Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-12-16
Vermont State Grange.
IT'S DIST ANNUAL SESSION IN
BRATTLEBoRo THIS WEEK.
Large Attendance of Delegates..-Inter-
esting Public Meetings Tuesday.
General Report Of Procesdlnr..

anu vi NlSlllllR UltIlDbTSs he secretary in
his annual report gave highly encourag-
ing account of the past year, showing a
gain during the year of nearly 300 mem
bers, with bright prospects for the future
The treaSurer's report was very favorable.
showing more money in the treasury than
year ago. The reports of minor officers.
touching on the general work of the grange,
were all of an encouraging nature. The
meetings of Tuesday afternoon and evening
were public, and report of the exercises
is given following this general account.
At Wednesday mornings session the re-
ports of officers were continued, after which
came the reports from subordinate oranges,
nearly all of which showed gains in mem
bership. After these reports came the in
PRODUCTION of business, for reference to the
various cammittees without debate. The
special order for Wednesday afternoon was
the election of officers which resulted as
follows:
Master, Alpha Messer Rochester
Overseer, Cassius Peck Brookfeld.
Lecturer, K. . Lee, Vernon.
Steward, c. C. Whitney East Bethel
Assistant steward j. II. Clark, Westminster
West.
Chaplain, F. S. Jackson Underhill
Treasurer c. j. Bell, East Hardwick.
Secretary, d. D. Howe, Burlington.
Gate keeper, j. + Bennett, Tunbridge.
Ceres, Mrs. G. j. Bell East Hardwick
Pomona Mrs A. Messer Rochester
Flora, Mrs w. l.. Park, Lyndon.
Lady assistant steward, Mrs. j. II. Clark West
minister West.
Executive committee, A. O. Colburn Bondville,
Alpha Messer, ID. ID. Howe.
Wednesday evening the sixth degree was
conferred on a class of about 40 candi-
dates, the work being done in a highly
pleasing manner Thursday morning
some additional business was introduced,
MI 90 "a, 10
special order for the afternoon session.
The chairman of the committee on wom-
ans work in the grange made a report,
showing that this feature has been of very
great advantage. Resolutions were passed,
strongly favoring the extension of the free
delivery of mails to the rural districts, and
in favor of the pure food bill and the anti
option bill, now before Congress, with in
structions to the secretary to forward these
resolutions to our delegation in Congress,
with request for their support of these
measures. The committee on cooperation
made an interesting report. A proposal to
change the date of the annual meeting of
the state grange was voted down.
Then followed one of the most interest
ing features of the entire session. The
committee on agriculture, through its
chairman, reported a resolution opposing
the proposed repeal of the maple sugar
bounty law. This brought out an interest
ing statement from C. d. Whitman in re-
gard to the good effect of the bounty law
in bringing our maple sugar product up to
a higher standard. The state master then
made a statement of the work which has
been done by the Vermont grange through
the maple sugar exchange, and in various
other ways, for the aid and advancement
of the mamie sugar industry.
Mr.. Messer then made a statement OF i'm
portant facts, which have never before
been made public, of the work which he
has done through correspondence with 9th
er state oranges in securing legislation
against the adulteratiOn of maple sugar.
In New Hampshire an anti-adulteration
law, although less stringent than the Yer
mont law, has been put on the statute
book In New York, the second state to
Vermont in amount of its maple sugar
product, a law, which is nearly or quite an
exact duplicate of the Vermont law, was
enacted last year, and the curious 1acI Is
that it was brought about through the me-
dunn of samples of pure Vermont maple
sugar. sent by Mr.. Messer to the master OF
the New York state grange, who was a
member of the New York assembly, and
who was able to convince the members OF
the committee having the subject in charge,
of the necessity of such law, by means OF
these samples-the committee then Tor the
first time learning what the pure maple
product was really like. The result OF
these statements was the unanimous pas
sage of the resolution against the repeal o.
the bounty law.
The installation of officers at the after
noon session was performed in very lin
pressive and pleasing manner by T. Z
Hutchinson, secretary of the New lamp
shire state grange. Following the cere
monial vote of thanks to Mr. Hulchlilso,
was passed to which he gracefully respond
ed. Then came another interesting Incl
dent. C.. j. Bell, the treasurer of the state
grange. took the floor and stated That
had long been the feeling of many tnat TN
state master was by no means fully pal'
for the valuable services which he render
cd to the grange. He then presented MI
Messer purse of $75 in gold, the GIT
the state grange and of the grangers o
Vermont. Mr.. Messer was taken entlrel.
by surprise, but responded as well as n
was able, showing genuine feeling ana ap
probation of this generous act
Mrs. o, Il. Ware made an exceptlonall
strong and good report on dormant oranges
which brought out general discussion o
grange affairs and of grange work.
At the evening session came lhe hhal
ports of committees and the closing up Q
the odds and ends of the session work, END
ing with adjournment sine die.
1t is the feeling, universally espresso
bv the visitors, that this session was one Q
the best ever held by the state grange In
interest shown by the various delegation
proves the strong and intelligent wor
which is being done by the grange as a
organization. Protective grange OF Bra'
tleboro, now the largest in the state a
we'll as our citizens generally, did all
their power to make the stay OF their Wis
tors a pleasant one, and this fact was az
knowledged by resolutions of thanks an
appreciation, which were passed before Ut
adjournment. ,
The national colors foated outside I'll
town hall bnilding, and the decorations
the hall itself were tasteful and appropriate
The proscenium arch was draped with nj
tional colors, the front of the stage wa
decorated with fruits and grain, lmpl
ments of agriculture were effectively use'
and at either side of the stage was an oole'
lesson showing the plows of 1910 compare
with those of 1890.