The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-16
IT HAS GROWN
DURING YEAR
DIOCESAN UNION Is LARGER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
Reports Made at the Annual Con-
vention Which Opened Yesterday
Morning in st. Johns Hail, on
Capouse Avenue, Showed That
During the Year It Increased by
$500 Members--Delegatss Ad-
dressed by Bishop Hoban and a
Number of Priests.

An earnest and aggressive body Of
men and women gathered in st. Johns
hall. on Capoiisc avenue, yesterday at
the annual convention of the Catholic
Total Abstinence union of the diocese
of Scranton. 1t is the nineteenth an
nual convention OF this organization,
and the reports indicate that never be-
fore was the membership 50 large or
the societies which comprise the union
in a more satisfactory condition.
Societies which dropped from the roll
OF the union years ago for one reason
or another have returned to the fold.
and many new societies have been
formed and admitted to membership
During the last year n most vigorous
campaign against the use of intoXi
cants has been waged by the societies
comprising the union. under the direc-
tion of Rev. j. j. Curran. pastor of the
Holy Savior Catholic church of Wilkes
Barre. who is the president Of the
union. AT Yesterdays convention he
was highly eulogized by different
speakers for the splendid work he has
doEe. one of whom referred to him as
the "I'ather Mathew or the Fast
INSERT A
The diocesan union now has Il MEM
bership Of between eleven ana twelve
thousand, of whom over twenty-five
hundred We're initiated during the last
year. The new societies organized and
received into the union during that
period are:
acknowledgements Of Father Mathew. 81.
Rose Cadets. st. Aloysius society.
Wilkes. .Barrc-St Mary's Drill COMPANY
'rowanda-St. Agnes society and cadets
parsons-st. Do,nnoh'S Cadets. >t. A'oy>ius
society
Frcclard-St. Ann Cadets.
MinookaSt. Jo>rpll's Cadets.
Archbald-St. Thomas Cadets.
ScrantonSt. Aloysiu> Cadets
Fast End. Wilkes. .Banc--Angcls Ladies TEN.
pcrancc society. Help OF Christian Ladies TEN.
pcrance society.
ADDRESS BY BISHOP.
Yesterday afternoon the convention
was visited by Itt. Rev. NJ. j. Hoban,
bishop of the Scranton diocese. who
made short address. during which he
gave words of advice and suggestion to
the delegates and threw out sllgges-
tions for increasing the scope Of USE
tulneSS of the societies. One of the
idea he advanced was the opening OF
q portion of the halls of the various
societies as free reading rooms. where
everybody would be welcomed.
scores of young men, he said, would
turn to such a place. especially during
III" winter months. instead of the
saloons, which too frequently are SEEM
Ing the only places offering attractions
10 the man who has nowhere in par
ticular to spend idle hours
This would be philanthropy that
would he appreciated in every COM
munity which is blessed with Father
Mathew society. the bishop continued.
He closed by fervently asking a bless
ing on the work the societies are en-
gagged in. and hoped that the union If
scranton will continue to grow and
prosper.
Inc convention was visited during
the day by the following clergymen. all
hf whom delivered short addresses:
Rev. 7. f. coffey. Of CarbondaIe: Rev.
j. j. McCabe, of Auburn, Susquehannn
county: Rev. j. ]. Healey. of Pleasant
Mount: Rev. William GislOn of Rend-
nam; Rev. j. J. McManuS. of Green
Ridge: Rev. j. Y. Moylan and Rev. J.
j. O'Toole, of North Scranton: Rev, 7.
y. O'Reilly and Rev. ]. j. Griffin, of
the cathedral: Rev. Il. j. Mellcy, Of
South Scranton.
THE REAL WORK TODAY.
The business of the convention yes-
tcrday was largely Of a preliminary
nature. AT today's sessions the real
work of the convention will be done.
one year ago Rev. j. j. Curran offered
as n prize a. beautiful oil painting OF
Father Mathew to the society which
would show the greatest increase Of
membership during the year. This will
he awarded today to the society which
has earned it. This morning President
''urran will deliver his annual address.
in which he will review the work of
the year, and this afternoon officers will
be elected and delegates chosen to