Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-23
Handsome Presentation.

The members Of Central Grange, Hyde.
park, at their last meeting, presented their
late MASTER Hon. l.. b. Sherwin, with a
heavy gold breast pin suitably inscribed. 1t
was purchased by voluntary subscription and
rendered as partial recognition Of his ser
vices and his untiriug efforts in building up
and sustaining the grange. The presentation
was made by their worthy lecturer, Hon. X.
S. Page, in few brief but appropriate re.
marks which herewith send you for publ
cation, together with Judge Sherman's reply.
ID. X. SHHRwIN, Master.
Bydepark, June %. 1875.
Worthy Past Master The members of
Central Grange desire TO express in some
degree their appreciation Of the very careful,
faithful aud unsel6sh manner in which you
have discharged the several duties that have
devolved upon you as master and leader.
We recognize in you, Sir, the true pioneer
that during the first two years of our exist
ence as Patrons led us safely over new and
uptrodden routes. Our once little band
aided by your we'll directed precept and ex.
ample instead of having proved itself a fail
uro and of short duration, numbers over 100
true, worthy and united members, and if those
without our gates who have been inclined
to criticise the intent Of our Patrons had
exercised aud cultivated some of the highest
and noblest attributes that heaven ever be-
slowed upon man such as charity, love, and
good will and had withheld their verdict Of
guilty until after they were able to find eVi.
dence of an intentional wrong, the additions
to our numbers would have been made much
more rapidly and in view Of these facts we
feel that we should be very ungratefu if we
neglect to tender to you an expression OF our
confidence in your uprightness of purpose,
and administration Of the spirit and earnest
ness that has led you to adhere strictly and
steadfastly to the rules aud regulations Of
our order.
|, therefore, in behalf Of the members Of
this grange, beg your acceptance of this gold
bosom pin that was purchased by their vol
untary subscription. We do not claim that
it is in any way Commensurate with the adj
vantages we have gained by your untiring
exertions to develop and render available
through our grange our moral, social and
other valuable privileges. But if l mistake
not your standpoint Of real worth and value,
the gold l now present to you is compare
lively quite Insignificant Men Of almost
every grade Of intelligence, including the
wicked and cold hearted may earn and pos
sess gold, but none but the good can earn
and be entitled to true and desirable friend
ship. And | believe that you not only dc
now but will, after some of us shall naturally
have completed our earthly record, recognize
latent treasure and record below the sur
: face Of this piece Of gold that will far exceed
I its commercial or market value, which record
! will remind you that true and fraterna
friendships inculcated in our grange while
! you were its leader, and that therein true
merit aud moral worth were duly appreciated
l also hope aud confidently trust that YOU
: anxiety that the dignity and prosperity o
our grange may be maintained and perpet
uated, may be grAtihed, which hope is greatly
: strengthened from the fact that your sue
! cossor is eminently we'll qualified to disoharg
T his duties as master, and | think any fear
0 we may entertain that the cause of GU
, grange under his administration will not b
, upward and onward, will BE- groundless,
a To which Judge Sherwin replied substan
!. TALLY as follows;