Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-06-27
The c. t. A. U. Convention at Canton

The G. 4. A. U. Convention Mt Canton.
From the reports as published by the
Scranton Republican we clip the following
account of the proceedings at the seventh
ANIMAL convention of the Catholic Total
Abstinence Union of the Scranton Dio-
cese, held at Canton, Bradford County,
on Thursday and Friday Of last week:
The convention that assembled i'm Citizens
Hall and responded to President Naughn's call
to order on Thursday morning was composed
of the temperate intelligence of the Scranton
of the union, made few preliminary remarks
and then read the following statement:
Gentlemen, delegates to the diocesan conven-
tion: am glad to meet you again in annual
convention assembled, and pray that wisdom
may guide your deliberations whilst constitu-
tofaily legislating for the best interests of the
cause your Rt. Rev. Bishop espoused and our
Holy Father blessed, under that constitution
you have grown in numbers and | hope in
grace. You will, therefore, here serve and res
pect its provisions, knowing that these, and
these only, not total abstinence as Il pagan
virtue, merited the encouragement the church
has given. Respect for the counsels of your
clergy and frequenting the sacrament as IL
means of growth in holiness has made and will
continue to make you society to be proud Of,
worthy of Christian commendation and unseen
blessing. Beware of man or motive that would
lower this moral standard, taught by exper-
fence; distrust the blatant zeaout or loud
tongued demagogue; he OF the "holier than
thou" class for among them you will find trail
tors to every cause. Among them you will
find Carey's and Pigotts untrustworlhy SER
wants and absconding cashiers. If our cause
has not suffered by such, credit it to charitable
silence of oblivion, but do not longer permit
them to drag you as an appendage to Tallie
Morgan kite or any other political night mare.
Preserve untarnished your reputation and in
woke with me the light of the Holy Ghost.
A committee on credentials was appointed
and reported eighty two delegates present. The
secretary reported the amount of money on
hand to be s572ll: President Vaughan read
Judges dismissal the Mud Run disaster, the
Father Mathew Chair, cadet societies. praise of
j. N Costello and in thanking all for courtesies
extended him. Report of the President was
accepted
Minutes of the Board of Government were
read and II motion to adjourn was made Mr..
Mccarthy of Freeland took exceptions to the
minutes of the Board of Government. Ad-
journed till 2 p. IN. amid confusion.
Convention was called to order at 2 p. m. and
after further discussion order was evoked and
everything worked harmoniously, nothing of
special Importance transpiring excepting the
adpointing of committees. Revs. N. j. McManus,
and Comerford of Canton are in attendance.
Their entrance to the hall was greeted with ap-
plause.
FRIDAYS SESSION.
The convention assembled at $50 a. IN. Vice
PRESIDENT Buckley gave an explanation from
the beginning to the elimination of the episode
that terminated in the expulsion of eX-Seere-
tary Judge.
Contractor Mulhern of Taylorville, Judges
brother-in-law, requested that Mr., Judge be
heard in his own defense. The privilege was
granted, and he read from the fnder the min
utes of the board ut which he had been expelled,
and also claimed that 1t was not because he
had failed to file bond, but because he had
assailed the methods of the Spiritual Director,
Rev. N. j. McManus, for holding picnic ut
which beer was sold. He also called in question
the method of his expulsion from the Board of
Government and from the Providence Society,
to all of which statements, questions and asser-
tons the Spiritual Director made answers that
oil a1 tl,..tl
actuated by malice, but that charity had been
his guide In all transactions that had required
his official interference.
The constitutional amendment cOmmitte Mr.
Mccarthy chairman reported the following
amendments to the constitution, which We're
unanimously adopted:
First-Changing the time of holding the con-
vention to the third Wednesday in May
Second-Signing license or going on a bond
il ior saloon , Keeper was no violation of the
pledge, but the committee on resolutions Were
urged to introduce II resolution deprecating the
custom and also that of treating
Third-The annual parade to be divided into
five geographical districts, the limits to he pre-
scribed by the union and all articles relative to
the above to be repealed. 1t was left to the
Spiritual Director to decide whether or not the
liquid known as "Jamacia Ginger" was an in
toxicant. All interpretations of the pledge is
to be the province of the Spiritual director of
local societies.
AT the afternoon session q resolution was
passed, in the absence of the clergymen and
the committee on resolutions restricting the
II. %.
bell OF Scranton, whose whole aim has been
harmony, moved to adjourn, which was car
ried. What the result of this action may be,
time alone will determine. The conservative
element were bent on sustaining the Board of
Government, while the radical members were
determined ON overturning the work and des-
troying their reputation
Mccarthy was the leader of the opposition
and lie kept the convention in Il state of fer
ment. Their programme was to elect Judge,
Secretary; Mulhern Judges brother-in-iaw)'
Treasurer, and LOTUS of Pine Brook Vice
President. Their design was frustrated by
their own cowardly action. In the absence Of
the priests and four lay delegates they intro
duced the resolution which has unconstitutional
and then Mccarthy used such Incorporate lam
guage that an adjournment was deemed advis-
able to adjourn.
1t is more than probable that this is the end
OF the Scranton Union, and as no good comes
from it, as the local societies can accomplish us
much good without, it will hardly be resurrect-
ed. The persons who caused the trouble are
sorry, while the conservative members are
pleased that the rupture was brought about by
an insult offered to the priests who had been
invited.
THE TROUBLE AND ITS CAUSE.
The body that has just adjourned sine die is
the seventh annual convention in the history of
the Scranton Union. They have invariably
been characterized by harmony and temper
ance in all things. That this one has not been
in accordance with all previous ones, is owing
to the intrigues of the ex-Secretary, James f.
Judge. Notwithstanding Mr.. Judges protests
to the contrary he has represented himself as n
martyr TO the cause of temperance, and has
sought by means of personal friendship existing
between himself and individual members of
societies to create a feeling of sympathy for
himself. That his representations have been
successful last Friday action proves. The re-
suit was anticipated by nearly all of the Scran-
ton delegates. His champion, Mccarthy of
Freeland, months ago in speaking of the Spiri-
tual Director Rev. N j. McManus in public
meeting of the society compared him to Il Car
and in his impassioned manner asked the mem
Dcls II they would be governed by any such.
Similar tactics were employed i'll the different
societies where they were possible and without
the knowlege of the board of government and
without giving them chance of making Il
statement that would have u counteractng
tendency. The result was that many delegates
came Instructed and determined to Vindcate (y)
powers of the Spiritual Directors The const-
tuition declares that Spiritual Director is ex-
offcio delegate to the Union conventions and
this could not be changed excepting by two
thirds vote OF all the societies and after notif-
cation of three months. The absurdty of the
opposition's position will therefore be readily
perceived and their meanness and abiect cow
ardioe proven when 1t is stated that the resolu-
ton was introduced in the absence of the Pitts
ton persons and where of course they could not
defend their position. When the committee on
Mr.. keating, OF Pittston, called for the reading
of the resolution which was complied with and
the committee was made aware of what had
transpired during its absence The convention
then proceeded to the division of the parade ac-
cordingly to amendment when suddenly Father
McManus advanced to the front of the stage
and in tones Of thunder declared the resolution
null.
Mccarthy was on his feet in an instant with