The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-09
CONVENTION HELD
AT PINE BROOK
ADDRESS DELIVERED By AT
ToRNEY JOHN T. MARTIN.
One of the Features of the Quarterly
Meeting Held Yesterday Afternoon
Under the Auspices of st. Johns
society-Committee Appointed to
Draft a Ritual to Be Observed by
the Societies in Conducting the
Business of Meetings and Initial
ing Candidates.

The quarterly convention of the sec
ond district of Scranton was held in
st. Johns hall on Capouse avenue yes
terday afternoon, beginning at $3.50
o'clock. II. \. MaIoney, president of
the district, presided over the deliber-
ations of the body.
The various societies of the district
We're represented by the attendance OF
seventy-two delegates, there being a
large number of ladies present. As
a result of a resolution adopted at the
last quarterly convention which In
structed the board of government TO
address letters to the Polish and Ger
man clergy requesting that they use
every effort to organize total abstin-
ence societies in their congregation,
one new society was at yesterdays
session admitted to membership. 1t
was the st. Kasrier society of the
Sacred Heart congregation on Pros
pect avenue, composed Of the leading
Polish people of the city.
Michael O'Malley. of the st. Johns.
and Frank Brary, of the st. Aloysius
! societies, were appointed a commit
tee on credentials. The feature of the
convention was an address by Attorney
John II. Martin, OF this city.
1t was a brilliant effort and was
vastly different from the usual
| speeches on total abstinence heard at
| conventions. The strain of Mr.. Mar
! tins address was inspired by a line
! from the late John Boyle O'Reilly's
poem. "What Is the Real Good?-Kind-
ness is the Word"
ARE NOT SINFUL.
The sale, manufacture and consump-
ton of liquor are not in themselves
sinful, Mr.. Martin said. From the
! beginning of the world until the last
day such conditions will exist. Peo-
| pie have every right to make, sell and
| drink liquor. but not to the detri-
ment Of the state or people. The
| speaker asserted that the major por-
tion of the vast army of drunkards
in the world became such through In
| heritance. Invariably every person
| suffering from an ailment is nursed
| tenderly and with kindness save the
unfortunate inebriate, who is made
an outcast of society, treated as the
most vile creature on earth and often
| thrown in a criminals cell.
The same solicitation and tenderness
| shown invalids suffering from various
| diseases should be accorded the un-
| fortunate drunkard to bring him again
| in the paths of the God-loVing and
| upright channel of living.
| Mr.. Martin dwelt on the immeasur-
| able power that woman has in the
| reformation Of the drink curse. To the
| mother is entrusted the moulding of
! the lives of her children, and If guided
| along the ways of temperance prop
| erly, they will he sober all through life.
| The pernicious habit of a crowd of
men treating one another in a saloon
was Vehementiy condemned by the
| speaker. Prohibition, in his estimation,
| is impracticablc. Mr.. Martin closed his
able address by "A perfect rendition of
| the Boast of Bacchus," from the pen
of Colonel John Joyce, of New York
city, who. during General Grants term
as president. was a member of the
| famous whiskey ring of New York
city.
Mr.. Martin was frequently interrupt
ed during his remarks by enthusiastic
| applause.
MATTER OF RITUAL.
The business of the meeting was be-
gun at the conclusion of the address
NJ. j. O'Toole made a motion, which
was passed, asking that a committee
| be appointed, consisting of one mem.
ber, from each society represented a
the convention, to draft ritual tC
govern the meetings Of the societies
initiation of candidates, etc. Through
| Mr. O'Toole, who is chairman of the
constitutional amendment committed
of the diocesan union, the ritual viii
be presented at the next convention OF
the Scranton union to be held at Halle
ton, for action.
A motion was passed authorizing the
board of government to become also &
board of organizers for the district
During the sessions musical number!
We're given by Misses Sheran, of th
West Side; Lizzie and Anna Durkin
of South Scranton, and Will Burke anC
James Reilly An invitation from ST
Irene's Ladies' society was received
and accepted, asking the members oi
the district to attend st. Johns fair
Tuesday night which is set apart a
st. Irene's night. A vote of thank
was given Attorney Martin, the talent
the press and st. Johns society.
A batch of business was transacted
of a minor nature and the convention
adjourned to meet three months henc,
under the auspices of the four Yves