The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-21
W6WhT8 Tem;1n arS tne ~ D Brothers and Sisters
! of he National Gran1e

V ne National Grange: -.
4 WhenNpnt very recently WAS informet
that l was expected to represent you or
this OCCASION and reply to tho welcome
Of the Worthy Master and Brothers and
Sisters Of New York, so impressed was
Of my total inability to do justice to
either the National Grange or the Broth.
ers OF Now York, that I instinctively
shrank from tho overwhelming rcspon-
sibtlity OF the position. I forcsaw that rs
complete, studied, finished, able and elo-
quent address of the Worthy Master of
New York, and any poor, impromptu,
| cXtempOraneOus effort of mine, that 1t
would be rs II comparison was drawn
between this great Empire State, upon
whose soil We now stand, with her wide
spread boundaries, expansive lakes,
mighty rivers, great cities and towns,
her enormous agricultural, commercial,
and wealth, her dcnse population and
great political power, and the small,
sparscly populated, weak and impover-
| ished State from which come.
But In common with all these BROTH
crs and Sisters l am glad that am re-
ciplcnt of this welcome and participant
] IN this scenc--a scene 80 heavily fraught
with thought, sentiment and Significance;
| q scene that speaks volumes In praise,
vindication and defence Of the great and
good Order under whose auspices we
now meet; scene that gives full and
conclusive answer to the many imputa-
ttons and charges that have been made
by our enemies, all through this broad
land, that we arc band of secret con-
spiratOrs, rcvolutlonists, agrarians, COM
mnnists and socialists; and I would not
be surprised to hear that, ayailing them
selves of the name OF our Worthy Sccrc-
tary, c'Ireland,'D they should charge us
with being "Fcnians," fresh from
not charge us with evil dosign and bad
intent, amused themselves with assert
ing that the Ordor was dead or dying,
declining aud languishing. For an an
swcr to such, point them here to New
York, which, although "Wayne' Is at
the head Of 1t, is not waning but waxing
stronger, proving that there is nothing
IN name, and that rose by any other
name would smell as sweet" II this is
waning 1 would we had ''Waynes in
every State. No; with "Wayne" at
the head and an "Arm"-strOng to back
him, the Grange will not die In this
State. And jtis we'll now and here to
announce to those both IN and outside
our gates, that this great and good Order
OF Patrons of Husbandry Is not dead; is
not dying; cannot die; must not, shall
not die! Some Of the most beautiful at
tributes and characteristics Of our Order
are here typitied and symbolized. Who
are those men and women md where do
they come from? They come from every
State, every degree Of latitude and Ion
gitudc that traverscs this great nation;
they represent every variety Of soil, eli
IN a n n MI prrnf1nntfo hpfG
artiiicial; every type OF social status,
custom and habit; every phase OF politi.
cal atfiliation, opinion and belief; every
religious denomination, creed and doc
trine. But they do not bring these crc-
dcntials, nor can they be by these iden"
titled. When I reached my home from
the meeting of the National Grange in
Richmond, in 1878, 1 was frequently
asked rs to the political proclivities of
various prominent men, but I had to
truthfnlly reply, lido not know: ncvcr
know, and do not ask or care. What
credentials have thcyP They do not
bring broad parchments signed and
sealed by State or court officials. They
come with only few simple swords and
signs,' and by these you ''know' them.
What means these simple credentials?
Thct mean that each and every one of
these Brothers and Sisters, have, at their
homes where they were either born or
lavc long lived, been tried and tested
first by having their petitions endorsed
ferrcd to committee whose pledged
and bounden duty was to inquire and
report II any, the slightest charge, stain
or shadow, could be found against them
as good, honest, respectable and pure
passed by strict ordcnl ''within tlfe
gates" they then were pledged, as
brothers and Sister..n through sick
ness and health, through veal aud woe,
through prosperity and adversely, and
bound to every other IN Faith, Hope,
Charity and Fidelity.
| With these credentials you, Brothers
| and Sisters of New York, know and
| welcome us, and as such we receive it
from You. How far do these credentials
surpass quires OF manuscript covered
with broad scalsp See one Of these
New York Brothers transported with
| the rapidity OF steam to the utmost
confines Of Texas, drop him with a
| strange face and name amongst strange
| faces and names, and rs soon as he
makes these signs and speaks those
words, he Is surrounded by q band OF
Brothers and Sisters, who rally around
him, recognize and aid him In every
| ""S, VI t"no III" ny uiC hNHu "Hu carry
him without the slightest shadow Of
doubt, hesitancy or suspicion, to their
homes and fircsidca, and place him IN
tho family circle as II one by birth and
| blood. How much have these ties and
this Order done to harmonize and unity
tho people of the various sections of this
country: to obliterate and remove all
bitterness, hatred and jealousy; to heal
the breaches and wounds Of our late
civil warp So, do you not sec that In
the near future 1t will remove all sign
and scmblanco Of sectional strife; and
make us a harmonious and united peo-
ple. VIII not each and every one Of
you join me in saying confidently that II