The Somerset reporter., 1891-10-08
FARM. GARDEN AN ID
IIOU SEIIOLD.
Grange Work For The Season


With another season for active work
opening before the patrons Of Maine |
cannot refrain from urging upon you the
importance Of commencing al once active
preparations for a campaign which shai
be- fruitful in years to come. The issues
# the past are with us, aud the possible
| ties Of the future ar, almost without limit
| il We grasp the work Of to-day with n irm
| hand and yield nothing Coming to the
Grange lIal- after tia busy season Of the
past few months, with the less ms Of the
| year fresh IN mind, 1t seems rs though the
| work for the winter might easily be map
ped out. No organization is self support
| ing. 1t rests upon the faithfu ness and
earnestncss of the individual member.
It requires hard work on the part of II ] t.
maintain al existence that Is worth i1FluR,
and it is equally true IF organizations
| The grange that is worth having Is the
one where sacrifices are made, and where
each member Is doing his or her whole
duty.
In my intercourse with the patrons OF
Maine, have seen so much accomplished,
and such grand results flowing in, ! want
ut this time to urge still great activity,
that the next six months may find the or
der on still niger ground. Maine has been
| blessed with good harvest this year, ana
the duty of the pat on is to study the prob
lem, that 1t may be utilized to his highest
good, The great problems of produc ION
and economical consumption ate stlli un-
solved. | rejoice that, MS an order, SO
much patient lnye stigatiCn has been given
| these questions, because of the fact that
| these farms are ours to cultivate. They
must also be made remuneratiye. 10 as
sist in this work, the grange was insttut-
ed, and grandly has 1t held to its purport.
| Because the question is not yet settled,
because combination of circumstances
still renders necessary the greatest activity
of brain and body, ! urge upon you, bro
theirs and sisters, that the winter campaign
be arranged with the thought of solving
as far as possible, those questions; that
the membership be aroused to the import.
nnce Of the introduction of eth more txict
business methods; that The value of the
farm products be fixed by II careful series
of experiments; that the future fertility
of the farms be increased by the consnmp-
ton of the grestest possible quantity in
the barns, aud the complete utilization of
theIwastes; that tho profitable feeding Of
grain be determined by accurate tests, snd
that all these be made subjects for earnest
discussion, in order that the grange may
DO of real benefit to its members.
| Passing to the home and the social cir
Gle there is here the same call for active
work, for patient investigation and discus
| sion Thankful for what the farm houses
of Maine are to day, there is need that
they be improved, that their influence may
sull further cuuuteract tendencies of the
times. We shall hold to the old hearth
stone ms We make it bright, warm and
sunny. We shall hold to the old farm MS
We bring into prominence its true worth
financially aud socially. and we shall best
lit the young people for active duties i'll
whatever sphere they may place them
selves, by using the grange to strengthen
the social qualities, and draw families into
closer relationship. The work of the com
ing winter then should be to determine
,hel lines of successful industry, and to
settle MS far ms possible the great problem
| of profit md loss, TO cultivate broader
charities II trucr spirit of urselishnoss Il
greater love for home, better Relation
of the duties, rclat ons and obligations
resting upon each member OF the family
and beyond, by and through the introduc.
tion and careful study of good book,
stimulate love for reading which will
always insure sweet compnnionship. This
Is the work we should be doing, brothers
and sisters. 1t is possible if we but bend
our energies ard devote our whole inter
ests. Now Is the time to SIT ourselves in
line for this active campaign. As your
state lecturer, have not answered the
calls from many sections this year because
it was not the wish of the state executive
committee that much be done. In accord
nnce with their instructions, | have at.
tempted what could and shall do before
my term of office expires, visiilthe grnngers
indicated by them at their late meeting.
Whatever of criticism may have been call
ed forth because have not acted in my
Official capacity this year, ms in 1890, will
be removed when it is known that my SER
vices are under the direction of the State
Executive Committee, who felt it necessary
o limit the work | was to do, and that
have answered, or arranged to answer,
every call received from them. The sue
cess of the order does not rest upon any
officer, but upon the Individual members,
and ms such | appeal to you to commence
now active preparations for winters
campaign, which shall be fruitful i'll mem
bers as we'll as interest, pledgng my hear
ty co operation In every way possible
G. M, TWITCHEIL.