Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-17
Annual Address OF Worthy Master
RUFUS Prince.

Following is the annual address before
the State Grange by Worthy Master Rufus
Prince:
The cycle of another year has passed,
aud we are here assembled for the seven.
teenth annual setsion, to consider the inter.
ests of the farmers of our State, and to
devise methods BY which we believe their
interests may be adv anced, morally, socially
and finar cislly.
Seed time and harvest have passed, and
the husbaudmsn has been rewarded by the
fruits of bis labors While we are Dot able
to record ary unusual prosperity, sill we
believe we have reason 10 return our heart
felt thanks to the Giver of all good, for
multiplied bic ,sings which we have received
and are able to enjoy.
While our membership has not increased
to so grea. an extent as in some former
years, still our organization has moved
steadily forward. and our influence for
good steadily increased.
Our impress has been felt in the national
legislation of our country. Our farm homes
have grown pleassntsr under our il Iilaence.
until today we can look upon our noble
order of Patrons Of Husbandry az the grand
est aud most powerful farmers organization
our country. or even the world, has ever
kuown.
1t is our constitutional right to enjoy the
fruits Of our labor, still our business is
hampered AZ d paralyzsd by artificial mea1s
and prices, robbing the producer OF the
fruits Of his lsbors. Trusts are. from day
to day, becoming a greater power Ia our
land. AMI are standing monuments Of evil.
Labor is shadowed upon every side by
combinations and trusts, hencs it becomes
the duty of the American farmer to unite
in maintaining his rights against every
power, agsinst every combination that
threatens his welfare in any respect We as
| patrons should demand tight and justice to
all. and be ever ready, ever willing, ever
anxious to protect the husbandmsu from
every form of abuse. We should, in the
future, as in the past, be ever ready to use
our best forts in elevaiiag and developing
| the intellectual, moral. social and financial
cordition of the formers of our country.
To do this successfully we must do it
with Faith in an over-ruliDg Providence,
| with Hope in full reward for our lahore,
| being at all times Charitable towards the
ur fortunate laboriug with an uoswerring
Fidelity to our principles, and persevering
until we, 10 the end, ,rample tyranny, com
binstions and trusts under our feet, and
bring Justice to all to the front
| II will be seen by the report of the
treasurer that there was in the treasury, at
the commencement Of the year, the sum OF
o.. GOAL.
During the year there has been expend-
ell:
For expenses OF Execut Committee. seo9 q
For ststionery II &c
For Deputy work, go Il
The State Grange has also invested 10
the Patrons Cooperative Corporation the
sum of 81, $50, or nearly one-half of the
capital ste ck of that corporation. which il
q. present $40 900 90.
| Seeing the great interest We bad in the
welfare of this corporation. with no pro-
vision in our organic laws for anyone to
| look after our interests, hAvs taken il
upon myself to do 90. By the kindness ol
the trustees and treasurer l have been
enabl ID 10 exsmine the stock and books and
can cheerfully commend it to all. 1t does
not only Wholesale but = retail business
for the accommodation Of its many patrons
and have DO doubt that /; could be mora
generally pauonizsd to the great benefit o'
our ORDER. This corporation vas organ
ized in 1877. and since that time has done
an annual business of about 9l25 900, and
has nov on hand about 81 900 of surflui
earnings of the past year
| Owning 40 We do nearly one half OF III;
capital stock Of the corporation, it voult
.eem that we have been very remiss in oul
Continued on ish pase.l