Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-27
F. N. B. A. BESTOW
HONORS ON FOUR
NEW FIRE CHIEFS
blue Shirts" Bedeck Promoted
Comrades With Helmets and
White Rubber Goats.
A PLEASANT GATHERING
AT FlREMEN'S HALL
Departments Rank and File
carrysout a Custom as Old
as the Organization.

Following a custom as old as the
organization ITSELF the Firemen's
Mutual Benevolent Association,
Branch 4. met at its headquarters in
Firemen's Hall, 80 Centre street, last
night to honor former members who
had recently assembled the ladder of
advancement in the service of the
Newark fire department. The blue
Shirts" as the members of the f. M.
B. A. are termed, consist of the rank
and file of the department. Their
mustered strength is about 500, and
the objects of this association are
fraternal, benevolent and protective.
When a BLUE Shirt" goes up
higher" that Is, is raised from the
ranks to a lieutenancy, and so on to
captaincy or chieftaincy, he ceases
to remain an active, voting member
of the F. NJ b. A, but retains all
other affiliations and insurance bene-
fit rights.
The blue Shirts" invariably get
together when fellow members are
promoted and vote an appropriation
sufficient to purchase for them an
outfit in keeping with the bill of
dress" for the new positions. The
outfit generally includes helmet, rub
Der coat and insignia, and some
times, by way of good measure, the
Blue Shirts" throw in pair of rub
Der top boots.
These presentations are not onlF
taken as tributes, but render it I'M
necessary for the officers to go to the
personal expense of buying the
articles. which are rather expensive.
Every Company Represented.
{
representatives of every company in
the city present. as well as number
of invited guests. President Joseph
Brown. of the F. NJ. B. A., sounded
the gavel taps for attention and
stated the purposes for which the
meeting had been called. Secretary
Francisco ratified off the roll-call, and
then the president commanded Bat
talon Chiefs Thomas S. Reilly,
Charles C. Storcn, James Pagan, jr.
and Cornelius Smith, who were adj
vaneed from captaineies to the rank
of battalion chiefs on July l last, to
step forward. They obeyed as cheer
fully as Brown, the blue Shirt
would have obeyed orders issued by
either of them at a fire.
In neat array on table were par
cells, each containing a white leather
the battalion chiefs mark of dis
tinction. with other insignia of the
office.
Fire Commissioner Thomas r.
Burke was requested to make the
presentations and. as President
Brown announced it, act as toast
during the proceedings.
The commissioner reminded tie
firemen that he had oft been with
them before on like occasions aud
would not. under any circumstances,
consider himself a stranger within
your gates" He added that it was
always a pleasure to him to be pres
ent and participate in these events,
events where true comradeship was
in such a marked degree
where the absence of jealousy. envy
and selfishness was so conspicuous
and where the spirit of good-fellow-
ship was always in evidence.
Outside of the honor and distinction
shown by the blue Shirts sor the
new chiefs, which represented more
than the intrinsic value of the gifts
themselves, the commissioner IN
remarked, that with the
high cost of living and war prices
confronting the chiefs, they would
no doubt appreciate the presents all
the more, as some of them had large
families to .elothe and feed, particu-
larly Chief Reilly with his ten in
row."
Had Been There Themselves.
Each chief as called upon for re-
marks expressed his appreciation
of the act of the Blue Shirts"
voiced his gratitude and told of the
times when he, too, had figured as
the giver and not the receiver. From
past experience each knew of the
pleasure it gave the BLUE Shirts" to
honor those of their comrades WIN
had attained higher ranks.
Commissioner Burke, in turn, after
explaining that he was a blue
Shirt tonight and always" called
upon Deputy Chief NJ. P. A. Nc
Dermitt, who is acting chief in the
absence of Chief Engineer Paul J.
Moore, Deputy Chief John J. Towey.
Alderman Charles Littlefeld. John
Byron, former president of the F. NJ.
B. A., and John Joyce, 10 address the
meeting. Each responded and during
the remainder of the session there
was more fire department talk lee
lures on discipline and the value Of
good feeling and cooperation. to the
efficiency of the public service, than
usually figure, even at conventions of
ufeF0en.
Chief Moore who was absent from
the city on his vacation, sent con-
gratulations and compliments TO the
Blue Shirts" and the new chiefs, and
stated that while he was not present
with them in the flesh, he was there
in the spirit.
Thomas Mckay. by request. sang
Follow Your Leader, Boys" a song
decidedly appropriate to the occa-
sion.
Rev NJ. P. Corcoran. chaplain of
the fire department, was the last
speaker he himself smilingly declar-
ing that ii was fitting that he should
close the meeting. He explained the
unavoidable absence of his fellow
chaplain, Rev. J. c. Howard, and
declared that the men of the fire de-
partment were held in high esteem,
not only by the chaplains. the COM
missioners and the chiefs, but by the
community at large.
And permit me TO say" added
the chaplain, that you are deserv-
ing of this public esteem and I am
confident that you will continue to
be deserving of it,"
The chaplain stirred the around
good feeling so prevalent by witty
and pleasant remarks at the expense
of the speakers who had preceded
him.