The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-27
SATURDAY NIGHT CLOSING.
Report of the Committee of the Min
isterial Association.


terial Association the question Of a
10 o'clock closing of places of busi-
ness on Saturday nights was discuss
ed. 1t was argued that by reason Of
the extra work and the long hours
of duty on Saturdays many employees
went home worn out, and used Sun
day as day for physical rest alone
and lost sight OF It's ethical and spirit
ual value. The Association felt this
to be distinct loss, not only from a
religious standpoint but also from the
standpoint Of the community, ethical
ly, socially and physically. Feeling
that 1t was a matter in which the
best interests Of the church and the
were identified. and be-
lieving that II all places Of business
closed by 10 o'clock no one would be
the loser. the Association directed it's
president to publish a request to the
business men to consider the question
of 10 o'clock closing and also ap-
pointed the undersigned as commit
tee to secure the signatures of the
merchants and business men to an
agreement to close their respective
places Of business not later than 10
o'clock ON each Saturday night. The
has since made q canvass
Of the business section and has met
with many surprises. Some signed
the agreement without condition,
stating that they had been in the hab-
1t Of closing at 10 o'clock and would
continue to do 80; others asked US
to make the hour o'clock; others
requested us to circulate an agree
ment for o'clock closing on other
days; and some who were supposed
to be opposed to the movement, sign
ed the agreement with alacrity. AS
we proceeded with our canvass, one
OF the clothing houses agreed to sign
on condition that all the other cloth
Ing houses signed: a little later one
Of the drug stores made the same con-
dition in regard to the other drug
stores; and Kings cigar store agreed
to sign on condition that the drug
stores signed. He then added to the
agreement the proviso ION condition
that all sign this agreement" We
failed to secure the signature Of one
clothing house. one drug store.
candy kitchen and q small retail bus-
mess.
Two others declined to sign the
agreement. but stated that II the rule
should be established they would OBJ
serve It. Some OF the business men
were out when we visited their stores;
we tried to revisit these. but may
have overlooked one or two.
AS the great majority signed the
agreement ION condition that all
sign." and as we failed to secure the
signature Of all. we do not consider
the agreement binding on any. How
ever. we ask those who are in the
habit Of closing at 10 o'clock to con-
tinue their custom. and urge others
to adopt the same rule. We believe
that 1t II a matter In which the COM
munity at large has q duty and q re-
sponsibility. We therefore urge our
citizens to aid In this movement. We
urge those who reside in the city to
do their trading. as far as possible,
on other days than Saturday: and we
urge those who come in from the
country on Saturday to do their trad
ing as early as possible In the day.
We also urge our people'to to refrain as
far as possible from trading on Sum
days at the drug stores. and when
necessity for such trading arises en-
deavor to do so between the hours Of
8 and 1880 o'clock in the morning.
and and in the afternoon. so that
the Sunday hours Of the drug stores
may be shortened.
Below Is a copy Of the agreement
and signatures. We desire to state
once more that the majority signed
after the condition was added, and as
we did not secure the signature Of
all. we do not consider it binding on
any.
H. H. COvINGTON,
C.. C. BROWN.
j. p. MARION.
Committee.
The foregoing report was read and
received the unanimous approval of
the Association and orderd published.