The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-04-23
THE ELkTON GRANGE.
is Sixth Anniversary, Dinner, Speeches
in Odd Fellows Hall.

is Sixth Anniversary, Dinner, Speeches
in Odd Fellows Hall
The sixth anniversary of Elk'1n Grange,
'airo!iS OF Hu>hanary, was rerirateI ~
he members and :. large number Of invited
nests, at Odd Fellows Hall, on Tue>la,
afternoon. The Grange is in honri<hin:
'"ndirion, ANA its members are all enthu.
';.>tic admirers Of the principles OF the il,
'irution. The lady members had prepare.
most boun'itnl and inviting dinner. which
vas spread in the main audience room ~
lie hall The members ami guests "a,
iowu at o'clock and for an hour or NOR,
trict attention was paid to the discussion
| It the tempting viands.
After all We're -ted, the company ad
"nrncd Ia their lodge room, on the thirr
!"ol, for the purpose N Slcial intercourse
range Master b. Il. Chambers pre>id rd
assisted hr Oyerseer d. Harvey. The pro-
| ceilings We're rather OF an informal char
| rier, but exceedingly Interesting. Af,er
| inging, led by Miss Eva Perkins, who pre-
ded at the organ, State Master, II. O
| Devrrs, of Baltimore, WIS introduced, VIII
| entertained the assembly bv - witty au,l
pninted speech, devoted most particularly
| n the duties and privileges of GrnnrrrS.
! Contrary to our view OF the matter tn.
| speaker seemed 10 think that the glory of
| the American farmer had departed, but IL
he named a remedy-the Grange-we i"
lya isS,a IT.a - I,
-,iUcation not book learning only, bnt u
thorough familiarity with the history of the.
LAY and its events, a knowledge of the do
ings OF all the world, so that the farmer
may be - well able 70 Judge of the proha-
BILE demand AL over the world for his pro-
ducts as the SPECTATOR in them. He
lScribed the failure of the farmer class
whirh he said comprises tifty-two one-hun-
'iredthS Of orr populat;on-to WELD a
greater influence in shaping the destiny of
our country 10 stupidity and lack of com
binatinn. To the latter he gave the credit
for all the good things enjoyed by the farm.
er, and il existed only in so far as the
Grange flouriSle1. To This lack of cooper
alton he aScrihed the fact that there are to-
day hut two farmers in our National Iegis-
lature, which he said should be at least one
half of this class. He spoke 1T length upon
the advantages of cooperation in the sale
of produce and purchase of materials, and
commended TO the Grange the co-operative
store on Camden street, Baltimore, in which
he appeared 10 take great interest His
speech was greatly enjoyed, being inter
SperSed with witty remarks and anecdotes
He was followed by Rev. John Suuier, of
Port Deposit, who if not Il Granger is GER
family very nearly one. He opened with Il
Innegyric upon the social elements Of the
Grange, AND exalted il above all other secret
societies on account of the fact of the mem
5ership of the ladies'. Social com hinationS
of men alone soon lapse, said the speaker
into harbariSm, and the Influence of the.
presence of women in the Grange protects
it from such Il fate. He spoke of the vast
influence for evil exerred by the great rail !
road corporations and monopolinS of the T.
country and said thar he farmer could fight !
combination Ivy com hinnfinn. War b,.tween /
communistc or socalisiic combinations and /
these great monopolies wouid he the result |
were it not for the vast conservative agri- /
cultural element which arrested il. HI. |.
said that the farming class was the only .
great class in the country that WAS not con- ,
suited when legislation affecting their in |
feresiS is about 10 he enacted. If anew !
loan is to be made and Il new rate of inter
est 10 be established, the law makers with I
their hats in their hands are oft TO New
York to consult the money dealer There.
But if three Thousand miles of farming ,
land is to he given 10 some great corpora
ton the law making power never dreams of !
consulting the agricultural interests. For |
This, rs one reason, the farmer should be
more fully represented in onr legislature
After speaking Of the dependenre of all !
other classes upon the farmer, the speaker ,
Closed with some witty remarks. leaving
his audience in g laughing humor
y nrmher of other speakers were expect
ed To be present, hut from some cause they
failed. This closed the regular programme.
An invitation was given, however. 10 any
one present who desired to speak, to which
George A. Blake, Esq, of the Elkton Bar,
responded in a short and spirited address
He said though not a Granger, he was the
son Of an enthusiastic member Of the Order,
and fully sympathi2rd with the institution
III all its features. He urged strict atten-
lion TO the educational feature of the Order,
and complimerted the agricultural classes
very highly, ranking them as the safest TO
which to entrust the destiny Of the country
His address. though quite short, was very
effective.
This closed the exercises, and after sing
ing by the entire assembly, the meeting ad-
iourned, all present feeling highly gratiticd
at the result of the sixth anniversary of
Elkton Grange.