The year following the organization
the brigade went into camp at Caro-
lima Reach. and also In 1899 but in
1898 there was no enramDment on ac-
count of the Spanish American war.
and to this war the bri~ade furnished
two mer1 bers Edwin r Dudley and
Alonzo I RurriGs. who went in tha |
r,nts of the Wilmington Light In
fantry.
To the first encamprent the brigade