Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-18

'cs Of the meeting vas accomplished when
y State ofnceYs we're elected, and shall
I've no offence when say shas ~ patrons
entered the highest honor upon lie most
iseanguished member, oar worthy md loyal
eosher Nelson Ham Of Lewiston, by elect
u him our AsSt State Master. He has faith
y hard working iaborer. but be has also
'sse recognized yearly in some oiaciaj CO.
Dacity, sod during our days Of progress and
loufs Of adversi'y be has never been found
wanting. We must also give great credit "a
- continued fsithfuiness and devotion Of
,ss worthy brother Hon. Daniel II. Thing,
who, after filing the ONCE Of State master
With honor snd fidelity has continued 70 be
sos Of the sentineis on the watch tower Of
gfnags progress. The great seccess Of
range principles 10 Maine is not due to tbose
Who nay have occupied conspicuous places,
but 70 the loyalty, labor spd faith Of the rsnh
md fle Of united band Of hush ndm<n and
usssons, Who have never doubted the pur
poses and great possibilities Of the order.
vsslatsss ssLAw.
Ny attention during my term Of once ha'
occasionally been called 70 palpsbie viols
don Of the rules Of our organization. have
entered much smbaTsssment thereby which
I would desire my successor TO escape. W.
have constitutional provisions FIXING the
amount Of admission dues and subsequent
fees. The charters which hang In svery
mage hall In the State recognize the soyer'
elrn power and force Of constitutional enact
nsnts. And there 10 . sacred Obligation
ssstinr upon ali officers and msmbers Of oui
order 70 faithfully obey all the obligations
impossd and accepted when they enrolled
the usslves members Of the order. II 10 moi
matter Of choice but Of duty. Let 10 bear
In mind that when one lav 10 violated and
brought into contempt the bad influence eI-
sends beyond. and vssksns the respect for
other Laws. The only safe rule Of practice
10 an explicit obedience 10 the letter and
spirit Of all ensctments, reserving the right
70 petition for such constitutional alterations
- may seem beet to serve the interest Of oai
common brotherhood. | am aware there
hes been no intention Of wrong and laws srs
sften vioisted without sufficient thought. bu
I am also aware 0ftentimes serious c0nse
quences and unpleasant criticism result
which call for . change Of base
and . better realization of the duties oil
solemn obligations.
Ths NaaieaaI Gvaags.s
The National Orange which met In Sacra.
mento, the capital Of California, November
18th, vas 10 many respects one Of the mos
important and interesting meetings that oui
has ever held. I cannot rscsl
any new important question that occupied tbs
time and deliberation Of the supreme cour,
k..e al.
achievements and triumphs we're discussed
and . strong and aggressive determination
vas manifested TO protect and advance the
interests OF the American husbandman. by q
strong and united pull Of its Patrons. and
bring to the front the vital principiei
and purposes Of our order.
Change Of the Consultation.
The following constitutional amendmesl
will be submitted for your ratifuatioDt or re
To amend article VII in regard u
Fees for membership" which now reads a.
follows; THE minimum fee for membershi
In . subordinate grange shall be. for mef
three dollars, and for women one dollar fol
the four degrees" by adding thereto the fol
lowing Provided that State Oranges shall
have the power to reduce the fees within
their respective jurisdietions to any sum no,
less than one dollar for men and fifty cent,
for women" The natural effect Of thi,
amendment will be the reduction Of initia
lion fees in all of the States TO one dollar fol
men and fifty cents for women. The weak
Or States are very anxious for the change.
and ask for your assistance. In determining
lhis important change in the constitution ex-
ercise your own judgment with full appre-
Il. Al 49, ~. h. r.I,~ k..
fected thereby.
Come sion.
The present meeting of the State Grange
must close my official relations ~ your Mas
ter. leave the high position which have
held for eight years with many pleasant MEM
Dries. and the strongest personal friendship.
The constant change which a series Of years
make In the history Of our lives 10 ssddened
by the many chairs. which today are found
vacant around this annual gathering of our
brother bood. Since my official duties com
msnced. death who knocks with equal hand
1t the door of the cottage and at the palace
Iate has been busy at his appointed work. -
md the c arters Of the National. State,
Pomona and subordinate oranges have
frequently been drsped with the en-
biems OF mourning Amidst the pleasant
outlines Of living and doing, which illus-
rate our present manhood and wOmAnhood,
which we are permitted to enjoy. | csnno,
refrain from casting a tribute Of the pro-
Ioundest respect and love upon the graves Of
hose broth ers OF the State Grange who we're
" conspicuous and active in grange work
.hen | vas first installed your State Mas
Ter. The names of brothers Nutter, Lord.
Hart. Thompson and others equally conspic-
,ous. are not forgotten, but will live forever
IN the pages Of grange history. How often
rave these brothers repeated in unison with
10 the 6rst great moral lesson Of the grange.
hat - good husbandman places faith in
iod:" and they were ever found faithful.
they "nurturei hope" dispensed charity. -
md we're noted for fidelity" May We
follow In their footsteps. leaving lasting foot
PRINTS Of the same faith on the shore Of that
Ireat river TO which We all are marching. which
. the dividing line between human exist
nee and better life. May our life in the
range be such ~ to meet the approval Of
he great Patron Of the universe, and Its re-
ulss be felt long after our places have been
llled BY others. And may its work be al
rays carried on in its original purity and
ficlency. To all the officers and members
rho have been associated with me In the
ctive work Of the Grange, | have nothing
o say but words of approval and thankful
'ess. There has not been during my term
4 ONCE one single instance Of the least I'M
or discomfort with any member.
{ has been with me q period of uni
orm kindness and goodwill for in my
erm Of Office We have increased our
ten thousand. commend the
sme loyalty and helping hand to the admin
stration Of my successor. and thus the grange
hip Of our noble State will sail onward over
'leasant waters to the haven Of our most
anguine expectations and grandest achieve
nent. 1t requires Christian faith. intelli-
ence and 10y atty to truthfulness and Justice,
. We look into the shadows of the future,
. avert the dangers and perls which beset
10. For these principles We must study and
lbor. The lives and acts Of eminent divines,
eroes, Statesmen. learned teachers and
uccessful merchants and mechanics are
nterwoven into the history and glory
Z the nation, but the safety aud security
( the country rest upon the will and
forts Of an intelligent and honest ycomanry.
hose interests are represented here today.
, one Of the grandcst organisations chat has
yer appeared to advance civilization and the
stion's beet interests. In conclusion
'ould cay;
sour fathers to their graves have gone;
Their strife Is past--th triumph won.
But sterner trials wait the race
Which rises in their honorrd place.
A moral warfare with the crime
And folly Of an evil time.
So let it be. In Gods own might
We grid US for the coming fight.
And. strong 10 him whose cause IL ours
In conflict with upholy powers,
We gra.p the weapons he hes given,
Tbs light and truth and love Of Heaven"