THE

Pioneer of Progress.

THE

PIONEER OF PROGRESS;

OR,

THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT

IN RELATION TO THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY
AND THE EARLY PAYMENT OF WAGES.

BY

JOHN DENNIS.

PRIZE ESSAY.

LONDON:

HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO., 33, PATERNOSTER ROW.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY MARY S. RICKERBY, 73, CANNON STREET.

PREFACE

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary Remarks-The Position of England-Overwork
and its Attendant Evils-The Necessity of Combination-
Success of the Early Closing Association-Saturday Half-
Holiday Movement-A plea for Truisms-Two Objections
stated, and the first Answered

-

CHAPTER II.

The Half-Holiday a direct Boon to Employers-Testimonies

- Interests of Masters and Men identical-Recreation

needful to both

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vii

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CHAPTER III.

The Joy of Health-The Physical Advantages of the Half-

holiday-Statements by Drs. Stevens and other Medical

Men-Speech of the Bishop of Oxford-Details essential

-The Social Benefits conferred by the Boon - Leisure

essential to Home-happiness-And to Moral Amelioration 31

-

CHAPTER IV.

Physical Degeneracy and National Decline-Defence not De-

fiance A Shopkeeper's Mistake—The Half-holiday a

Subject of National Interest-And Pleaded for on Na-

tional Grounds-Speech of Mr. Wire-Menenius Agrippa's

Fable-St. Paul on the Members of the Body

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