The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-12-19
Annual Meeting of the Vermont
STATE Grange.

The seventeenth annual session of the
Vermont State Grange began at Capital
Hall, Montpelier, Wednesday, December
II. The meeting was opened in form by
Worthy Master A. MesSer about forty
oranges being represented by the members
in attendance. After the appointment of
the committee on credentials recess was
taken until afternoon when the committee
on credentials reported a representation as
stated above. The worthy master then de-
livered his annual address, which was re-
ferred to the committee on division of labor.
The report of Treasurer G. j. Bell was re-
ceived and referred to the committee on
finance. The report showed the amount of
cash in the treasury at the close of the fiscal
year to be S27230; the receipts amounted to
S425.19, and the expenditures to S440.46,
leaving cash balance of S257 05. The re-
port of Secretary l.. A. Flint was received
and referred to the committee on finance
The report showed small increase in mem
bershlp since last year. The reports of mas
tiers and delegates of subordinate oranges
showed the order to be in very prosper
Gus condition in Vermont, with bright pros
poets for large increase in membership.
-Four amendments to the constitution of the
National Grange were submitted for adop-
non. All four were ratified. The first per-
lnits the reduction of the initiation fee to
the minimum sum of one dollar. The sec
ond permits the establishment of more than
IL
county. The third changes the number of
states necessary to ratify an amendment to
the constitution of the National G range
from hreefourths to two-thirds. The
fourth fixes the initiation fee of children Of
members of the order who are under
twenty-one years of age al one dollar.
AT the evening session the sixth degree
was conferred in full form the first time in the
state, after which the grange proceeded
with the regular order of business. Gen
eral Deputy a. A. Edison read his annual
report, which was accepted The subject
of course of lectures in the state by Colonel
j. II. Bingham of Ohio, master of the Ma
tlonal Grange, was presented by Worthy
Master Messer and fully discussed. Such
course will probably be arranged early
in January.
On Thursday the supplementary report of
the committee on credentials and the report
of the cOmmtte on division of labor were
received and adopted The annual election
of officers was then held, which resulted as
follows: Master, A. Messer of Rochester;
o, j. G. Newton of Brattleboro; H., f. b.
Pier of Rawsonville: s.. G. G.. Whitney of
East Bethel A. s., Dewitt Davis of Ches-
ter; c., f. f. Andrews of Berlin; r., G. j.
Bell of East Hardwick; q. r., q. NJ. Slack
OF Norwich; Ceres, Mrs. c. j. Bell of East
Hardwick; Pomona, Mrs. j. c. Newton of
Brattleboro; Flora, Mrs. G. f. Hart of
Sharon; l.. A. S., Mrs. Dewitt Davis of
of Brookfied and f. b. Pier of Jacksonville.
A resolution was introduced by j. G.. New
ton and adopted recommending that mem
bers of the grange and farmers generally
attend the primary meetings, so as to see
that proper men are selected for Office The
following resolutions, from the committee
on transportation, We're also adopted:
Resoiced That the State Grange of Vermont pro-
poses to hold the republican party to the fulllment
the PLATFORM OF the party the present
Resored, That whereas the law of Vermont creating
railroad commission is too inefficient 10 he of much
practical benefit to the farmers of the state, and
the legislature of 1855 neglected refused to pass
any measure looking toward the reduction of
freight ana passenger rates, II is the duty of the
good aud true men may be selected for the legisa-
ture In this way only can we expect to be relieved
from the free-pass abuse and extortonate freight
and passenger rates.
A resolution was also adopted requesting
the senators and representatives of YER
mont in the national congress TO use their
influence in sustaining and strengthening
the interstate commerce law,
Reports from the executive committee,
the committees on agriculture, good of the
order and education We're received and
adopted, These were excellent reports and
will appear in full in the printed proceed
ings The committee on publication pre-
sented the following report which was
adopted: " That IL il the wish Of the Yer
mont State Grange that the publication of
the Rural IermOnter be resumed as a non
partisan grange and agricultural news
paper"
At the evening session some time was de-
voted to receiving and discussing the gem
eral reports of standing committees, A
communication was received from the mas
ter of the Texas State Grange, extending
the fraternal greetings of the membership
in Texas to their co-workers in Vermont.
The secretary was instructed to respond on
behalf of the Vermont State Grange The
mil Ia of ipxE rit tap q
the order was called for and given in full
by General Deputy A. A. Edison. Follow
ing this a resolution was adopted request
ing the subordinate oranges to make the
subject of the State Agricultural College
and Experiment Station, as referred to in