Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-30
THE GRANGE.
lis Social and Educational Features.

.~~~es'S''ss
The home and the farm receive the
fostering care OF the grange. The So
ciai element in farmers is brought to
the surface and developed as never be-
fore: culture and refinement are made
to go hand in hand, and higher and
nobler type Of manhood and woman
hood Is the result. Never before in the
history of the order has there been such
Il deep interest manifested in the work
Of the grange in nearly all parts of
the country, as at the present time.
Never before have it's objects been
placed upon go high plane of thought
and intelligent action. And this ap-
plies not only to the moral, social and
educational features Of the order, which
are always at the front. but to its
financial features as well. Experience
has shown that cooperation in insur-
ance, in buying and selling, cannot be
successfully conducted except upon the
most approved business methods, and
by men of the strictest integrity, with
special quailncations for the various
departments in which they may be
called to act. Consequently, the intel
ligence and experience which has been
brought to bear upon and applied to
these features of the order, have so
changed the sentiment of the business
world that former antagonisms have
greatly subsided. and special opposi-
ton is largely a thing of the past. And
thus it is. that other classes who are
not eligible TO membership, but who are
in hearty sympathy with every move
ment Of the people for the uplifting of
humanity. have been watching it's
progress. and having become satisfied
that it's mission is a grand and noble
one they are ready and willing to use
their influence and lend helping hand
whenever they can, to encourage its
members and assist in spreading its
truths and principles among the people.
thousands OF farmers who We're once
members, now see the mistake they
made in giving up the grange and neg
Letting the best means for social en-
joyment, education and cooperation
in it's various lines. which the farmers
of this or any other country have ever
known. Thousands of other farmers
who have never joined the grange, have
learned somewhat of it's privileges and
it's benefits and have witnessed the a
wonderful transformations of neighbour
hood and towns where its silent h(
potent influences have been at wOG
and shaping the sentiment
thought of farming communities
those lines of intelligen ce. thrift
dustry and refinement which, |"
make happy farmers homes eo"
tented, prosperous farmers. io.lae'
her tn
ted with the grange, an ne grange
welcomes him back to- GU ii'ii,
with all cofuiai''s vi
welcomes with outstr hed arms the
brother farmerand hig mn sr ~no n"s'
never joined hands M the grange
7, needs yonr 49,. your presence.
vour influence andzE'our counsel. and
YOU need the bled led influence of this
grand fraternity.$and the numberless
blessings whichTit has in store for
every earnest, Z working member. The
grange does not invite you nor the
INITIATED brother to an empty. cheer
less home. Its members are now num-
bered by the hundred thousand and
while in most sections they have not
that degree of prosperity
honest toll they are not wholly cast
down. believing that when united with
others by the strong ties of agricui-
ture through an efficient organization,
they can overcome all opposing forces
and in legitimate ways secure TOT
home and family a just and FAIR re-
ward for their labors. In this work
we need the farmers from the north.
and from the south. from the east, ana
from the west No section of the coun-
try can be left out, and every condi-
ton of farmers is welcomed in the
grange. The 10000 patrons from the
snug farm houses in New England
are glad to work hand in hand win
their brothers and sisters in the sunny
south, on the prairies and plains OF the
west. on the Pacific slope and in all
other sections of our country.
The same spirit actuates the grange
hosts in the Empire state. and the
keystone state, the Buckeye state.
and every other state in our proao
domain. The memberships may ana
do differ in politics and their religious
tenets, but they are in entire harmony
in their desire for self-improvement.
and in their efforts for representation
IN legislative halls as will secure lot
them the enactment of wise ana
laws in the interests OF the
people. and not for the favored Few
Alpha Messer, Lecturer of National
Grange.