Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-21
A ROYAL WELCOME
Given by Augusta to the
Maine State Grange.
Last Evenings Crowd ard the Ex-
ercises at City Hall.
Addresses by Gov. Powers, Mayor Choate. NJ.
ManIey and Others.

1t was a royal welcome, a rOusing
reception, given by the City Of Augusta
to the Maine State Grange at City hall.
last evening The Changers own Au-
gusta this week, and the Capital city
| feels itself honored in being delivered
over to their hands. They came. yes
terday, by scores and hE2dreds on
every train that Arrived during the
| day, pouring into the city from all
| sections of the State, and filing it to
overlooking.
| The order of Patrons of Husbandry
is a great order in this country, and its
rapid growth and enormous power ac-
auired are among the wonderful things
| of the past quarter century. 1t is
strong in every section of the United
Maine. and the annual meeting of the
| State Grange is matter of no little
| Importance. The order has over 20. 900
members in Maine and over 250 active
oranges. and nearly all the oranges are
represented by delegates. generally the
masters and their wives. at the annual
meetings. Last year the State Grange
met here. in December, and the dele
gates all had such grand good time
| that it was their unanimous wish to
come here again and enjoy Augustus
| hospitality.
So it happens that at the merry
Christmas season. the oath annual
meeting of the Maine State Grange is
held in our City hall. And there, la st
evening. the delegates gathered. hun
dreds of them. not for a formal meet
ing. but to have a good time. to shake
hands all around. TO listen to the
music. to he addressed by the Governor
and the mayor and other distinguished
men. and to have it fully impressed
to welcome them here 1t was an en-
thusiastic gathering of Maine men and
women, representatives of the bone and
sinew of the old Pine Tree State ear
nest in purpose, refined and intellectual
in their bearing. and the hundreds OF
Augusta citizens who attended the re-
ception We're sincere and cordial in tie
kind greeting they gave.
Ii the opening evening is any critic
rion, this annual meeting of the State
Grange will be unusually large and
enthusiastic. The city is full of del
egates and visiting members, the hotels
are crowded and scores OF private
dey there were lively scenes at the sta
ton and on the street, and Christmas
shopping had a very marked boom
from the influx of visitors. Many in
spected the State House and other pub
lie buildings. From today until Fri
day the days and evenings will DE
packed full of business at City hail,
and the Changers will be the busienst
people in the State.
Politics plays no part in Grange af-
fairs, but many group, yesterday and
last evening, were talking over the an
nual election of officers in an earnest
and occasionally excited manner. All
the meetings of the State Grange will
be behind closed doors. except during
Grand Master Virgins address. this
afternoon, and nothing can be made |
public through the papers except what !
the officers are willing to give out.
. But last evenings reception was
open to the public and there is no doubt |
the public knew it. for the crowd be- |
gan to come at an early hour and soon /
City hall. galleries and floor. was well |
filled. At 7.3O Dennis Orchestra be-
gan the following programme, which
was excellently rendered throughout
March. Salute to Maine State Grange"
Overture. Festival. Latann
America, Theo Moses
Alabama Dance. Bendix
Cotton Blossoms, f. NJ Hail
Finale, Opening of the Season." Dewitt
The hall was very prettily decorated
Tall fir trees flanked the stage. and in
the background We're palms, ferns ana
large American flags lastly arranged.
The galleries We're hung with bunting
of the Grange colors. light blue and +.
corn color and streamers of blue ana
white extended from the chandeliers
to the sides. The local committee in
charge of the decorations did its duty
well.
During the music the speakers came
upon the stage and We're warmly APP
plauded At s o'clock President c. 6.
Hichborn of the Augusta Board of
Trade called the assemblage to order c
md in a few happy words greeted /.
hose present, expressing the hope that '
he second meeting of the State. !.
Grange in Augusta might be as pleas J
b. f,.e,f