The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-17
They Want Church Attendance.


The white ministers OF this town made
an effort last Monday to induce the
merchants to- close their stores on Sat.
urday nights at o'clock, in order that
the merchants and their employees
may get a full nights sleep and be
rested on Sunday morning TO attend
church. \ meeting was held in the
store OF fIcLeod-Wilkins-king Co., but
the unanimous consent of the merch-
ants could not be obtained and there
fore the scheme failed. There were
several opposed to this early closing
scheme. the main objector taking the
position that he was Z beginner in buSi
ness, not yet having an established
trade, and that he could not afford TO
lose the chance Of making Z SALE his
not being willing to be governed by
the majority caused one of the minis
ters to intimate that he should go to
some other town, which of course. was
not calculated to bring this young mer-
chant any nearer consenting to the
proposition Then there were others
who objected without giving any eX-
preston at the meeting who claim that
the promises TO close are not faithfully
carried out on the part of some who
are most conspicuous in wanting others
to close. They take advantage of those
who do close their stores to DO business
Just the same. Then some think the
early closing of the stores would not
have the effect these good preachers
are seeking, because, if the stores
closed earlier the young men instead OF
going home would seek recreation IN
the pool room or other pleasures. and
not get any more sleep than If the
stores stayed open as now.
The night trade of this town is con-
fined to the one night. Saturday, aud
Fvhere are a class of people who of
necessity are late in getting to the
stores because they do not get their
money until after night, and if the
stores are closed early many OF these
would be Inconvenience. and 1t is this
class of trade the small merchant usu-
ally gets, while the large merchant has
his established line of customers, and
can better afford to do without the
small trade.
The failure of this closing scheme
is disappointing to those who desire 1t,
and some of them are saying hard
things about those who refuse. but
they should not do so, people have
rights which should be respected. and
if small merchant feels that 1t IS
against his interests to comply with
the wishes of others he should not be
blamed, but rather commended for his
manliness to come out square and tell
the truth, rather than promise to close
and then run the backdoor traffic, with
runners out to gather in the trade
while the others are standing by their
compact. 1t mans right to run his
business 10 his own notion, so long as
he keeps within the law Of the land
and decency, and no one has the right
to question him. if ne chooses TO sell
goods until midnight Saturday night,
it is his privilege. 1t is not q part OF
his business to provide means of recrea-
tion for merchants and clerks who go
to church on Sundays and fall to sleep
because sermons possibly have not the
interest for them that the tinkling of
silver ia cash draws has. II the preach
ers have any sleepy heads in their con-
gregation and want TO keep them
awake they might provide themselves
with nickles and dimes to rattle in d tin
can during their discourse, and if this
does not have the desired effect,appoint
someone to whisper in the ear Of the de-
vout ~ sleeper that one OF his compet-
itors is selling goods at cut-rates, and
is drawing lots of trade. If this is done
there will be an awakening in that
congregation.