Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-13

that intimated to those who were making
mn the constitution and ritual, that she
stood on an equality on the farm with her
father, and suggested female member
ship with equality of rights and privi-
leges. 1t was this principle that was
recognized bv those who first founded
our institution, and it is this principle
that gives us power and strength, because
we do recognize that woman is our equal,
the coordinate of man. She can hold
any position in our association that any
of the male members can. The Grange
movement has accomplished wonders in
removing sectiC. Id animosities, the result
of tie civil war. 1t has brought to-
gether in common sympathy and
good fellowship the farmers of this
entire Nation. The Palmetto tree of
South Carolina and the Pine Tree of
Maine bend peacefully to the same
friendly breeze.
Our Grange is increasing. We have
i'm the United States almost one million
members welded to agriculture. We
have in our own State $1,000 members.
Each member is an important link in an
almost imperial chain. Separate the
links of this chain and let each one fail
out, and it seems to me that a great dam
age would be done to the interests of
Agriculture. Rather should other new
links be added that we may be more
powerful and thereby do more good for
the great interest to which we profess to
be attached. By acting together great
results have been accomplished in agri-
culture, finance, education, good morals,
social life, and the best interests of the
| farm.
Our country is a great one and it is fast
increasing. We shall soon have popu-
lation of one hundred millions, and wi /
we consider this fact it becomes us to do
all we can to educate the people. This is
one of the principles which attaches 10
the Grange. We favor popular education
through common schools, free high
schools and the agricultural college. And
my friends, it is one of the principles of
this organization to place faith in God.
This is one of the cardinal principles of
our order laid down in our ritual, and
these words are audibly repeated by all
at every meeting all over our land.
When in Europe l travelled through
Hungary, and was impressed with the
religious devotion of the peasants. Al
though they are ignorant. they place faith
in God. You can see the Cross in their
fields. 1t is planted at the corners of the
roads and in all public places. Often
times you can see it Oh the roofs of their
houses by an artistic arrangement of
different colored shingles. Chapels for
private devotion, statues of Christ and
his Apostles are common, and the hand
of faith from their fields points upwards
to what is understood by them to be the
abiding place of God. There they place
their faith. 1t is this faith which has
preserved them in their ignorance and
superstition. And let us always place
our faith in God. 1t is one of the ex-
amples and instructions handed down to
us from our forefathers.
have already detained you longer
than intended. This is cold Autumnal
wind and must draw near to a close
The State of Maine is one of the most
prosperous and intelligent States in the
Union. | regret that so many of our own
SONS and daughters have seen the neces-
sity of leaving us for other homes; but
rejoice to know that many of the one
hundred and seventy-tive thousand
natives of Maine who have gone west
are coming home again. For one hun
dred years our early fathers in Maine
lived almost within sound of the music of
the ocean, and subsisted largely on the
profits of commerce and what the ocean
and the wild game of the woods fur
nished. They then sought the new lands
of the interior. They were the faithful
representatives of New England enter
prise and push. They early found the
great lakes, passed over the Allcghanies,
and reached the mighty Mississippi, the
Father of Waters, and everywhere con-
verted the lands into productive farms.
Still onward the New England farmer
has pushed his way. Ever finding the
frontier a wilderness, he has converted il
into field of plenty and happiness.
There was nothing that could arrest his
onward course but the shores of the Pa
cific, and we have today in California
eighteen thousand of the natives of Maine.
Today | am happy to say that iron bands
connect Portland Oregon with Port
land Maine, and may they ever connect a
free and united people. May our State,
rich in resources, with its sixty-fOur
thousand farms, with an area of seven
teen thousand square miles still to be
settled, continue to be the abode of
virtue, happiness and prosperity must
now close. thank you for your kind
attention and bid you all God speed.
! (Applause).