Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-10
THE GRANGE IN CENTRE COUNTY.
EXTRACT TROM THg REPORT or LEONARD
RHoNE, oyERsEER, TO THE EIGHTH
ANSUAL SESSION or THE PESs.


In Centre the status Of the Grange
has not materially changed since my
last report TO the State Grange. A
gradual accession 10 our ranks has
been going on, and healthy growth
Of the Order and business undcrtak-
ings generally. All ;he subordinate
Oranges in the county, with the ex-
ception OF one, are in good standing
on the books Of the State Grange.
This is better than at the time Of my
last report Immediately after the
adjournment of the last session Of the
State Grange, n series of public meet
ings were held in all the subordinate
Oranges in the county but one. Dur
ing these meetings forty lectures were
delivered, mostly by Brothers DR..
Jane, Calder, Col. james i. Weaver
and myself; aud fourteen essays were
read by Sisters Weaver, Spanglcr,
Rhone and others. The arrangements
for these meeting, could not well have
been bctter-the subordinate Oranges
in most instances having engaged
churches or ball, aud employed good
singing classes, accompanied by in-
strumeutal music, 50 that the meetings
were not only instructive, but in many
cases feast Of entertainment in the
locality where they were held. These
public meetings are productive Of
much good in the way of keeping our
subordinate Oranges fixed to their
places, and Of gradually educating
public sentiment in favor Of the
Order.
| doubt very much whether there
was ever so much gratuitous and
cheerful labor bestowed upon any
cause by n devoted membership as has
been bestowed upon the Order Of the
Patrons Of Husbandry.
If you will allow me ] will enumcr-
aie a few of the results accomplished
by the Order in return for all this
dlligent labor and devotion that are
facts that Patrons can point to with
pride:
/. 1t has succeeded in building up
Patron, Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, Of nearly n million and a
half dollars Of insured property, in
les than four year-, for the sole benc.
fit Of Patrons. and has added nearly
half million during the last year, with
out any losses for two years.
>. 1t has succeeded in forming q
Patrons Cooperative Live Stock A..
sociation, for the sale of surplus live
stock belonging to Patrons, which has
maintained it-elf for over two years,
aud transacted business to the amount
of SIS, 900, with better and more sat
isiactory result. during the last year
than at any previous period,
3. Ii has succeeded in maintaining
the business relations Of the subordi.
date Oranges unincumbcrcd by mcr.
camille tax, that was imposed upon the
subordinate Grange to deter them
from buying in the cheapest and best
markets; and it has defeated the in.
stigator, Of the prosecution, and has
thrown the Commonwealth into cost Of
prosecution.
1. It has succeeded in organizing
n number Of Grange Libraries among
the farmers Of the rural districts for
the diffusion Of knowledge among our
class and n zeal for better schools, bet
ter farmers. better homes and social
relations among our people.
>. 1t has also succeeded in securing
representation on the Board Of Trus.
tcts Of the Pennsylvania State Agri.
cultural College by the election Of at
least five Patrons, and has the proud
record Of securing this representation,
in an honorable, straightforward way,
in an institution that was especially
designed 10 be agricultural. 1t should
be borne in mind this Is not local or
dcnominational school for sectarian,
or dcnomiuational purposes but that
it j. a State institution founded by the
State Of Pennsylvania, and endowed
hy the General Government for the
particular purpose Of giving n theo-
rclical aud practical agricultural aud
mechanical education to all those who
may desire to enter il, TO especially fit
themselves for agricultural and me.
chanical pursuits, and also TO prepare
them by a general collegiate education
TO enter any of the professions with
equal rank and ability with those who
may graduate at other institutions
but above other colleges in giving a
practical agricultural education TO the
farmer in n similar manner that a
theological seminary or medical uni
versity gives n practical education to
those that enter the professions.
Our worthy Brother DIR. James Cal.
der did efficient service for the college
during the nine years that he was
president of the institution. He en-.
tered upon his duties under very en-
barrassing circumstance, when there
we're but few students in attendance,