Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-26
The Patrons Grange the Farmers
Home.
Address delivered Rt Harvest Feast of Green
Mountain Grange, Dee. A, 1874, by Lester
ID. stiles, of wide Awake Grange.


We often hear it said there is no place like
home. And think there ought to DO no
place like some homes. Homes where dis
content, discord, and i'll will prevail, where
there is nothing in unison, no affections, no
brotherly love. Such place may be called
home, but it is home only in name. My ideal
of n home is one where peace, friendship,
good will, harmony, and brotherly love pre-
vail. Such home is home indeed; y real
home. Such homes have n good influence
in q ncghborhood and throughout the COM
munity. The Patrons grange is the farmers
home because brotherly love, peace and har-
mOny prevail. 1t is because we meet as
members of one family, rs brothers and sis
ters, fathers and mothers, ali with the same
interest, all engaged in the same good work,
the work of improving ourselves m entally,
morally and socially. The work of elevat-
ing, improving, making better, wiser and
happier the farming and laboring classes.
Great and noble work, we'll worthy the labor
and cooperation of the best men and women
in our land. l do not claim that the grange
is perfect home, for perfection is not of
this world. The very best among all soeie-
ties will at times have some little differences
and jars in their affairs. Probably there is
no home composed of several members,
where everything at all times moves along
in perfect harmony. So we cannot expect
our grange homes composed of so many
different minds will Mt all times be harmo-
nious. We are not constituted alike, we
have different ideas, different ways of doing
business, different views upon most all sub
jects. We think differently upon religious
and political subjects. We cannot think
alike about the management of our business
and other affairs in the grange. Whenever
in our grange home difficulties do arise, then
is the time when that blessing to mankind,
brotherly love, is to cast its influence over
the darkness of tho gathering clouds, when
the oil of friendship is to be poured upon the
troubled waters Of discord. that good may be
wrought out of evil.
A true and generous Patron does not live
for himself alone But he lives for his coun-
try, his home, and strives to make others
happy rs well as himself. lie regards
the feelings, tastes and wishes o.
others rs well as his own. 1t is truly said il
our Manual that for elevating tho mind to
higher and nober purposes, and for maxi ng
life happy, there is nothing moro powerful
than home influence surrounded with the
wealth of nature displayed In trees, fruits
and flowers. And we are glad there are so
many farmers 1--WE wish there were more
now making their homes pleasant and beau
tiful by adorning them with trees, fruits and
flowers. As the farmers life is mostly spent
ut home let it be made AS pleasant as possible
Home is not merely place to live, work,
sleep, eat and drink in. 1t should be a
place OF happiness There is growing in
terest manifested among farmers throughout
the country and they are many of them with
commendable zeal trying to make theil
homes more beautiful and attractive. A
great change has taken place among the
homes of farmers within few years. The
idea was that the farmers home was only a
place to live in. That to be II farmer requir-
ed no brains; that if n person possessed ,
good, healthy constitution, two good, stro ng
hands, that was all that was necessary t
make successful farmer. 1t was not though
necessary to tighten or brighten the labors
of the farm, by any ray of science or intelli
gence from the world of thought and action
Work was the one thing wanted from sun
rise till sunset, and tho physical nature wal
so often overworked that tn mental facul
ties became dwarfedand the mind scared bu
a little higher than thatof the brute creation
As all work and no play makes Jack u dul
| a;
to recreation and the Improvement of th
social aud mental faculties will in few
years dry up, harden and depreciate the
brightest intellects. Hence, the home of the
farmer has in too many instances been dul
and dmonOtonous, nothing but drudgery, mo so
ciability, no chance for intellectual i'm prove
mont The farmers home is and must b
from necessity an isolated home. He does
not have that opportunity for social and in.
tellectual attainment which those enjoy whC
live in villages.
For several years intelligent farmers have
felt the necessity OF some kind OF organiza.
tion which would draw those engaged il
agriculture together for social enjoyment anC
mutual Improvement. Many were the plan
proposed for this object. Farmers club
were established, but they havo been short
lived. Their object was good but farmer
needed something different, and stronger, tC
induce them TO enter upon the work witt
that heart and good will which is essentia
TO success. Hence the Patrons grange, the
farmers home, was established, and il meet:
a want long needed; for the great want o.
the farmer is more sooiabilty, more stimu
lating influences, to urge him ON to hlghe
attainments.
The Patrons grange is well calculated fol
this work. Farmers have much to encourag q
them and cause them to try and better theil
condition. And why should we not take
courage, when we consider that our occupa
ton is an honorable one--that no other oc
cupation is so necessary to the raeeP Al
other interests are dependent on farming.
furnishes means forsubsistence, material 70
manufacture, and articles for commerce.
We are glad we live in an age when farm
Ing is taking its place among tho honorabl
and elevating pursuits OF industry. Th,
farmer is beginning to learn that hisI hom
is not now considered to be the home of tn,
most ignorant portion of community.
The influence of the larmers'home is bein
felt throughout our land. Already our nc
tion has been felt in our legislative halls
And to-day our movements ARE watched ant
respected throughout tho nation. In fact tn
whole world is watching with anxiety an'
: wonder for the result of this movement
Well may people wonder, and ask why W,