The Portland daily press., 1879-12-17
MAINE STATE GRANGE.
The Sixth Annual Meeting Of the Patrons
of Husbandry.

The sixth annual meeting of the Maine
State Grange of Patrons of Husbandry be-
gan at Congress Hall at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning.
The meeting was called to order by D. Fl.
Thing, Esq, of Mount Vernon the Worthy
Master.
The committee on credentials reported that
sixty-two subordinate oranges were represent
ed by eighty-two voting members.
The Master then delivered his annual ad-
dress. of which the following is an extract:
Brothers and Sisters of the State Grange of
Maine:-The limited time at our disposal rem
ders it necessary that the present session be
one of deeds rather than words; and for this
reason l shall not burden you with lengthy
address, for of all the productions of civilized
humanity talk is cheapest and usually of the
least worth. The occasion which calls us to-
gether is to me one of mingled joy and sadness.
| rejoice to once more see your faces in the
flesh, and to take your toil-hardened hands in
mine with the grip of Patron. I rejoice in
the prosperity that has attended our labors as
husbandmen and also in the progres we have
made as an order, and yet it is with feeling
of sadness that contemplate the vast amount
of important and necessary work which yet re-
mains undone.
Perhaps the first thought suggested to the
mind of the uninitiated by the word Grange"
is that of cooperation and the first result ex-
pected is pecuniary gain, but when the subject
is discussed in detail we lind that hardly two
can be found who agree as to modes and meth
DDS, though all agree as to desired results.
Cooperation is simply united effort to ac-
complish what Individual effort has failed to
realize, and the first condition of success, is
that there be an earnest, honest, unselfiSh I'M
ion of effort to realize to a certain definite re-
suit With these conditions and purposes, and
with that perseverance which knows no such
word as fail, success is sure in whatever direc-
ton we choose to labor The theory of coop
Grafton that looks to practical results means
intelligent, earnest, painstaking labor.
Fire and life insurance agents care not how
much we talk of Patrons insurance companies
and mutual aid societies so long as we allow
them to gather our dollars at their pleasure,
although it takes SeEenty-four per cent OF their
receipts to pay their running expenses. Poll
ticians care not how much we may deClaim of
our independence and our determination to act
in the interest of our own class and organiza-
ton so long as we yield abject homage to the
sceptre of King Caucus and vote for party in
disregard of the interest ofSthe corporation 1t
does not perhaps become me to speak, for the
reason that the very able and earnest board of
directors will set forth its standing, business,
necessities and claims with much more force
and authority than any one who has not
personally borne the burden could possibly do.
While we shall most surely claim that the Or
der in our state is the chief support of the cor.
pOratlOn, yet we at the same time Cheerfully
accord to the corporation the place of honor
as one of the strong pillars upon which the Or
del rests
One or the chief duties of a well conducted
grange will be to see to it that the children in
the circle of its influence have the opportunity
to obtain suitable education. The education
of the grange will be. as it ought. practical,
Ours is practical organization. Farmers are
practical men, farming is a practical business.
and to succeed we must nave practical edu-
cation.
Farmers are majority of all the voters, yet
they complain that their wishes are disregard
cd, that they suffer from unjust dscrimina-
ton, that their class is unrepresented in law
making bodies, and of other disabilities. L do
not propose to discuss the justice or injustice
of these complaints, but simply wish to call
your attention to the fact that right here is
where we may put in practice the true princi-
pies of cooperation. Let farmers all go into
the grange, discuss their circumstances, exam
bilities as far as possible, get an intelligent
supplied, step together ballot in hand and the
thing is done.
The rest of the address consisted of a plea
in favor of the Dirigo Rural as a state organ
and brief notice of the proceedings of the
National Grange.
The grange met again at o'clock p. m. The
principal business was the appointment OF COM
mitteeS.
The Patrons cooperative corporation held
sessions at and at 1.30 o'clock.