Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-22
IECTYREI,'s ADDRESS.

LECTYRE2's ADDRESS.
As Lecturer Of the Pennsylvania State
Grange, | am expected TO make some
remarks on this occasion. 1t is a pleas
ing feature OF the era in which We live,
to join SO many of my class from every
section of our grand old State in annu
al meeting OF the State Grange, where
the only subject to be considered Is the
welfare OF farmers The Grange is the
first and only organization OF farmers,
rs a class, ever attempted LII the history
of the world. The progress we have
made since our last annual meeting JUS
titles the eXpecta ion OF our most san
cuiue friends, SD far as numbers are
CONCERNED. Ii We shall finally succeed
IN Joining the farmers OF this State and
nation i'll sincere brotherhood, we viii
owe it to the wisdom Of the founders OF
our order, and the unsellsh labor of the
Patrons who have devoted their time
50 unseislly at the beginning of our
history. Fortunatel y, the Grange entl
ties the wife and the daughter to mem
Lership aud equal privileges and con
sideralions with the father and the son.
This feature oi our noble order is III
Keeping with enlightened progress, and
b 0 ems h gher civilization IN JiIs
in our Il alterations the refinement aud
dscornmcut of the female character,
life aud mother.
Patrons, YOU cannot overcstlmate the
value of woman in the office she is DIES
tined TO perform in the work OF our re-
generation rs class. The numerous
assemblies before whom | nave appear
cd, in pursuance OF the duty you I'M
posed, one year since, owe their etfec-
tiveuess aud ploverbia order to the
presence aud uutiriug labor OF the Ma
tron i'll equal degree with the Husband
Inan.
1t would be poor return for kind
acts, should fail on this, or any other
occasion, to acknowledge myself indebt
ed to my brothers aud sisters for all the
consideration due to my station in the
State Grange.
Although may have come far short
of expectation SO generously awarded TO
me at the outset, it is not improper to
state the extent of my labors during the
past year. l have visited, upon the in
vitation Of Patrons and by the request
of our Worthy Master, twenty seven
counties in our State and delivered sew
enty-three addresses, generally before
large assemblies.
The instances in which invitation
have been declined are remembered
with sincere regret, and were wholly
owing to the personal obligations that
every farmer knows to be paramount
duty. If the competent authority would
empo wer me to designate assistants to
supply occasions such as Indicate in
the coming year, we would be advan-
tagged as an order, and | most respect
fully suggest the authority be given.
farmers, with apparent progress in
our noble order, there is yet lacking the
essential element, that will enable f.
nal triumph The isolation of our class
from time rmmemorial will not ne bro
ken, eradlcated and supplanted by the
all powerful element Of clannishness-
common to every other class, and which
has served to elevate them over Us in
the scale of social aud material prosper
ity-unlil We become AZ selfish and man
" as are they. Although farmers in
the Grange are personally interested
and honorably committed 10 fraternize
aud fellowship each other as Matrons
and HuSbSndmen,, they come as gen
-eral thing, far short of their duty as
taught in all the lessons of the Grange.
This is seen everywhere in all our inter
course with other classes. We are un-
moved by the acrimonious hostility to
those whom the Grange organizations
places in public notoriety-in our efforts
to organize the farmers in imitation of
other classes, who have long since called
to their aid every form of cooperative
ietionAcalcalated to intensity and bind
them in the closest associations. OF ben
etcial unions Farmers must release
themselves from the inferior position
assigned them by other classes.
Il is no dictatorlal or assumed form
of command that impels me to speak SO
often upon this point AS your chosen
instrument, duty compels me to place
hefore you in the strongest light within
my power, the effect Of conventional
~ which humiliates aud degrade the
farmer. We are inferior in the light OF
impartial history, in this and every 9th
er country, as class, in all respects but
That VI number. ~. "a -.