Not sure this is helpfull but:

FUNCTIONSET EQU 34H;perhaps this should read 38h for 2 line display.

If you are not sure, better figure it out before trying to do something more elaborate like displaying time on your display. If you are sure, remove the doubt...



;CLR P1.6 ; CHIP SELECT RTC

If you need chip select, better remove the semi-colon, if not, remove the line...



JMP BEGIN ; LEAVE A FEW LINES FREE
ORG 20H
BEGIN:

Here you jump to "BEGIN" after reset, this label does not mark your main routine but your read-rtc routine and this routine ends with an "RET". Where do you return to? You never got there using a call...


regards

Patrick