The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-05
SECRETARY DONY'S REPORT.
Sabbath Observance Operations for tn

S"pcath observance operations Tor the
fcar-Obstacics to the Movement.
Following is the report Of Rev. f. A.
Dony. general secretary Of Northeast
ern PENNSYLVANIA Sabbath union. as
made to the annual meeting In Wilkes
Barre last Friday:
'The first year i'm the history of our
society. now ending. has been one of
slow. but steady, progress. We began
disoreanized. without plan and with
out adequate financial support. At the
first meeting of the board of managers.
called according to the constitution. 1t
was discovered that one-half of the
persons elected by the Sunday conven-
ton. held in this city Dec 1S 1894, were
unable to accept the work assigned
them. The remaining members hero
ically met the situation and at once
supplied every vacancy. Our first work
was to secure plan of work, which re-
qrired great care and much thought
on the part of exceedin~'-. busy men.
This was adopted with perfect unani-
nifty on April 30, 1895. at the second
regular meeting of che board Of man:
ayers. The plan when adopted in
volved the issuing of an official circular
to the pastors and churches, which was
prepared and signed by the officers as
required early in June. 1t was inn
mediately sent to the pastors Of Wilkes
Barre and Scranton. with urgent re-
quest for immediate action. But few
responded until after the summer va
cation, and our board of managers
could only patiently wait for the re-
sponse from the churches. On Oct. 90
at its regular meeting, after much pre-
pairing of the way, the board of man
ayers ventured to call a meeting of
pastors and laymen in Wilkes Barre to
promote early action. This meeting
IL L..
ginning of the present work in this
city. which promises to be very sue
cessful.
"The fame of doing something in a
line of work. for which the need Is gen.
orally acknowledged, is spreading
throughout the Wyoming and Lacka-
wanna valleys, and the general secre-
tary is in possession of information
which opens the way to a general
the towns in the valleys and consid-
cradle number In other parts of the
eighteen counties embraced In the So
ciety's field of operations. 1t is now
proposed to inaugurate simultaneous
movement for the better observance of
Sunday according to the society's plan.
which shall extend from Forest City to
Nanticoke. To this we invite the care
ful consideration of the friends of our
work and the public generally.
Some embarrassments confront us.
They are these:
First, Inability to draw line Of
demarkation between violations of the
laws supposed to grow out of exciting
conditions peculiar to the present
period, and the consequent unsettled
public sentiment.
Second. The recognized antagonism
of municipal authorities, too often the
creatures of depraved conditions
against which we contend and the
equivocal attitude of the secular news
papers with some honorable eXcep-
tions.
Inadequate Resources.
Third 1t Is fact which cannot be
questioned that worldly employment
not justified of necessity or mercy is
an assault upon the Christian Sabbath,
and no temporal conditions can be sue
cessfully produced to change the fact.
Our society has said: "The keynote of
our work Is six days for labor and one
day for rest" and to that I believe
there is a purpose to be faithful and
true.
I'VE are not blind to these conditions
and facts. and are doing the best we
can among them. Gradually we believe
the public, the politicians and the
newspapers are being enlightened re-
garding the scope and spirit of the
movement which our society Is con-
Quoting for the better observance of
the Sabbath: that this is not to make
people religious or to strengthen relig-
ious societies. but rather to protect
tnd defend the peoples day of rest
and worship. Our work is to save the
day itself. leaving it to private opinion
largely how 1t shall be observed. And
in this we stand against antagonisms
which are not imagined
1.-The financial support of this move
ment. under all circumstances. is gen.
erOus and increasing, but 1t should he
borne in mind that its progress can
only be Droportioned to it's strength.
Increase this and increase of that will
surely follow.
personally 7 have sought to be dill
gent. conservative and yet aggressive.
I believe in the necessity of our work
and in the feasibility of our plan, and
declare a willingness to
go on. assured that information will
engender interest and cooperation.
and that no cause can lie nearer the
hearts Of Christians than the protec-
tion of the weekly day of rest.
II cannot close this report without
grateful Acknowledgement of the uni
form kindness and appreciation shown
tn me personally by the president.
vice president, treasurer and by every
member of the board of managers
"F. A. Dony, General Secretary"
FOR BRIGADE INSPECTION