Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-06
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1881.
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We might snsves The question by ashirs,
il the home. The family hearth ssons, worth
What e cosssS Il ons government With
its lau and order, the psosecSioa given TO ifs
citizens, and all the privileges moved BY
them under il, worth what il c3snf Are
our public schools and institutions Of Learn
Jog, our benevolent and feformasory ins.i-
tufions expensive beyond their real value?
Do habits Of Temperance and virtue pay for
tie seif-denial and strict conformity to
princi2ie that they cost? In short, does IL
pay TO employ those neans necessary TO
mako lie what God intended il should be.
happy, prosperous and successful2 Well,
We and men that say no to each AID all Of
these questions. IL not in vords they Ger
ssiniy do by their acts. Ard 90 We dnd
members II fhe orde, Of Patrons Of Hus-
bsndsy Who deny the inestimabk worth Of
the grange by the attitude they sssume to-
vssdsis. They withheld their support Of 81:
tendance upon the meetiHss Of the grange,
and participation in grange work and BY
their general bearing say that they are IN
friendly to the only organization ever de-
sised that effectively lifted the farmer TO
tss. plane in society. Of position And in
fiuence, that rightfully belong to him.
That the grange has done this no one can
successfully deny. And il this alone was
oil thst had been accomplished for the
American farmer through this organisation,
the expense can only BE- counted tf,fling
compared with benefits worth 90 much
To be sure it costs something to be good
patron, the same - IL costs something to
enjoy III, blessing Of home and family, or
to be respectable Q member Of society. II
o,st. Al aud asrrfAaa . tsk TINA
to attend the meetings, and preparation to
as.is: in making them profitable ard inter-
esiiog, and . small smouIt Of money to
provide for contingent expenses; but
it costs vastly more to remsin outside
the gates. or to enter them and then take
the position Of antagonism. that every one
practically does who 10 not in full sy mpa-
thy with the purposes and activities Of his
or her grange. tree loaded with the
most luscious fruit, free to all who would
pluck and eat, would be no better than .
barren tree il the fruit was not partsken Of
To reap the benefits that The grange mskes
possible. the individual member must i'm
prove bis opportunities, he must give as
we'll as receive, and he will Often thereb:
find it to be "more blessed to give than 10
receive "
GI6CtlCAl CbUptFhLiuu IL WAL needed
ia The organization today in order to bring
out and show its fullest worth. II the
membership Of the order were in acc ,rd in
any line Of action suited to advance their
interests, what strides would be made
towards their attainment In business
matters it has been demonstrated over and
over sgain that most satisfactory results
can be obtained when coufienc and Co
operation Join hands. In political matters
something has been accomplished in the
interest Of agriculture, and the lifting of
burdens from those engaged in ii, through
the influence that the order exeris in mould.
ing public sentiment. and by the efforts of
comparatively few earnest patrons in de
handing rights and privileges that belong
to the tillers Of the soil fairly and Justly
But it must be clear to every thoughtful
farmer, be be in or out Of the grange, tina,
something more than public sentiment and
the demanding of just rights, even, is nee
essary in order to secure them at the hands
Of political demagogues and vast moneyed
powers. as was so unmistakebly shown In
the Name Legislature last winter on the
isxstion question. This question, il sd-
justed fairly and eqaiiably, must be ad
justed by men loyal to the farmers interest,
and such men the farmers mus. elect to
office. Can they do it? Most certainly
they can, if they will only act together
And it must seem 8 plain case by the man
ner in which the question, of all questions,
before the last Legislature was Disposed
Of. that il an equal tax law is ever enacted
in this State, differently constructed
body from the Legislature OF lsst winter
must enact it. The plain course for those
10 take then, who are suffering the ipjus.
lice Of unequal taxation, Is to act together
at the next State election, and vote for
men pledged to do them justice.
Ia educational matters, in spreading USE
full information upon timely topics pertain
ing to the farm and home, IS well as those
of general public interss', the grange has
been, aud is valuable to our farming COM
munities beyond calculation. The evil
dence Of this is seen ia the improved
farms. and improved methods OF husbandry
among patrons, and the better knoxlsdge
that they have Of things in general, The
subordinate grange lie q grand school whsn
put TO its best use, that Of impartipg and
receiving practical knowledge. and he is q
dull scholar indeed who will attend the
meetings of = live grange and cannot add
TO his store of kno sledge from the render
ing Of the average grange programme
10 the matter OF furnishing protection and
aid ID patrons thrt ugh QUE fire and life To-
,u,snce companies At much less expense
aid greater security than stock companies
afford. there is also seen the worth of the
granpes. In the matter Of life insurance
especially. do not thick the patrons Of
Maine sppreciste the importance and value
Of the Patrons Mutual Aid Society. II
they did, IL seems to me more Of them
would avail themselv,s Of the benefits it
offers Protection, self preservation is one
Of the strongest instincts of the human
mind. for il man will plead and fight, aud
pay his last dollar. when brought to bay,
AID yet here is an organization incorpo
rate under the State laws. founded on the
principle OF mutual benefit and fraternity,
conducted on an economical and a sound
business plan, that prote cts it's bene 6ciaries
to the extent Of one Thousand dollars
against want and desti,ution ata low rate
Of expense. still the great msj iity of pat
rons stand sloof from it, ard thus are not
benefited By it.
The last but by no mears least, of the
benefits that the grange sffords Us mem
hers. that will speak of, is the social in
tercourse ard opportunities for extending
personal acquaintance that they have by
meeting together and visiting between
sister oranges. In this one respect The
grange has done more to relieve farm life
of dizziness and loneliness, and to Danish
isolation Than oil other influences combined
Through this channel Of intercourse farm.
ers widely separated by location are made
rear neigbbors, and are afforded the benefits
of each Others society. where they can be-
come acquainted and lesrl each Others
worth as friends, So brothers and sistefs of
srest fsterrity. Visiting between
graz ses, and TIE iaterch sngs of courtesies,
is 4 practice that esnaot lie too highly COM
mended as by it our sympxthies are broad
sned ard love for the work of the order
srens haned. So with the uatold benefits
that the grange has already afforded, with
the possibilities II off Rs no one csa reason
ably say that the grange cost more than is
is worth.
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