The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-11-03
UNITED BOYS BRIGADE
OF AMERICA
Company \, Connected With Bingham
COngrega ionaI Church, First In
Maine.

Maine.
There is company of Che United
Boys Brigade of America associated
with the Congregational .aafaa al
Bingham, Me-, of which T Il
HIATT is pastor It is the OILY one in
Maine. As IA church organization. and
as means of keeping the boys inter-
ested in the church and Sunday school
it has proven success.
IT'S OBJECT
This being religious organization
in military form. its objects are 10
elevate the boys and to bring to the
front all the good there is in them
TO promote the habits Of obedience.
reverence. discipline and self-respert.
to incUicate the spirit of Christian
manliness. together with love for
country. and to begin the kingdom OF
Christ in the hea!ts of the boys.
These things become possible of ac
complishment when the boy is taught
20 feel that the church has something
to offer which appeals to his boyr
hood as we'll as to his manhood. In
other words. when he sees that the
church believes in the possibilities of
the boy as thoroughly as in the pos
sibilitics OF the man, it helps to
strengthen his desire to be a man
and leads him on. Many people make
the mistake OF cundemnng the boy
without giving him fair chance. We
too often forget that there is some
thing good in every boy, that often
time the greatest need is the chance
for development, and that this ele-
ment Of good under the influence OF
wisdom and tender care becomes the
ground work of the noblest possible
manhood. So the Boys Brigade
comes in here, not only to SOW good
seed in the boys heart but to care for
the seed already sown, and, where
necessary to Gull ont the tares which
perchance may be growing with the
wheat.
METHODS.
The method adopted to accomplish
the desired result is military fea
ture. 1t is wonderful how anything
Of a military nature appeals to the
boys. They are organized into reg
ular companies and assigned to a
regiment and are drilled according to
the latest L. S. regulations. 1t is not
sufficient to tell a boy what he must
do. but make a soldier of him and You
can command him at will. 1t places
him upon his honor. and he feels the
importance of his position. 1t has
hn in thiC
which has the honor of being Co. A.
First Maine regiment to hold two
drills each week, one of which is a
Bible drill, for the consideration Of
certain portions of the, Bible and to
become familiar with Soldiers
Catachism' which largely consists of
appropriate scripture passages. The
second meeting is exclusively for
business purposes and manual drill.
The uniform has its place in holding
the interest of the boys, and they
are allowed to attend church in full
uniform and are conducted to seats
reserved for them. On May 30 our
company proved a valuable escort to
the G.. A r. Post throughout the mem
orial exercises. ard on July 4, they
we're an attractive feature in the
street parade
THE SOCIAL SIDE.
Every boy has social nature and
likes the company of other boys and
If good people do not furnish for him
meeting place he will seek the
places furnished by the bad, II is a
fact that cannot be denied that there
are countless attractions of an evil
nature that are constantly leading
boys astray, and it becomes the duty
of Christian people to use every
means possible and to do all in their
power in the work of rescue. A boy
from II to 16 years of age is in the
most important period of his life; he
is, as it were, at the forks of the road
where he needs sympathy and advice.
A good many people think he does not
need either. Do not be mistaken The
boy is more often conscious of his
need than even those of us who are
older and many times would turn
listening ear to the voice of love and
council when older ears would turn
away Indifferent and unconcerned
The boy, as a rule is ready to lift
what he can Then give him the
chance to lift but don't place upon
him a mans burden.
Rev. Mr.. HIATT will be glad to re-
spond to the request of any church
or pastor to talk on the work OF the
Boys Brigade as related to the church
and Sabbath school.