Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-09-25
GRANGE BASKET PICNIC.

ago in the FARMER.
AT nm carly hour the people began to mr.
rive, and came in crowds upon overy road.
The members of Warren Grange met the
Waitsficld Grange Mt Waitsfield village, and.
preceded by the band, drove TO the fair
ground. the procession extending over n mile |
in length. At about the same time. the
oranges from Waterbury Center, Duxbury /
and Morctown arrived, and their members |
were even greater than those from Waits
field and Warren. AS the public generally
were invited hundreds of citizens not mem |
hers OF oranges came with the Patrons, until
upwards of twelve hundred people were up
on the grounds mt one time, by actual count
AT II o'clock they were called to order by
+. A. Eldridge, master of Union Grange.
Prayer was offered by Geo. o. Boyce. Then
followed II beautiful poem by Mrs. l.. B.
Boyce, of Fayston, written for the occasion,
which will be printed in the FARMER in due
time.
Col John Il. Mead, master of Randolph
Grange, was introduced by the president in
short and fitting speech, MS orator for the
occasion, and amidst great applause took
the stand and delivered nm excellent Grafton
ON Nobility of the Order" being frequently
interrupted by the applause of the multitude
A stronger and more logical Grafton is rare
! ly heard from our ablost lecturers. lie clear.
ly demonstrated that the financial feature Of
the organization was u success, yet far
greater reform and noblcr work was being
accomplished by the social, benevolent and
intellectual features of the organization.
| lie called upon farmers to give their sons
and daughters a thorough, practical agricul-
turnl education, and aud in elevatlng the
farmers profession TO that high and noble
dignity that God designed it to occupy-the
first, original and honorable position in
which Adam and Eve were placed in the
garden of Eden. At the close of his Grafton
ho was loudly applaudSd.
After music by the Wnitsfold Cornet Band,
| (Which furnished excellent music during the
day,) tho company separated into groups and
partook of dinner, and joy and festivity
rolgned supreme for an hour, aud more than
seven baskets full We're taken up after the
collation..
AT . o'clock they were called together by
the band and +. w. Bisbee, of Morctown,
was loudly called for; though not member
OF the order he responded in some excellent
and well timed remarks, saying that he was
ut first much prcjudiced against the order
and had watched it joalously to find fault
with it, but was unable to do so. Success in
every respect has crowned its efforts, and he
was in heart granger. A. A. Knccland was
next called TO the stand, and contrnsted this
gathering with the gathering ut the fair two
days previous where trutting, gambling and
drinking ran riot, and condemned our agri-
cultural fairs (as did several other speakers, }
for lapsng into horse races, and giving IN ore
money to encourage horse trots than to all
| mechanical and agricultural products COM
bined, and briefly reviewed the plan of en-
ploying professionals to deliver agricultural
addresses.
ID. +. Boyden, OF Waitsiield, Deputy of
the Vermont State Grange. presented set
OF resolutions which were unanimously
adopted, pledging the cooperation Of the
Washington County Patrons with Patrons
everywhere in carrying out the principles Of
the order, declaring that the Patrons claim
the merchant, manufacturer, mechanic,
and laborcr n necessity, and feel 1t their du-
ty to patronize their ncighbors when it can
be done without pecuniary loss or inconve-
nicnce, yet believe that farmers should buy
in the cheapest market and sell in the best
market and therefore recommend all Pat
rons To purchase through tho state agent
when money can he saved thereby; approx
ing the cash system and declaring the credit
system ruinous; advising the settlement OF
all differences between Patrons by arbitrl-
ton, and pledging themselves to conform "a
and abide by the law Of the state grange
requiring all such differences to be settled
by arbitration, and heartily endorsing the
declaration OF the National Grange that "nc
grange, if true to its obligations, can discus.
political or religious questions, nor call po
litical conventions, nor nominate candidates
nor even discuss their merits in its meetings
yet the principles we teach underlie all true
politics, all true craftsmanship, aud, If prop
crly carried out, will tend to purify the Who'll,
| political atmosphere of our country" bu
bear in mind that no one, by becoming !
Patron of Husbandry gives up that inalen
able right which belongs to every true Amer
lean citizen to take proper interest in the
! politics of the country.
/ Thanks wcro voted to the Mad River Val
D ley Fair Association for the use of tn
grounds and buildings, and 10 the Waitsliel,
Cornet Band and the speakers.
) II was voted to send reports of the day.
proceedings to the county papers. the Yer
mont Farmer, tho st. Adams Messenger, thu
l Windsor Journal and tho Record an,
0 Farmer.
Deputy Boyden was then introduced n
toast-master, and among others read tho fol
= lowing toasts, which were responded to- viz
!. The Patrons of llusbandry. The frs
organization of which we have any record
2 Adam was worthy master. Eve matrOn
Response by George o. Boyoe, ut consider
I able length in his happiest vein of humor
$ Toast. "Tho Farmer. Natures NObleman
May our position in all the moral reforms q
0 tho day be II leading one, and may we com
J. mand that respect that wo rs producers dc
5 mand" Response by &. X. Nuwcomb, o
g Union Grange, Warren. Waitslield Con
net Band. The pride of our valley; ma
y their sweet hearts DO us sweet rs the musi
II that grcets MS to-day" Response by band
II Union is Strength, fifty illustrated Il
} our organization, now numbering over tw
n millions of members" Response by Josep
# =, Davis, Of DuNbury Grange.
- agricultural Fairs. Tho most unfair yC
/ the dearest things on earth" Response
20 a. A. Koeland, Waitslicld Grange. II,
4 sponsos were also given TO toasts by j. /
d Mead. at considerable length, w. G.. No
l. Allister, G.. T.. Jones, Roswell Child, G. Il
: Crndall and George Il. Newcomb, who ~
II sponded to the toast. 1.-The Honesty Plan
ID Patrons ARE known to possess it, may Il
,r cultivation be increased till its growth nm
g. position shall be foremost of all the vnri'
10 ties cultivated in the garden of human chal
It actor," The Waitsiield band presented III