Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-05

Brethren and iSIsters--MemJers Of PcnHsyI'
uania STATE Grange, p. Of IL.
In greeting you to-day | extend to
each of you hearty welcome to this the
ninth annual session of our Grange. En-
couraged by your mere presence l am
also cheered by the evidence thus given
of the vitality of the Oranges you repre-.
sent, and by the conviction that shall
have your hearty cooperation in devils.
ing plans and meaps to perpetuate and
extend our beloved Order. We come
from all sections OF the State, and from
circumstances which in many OF their
features differ widely from each Others
but unfortunately, in one sad particular
we as farmers have had one experience,
and share a common lot. The past year
has been to most of US time of disap-
pointrnent and sore trial. The unex'
ampled heat of the Summer following
the extremely cold Winter has made our
efforts vain, and the products in almost
every branch of our calling are far be-
low that which has been regarded as
reasonable return. TO those who feel
that they have faithfully done their du'
ty with the means committed 10 their
hands there remains the compensating
privilege OF every true Patron TO still
place his trust in God and nurture hope.
lie who now sends apparent disaster is
the same who has given us every good
and perfect gift, aud who makes all
things to work together for the good OF
those who love Him. Recognizing the
Supreme Being, as all who enter our
Order do, we may feel assured that as
He has given us seedtime He will
send us harvest, and that 10 each one
will come finally that measure of pros.
perity which will best fiji us to fulfill one
mission.
oUR ORDER.
1t shonld be with no ordinary feeling
of satisfaction that we recall the ioun.
dation of the great society known as the
Patrons OF Husbandry, and contem
plate the work which already it has
achieved. Established for the benefit
of the agricultural class, ard looking
chiefly to their intellectual and social
improvement, il has in the few years
which number its existence wrought
wonders in these particulars, and been
seryiceable in every point IN which II
has affected them. Starting in its be.
neiicent career from that city which
hears the honored name OF one OF the
most successful farmers America has
ever known it has spread through all
the States, aud numbers It's adbereuts
by the hundreds of thousands. None
have entered its gates and oheyed ITS
precepts who have not been blessed m
return and even those without, whose
callings render them ineligible 10 mem
hership. have been benefited 10y their
nearness to an Order which makes
every member bitter farmer. a wiser
citizen and happier man.
~ Our owS STATE.
The year which Is closing has been
one Of greater prosperity 10 the Grange
within our States than were several
which Immediately preceded It. \
number of dormant GrtnEers have been
revived. some of which have ShONn
great activity and have become very
strong thus proving that they might
have maintained their yisor. nnI gone
nn in an uninterrupted cttecr at pros.
perity II those who formerly managed
Ihe.r affairs had done their fuIi duty.
FNntlt new nave Ntf'tf til tNf affls
ne will be seen by the report of our
Worthy Secretary and in others many
new members ARE reported Few per
sons now seek admission t. our og'lrr
who are not actively engaged in aarlcu.
raj pursuits and of th"ss not AZ engaged
who ~ former years were received many
have left, thus producing the unity of
sentiment and rurpn." which j. Essen
tial To- harmony ard ,thcir4ry 4 our
purposes and methods have become
better known to nur fellow citizens.
they have been more fully appreciated
and highly approved shd now there
are but few persons v no do not scknpwl.
edge the necessity for our organic ,tiUn,
and the goodness OF its work.
FINANCES.
\ year ago we were favored in hear
ing from my honOred predecessor the
announcement that the great debt
which had burdened us was provided
for, and that upon the payment of the
further sum then due To our worthy
secretary we would meet all our iinau.
cial obligations. This has now been &C.
Complished; aud in our organized ca.
pacity we are in that condition Of free
dom from debt in which our principles
teach all our members TO abide. trust
that while we maintain that activity
and seek the improvement which ne
cessarily involves the expenditure Of
money, we will carefully avoid the in
curing Of Indebtedness, which expert
ence has shown us is a. detrimental to
an association as to nm individual.
The energy and caFefulness exhibited
By our Executive Committee in arfang.
ing with various business houses for the
purchase OF goods by our members are
worthy of much commentator. The
arrangements which they effected have
resulted in the saving of thousands OF
dollars to our people and have given
lessons in purchasing. and OF the adj
vantage OF buying and selling for cash
which can hardly be over estimated. It
Is to be regretted that so many of our
number do not fully avail themselves
Of these arrangements. and give their
xafrOuaoa IN tho hnuana txhfch ahaw N