The Boys' Institute.

Manawatu Herald, 18 June 1892, Page 3

The Boys' Institute.

! ? I At tho formal opening of the Wellington Boys' Institute,- the Governor made a capital speech', ivoiti which we extract the following :— 1 under- } stand that this Institute has been I built for the excellent and laudable I purpose of affording instruction and I amusement to those boys whose homes perhaps are not bo comfortable as they might be* and who have no jfcirtieular amusement provided for them in the evenings. Here they will have the opportunity of combining instruction with amuse- | menfc and of passing their evenings in a useful arid instructive way. I can imagine nothing better for th'e'tti I than such an institution as this. j Ladjes and gentlemen an institution j of this sort, I iaucy, should possess a library, but I do not know whether that comes within the scope of Mr j Aitken's or the committte's intentions. (To Mr Aitken.) Is that so ? (Mr Aitken; Yes.) There is no doubt that it is of the utmost importance that boys should have the means of amusing themselves in the way of reading, and I aay that if one can only tell certain of the books boys read and the company they keep, and can be assured that these are satisfactory, one will at once know that the manner in which they will ba occupied will also be satisfactory. But, after all, to provide them with an institution Jilce this is only one step in the direction of bettering the condition and encouraging the improvement of the young generation. After all, boys must mix with the world and it is not enough to give them amusement and instruction. We mus*- render them capable of fighting theif way in the world and of being able to withstand the evil influences which they may meet therein. For that purpose we must inculcate in the minds of the boys self-respect and self-discipline A boy never becomes a useful man unless he not only respects himself but is able to discipline himself and to keep himself from mixing with tho evil he finds in the Colony. And therefore I think when this admirable institution has been started there is yet a further step we ought to take for the advantage and usefulness of the boys of this country. 1 do not know if you are aware of an admirable institution which found its being in my own country, Scotland, and which has gradually spread all over the world. I allude tc an institution called the Boys' Brigade. The Boys' Brigade was not ushered into the world with lofty aspirations. It began in a very small way. A most excellent man in Glasgow, an accountant there and a Volunteer officer, who took an interest in Sunday schools, and in the boys' schools there, observed from his contact with the boys in Glasgow that there was a want of discipline among them, and that they thought of nothing but amusement, and were prone to a great deal of mischief. And the thought struck him "If I could get them to take to something which would give them an idea of discipline and of keeping themselves under control, it would be doing the best thing for them." It was through the exertions of this gentleman — Mr Smith— that the idea of the Boys' Brigade was first started. I do not know whether you are aware of the manner in which it is worked. It is begun in a district by a company being started recruits being obtained, officers appointed, and a suitable room being procured. The proceedings open with prayer. The boys are afforded a little religious instruction, and they are taught drill. The whole outfit for each boy costs 3s, which provides a uniform cap, a wooden musket, and a badge to be worn on the boy : s arm. The drill serves to keep them from getting into mischief; their association together imbues each lad with the ambition of proving himself the best in the Brigade, and they soon become careful not to do anything which would lead to their being expelled. I therefore beg to put before you the idea of starting a Boys' Brigade in this town as a mean 3 of promoting the welfare of the boys in the direction in which you have so admirably started with this institution.— N.Z. Times.