The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1875-01-23
ovrRszER,s ADDRESS.

| At the last regular meeting OF Oao-
Iramento Grange the retiring Overseer
Tread the following address:
'souR" SYMBOL FARM.
! Did say yours? or mine! Nay!
1--we view it in broader sense; we call
(up that little word "our"-it is our
Isymbolic farm. Who is "ours?' | may
ask, said stranger All, that's the
question. Wait and you will see. Is
| it YOU, Mr.. Merchant? you, Mr.. Lawyer!
or you, Mr.. Middle man? | recognize
YOU not; neither presents the signet OF
la Granger or has the sign Of recognl-
ton, nor can pass the guarded gates
that lead to the Elysian field OF our
lsymbolic farm. Our gates are guarded
by Keepers; none but farmers ever en-
| ter it's portals. There the Goddesses
Ceres, Flora and Pomona, reign: beau.
| tiful flowers are there in bloom; broad
shaded avenues winding through the
Park: fountains are there, where is
sues the thoughts and teachings drawn
from the workings of our symbolic
farm; the nightingale MARBLE its song
| of ioy as workmen speed the pillow; CO.
sy glens and caves on the mountain
brow; fields of grain nodding by the
passing breeze; fruits tinged in golden
color by the suns rays; all nature is
beautiful, and there the Social gath
erings are held, mingling together, en-
joying the heeting moments under the
midday sun. O! is not that beautiful!
said the stranger l, too, want to en-
ioy those scenes. While passing
through this "wide, wide world" why
should not pleasure be mixed with the
tolls of daily life? What do we live
for? Gold! silver! precious stones.
Have they life? do they contain chord
of sympathy or bond of love? does
gladness beam in their eyes! affection
in their hearts? have they ties that
bind these links together? Nay! nay.
Then show me how | can bear that sig
net-sign and pass the portals to that
beautiful land Listen, stranger, and |
will tell you You are we'll aware our
symbolic farm is set aside in its place
among the thousands of those that
constitute part and parcel of that
grand national farm of the United
States that is working for the advance
ment and permanent good Of the whole.
Yes, certainly. Then let me sketch il
for you. At one portion Of the field the
Masters Office is found There he re-
ceives the laborers as they enter, obi
gates them and sends them to the Over,
seer. to see that work is assigned TO
them. We must first enter this gate,
and as we approach, we see there plan
ted fig; its long branches and broad
leaves cast their shodows along our
pathway. AS we open, it symbols to
our eyes its language 1t is a secret
A portion of the ground, as you see
is rough and uneven. SO the laborers
are set to cultivate it-as well as the
mind. We are now where the goddess
Ceres reigneth. See that field of grain
they have sown! there has been plant
ed corn, as shown by the Master; here
broom corn and clover, denoting an
dustry," the chief link of our support.
But we will turn to the right, where
Flora reigns enthroned in flowers.
How fragrant the air! See, here is a
rose acacia. The roots penetrate deep;
it's tender ibers shoot out in search of
food in the virgin soil, sending strength
throughout its parts. Do you know
it's language, stranger? No; tell me.
1t is true friendship. This is another
strong link of ours, binding each one
together. There is another link that is
akin to it, which in their daily walks
they drop here and there, Seeds of
Kindness, wet by the dews of love
grow and permeate under the reflect
ing rays Of the sun. But there are
times the seeds are not pure, and in a
thoughtless moment the Gardener
drops one. Although small, the germ
has life. Time passes, it gathers
strength, and out Of it's covered bed, a
tender stem shoots forth for light
But alas, the gardener heaves sigh,
for it is brier. By it's side dandeli-
on shakes it's towering head in express
sion of "You intrude." In orders like
ours its workman at times lets reason
cnthrone herself. Expressions become
until light draws on a calm
er mind. In our farm the aged walk,
and show their sympathy with our