Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-11-14
sssG u I.E oAuseas o. rsE eaasse-
BIZ d. A. JAcksos.

II eon.; iering sonse of the fxa9efs tas6
threaten Ger ORDER We may appropriately
hksn fte range 10 ship pursuing iss
course across the fraekiess ocean.
When fhe mariner proposes to go forth
upos IN imp ,rsant voyage. with hat care
does he attend TO e, ~ detail of his sutif-
With ! sesworthr ship. with chart and
compass anil every srpIiAnee which human
fngensify can invent to insure safety yet the
I yieissitusies of a yoysge across the great
waters eftel present dIfiicasiies AMI dangers
that reauir. vigilance, courage AMI superior
skill
Oar noble grange ship has been con-
ssrueted b. men pre-sfninsnfiy fuaiii1ssf Tor
that purpose. AMI 'ls result Ut their labor
il model Of perfse,ioa.
Our Declaration " Purposes and our
written lsw formiag chart upon hieh our
course is plainly msppsi ost bnf,in pursa-
ing tina. course Their are maEy dangers
which We may enceaaier, AMI il is MY pur-
pose To refer briefly 10 some OF them.
Our good ship sails for some particular
port and the sessge NAV b. continued from
point 10 point as cur most urgent needs
require; in other worss, IL has become the
settled policy vi the grange to deal with
matters IF reform in detail, that il, 10 coz
een,rste oar torers far the accomplishment
of some special OH ct and wien that i. at
tanned 10 ssir~c, a'ir attention TO another.
II We are " - a will be careful in the
seIecfion 81 ...nerrs. for Incompetence on
their part cerriiniy imperiis our success;
ami 10 orr membership we should admit
none who a-e uuworths or whose interests
arr mol IL 4 cord ith our general purposes !;
for tlar1liient crew may breed mutiny AMI
eanse the destruction Of our noble craft.
Another source of danger 10 the subor-
dina,e grange lies in poor management of
financial aff airs. as mas he atte,tesl BY more
than one instance IN our own county.
When It grange with small capital enters
into large business transactions aud through
mismanagemeht or misfortune loss occurs.
the downfall of that grange Is almost sure
to follow. So il would seem better 10 go
slow AMI sure rather than to crowd on all
sail Mt the imminent risk of going to pieces
on the rough breakers of financial rain.
The tidal wave of political excitement,
WHICH sweeps over our land with periodic
regularity, presents conditions that may be
dangerous TO an organization like onrs,
representing as we do every shade of po
ltieal opinion. When political question.
are discussed i, should be remembered that
many persons are extremely sensitive upon
those topics. and therefore we should al
WAYS bear in mind that ''lle that Is slow TO
anger is better than the mighty, and he that
ruieih his own spirit than he that taketh
city At such times We need steady
hand at the helm.
Some of our languishing and dormant
oranges. may, no doubt, trace the cause of
their present condition to general apathy or
lack of interest. When there is a dearth
of exciting events, many members fail to
be- impressed with the importance
of maintaining our organization In
good working order, but we should never
relax our vigilance, for though we may be
in a calm today, we should watch for the
first lowering of the skies that we may be
in trim to meet the storm that is sure to
come.
1t is well, occasionally. to take observa
tons and to calculate our latitude and
longitude with respects 10 the world of
progress about us. Are we in our true
course, or have we drifted along with the
current of public sentiment when we should
have siemmed the tide.
With these few hints at some of the
dangers that beset our way, we leave this
subject for your consideration. believing
that if we are true to our obligations and
earnest in our endeayors, may avoid
swept and tempest tossed, our gallant
grange ship will yet ride serenely upon
the high tide of prosperity