Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-11-22
Hon, Jas. ii. Groves Address Oh
welcome 10 the members Oh the
". Va. state GRANGE AT Iheir
meeting i'm MartinsburS, A"es'
day, Nov. Ath. 1879.

RporurRs OF THE STATE GRANGE:
The pleasant duty has been assigned
me. of extending to you, upon the part
ot our brethren aud citizens, a hearty
welcome. | but reflect the sentiment
If all. when / say welcome. thrice vel
come. to our homes and hearth stones
With, hope, commendable pride and
infinite pleasure, we ask you to partake
and enjoy with US our blessings. We
invite YOU to look around. Behold this
section of our noble State-where ma
ture has expended with lavish hand,
beauty and fertility. Our mountains
are rich in minerals, our valleys fruitful
and lovely, and the whole beautifully
in,erspersed and interlaced with abund-
ant springs and graceful rivulets. 49,
This, the eastern panhandle Oh Tue
State, skirted On two sides 10y the noolt'
the grand old Potomac, and Inc Oeau.i-
mi. historic and renowned SHENANDOAH
which as willing bride marries with
,ho Potomac, and there at llarpers
49, that classic and romantic spot,
e.;,.a: mn her name TO the stronger
Sam. Oh. what history here at
I,cbes. Hedged in by the North and
Blue Ridge mountains, thus protected
from the storm, whilst the winds, the
grateful messengers of nature, bear
Upon their invisible wings the abundant
yapors and distributes them over our
fields.
This is the key TO the great valley OF
the Shenandoah, famous in the history
of Virginia and rendered more noted by
the late civil war. But recently, the
bncle note in our valley, summoned
hostile forces 10 the feast of death. so
rapM a,e crowding and passing events,
SO active the shuttles of thought ami
action, weaving in the loom OF time,
moments passing thread, that scarcely
had the last sound of the bugle ceased
TO reyerberate along our mountain sides,
and mellow into a death like stiffness,
when there came another sound, herald
ing the message of peace. Hope again
plumed her wings and tins lovely,
though torn, dismantled warworn val
lev, arose from her ruins as a Marlus
from the ashes Of the Grachll, fully
equipped in wealth, beauty and grau-
deur. Where hostile camps once lay,
where confusion told the tale OF deadly
conflict, where these hili>idcs were chan
nclcd 10y the best blood OF brothers, where
ali surrounding objects bore the marks
of dcsClatIon, where the veil OF doubt
and uncertainty hung over the energies
of the husbandman, now can be seen
the peaceful houses Of the farmer, mes
tied in natures most charming retreats;
the merry songs of the plough boy takes
Tie place of the war cry, once so dolor-
Gus and full of the dcsOlatlon OF death
business activity prevails where war
recently held high carnival. Generous
nature has drawn her green garb Ger
the irightful scene, raised her mounds OF
evergreen, and planted her flowers there,
~ if TO shut it ont forever from thought
and view. Let us profit 10y THIS fact
forget the past and with one accord, IN
friendship, love and truth, determine TO
rcneryate nature itselt,in Llotting out tor
ever,vvery vestige Of past dlilrrences,and
strive 10 build up the waste places, re
membcring that peace hath her trophies
more lovely than war.
Brothers, again welcome you 10 this
historic. fertile and beautiful section OF
our State. Aud what a refreshing re
Election il is to know that a body of
men, such as ! see before me, can, III
his cold, calculating age, meet together
for no object than to promote the adj
yauccmcul and general welfare OF the
whole people, untrammelcd 10y party
tealty, undisturbed by any political as
cerbity. to consult and devise means by
which all can be benefited, by which
the poor man and the rich man may
abide together in harmony of interests,
by which our social and political states
NAV follow in the track OF more cleva-
ted, devoted and educated manhood, by
which our youth may be melted 10 a
noble rivalry of our good examples.
All honor then to those, who denied
the tolls, the cares and the excitement,
incident TO the age, would rescue the
Golden hours Of the youth around them
from debasing sloth aud enable them to
set TO the world in a great crisis OF its
moral condition, a glorious example OF
intellectual courage and physical pro
gress, by which to dignity and exalt
the great Agricultural and Mechanical
fraternity. WHO have filled the world
with wonders. Is not this fact of itself
charged with volume of comment
What is it but setting of the great dis
,inctiye seal upon these God gwen en-
ploymen,s, an advertisement that socie-
" has risen to occupy higher platform
than ever before proclamation an
nouncing honor, immortal to the work
inc men who fill this world with beau
", comfort and power. In a word, TO
plan and devise the methods by which
our State and county can be benefited,
our calling exalted, for these high, lofty
and noble purposes you have met.
May your labors be crowned with that
success which your objects so justly
merit. Brothers, again we welcome
Won to our houses, and TO that never
ending circle, fashioned and linked TO-
-. -, ,,u,L faith hone and charity