Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-09
The NEW ENGLAND OF TO-DAY.
1T Is BEING REGENERATED BY
THE GRANGE.

Miss Ellen ID. Iarned of Thompson,
Conn, in the New York Independent
says, a. lifelong resident of rural
district, with some especial facilities for
/ observation, she can write on the sub
K iect with some assurance. This condi-
( tiOn OF decadence she claims is strictly
limited 10 farming districts remote from
railroads and villages. left one side by
change OF business centre, and does not
apply 20 the New England rural dis
I stricts as a whole, because she maintains
that even to-day New England's cities
aud manufacturing centres draw their
chief executive and working forces from
the rural districts.
As 20 the assertion that the New Eng
land farmer has given up his Puritan
faith, church going and Sabbath keep
ing Miss Lsrned calls attention TO the
two elements living In New England in
earlier DAYS. There Was strong anti
Puritan minority, free religionists and
non-religionists.
And Miss Larned says that while the
sons Of industrious, energetic church
members have carried their churches aud
institutions all over the land, descend
ants of this alien class have been Tar more
likely TO STAY AZ home. From her per-
soaal knowledge she says that great
majority Of farmers and families In her
section. that abstain from church going,
are connected by birth or marriage with
this anti-Puritan element, while descend
ants Of former church members are
building up churches elsewhere.
Among the helpful influences now At
work among the rural classes, Miss
I.arned places tirst the hands of home
missionaries, helping maintain public
worship in feeble churches. also State
Bible societies, supplemented by the
voluntary services Of Christian Young
women, going out as bright, healthy,
consecrated, live "Endeavor" or kings
Daughter"
And for social and mental stimulus
comes the Grange" says Miss LarDed.
lit Is difficult 20 over-estimate the
influence OF this modern institution IN ru-
raj New England. Extending TO remote
aud partly depopUlated towns, II reaches
the very classes that most needed help.
The discourage farmer and his toilful
wife living almost beyond the reach OF
civilization, are thus brought into con
slant, familiar intercourse with other
GrSngers. Isolated and scattered fam
lilies are brought together in one house
hold. Their meetings are reported as
most delightful and profitable. Their
programme includes recitations, essays
and discussions upon farming matters
and other important questions, music,
games aud social intercourse. Nothing
Was ever devised that took such hold
upon our Young people of both sexes.
MatrimonY j. facilitated. y better
class Of Young men are induced to stay
81 home and follow farming. The farm
er's life i every way enriched and broad
ened by the influence of the Grange.
And so We have hope even for darkest
New England. She has indeed borne a
great strain In the loss Of native popula-
ton and the introduction of foreign eie-
ments. She has heavy problem Vet 10
face. These foreigners who work her
mills and pick up her abandoned farms
are TO be asSimilated and made over Into
loyal American citizens. But she recog-
nizes the situation, and strives In some
degree 70 meet il. However great the
uifiow aud influx, New England viii
never cease 10 be New England. Her
institutions, her ideas, her modes oil
working are too deeply rooted. May We
not hope that renaissance Will follow
partial decadenCe, and the new elements,
rightly directed, add new strength and
vitality.