New-York tribune., 1886-01-18
Blight OUTLOOK FOR A HALF-HoLID4Y
GREAT PROGRESS or TIE MOVEMENT-ALL CLASSES
INTERESTED IL IT.

GREAT PROGRESS or TIE MOVEMENr-ALL CLASSES
INTERESTED IN 1T.
The prOpOsition to make Saturday afternoon
legal halfhollday throughout the year has been
advocated by the representative cergymen OF every re-
uyious denomination this city and Brooklyn. No re-
form has ever received slch unanimous support from
the clergy this aad has ever been more pop
ulary received by the people generally The effects Of
the appeals the pGlpts and those OF the HafHol-
day Committee already apparent For weeks there
has been steady dimnutOn IN the volume of business
on Saturday afternoons In the larger stores The best
public sentiment favOrs the project and this accounts
for the steady practical progress that II is making
among all casies. The ladies' sOcieties in
the churches nave rendered such effective
aid to the that an effort is being made TO call
general meeting Of all these organizations time
next week or the week after Mr.. Johnston chairman
OF the Holiday Committee. said yesterday
ave tDnk that We have now got our case fairly before
the public Almost everybody NUT understand by ths
time just what committee proposes to do 1t is
purpose TO make tae as afternoon Of the week legal
half holiday Tor every man, woman ana ehlld In ths
country who works for living, and We shall not relax
efforts until this oj.ct has been accomplished or
course is big underIakng and 40 yon Know that Is
of the reasons why 1t IS going be successful
naa aS Thy at ws OS lat
comparatively sght agitation Oh the part Of
svegw eSw' Week reoso'O during the season Yet how
many dcclured last spring that such thing was
simply impossible ana out Of all reason 30 1t Will be
with what is proposed. IL may take some time TO
accomplish this reform. longer than We expect In fact
put permanent practical operation next spring. We
certainly every encouragement for thinking IN
the letters which are daily receiving from all sides.
Mr.. RowlAnds excellent example has stirred mp manu-
facturers and others who employ large numbers OF work
ngmen and tho movement has long since spread beyond
the clerks and statesmen Ia the stores agree with Nor
rs X Jesup, tho Institution of the Saturday half
holiday viii solve the problem OF opening the
aud libraries Sunday and DO 80 In the safest and most
This movement for Saturday Half Holiday" said
the Rev. Dr. Penecost in ST. Pauls Evangelical Church
last evening strictly the line OF the spirit OF he
philanthrOpie age in which we 1--we. America today
stands alone in having thei fcwest holidays. and these
humber only seven. NO man shOud De c0npeied Dy
any other corporation TO work TIL his labor
cry. Under conditions such as these there
be development OF mind or soul And yet there
OF to-day I'm this city whose whole exist
ence spent IN the mere struggle 10 keep BODY and soul
together Every one should throw In his influence 10
heartof every OF and hope the ladies'. espe-
eay will help the movement by seeing that all their
There meeting yesterday evening In tho ORD
church of paust Fathers, OF the Sodality OF the
Ahnuuciaon and the Ladies' Aid Society Of the parrish
Only women were present The object OF tho meeting
was TO arouse interest In the halfhOliday movement
Father John Hughcs who conducted the service, after
referring TO the circulars which were distributed In the
pews and explaining that the movement has tho sup
pot OF such men as Bishop Henry g. Potter and other
prominent clergynen OF the city. said:
The law or nature well as the law OF God, requires
that man shall rest day OF But what rest
tah the poor girls have on Sunday who Obliged TO
WORK IN shops until IL O'Clock Saturday night. They
spend the greater part OF the next day IN sleep and OBJ
TAM none OF the mental relaxation and moral benefit
wheh Sunday should give to ALL Let tho working week
sh carly On Saturday afternoon and Jet the poor work
s gIs nave Saturday evening for the pleasures which
,he{ 50 Greatly need. Tho who thus kept be-
a te coanJer Gnt the last hour of the often
,vongeat 10 neglect their religious duties Frequently
sey arc miss d from the confessional Saturday
np because TIE hours OF their would require them
- come supperess 10 tho church. Now yOu ladies' hold
use 0ee"ioh OF tins question largely in your