Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-18
9aity Sennelrse 9ournal.
STATE MASTER WlGGIN's ADDRESS
Delivered at The Meeting Of State GRANGE a,
Bangor. Tuesday.

Following is the address in full of
State Master Edward Wiggin, delivered at
the annual session Of the State Grange, at
Bangor, Tuesday.
Worthy Patrons of the Maine State
Grange:
Another year, with it's seed time and
lss harvest, has rolled into the past and
we are again assembled as the Legislative
body OF our order in Maine to receive and
consider the reports Of the past year :
Work and consult together for the best
interest Of the order for the year which is
before MS. AS farmers we can look back
upon the year that Is Just about to close
as one OF peace and prosperity Though
no large gains have come TO us from orr
farming operations, and though the
special products Of some sections of the
state are depressed in price at the present
tlme,Fet on the whole the season has been
Il prosperous one ana we have abundant
reason as we come together at our annual
meeting to thank the good Father for
MS kindness and his bcneficent care.
As Patrons of Husbandry we have every
reason TO be encouraged, for at no time in
the history Of the Order in Maine has the
grange had a stronger hold upon the
directions of its members and never has il
stood so high in the respect and esteem Of
all classes throughout the State. AS will
DC seen by the report of your worthy
secretary the Order has made "A healthy
growth during the past year; a number
OF new oranges have been organized,
dormant oranges in various sections have
been revived and generous additions have
been made to the membership in all por-
tions Of the State.
am convinced, however, that the real
growth and increase for usefulness of our
Order in Maine for the year just closing is
far greater even than the increase IN
membership would seem to indicate
The grand principles that undcrie oul
organization are coming to be appreciated
by the Patrons of Maine as never before
and the advantages for social, intellectual
and moral improvement offered BY tht
grange are being understood and made
use of to Il greatly increasing extent Cacl
year. While 1t is perhaps true that alonE
financial lines and in matters OF co opera
ton in buying and selling we may not b,
doing so mucA as are cur brethren in thu
West, yet L am convinced that the tru,
worth of the Order and its power fer goot
in improving the home and the house
hold, in educating the farmer and hi
family ard in elevating the characters o
the men and women of the farm home
are nowhere better appreciated thar
among the Patrons of New England.
Financial Condition.
1t has aver been the aim OF those IL
charge OF tn. finances of our Order tt
maintain in the treasury a healthy reserv
fund to guard against any contlngencie
that may arise.
No organization can long thrive ant
| retain the confidence OF its members unles
its finances arc carefully guarded and it
| revenues promptly collected and judici
! olsly expended.
Our state grange treasury is IN
healthy condition and amply able to re
| spond TO all necessary demands.
The experiment. adopted at the las
annual session, Of paying the fare OF ON
delegate from each subordinate grange
has not yet been proved, but it was con
| iidontIy believed that the increase of due
| to The State grange would fully meet tn
| demand upon the treasury Should It b
| found thar the new departure Is nj
tended with any Improbable reduction q
the reserve fund, measures should at one
be taken to keep that fund up TO sal
limit
by the report Of your treasurer at III
last annual meeting it will be seen tina
| there We're at that time on file in his ntfic
! certificates of stock IN the Patrons &C
operative corporation of par value G
$3.50, with interest paid to Decembc
| LIST, 1892
While would recommend no measure
that would cndanger the safety of th
large amount thus invested, yet woul
submit for your consideration whethe
the interest of this fund could not b
better used for the good Of the Order i
other ways than in investment in nor
shares in this corporation.
Agriculture.
It is a fact beyond denial and one tina
is giving much cause for anxious though
To all who have the best interest of uu
country ut heart, that the present cond
ton of American agriculture is one {
serious depression.
The fact that this depression does nc
arise from any failure Of the soil Of th
country to produce abundant crops, nc
from any devastating influences of stsrp
flood or wide spread destruction OF veg'
Triton, renders the solution OF the pro-
lem still moro peIplexiug. While Main
may rot 90 considered, strictly spcakins
nm agricultural State, as compared wit
the great staple producing states OF th
West. vet here. even, agriculture IS til
basis and foundation of all our prosp3rit
and when agriculture languishes all o5hc
industries quickly feel the depression
oar Maine agriculture is at present in
prosperous condition and the "har
times" experienced by our brethren in tn
West have nos AS yet generally affected u
here Our crops are diversified to a grsa
extant and we are no5 dependent her
upon the production of any one erea
agricultural staple, while our vast manu-
featuring establishments in New ErG
land and our summer resorts IN thei
season afford an ample market for ou
pro6ucs. still the danger To cur tutur
AGRICULTURAL prosperity is not TO be over
leaked. In our country the agricuitura
,f oil eecfions are pr3Pfi clit