The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-22
RUTLAND GRANGE p. n.


Address.
At meeting of Rutland Grange, Patrons o
IIusbandry, on Friday evening of last week
,Jan. 14,h), the following officers for the cur
rent year were installed w. NJ Rowland of
iciating:
L. G. Douglass, NJ.
Mrs, J, X. Spencer, O.
Mrs Milton Piester, l..
f. Wheeler, s.
ID. G. Barnard, A. 8.
j. X. Spencer, c.
A. G. Barnes, Sec.
Mrs. Trenary, G..
Mrs. J. Il. Shaver, L.
Mrs. Parr, +,
Mrs Douglass, l.. A. 5.
At the close Of the installation ceremonie,
the following address was delivered by f
Rowland, W. NJ.
THE ADDRESS.
We come together on this festive occasion
from our different homes scattered over these
pralres, not rs strangers with cold fOrmalty
but as brothers and sisters united by til,
strong mystic ties of our order. We give ant
receive the warm fraternal grasp and feel tina
we are iricnds-those that will rejoice with u
in prosperity, lend the helping hand in al
vcrsity, and minge the tears Of sympathy
with ours in sorrow How these reunion,
gladden. the heart IT'S but recently that we
became familiar with the word GRANGE, but
oh how we have learned to love its many
pleasant associations The grange meetings
a.. ia, IA II,
others, the warm friends we have made thro
the last graNge. The years come and 20 alm0s
unheeded by US, bringing their duties care.
and responsibilities. The past is soon forgot
ten, save here and there a bright or sad spo
that fingers on the tablet of memory, yet the
influence of our lives reaches far out into thu
future.
AS the new year, upon which we are JUS
entering, is opening up before us with all it.
untried realities; our hopes our aspirations
and desires reaching out into the future, it IL
well to Z lance backward to the recedIng sh ores
of the past, to CLEAN whatever we may be able
To assist in guiding the future course of oul
lives through the channel Of life, that will
lead TO the nOOeSt and best results.
Those OF us who have either by choice OF
force of circumstances made agriculture our
avocation well know that it is no sluggard's
calling to be a successful farmer. That to be
all that that term implies, requires Ali active
studious, thoughtful life. We also realize tht
importance of calling to our aid every availa
BILE help that comes within our reach
Probably in no other age or country has an
agricultural people occupied so prominent
ana important u position rs the American
farmer at the present day,
The busy, throbbing world is making rapid
strides in all that tends to raise man TO q
higher and nobler sphere than he has occu
pied in the past.
The introduction and use of steam and cleo
trlcity have almost annhilated space and
given an impetus to manufactures, travel and
transportation.
The early settlers of our country made theiI
homes around the harbors and along the navi
gable streams, depending almost entirely upon
the waterways Of nature for their communiCa
ton and commerce Their task was an arduous
one; with rude homemade implements of us
bandry they could produce but little besides
what their frugal wants required. AS time
passed and settlements were pushed onward
toward the setting sun, they still made theil
homes along the borders of our lakes, forests
and rivers hewing out their homes amid the
wIlds of nature, lutte realizing the grand posi-
bilities that awaited our country in the neal
future. With the advent of railroads and
steamboats, settlements were pushed far on
over the vast undulating prairies, converting
them into pleasant, smiling homes. Where bu
yesterday the Indian and buffalo roamed will
we find today, be refinement civilization anC
enterprise. We can hardly go beyond the civ
Il.zlng power of steam in all our land.
The improvement in implements and ma
chinery applied to agriculture has not been
less marked. The sulky and gang.plow ha.
taken the place OF the wooden mould-board
pillow, with which the pioneer first stirred tn,
prairie soil The corn planter, the seeder and
drill the place of hand labor The bright pol
lshed cultivators have replaced the rude hoe
The mower, the reaper anu the thrashing ma
chine are dong the work that formerly was
done by human muscle. The early settlers
OF cour country have done nolhe-wrought GU
and filled their missions. May their memory
be ever kept fresh and green by us.
We find the current of progress and improv
IL.