The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-03-11
Maple River Farmers Club.

The Maple River Farmers Club was high
ly entertained at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
G. III. Payne, of Bennington, Thursday,
February 25th, 1892. This is also the home
OF Uncle Jabez Payne, one of the pioneers
of ShiawaSSee county who still considers
farming pleasure, although 80 years of age.
At II a. m the president, =. b. Reynolds,
called the meeting to order and after devo-
tional exercises by the chaplain, the secre-
tary read the minutes of the last meeting i'm
his usual poetical style, which were ordered
published in the Michigan Farmer. Ad-
journment for dinner being the next in
order, the club disbanded until 2 O'clock D.
m.
The gentlemen's topic, "The Farmers
duty as Citlzen," was ably presented by
j. A. Armstrong, which with the permission
of THE TINES editors we give i'm full.
In the general discussion it was the sense
of the club that the farmers first duty was
to be man, which includes all the word
implies, such as truthfulness, honesty in
dealing, patriotism, etc. 1t was also decided
tha- education is very essential to good citi-
zenship. The farmer must educate himself
in order to think right, act right and vote
right. He must inform himself i'm order to
cope with men in other occupations. Farm
ers as a class do not do enough thinking. do
not improve as they ought, should take
various periodicals, thus keeping posted in
regard to the general topics of the day. The
farmer should be interested in his township,
state and nation. AS a rule farmers are not
interested enough in the primary meetings
of their township. They should attend
their respective caucuses and see to it that
the best men are placed in nomination. 1t
was stated that if mistakes were made in
nominations it was generally because honor
able men stay at home.
The history of Sir Walter Scott was given
by Mrs. f. j. Cook, also selections from the
same author by Mrs. VIM. Lewis and Mrs.
Robert Purdy. Following is the paper read
by j. A. Armstrong:
"How many of us realize the full meaning
of the word citizen? We are great nation,
one whose flag is more universally bonored
than that of any country, and we as citizens
Of the United States are justly proud of the
fact. Who among us would rather owe al
| legiance to some other power? | think not
one. This is a nation of free and independ-
ent subjects and one of the first duties of the
farmer is to do his best to help foster and
maintain this national independence, and tC
do this it will be necessary for him to keer
abreast of the times. The farmers as rule
do not keep as well posted in regard to gov
ernmental affairs as they should. The bal
| lot is the power which CONTROLS nearly
everything nowadays, and | believe it the
farmers duty to be so conversant with legis'
lative matters that he will be able TO cas-
his ballot wisely. The farmer should also
be law abiding citizen; the very nature OF
his occupation should discourage his engag
ing in litigation, the prOvocation, which
would lead him to take any decisive steps
i'm this direction, should be beyond endur
ance. 1t is the farmers duty to take enough
interest i'm the schools in his immediate
vicinity to see that the management of then
be placed i'm proper hands, and if he does no
feel like attending church himself, it shoult
be his duty TO refrain from dlscouraginl
others from attendance at divine worship
He should be willing to assist in the edu
eating and uplifting of his fellow man, ant
by so doing he will elevate himself. l
should be his duty to so conduct himself q
to create desire i'm others, to emulate hin
for the accomplishment of good. What
great many farmers lack is refinement. w
are not prodigal enough of good manners
too much indifference to good manners be
gets bad morals i'm the erd. / believe iTt'
he the duty of the farmers of this country I
organize for mutual protection and the ad
vhIIcunlent of their social, educational am
financial interests. and / believe it the farm
er's duty to accept a little of the advice him
self he Is so willing to give to Others"