Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-18
MAINE STATE GRANGE.
Third Day Of tn Annual Session in This
City.
Ehs ODcers-E1ect Installed in the Aftsr.

-. esAG A1t0r.
Yesterday was the third dav of the animal
session Of the Maine State Grange in tbi,
city. The attendance was hardly - large a,
on the previous day, as the members had he.
gun to return home. Bot it vas the same
good natured gathering Of the previous two
days, and perfect harmony prevailed. One
feature of the morning was the gratu.
itous distribution of copies of the Maine
Farmer and Home Farm among the patrons
Inc forenoon session opened at 80 A. M
with Worthy Master Robbie in the chair. and
the remainder of the officers in their resnac.
tive places.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and accepted.
The worthy master announced the follow.
ing committee on officers reports and ad.
dresses: NJ. B. Hunt, Charles Gilman. d. NJ
Hall; Sisters, d. H. Thing, Rufus Ham.
On printing: Fred Richie, Geo. Psrcber
Nelson Ham, H. H. Hart, S. Fl. Hiepin,
Sisters, D. F. Field, d. M. Hall, A. G.
True. "
| An hour and half was devoted to the ex.
emplihcation of the unwritten work.
| Inc report of the committee on claims and
grievances was read and accepted.
An amendment to Article l Of the Constitu-
tion, Coming from the National Grange, relative
to the eligibility for membership in district and
county oranges, allowing only those to &C,
IN such oranges who are recommended by
subordinate oranges as qualified and worthy
candidates for membership. was indorssd.
The amendment to the Co institution GIVING
the mas ter of the National Grange the RICH,
to vote as q member of the executive com.
mittee, was ratified.
An amendment to the Constitution making
the meetings of the National Grange biennial
instead OF annual was adopted Master Robbie
stated that he had introduced the amendment
into the meeting of the National Grange
where it had received a passage after muct
opposition. His objection to annual session,
was based on economical grounds.
The amendment to reduce the membership
fees from 50 to 81, met with much oppos
ton and was refused an Endorsement by ,
heavy vote.
These amendments are passed by the Ma
tional Grange and if accepted by three ,fourth
of the subordinate oranges become a portion
of the Constitution, but otherwise are invalid
At 1890 the meeting adjourned until after
noon.
AFTERNOON.
Several amendments. not of public interest
we're brought up and acted upon.
Hon. d. H. Thing. chairman of the com
mittee on agriculture, read the committee
report. He reviewed the great advancement
which had been made in agriculture durinl
the last quarter of q century, and held tina
| tho "a forftpoa yvhich had
have largely been derived from the hard la
Dor Of the husbandman. The grange. he held
should stand between the producer and ab
sorber, to see to it that the former wa
, rightfully rewarded for his work. The es
, Enlistment of national experiment station
was advocated and it WAS urged that there
should be national department of agricul
ture, the head of which should occupy q sea
only second to that of the secretary of State
The convention was advised TO accept tina
, portion of the WORTHY Masters address re
lative to agriculture just as it stood and tn
suggestions therein were characterized a
wise, timely and pertinent. The worthy
master was regarded as having the courag,
Of his convictions and highly commended 70
his course as master of the grange. Thes
references to Gov. ROBBIE were vigorously ap
plsuded. The report was accepted by tn
convention.
The report of the committee on officers
salaries was read and accepted.
s. letter was read from Sister Rose w
. Richie of Winterport.
Hon. Edward Wiggin of the committee Of
education, read the report of that committee
Education was characterized as the most pc
tent influence in elevating mankind. Thu
free public school is one of the most impor
tant factors in educating. We would recon
! mend uniformity of textbooks, the abolition
of the district system and adoption of tn,
town system; that school supervisor
and officers should give more attention to thei
duties, and every citizen should make the i'm
provement of educational facilities matter o
personal effort. The State college was in
dorsed by the report and liberal appropria
tons for that institution recomme nded.
The report of the committee on mutua
aid was offered. 1t was devoted chiefly t.
matters pertaining to the Patrons Mutua
, Aid Society, which 10 an insurance organiza
ton.
The officers elect were installed by Pas
Master Ham, assisted by Past Chaplain Par
sons, about an hour being occupied. AT
o clock q recess was taken until
EVENING.
The convention met at 7.30 o'clock whel
some 81 degree members received the nftf
degree, it being conferred by Kennebe'
Pomona Grange, the process requiring one
hour and forty five minutes.
The committee on resolutions reported
through its chairman, Hon. z. A. Gilbert
The resolutions, which are not of importance
to tine public, we're accepted.
A resolution of thanks to the railroads fol
favors. to Hotel North and Cony House fo
hospitable treatment received, and to Capital
Grange for entertainment furnished, wa
given passage.
The committee on printing reported il
favor of giving the printing to the Dirigt
Rural at a reasonable compensation. as it is
the original grange paper. The report wa
given a passage.
Voted, That the executive committee pro-
cure the printing of sufficient number o.
the proceedings of this grange; also of the
register and that the usual number of copies
be sent to the subordinate oranges.
vote of thanks was extended to the Ken
nebec Pomona Grange for the admirable
manner in which they had administered thu
fifth degree.
Mr.. Thing said he believed there was neve
a time when the farmers in the state were 81
ripe for the grange movement as now, and hi
urged vigorous campaign.
The committee on good of the order re
ported through its chairman, j. w. Lang