The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-01
THE CHANGERS IN MASS MEETING.

THE CHANGERS In MASS MEETING.
The Changers pic mic was held in Pier
sons grove last Thursday. The assem-
blage was called to order at II A. NJ. by w.
b. Smith, Esq when the following officers
were chosen: President, N. F. Manly; Sec
rotary, E. S. Collins; Vice Presidents, L.
T. Roberts, +. Strahorn, VIM. Bracken,
c. F. Richmond, j. w. Woodward.
The gathering was large, but not quite
up to that of last year. 1t was, however,
marked by the number of handsome ladies
present, which atones for all other deticien-
cies.
The stand was handsomely decorated
with fruits and flowers ard draped with
the national flag. The Elkton Band was
on hand to eniven the occasion with music
After organization the meeting adjourned
till u O'Clock, to allow the audience an
opportunity to partake of dinner.
At about 10 NJ. the ladies, or perhaps we
should say the patronesscs of husbandry,
had sumptuous repast spread on 4 table
erected for the purpose and all upon the
grounds were invited to partake of the
luxuries with which it was loaded. After
dinner, while many of the young folks in
dulged in croquet and social intercourse,
the main body of those present assembled
at the stand to listen to the speakers.
At Il O'Clock the President called the
meeting to order and introduced
MIR. KATEs,
of New jersey lecturer of the State Grange
of New Jersey and at one time secretary
Of the State Grange, who addressed the
audience.
This gentleman is a good speaker, and
has spoken in the interest of the Order in
many parts of the States contiguous to
New Jersey. He set forth the objects that
the Patrons of Husbandry have in view in
very lucid and interesting speech. He
said that the following were few of the
objects of the Patrons of Husbandry: "To
develop a better and higher manhood and
womanhood among the members. To en-
nance the comforts and attractions of their
homes and strengthen their attachments to
their pursuits. To foster mutual under.
standing and cooperation. To maintain
inviolate the laws, and to emulate each
other in labor, to hasten the good time
coming" He secuted the idea of Jersey
men being called sand Spaniards and said
the time was past when the intellectual
sons of farmers should be put in the learned
professions, and that farms should be made
attractive and the most intellectual young |
men kept upon them and taught the pro-
fession of farming; and that Changers were
not antagOnlStic to any other legitimate |
profession. He thought the Changers should |
buy less and sell more; should systematiZe
their business, and keep an account of their |
income and outlay, so they could tell how
they are getting along in the world; should |
discountcnance the credit system, the mort
gage system and the fashion system. He |
animadverted in severe terms upon the 7
Changers that went in debt for fine clothes |
and fast horses, in order to be in the fash
ion, and he advised them to avoid and shun |
these things as they would the Evil One. |
SAID the Changers were temperate body .
of men, and in all his travels, experience |
and observation he had never seen drunken !
Granger. Said their watchword was on
ward, and it should be the duty of all good |
Changers to advance the interest of the |
Order and show to the world that they have
brains enough to make the organization
and profitable.
After music by the Band the President
introduced
JOHN r. FREEsE,
a Granger from New Jersey, who spoke
of the universally of the Order, and said
no
" Pent up Utica contracts our powers,
But the whole boundless continent is ours
The word "Grange," he said, is an old
Saxon one, which means the buildings and
appurtenanceS of a farm, and includes the
family or household that resides in them;
and that those who instituted the Grange
at first, only intended to promote good feel
ing and friendship among the farmers: that
,,ll -. I
makers and carpenters had societies for
their mutual protection and advantage.
He said one of the great objects of the
Changers was to promote good feeling and
brotherly love among farmers, and that
Oranges were useful as schools; that in
time those members who were not the sub
jects of early educational advantages would
learn much to fit them for positions of
honor apd profit by attending the meetings
of the Lodges. Another great object of
the Grange, the speaker remarl; ed, was to
cultivate and foster 4 spirit of morality
among the member, and no active member
could fail to profit in a moral point of view.
He said that the business arrangements of
the order were very great and very advan-
tageous, though they were introduced some
years subsequent to the formation of the
order and occupy subordinate positiaI
among the great principles and objects it
had in view. He spoke about an Inter-
State Purchasing Company, to include the
States of Pennsy lvania, Delaware and New
Jersey, that the Order have it in eontem-
platon to form, and thought much good
would result from it. lie remarked that
the best guarantee of the purity of the
Order was that women were allowed to Join
it, and recommended that young people
should be encouraged to join it. One of
the corner stones of the Order is charity:
not the charity that gives pecuniary aid,
but that kind which "covereth multitude
Of SINS and strives to do good to every
one. He argued that there was no neigh
5orhood in which a Lodge was properly
conducted but was greatly benefited in
this respect, and that Individual happiness
depended upon general prosperity, and the
object OF the Changers is to make every
body happy. They were opposed to the
fostering of corporations that impoverish
and Cypress the people, and in the Western
States they had, after long struggle, sue
ceeded in eifeoting legislation lii reference
TO railroads that placed the people upon an
equality. So far as he (the speaker was
concerned, he was above party
and partisanship. Changers are not enc
mics of capital, but opposed to monopolists.
The laborer has right to a legitimate
share of the profits of capital and the own
srs OF capital right to a fair remuneration
Tor its use. There should be no contest
between them. The Changers desired a
proper equality, equity and fairness, protec-
ion for the weak, restraint upon the strong;
n short, justly distributed burdens ana
Justly distributed power, which appeared
20 be the sum of the whole matter Mr..
Freese spoke feelingly and eloquently of
he burial ceremonies of the Granger's