Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-02-28

Address Of VAR. John III. Sfrider.

livered by Mr.. John III. Strider of this
county, TO the Grange, at Tuscarora,
Berkeley county, on Thursday of last
week. 1t is sound, logical, and full OF
excellent advice; and we commend its
perusal to our readers generally, assur-
ing them it will prove of much inter
est -
acknowledge with pleasure that l feel
battered in this third invitation from
"Tuscarora Grange" to address its menu
beers and those who join in its meetings.
| was not vain enough to believe that l
had heretofore spoken words which eth
er instructed or interested you.
This occasion, "social gathering"
however is peculiarly gratifying to me,
because it is one, which if there was 10
other reason, il alone should induce the
farmers to organize themselves together
as a band of brothers and sisters.
Can you imagine anything that would
be more attractive or would impart more
happiness to community OF people than
where fraternity, harmony and unity OF
sentiment prevails.
"Love thy neighbOr as thyself'' is Di-
vine Injunction, and the nearer mankind
can approximate itin practice, the more
sure is he or her of temporal and eternal
happiness. This is one of the grand, NOR
al, teachings of our organization.
Rural life necesSitates isolation, and this
state with the majority of mankind, un-
less sedulously guarded against, generates
those sordid selfish feelings which IN
many instances makes MAJ the most NOR
Ial enemy to man.
The beneficent goodness Of wise
creator inspired the conception OF the
organization of the Grange that through
its social gatherings we might avert those
selfish evils, which our calling as farmers
subject us to, and that by united action
and combined wisdom, we might be ena-
bled to cope with and combat other or
carnations of society which aim at sap
Ding our substance and controlling our
actions.
Our isolation lack of cooperative action
and confidential communion OF thought
and knowledge, often expose us to the
imposition and eXtortiOn of the designing
and unprincipled of our race.
There are other and highly important
lessons to be studied and cultivated i'll
farm life, paramount to the growing OF
the stock, cereal and vegetable crop, or
the requirement of broad acres, the null
tiplying of dollars and cents and the en-
Enlistment or identifying and making
lovely hOmesteadS; they are the delicate
AID intricate training and cultivation OF
the .'human flowers divine" the boys
and girls, their intellect, their morals,
and their affections, should command our
earliest and last attention. The growth
of wealth should be suDOrilnated TO the
rearing of character. To do this you must
not be sp2ring with educational endoW-
ments, or correct precept and example.
would urge that the first and most lmpor-
tant efforts should be devoted to the cul-
tivation of the affections, get these deep
" rooted in the rich earth of pure prin-
ci pie, and watercJ by the crystal stream
of love, and you will have fountain
lowing upon the revolving wheel of life
adding Il sweet impetus to Its every mo-
ton, and encouraging new incentives to
the mutual discharge of every duty.
There is no other impulse of the human
character, which is SO inspiring, so un-
firing and devotional as that of love. This
is the bright allie of the affections, and
when they radiatc the home circle, they
eXpel from it every vestage OF dissention
and discord and in their stead germinate
the fragment tloweret of happiness.
Society thus formed can make cheerful
the waste and desolatc places, Tighten the
burdens of labor, and give zest and enjoy
ment to the rustic home. Here III this
lovely valley of yours, where nature has
been lavish III crowding upon it her rich
gifts OF fertility Of soil, of hcalthIul ell
mate, of enchanting scenery, with the
North Mountain reared in your defense
against the terTorS of the storm, ana inc
Blue Ridge stretching in the east, III all
her azure grandeur, to charm You rs you
look out, or move about upon tins mystic
vale, surrounded with all modern apph-
ances which enables you To hold inter
course with your friends, in the gorgeous
palace radiant with artificial light, and
dreaming beneath the luxury OF wealth,
raZeG with the brilliancy of literary Gull
ture. aud the profound logic of philoso-
phv. the humble hovel buried deep III the
frow ming mountain gorge ard darkcncd
bv the dense and towering forest, OF the
frontiersman's lonely hut, standing like 4
solitary sentinel far out from civilization,
all alike, one only made happy homes by
tn e rich profusion of virtuous affection.
The hopes and energy of the husband
man aC times are chilled by the blight OF
the adverse season, but this may De oN-
ercome by the fruitfulness OF recurring
good one. Not 50 with the evil acts OF the
vicious child or the indiscriminate harsh
ness of the parent, they dissiPate ardent
hopes, and freeze out the warm currents
of parental or tilial affection, leaving an
enduring aching void, that time fails to
fill up or alleviate and which only culml-
mates in dCspairing grave.