The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-01-26

porrance to attract the attention, much les.
influence the conduct of our fellows
There Is no idea more fallaciouS. There
never yet lived an individual entirely de
void of influence, and whether we are con
scious of it or not our department and ex.
ample are producing each day an influence
either for good or evil. more or less potent,
in proportion to the position we hold, and
the force of character we possess. The
responsibilities under which we rest are moi
sufficiently appreciated. Let every mem ber
OF Principle Grange at least resolve that
with the beginning of the new year he or
she will take new departure, will be more
punctual in attendance, more alive to the
interests OF the Order, more ready to con
tribute-not of money (for the pttance de-
manded is Of small account but of knowl
| edge, energy, experience and time. not
combining our efforts to the advancement
and qualification of SELF but taking a
broader and more humanitarian view OF our
position, and enter upon the discharge of
duty with zeal and a willingness to make
some sacrifices if need be for the good of
others and the advancement of our Order.
L have SAID that the prosperity of our
country is intimately connected with and
! dependent upon the success of those en-
| gagged in agricultural pursuits. 1t is not
necessary to speak of the dignity and i'm
portance of the farmers occupation, nor
would it be in good taste to assert (even if
we thought such to be the fact that upon
our books are enrolled the names of all the
! important and influential members of the
farming fraternity; but | think we are safe
| in saying that large proportion of the
successful tillers of the soil are to be found
to day working with us.
We commenced under very disadvanta-
| geous circumstances, with no definite aim
except that of combination. Our begin
| ming was very insignificant, and our pro
| gress anything but encouraging. Now we
claim to be numerically the strongest secret
organization on this continent, and in point
of responsibility and standing second to
none.
| Our aims are primarily to improve the
condition of, our own members, but in do
! ing this we of necessity must in many
ways contribute to the advance ment of the
| farming community. Leaving out of view
| all considerations other than those of an
economic character, we have, by the large
reductions obtained upon the more costly
articles in common use, affected a saving
which in the aggregate amounts to thous
ands of dollars. We have reduced the price
of implements and machinery fully forty
per cent, and those outside of our Order
are participating in the benefits of the re-
duction, for the reason that in order to re-
tain their custom dealers were compelled to
| make concession in their terms We
| have always encouraged the policy of cash
dealing, under the belief that it is the true
one for both buyer and seller, and should
we succeed in nothing else than in bringing
this feature of our Order into general use,
/
Among the many "duties" which you
have just heard our installing officer de
clare to attach to the position which
| hold, there Is net one OF more real import.
ance than that of encouraging the educa-
ton of the children within our jurisdiction.
it would be a waste of time to dwell upon
the advantages of education and the mis-.
fortune of ignorance, and would not have
alluded to the subject, but for the reason
| that many conceive that our aims are all
centered in the accumulation of riches.
We are fully aware of the immense advan-
tages which money secures to its pOSsessor.
aud desire not to diSsuade any one from
using all honorable means to add to his
POSSESSIONS; on the contrary, we strive to
promote habits of industry and economy
Yet the idea that all other considerations
are to be made subservient to this one
finds no encouragement in any of our
teachings. We believe that the young
should be allowed all the educational facili-
ties consistent with our means, and that,
as you have ust heard, "they should not
be put TO the labor of the field before the
MUD has received that care and training
which enllvens, explains and dignities
labor" 1t is not within the ability of us
all to afford our children the opportunities
ali 20, -,
ant, and | might add desirable, that they
should. " Having Jas the saying Isl been
there myself | feel convinced that many
boys will learn quite as much that is useful
aud good deal less that is worse than use
less by remaining nearer at home.
The pub]ic schools of orr county (which
we are taxed to support) present to almost
all the means of acquiring, at little ex
neuse such an amount of learning as will
serve as A foundation. upon which anv in
teiligept and progressj We how NAV huijd an
education sufficient for all practical mr.
noses: for. after all. it is not the amount
and variety of Knowledge acouired during
the few wears spent at semiparies that con.
stitutes an education. What is there ac
tuallv learned is but preliminary TO and 4
prepa,ation for after culture. Not one.
fnurtb of our college graduates deyelope
into men of prominence in the world of
letters. Some, no doubt, are not possessed
of the requisite natural ability, but per.
hans the larger number make little effort at
further mental Improvement. and soon for.
oct what was acouired. Let no one then.
in this ace. Mead the lack of means as an
excuse for peglecsing to improve the minds
of his children. A good English education
is sufficient to enable auy one to fulfill all
of the requirements of society. provided
he has acquired the habit of industry and
is determined to progress. Ippumerable
instances of men in public life NAV be
cited to prove the truth of the assertion.
Indeed, of all the most useful men of this
and former times, the real benefactors of
mankind. the great majority have started
in life with but little schooling, but they
have added to that little by diligence and
perseverance. Farmers should be compe-
tent to take a prominent part in shaping
the legislation of our country, and it will
be impossible for item to exert much in
tluence unless they are well informed upon
the issues at stake. If they have not the
ability to comprehend the effects of pro-
posed laws, they cannot intelligently take