Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-14
The Fifteenth ANNUAL Session Of
the Texas State Grange.
The Important Features of the Address
of Worthy Master A. J. Rose.
Treasurer's Report.
What the Texas Organization Has Accomplished
in the Past, and the Future Pros
poets Carefully Set Forth.
THE STATE GRANGE, p. OF H.

met in its fifteenth annual session in the
Baptist church, McGregor, at 10 a. m,
being called to order by the worthy mas
ter, A. J. Rose of Salado, Bell county,
Tex. Other officers present: John B.
Long of Rusk, worthy overseer; Joseph
Caten, secretary; Il. c. Proctor, worthy
gatekeeper; A w. Buchanan, Bryan,
worthy lecturer; John J Ray, worthy
steward; James L. Ray, worthy assistant
steward; A. F. Hague, worthy chaplain,
pro tenn; John r Henry worthy treas
urer; Mrs. NJ. r. Ferguson, worthy
Flora; Mrs. f. G. Kennedy, lady apt
steward Some two hundred delegates
and visitors were present.
Messrs. jeff Scott, j W. Mailman
and W. A. Smith were made a commit
tee on credentials. Pending the report
of the committee Messrs. j j Ray, j
L. Ray and others improvised choir,
which rendered some inspiring selections
from the grange song manual.
H. @. Niblo of Williamson county was
elected assistant secretary. The Grange
having been opened in due form, mo-
ton was now made and adopted to make
the meetings public. Rev. Mr.. Clarke
delivered very interesting and enter
tanning address of welcome.
The address was responded to in a most
fehcltous manner by w. II. Harris,
delegate from Dallas county.
The personnel of this assemblage
is most striking; and yet this
is not to be wondered at when we reflect
that the grange is composed of the most
substantial farmers in the state. Here
is notable absence of the sanguinary
and revolutionary resolutions that char
acteriZe the average reform OrganiZa-
tons, so-called. The grange trusts
mainly to education, and, hence, moves
along conservatively-and yet it is ac-
comprising a grand work. 1t is claimed
by the leaders, and with pardonable
pride, that the grange has been the
greatest influential factor IN all the
healthy reforms for the past twenty
years, notably among which are the
Interstate commerce bill, the anti-fOOd
adulteratiOn bill, the railroad regulation
bills, the measure making the commits
sioner of agriculture secretary of agTi-
tuTe and member of the national caDi-
net, and many other reform and COR
receive measures.
The Grange is apparently organized
on Democratic principles. While the
Grange is the executive and administra-
tive head of all, its actions extend di-
rectly only to the social, moral, intel
lectuaI, educational and frater-
nal relations among its mem
bers, But it also encourages
and establishes business enterprises of
great magnitude It has d commercial
business, with wholesale headquarters at
Galveston, and subordinate associations
in many sections of Texas. These are
each under distinct charters and boards
of fredericksburg part OF the Grange,
yet independent of it in government. 1t
also has an insurance department, sim
ilarly organized, and fair manufacture
ing and immigration association-this
latter located about two miles
from McGregor. The initatory fair
will be had from October l to
Z inclusive. The fair grounds, being
400 acres of the choicest land, as already
inclosed, and an extensive pavilion,
offices, etc, have already been erected,
and plans are now out for large exhibit
ton hall, stables, etc, which will be
rapidly constructed. The Grange ex-
perimental farm is also located at this
point
The first business in the afternoon was
the comprehensive and instructive orders
of Worthy Master Rose. The following
are some of the striking features of the
address:
Brothers and Sisters of the Grange:
Would that had language to express
my feelings on the present occasion as we
assemble in our fifteenth annual session
in this beautiful and enterprising city of
the praIrie-in the center of this great
state. The cordial greetings we meet
with on every hand, the warm words of
welcome and this well arranged hall, all
speak eloquently that We are indeed in
the midst of those who love and cherish
our principles. The pleasure is greatly
increased by the presence of so many
cheerful faces who are ever present at
our annual meetings. The increased
number of new members and visitors
tend to strengthen the faith of the weak
in the power of the Grange to achieve it's
purposes. 1t was organized TO improve
the social, moral, intellectual and dnan-
cial condition Of farmers. Thus the
grandest work ever undertaken by man
for the general benefit of the human
race was begun. To succeed, required
sacrifice OF such character that few
were found viking to make it. Oppose
ton was met with on every hand by even
good and pure men, who believed that
such a movement would prove a
curse to society and country: con-
seqUentlY il took nerve to combat this
opposition But of all the hindeTing
causes, the greatest has been found
among our members. This class, like
some of those outside the gates, sought
to turn everything to profit for them
selves Failing to, do this, they posi-
lively and stubbornly declared they had
made all the sacrifice they could Tor the
good of the order. Those who have
chung to it through its days of adversely
have learned that strong resolutions,
calculated TO infleme the minds of the
people, adopted with enthusiasm by
rising vote, Is not the kind OF work con-
templated By the Grange. Its principles
are coextensiye With farmers needs. To
impress them upon the minds and hearts
of the people is a work of the greatest
Importance. When this is accomplished
a better future viii be assured.
THREE AMERICAS.
At our last session called your Rtten-