The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-18

credentials was appointed: Hugh
Boyle. Hazleton; ID. j. Burke Wilkes 4,
Barre, and j. Il. Lavelle, Scranton.
Secretary George Mclaughlin, of
Freeland, read a letter from the Right
Rev. NJ. j. Hoban, bishop of the Scran-
ton diocese, in which he expressed his
regret at not being able to attend the
convention.
ANNUAL ADDRESS.
Father McCabe, the president of the
union, then made his annual address.
in which he spoke of the work that
had been accomplished during the year.
He urged the delegates to give their
best efforts to the work of the conven-
tion and go back to their societies with
new enthusiasm and new zeal in the
great cause they are engaged in.
First Vice-president J. c. Gallagher
then read his report. It was a lengthy
document, well prepared, and was lis
tened to with rapt attention. Mr.. Gal
lagher in his address gave what he
considered good common sense ideas
in the hope of furthering the advance
ment of the cause.
The bylaws and constitution of the
union now in vogue have outlived their
usefulness, and he suggested that a
new code both for the union and local
societies be passed. Mr.. Gallagher
advocated a ritual and simple form
Of initiation ceremony The spiritual
director of the union should be given
more scope, he said. No recognition
was given him, and at the least he
should be q member of the board of
government.
Another feature urged was the
establishment of an insurance de-
partment, each society to be
branch, yet to be optional with the
members to be affiliated with it. The
president said that provision
should he made that in the event that
a society was compelled to disband
for want of the required number OF
members, the remaining members
could be members -at-large of the
union: and upon payment of their for
mer dues and per capita tax. they
would be entitled to their former priv
ileges.
LITERARY BUREAU.
A literary bureau for each district
was asked by Mr.. Gallagher. In Mr..
Gallagher's report he paid much at
tention to the ladies' and cadet soci-
eties, giving the increase and decline
in membership.
Mr.. Gallagher also read very able
papers prepared by c. j. Johnson, Of
Freeland; Rev. M. f. Lynott, of Jer-
myn; Rev +. p. McNally, of George
town; Miss Katherine Maher of Scran-
ton, and Miss M. L. Barrett, of Car
bondale. They touched on various
phases of the temperance question.
The following committees were ap-
pointed. Constitutional amendments,
c. II. O'Boyle. Scranton; James
Miskell, Wilkes Barre; Hon. Thomas
Mooney, Freeland. Auditing, c. ].
Johnson, Freeland; Peter Mccormack,
Wilkes Barre; M. NJ. Mullahy, Kings
ton. Resolutions, NJ. j. Walsh, Wilkes
Barre; NJ. S. Lavelle, Scranton: f. ].
Brislln, Harleigh; p. j. Mulhern,
North Scranton; Thomas Martin, Ash
ley; Miss Catherine O'Hara, of Scran-
ton; Mrs. Daniel Gallagher, of Kings
tom Miss Sadie Fox, North Scranton.
On motion of Mr. Mackin, of Wilkes
Barre, it was decided to appoint a
committee of five on ways and means
y
make such provisions for missionary
work as the financial condition of the
union will permit.
The formal address of welcome to the
delegates was made by Rev. Father
Phillips, is the absence of Mayor Mey-
er. The response was by Rev. j. ].
McCabe.
The annual report OF Secretary George
Mclaughlin showed that there are now
seventy societies in the union. an in
crease of three since the last conVen-
ton. There is now in the treasury of
the union S739,1i. The report of the
treasurer, William Gilroy, Of Archibald,
showed that there is now s275.52 more
in the treasury than there was one
year ago,
EVENING SESSION.
When the convention met last even
ing II went into a committee Of the
whole behind closed doors to consider
the advisability of adopting secret
work for the order. A ritual prepared
largely by NJ. j. O'Toole, of this city,
was presented. Dennis Mackin, OF
Wilkes Barre, presided over the delib-
erations of the committee of the whole,
which were very spirited.
The committee was instructed to re-
port to the convention today against
the adoption of secret work and a rit-
ual and that it is far preferable to
follow the "open door, policy that has
prevailed in total abstinence circles for
years. This disposes of an agitation
| for a ritual that has been in progress
| for many years 1t has come up al
almost every convention, but never re-
ceived as full a hearing as 1t did last
! night, The delegates from Scranton to
| the convention are:
Father Mathews-M. S. Lavelle and
| Charles Canavan: Father Mathew
Cadets. Martin l.. Sheridan and Thos.
| j. Fleming.
st, Leos-Daniel Regan and Thomas
| Tierney.
st. PauPs-Michael Sullivan and
| John Murphy.