The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-08-20
speech OF welcome 10 worthy
Master Darden.


Iemen. AT our last meeting when
it was announced that the Worthy
Master of the State Grange would
visit US on this occasionit caused
ripple of applause and enthusiasm
among our members-such as used
to greet the advent of some grand
old conquering hero. When quie-
tude was restored, one of our gray
haired and tried veterans, who was
among the first to espouse our cause
and whose warm generous heart
has ever beat anxiously for its sue
cess arose and said:
"Worthy Master: l move that the
Chair appoint some one to deliver
an address of welcome to our grand
young hero; it will encourage HIM in
his noble work and elf-sacrifice he
is making of home with its pleasant
associations, and will impress him
with the thought that his labor is
not in vain or unduly appreciated
by us, its greatest bene6ciaries."
Worthy Master Pit Dayden..
The pleasant duty of delivering
an address of welcome to you
was allotted to me. Being inexpe-
rienced and unaccustomed to such
duties l have entered upon that task
with some degree of trepidation and
embarrassment
But, sir, in behalf of Centerville
Grange, in behalf of the Oranges
and Changers of Newton county, l
bid you hearty, unreserved and
joyous welcome to our midst. AL
though we may not scatter floral
offerings upon the highway on
which you may tread, or stretch a
flower-decked arch with mott e.
and sentiments under which you
might pass; although we make no
demonstrations with Haunting ban
ners with their emblems, nor yet
with sounding horns or shrieking
flies, or rafting drums, or roaring
cannons, yet in the deep recesses of
our heart of hearts and with I'M
feigned emotions of gratitude for
the noble work you have accom-
plished, we bid you thrice welcome
Sir, in referring to the condition
of the Order in our county, l am
happy to represent to you that the
period of lethurgy and lukewarm-
ness has measurably passed away;
and an era of confidence, activity,
earnestness and practical utility has
happily dawned upon US.
But, sir, when we revert to the
past history our Order in this State,
il forces upon the mind solemn re-
Elections. We remember with pride
its advent; but, ah well! too well,
do we remember the dark period of
gloom and almost fatal relapse
which rushed upon us. Those dark
hours when many of our unthink-
ing, misguided and faithless men,
bers deserted our ranks and ere
turned like the dog to his vomit and
the sow to her wallowing in the
mire." But to those who abandon
ed our cause in the hour of its great
need we have no unkind feelings,
but pity them, and with outstretch-
ed arms we still utter the Macedo-
MAN cry, "Come over and help US. .
But, sir, during those dark hours
we remember with admiration the
unwavering confidence you ever ex-
pressed in the imperishahle princi.
| piles of our grand organization
| When many of the eloquent and
noble of our State who were erthu.
siastic during our prosperity were
hushed and relapsed into silence,
you, almost alone and unsupported
and with but little prospect Of ever
meager compensation, went from
place to place, from county to coun
ty, throughout our State, holding
our banner aloft and proudly pro
claiming that the principles of the
Grange were imperishable and they
: could never die.
To-day, sir, we give you hearty
cheer in your grand work. Goo
speed you in your grand mission O
instilling into our people those noble
principles that must emancipate the
laborer from thralldom and oppres
sion and elevate them to that plane
of intelligence and recognition tia
; the importance of their calling en-
, titles them.
Sir, | have mistaken confidence
in the ultimate success of theGrange
f Thrones and monuments may sinh
into decay, other human institu
: tons and organizations may fl
their missions and pass from the
memory of man, the names of he
roes and sages of this and othe,
, ages may become oblivious in the
fast whirling cycles and mutation,
of the future, but the grand heroe.
of our noble Order, those who have
tainted not by the wayside, will
) stand as mighty bulwarks between
. the oppressor and the oppressed
! ignorance and intelligence-th eii
names rejecting the brightest lustel
upon the galaxy of fame, and gen
erations yet unborn will pour forth
grateful benedictions upon Their
silent dust
A prominent farmer in a West
ern State said in an address not Ions