The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-15
mont State Grange.

~ t8A 'aa' wv " UNIV
Vermont State Grange, Patrons OF Hus.
bandry, was held last week at Springfield.
The attendance Of delegates and visitors
was large, and the proceedings throughout
the three days were marked by much en-
thusiasm, showing that the Grange is stead
lily growing in Vermont, both in influence
and usefulness.
Hon. @ j.. Bell, state master, was in the
chair at the opening session Wednesday
morning. The work of the first forenoon
was largely Of routine character. The first
afternoon was devoted to the reports OF
grand officers, and Of subordinate and Po-
mona Oranges.
A public meeting held Wednesday even.
ing in the Universalist church attracted a
very large audience State Master Bell
presided. "A cordial address of Welcome
was given 10y George Leland, president OF
the village corporation, to which Mr.. Bell
responded. l. M. Cragin, representing the
local Grange, also spoke words of welcome,
to which r.. Il. Galusha, state lecturer,
made a cordial reply. Iu the absence of
Governor Circuit, readings were given by
@, W. S3arff of Burlington.
The principal address Of the evening was
given 10y Hon. Alpha Messer Of Rochester,
the national lecturer. Mr.. Messer referred
particularly to the positions In the national
government that are filed by men who are
members OF the Grange, and eloquently
spoke of their high character. Brief adj
dresses were also delivered by Mason 5.
Stone, state superintendent of education,
and George W. Pierce, secretary OF the
State Dairymen's Association.
AT the morning session on Thursday Sec
rotary Priest read his report, showing that
nine new Oranges had been instituted in
the state during the past year, and that the
Oranges OF Vermont were never in a more
prosperous condition. Grand Treasurer
Pierce reported the finances of the State
Grange in a healthy condition, with S777.5
on hand. The report of Grand Steward
Morse was read, and A. A. Priest was
elected secretary to fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of ID. d. Howe. Hon.
Alpha Messer and l. L Story were elected
members of the executive committees. The
remainder of the morning hour was taken
up with reports of subordinate and Pomona
Oranges. The work Of State Superintend-
ent of Education NJ. 8. Stone was
ed in a resolution adopted.
AT the afternoon session Thursday g.. w.
Pierce exemplified the unwritten work of
the first four degrees and the payment Of
dues was discussed.
The report OF the com nittee appointed q
year ago to look up the matter of double
taxation was presented by Hon. Alpha
Messer. 1t recommended that owners Of
real estate be relieved from taxation to the
extent of their Indebtedness and that mort
gagees or lenders should pay a tax OF one
and one-half per cent on the amount loan
ed. After a thorough discussion OF this re-
port the committee was authorized to frame
q pli ibk w
be introduced in the next legislature.
Randolph, Bethel and st. Johnsbury ex-
tended invitations to the State Grange to
meet with them next year. The place OF
the next annual meeting was finally left
with the executive committee.
The Grange visited in a body the Spring
field Graded School, during the noon recess,
and were given an exhibition drill by the
pupils. At the evening session the first,
third and fourth degree work was exempli-
a al hu N innHal anA proftlnhnrn a n
A banquet followed, will many happy and
timely after dinner speeches.
AT the morning session Friday a resolu-
ton was adopted %favoring the repeal OF the
present burial law. This resolution was
referred to the legislative committee.
After a long discussion the report of the
board of agriculture was approved, with the
exception OF the clause requiring the pay
ment Of two-thirds of the value Of cattle
condemned after the tuberculin test
The following resolutions were adopted
Resolved, That we have an abiding faith in
the benefits derived from the educational
work OF the grange, but, at the same time,
we partly realize that we shall not have at.
tanned to the full measure Of success in that
direction until our methods are more per.
fectly s%ystemized, either after the Chau-
tauqua plan or some other arrangement by
which the study Of all subjects ermane to
our calling may be prosecuted and con-
Quoted in a more thorough and systematic
mauneT tnAu ny inc pT65ouJ sOm6WuhJu li
fuse and desultory way and that we com
mend the efforts now being made by ouI
efficient and jealous National Grange lee
turer and others to bring about this much
desired result.
Resolved, That we endorse the resolu.
tions p assed at the recent session of the
National Grange in Harrisburg in favor Of
the introduction of agricultural textbooks
in our schools, the establishing Of the sys
tenn OF free mail delivery in rural districts
and postal savings banks, especially in the
smaller towns, where there are now nc
banking facilities, for the e~nacting by Con
gress OF a law in favor Of pure food and the
prohibition OF adulterants in all articles o.
manufacture.
Resolved, That we favor the introduction
Of nature studies in our common schools, in
connection with agricultural instruction
and we urge the necessity OF a course OF in
struction in one normal school in order tt
properly fit teachers for this work.
Resolved, That as the work O
the lecturer is of the utmost importance IL
the subordinate State and National Oranges
we urge 1t upon each OF the various lectur
er5 OF the subordinate Oranges to make
every effort to prepare programmes for eacf
evenings entertainment, to the end tina
they may make the meeting more interest
ing and thus tend to bring out a larger at
tendance and to maintain the interest il
Grange work; and we would especially
commend the activity and zeal Of our pres
emit state lecturer, who has done 30 much tt
advance the status of this branch Of our or
der during the past year.
The two following special resolution
were introduced by Brother b. S. Barrett
Whereas, The Grange has always stood
firmly for the cause of temperance, and hal
heretofore put itself on record in favor o
sustaining the prohibitory laws in the state
be il
Resolved, That we reafirm our allegianc,
to the prohibitory law, believing it to bt
the strongest bulwark against the encroach
ments of the liquor traffic and the bes'
method Of promoting the cause OF temper
ance, morality aud a more perfect manhood
u The reports Of the various committees
were read and accepted, the secretary wat
duly installed, and the business OF the SEES
sion closed with comforting the sixth degree