Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-22
ANNUAL ADDRESS
By Hon. Frederick Robbie. Master Of the
State Grange,
Before the atate Grange and the Public,
Assembled at Me0nian Hail. AuEustA,
Tuesday Afternoon, Dec. 81. 1885.

MAINE: we meet lOuay al Tue Cdpltai vi
our State in accordance with the provis'
ions of our State Grange constitution. to
consult and act together, so as to best pro-
mote the purposes of the Patrons of Hus
ban Try, and thereby make one of the bes'
organizations IN the country more eff.
cient for good in the State of Maine
Our purpose is to advance the interests OF
agriculture, "to labor for the good oil
our order, our country and mankind,
and to cultivate friendly relationship
with all other industrial pursuits.
cordially welcome the representatives OF
the several subordinate Oranges under
nv jurisdiction, to the responsible duties
of this occasion, and congratulate you all
for the MANY blessings which have
crowned our efforts during the past year.
The iabors on the farm have been fol-
! lowed by signal success. The Divine
promise which has never failed, that there
shall be seed time and harvest, has again
been verified. Let US be thankful that
the cultivated fields have yielded an
abundance for the toll of industry, that
the thoughtful care of the Husbandman
and Matron has been recompensed, and
that our rural homes are still the abodes
Of happiness, peace and plenty. The in
terests of agriculture which are so close
" allied with our organization, justly as
sert their claims for oar individual sup
port. and this industry should also be re-
cognized everywhere as the one upon
which universal prosperity and happiness
depend. Our mission therefore is prac-
tically of a public character. and we
cordially welcome the great public to our
opening exercises. AS on previous oc-
casiOns, we have today Invested ourselves
of the bands of secrecy, so as to make
known all of oar essential objects and
purposes. The secret part of our work
simply illustrates well known agricul-
tura truths, and renders more efficient
and impressive the obligations, cOnstitu-
tional provisions and ritualistic observ-
ances of our noble Order. Secrecy does
not extend beyond "a ceremony of initia-
ton which binds us in mutual fraternity,
as with band of iron, but although its
influence is SO powerful, its applica ion
is as gentle as that of the silken thread
that binds a wreath of flowers" 1t has
so far been very efficient to the ends for
which secrecy was instituted, and we are
satisfied that not only agriculture but the
higher attributes Of human character have
been promoted thereby. | congratulate
the Patrons of Husbandry of the State of
Maine, that Notwithstanding the special
efforts which have been m tde in many of
the States of this Union, where not only
agricultural population but wealth have
given peculiar advantages, that our CON
parativel, small State of Maine, repre-
senting but about an hundredth part of
the number of the farmers of The country,
is the first State in numerical strength in
this grand national organization. We
now stand at the head of the column
with 1917 active subordinate Oranges, and
with membership of nearly $1,000
Patrons OF Husbandry. We are proud
of our position but feel greater salts
faction in the fact that al of the conSti-
tutional provisions aud fundamental prin-
ciples of the order are fully recognized
and obeyed by our members, and the
declaration of purposes and ritual have
been, and will be, the guiding stars of
our continued prosperity. The great
success which has followed our efforts
cannot be claimed AS the work of any
one pcrsoa, but is the fruit of the united
and determined effort of the officers and
members all along the extended line of
Grange work. The same individual
interest must be continued during the
next wear, in order to hold our well
earned supremacy. We cannot over
estimate the intellectual advantages, the
social pleasures, the financial benefits
which the Grange has brought to our
members during the past year; these
considerations are we'll represented in the
great balance sheet of life which aggre-
gates the sum of individual prosperity
and happiness. Our principles, purposes
and work at home speak we'll for our
order, and commend its cordial support
to every farmer in Maine.
1t seems proper that should speak of
the recent meeting of the National
Grange held in the city of Philadelphia,
the metropolis of the agricultural State
of Pennsylvania, full of the monuments
of early patriotism and the results of
continued prosperity. The Subordinate
Grange is the unit in tn, economy and
workings of our organization, aud the
National Grange is the high court of
Jurisdiction, and its proceedings aud
recommendations should be carefully
considered. The twentieth annual session
of the National Grange was called to
order by Worthy Master Put Darden of
Mississippi, in Musical Fdnd Hall,
Philadelphia, Wednesday forenoon, Nov
ember 10Th. The hall was beautifully
decorated with Bunting aud flags, utter
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