The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-20
~ TO the scranton Tribune.

.. 81 to the scranton IIlDunc'
'anticoke, May 19.-Today the fif-
nth annual convention of the total
. stinence societies of the Scranton
diocesan union opened in st. Francis
church hall here. The morning session
opened at $50 o'clock after mass was
celebrated In st. Francis church by
Rev. Francis McGuckin. All of the
delegates were not present and Presi-
dent O'Hara decided to engage in no
formal business until the afternoon.
He made a brief address, counselling
the delegates in the interest of a har-
monious convention and urging them to
dispatch the work at hand without
unnecessary delay. Rev. +. j. Melley,
of st. Johns church, Scranton, the
spiritual director of the union, then
opened the convention with prayer and
afterward made a brief address. He
referred to the great work at hand
and told the delegates to stand firm
by the guns. The delegates were anX-
ious to get down to business and Presi-
dent O'Hara appointed the following
committee on credentials: d. A. Mack
in, NJ. j. McGill and Z. II. Kilker Ad-
journment was taken at 11.15 O'Clock
and the time for the opening of the af-
ternoon session designated at 1 o'clock.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Although the time set for the open
ing of the afternoon session was l
o'clock the delegates were slow in ar
riving and it was 13O before President
O'Hara raped the convention to or
der. Rev. f. j. Meley offered prayer
and Rev. F. McGuckin, of st. Francis
church, formally welcomed the dele
TO 10 a
congratulatory strain to the delegates
advising them of their duty as repre-
sentatives of the total abstinence move
ment. He urged them to remain firm
as tetotalers and ever be faithful to
the total abstinence, pledge. He told
of the work done in the interest of no
license in Montrose by himself and 9TH
ers and how the Sabbath breaking in
cdent to the drinking of liquor there
was wiped out. He said there was but
two saloonkeepers in Nanticoke mem
bers of st. Francis church and caused
a ripple of merriment to pass over the
gathering by telling how one comes to
devotion regularly and observes the
law with regard to the selling of liquor
rapidly. He then mentioned the names
of the pioneers in the Father Mathew
movement in Nanticoke, relating many
of the amusing instances which oc-
Cured during the formation and
growth of the society. In conclusion
he urged the delegates to be aggres-
sve in prohibiting the sale of liquor on
Sunday.
EXPULSION OF ST. JOHNS.
The reading Of the report Of the COM
mittee on credentials by D. A. Mackin,
of NVilkas- 20 which ~
name of the st. Johns society, of the
South Side, precipitated the first de-
bate of the convention. Delegate NJ. j.
O'Toole, of Scranton, stated that he did
not believe the committee on creden-
tials had any option but to report the
credentials offered them when there
was no contest. Mr.. Mackin explained
that the objection of Rev. j. A.
O'Reilly, of Scranton, the spiritual d-
rector of the society, was filed with
them, as well as the adverse report of
the board Of government and that they
felt justified under the circumstances
10 bring in such report.
Mr.. McGrath, of the st. Johns soci-
ETY., asked why the society was denied
representation, but President O'HarH
said that the society was not entitled
TO representation and went on to ex-
plain that the board of government
made every reasonable effort to settle
matters. Mr.. Judge wanted it referred
TO q committee of five to settle it,
Delegate Kelly, of st. Johns Cadets
said that the society was not given a
fair show and that while some said
they were given a year to settle it, thai
1t was not true. He further stated thai
when the former president of the union
John Devire, was told by Father
O'Reilly to suspend the st. Johns
that he did not because he wanted
their four votes to elect him president
DELEGATES WITHDREW.
Delegate Lavelle, of the st. Patrick,
society, said that he believed the mem
bers would apologize if given a chanc,
but they had had no time to do it. Dele.
gate Mclean said the board of govern
ment should withdraw it's objection!
and see If the matter could not be fixet
up tomorrow. a call was made 70,
the question and the report of the com
mittee was adopted by almost a unan
tmous vote.
The st. Johns society representative!
and the representatives of the Cadet,
then withdrew from the hall.