Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-21
A ROYAL WELCOME
Continued from page ~
as the presiding officer of the evening,
Mayor Choate spoke as follows:

as the presiding officer of the evening
Mayor Choate spoke as follows:
Members of the State Grange:
One year ago I had the pleasure OF
standing in this place and speaking words
OF welcome to you on behalf of the citi
zens of Augusta. trust your stay amons
us fully satisfied you that those words OF
! greeting were sincere. Again | bid you
welcome and should you deem. it wise to
! hold all your sessions in Augusta YOU
will always find our door swing wide open
to you and you will receive the same
cordial greeting. We welcome you as
friends. we welcome you as fellow eiti-
Zens. we welcome you as the representa-
tives of the great agricultural industry
of our State. in which so large a ma iority
or our people are engaged. that industry
which ever has been and ever will be the
chief element of the strength and prOs-
perity, not only of our own State but of
this great nation. and more than all that
1t Will be the chief element of the strength
and prosperity of every Republican gov
eminent and to it such a government
must always look for its stability and it's
perpetuity.
4 You are the Representatives of that in
dustry in this our own good State of
| Maine. and among all the states of this
nation there is no one better to be born
| IN. to live in and to die in than ours
| Upon its magnificent coast, beside its
splendid rivers and lakes and in it's beau
| tiful valleys are developed the highest
| types of sturdy men and women. strong
| in body and mind. strong in the love of
their country and of liberty and strong
4 in their devotion to human progress and
christianity. The future of this nation
and of mankind is safe in such keeping.
You have assembled to consult as to
| what shall be for the best interests of
the farmers of our State but in all your
| deliberations you must bear in mind that
90 hn M ,a,,t nil 1,xy
the adoption of a policy which does not
have the interests of all our people in
| view.
To be prosperous farmers you must
| have prosperous cities as markets for
70 ~ products and to have prosperous
cites there must be prosperous farmers
| about them. their interests are mutual
and the adoption of policy which does
not recognize this cannot produce the
| most beneficial results.
| Again. for our people. | give you cordial
welcome. may your session be fruitful Of
| good results to your order. and may the
| pleasures of your stay among us remain
with you a pleasant memory of the good
| citizens of Augusta.
| When the applause which followed
| Mayor Choate's eloquent words had
died away. the mayor introduced Hon.
j. Fl. Manley of this city. a charter
1 IitIHOSl vi NIIdHSe. w IlO SpoFc
the following words of welcome in he
half of the local Patrons of Hus-
bandry:
| MeAnbers of the Maine State Grange
His honor. the mayor. has officially eX-
tended to you generous and cordial
welcome to our city. | desire. in behalf
of the members of Capital Grange. to
fraternally supplement his welcome
| You have met in annual convention for
the purpose of reviewing the past. elect
| ing officers for the ensuing year. and to
/ consult as to the laborS of the future.
| The strong position ia ken today by the
Patrons of Husbandry throughout the
| country. must be a matter of aratiiica-
ton. 1t has added one hundred and for
ty-one oranges during the year just clos
| ing. and has membership now of more
than $4,000. 1t is specially strong in this
| good State of Maine, having Il member
+! ship of twenty-five thousand, gaining
/ thirty-tive hundred during the year 1897.
| 1t has one hundred and seventyiive
| buildings owned by the local oranges.
valued at more than $780, 900, and it has
| two hundred and fifty thriving suhordi-
| nate oranges. 1t is upon its feet. 1t is
| no longer an experiment. 1t is one of the
| established institutions of the State and
4 of the land. Originally. when it was IN
its infancy. it required that all members
| should be actually dependent upon the
farm for support AS it has increased it
has become more liberal. and grown be-
yond the narrow limits of its creation
! 1T does not require men to hold the pillow.
| SOW the seed. and harvest the crops to be
| eligible to the order. 1t holds that all in
| tereSted in agriculture who have Senef-
| Gus hearts and open hands to help the
needy. raise the fallen and aid in making
the labors of this life cheerful. are well
| come to the grange.
| If is strengthening itself by standing
upon this strong catholic ground. Tn
| doubleday members may be admitted who
are not actuated by these high motives.
| who are controlled by purely selfish mo-
tives This cannot be avoided. We cam
not always know the motives which ac-
tuate a man who unites with the church.
or joins the grange.
The organization is so strong and broad
| and public-spirted. that even if mem
bers are occasionally admitted who would
| like to use the grange for their own ends,
they cannot accomplish their purpose.
and the order cannot be injured by their
admission.
| In Maine and it is so throughout the
country the order has done great work.
1t has created deeper interest III the
cause of agriculture. and has an educa-
| ing and social power. Its progress has
been marvellous. A large portion of the
i population of our State engaging in agri-
| cultural pursuits are so scattered. set
Ting around small villages. that the OPP
portunities for social meeting ana I'M
this want and by it's weekly meetings.
and monthly meetings of all subordinate
oranges of the county. has furnished
schools for the educating. and for the
i healthful entertainment of all who have
. come within the rooms of the various
lodges These entertainments nave been
constantly improving until they are to-
} dav, throughout our State. of a high or
der, developing. cultivatne the talent of
it's members. instructins and improving
all who attend and attentivelN listen
The good that the grange has done IN
this way cannot be Over-estimated Ana
if it had no other object but the social
side of it, it would be a power for good
throughout the land.
Primarily. it goes beyond the social ana
the entertaining side. and was founded
and is upheld for the stimulating and adj
yancing to ii higher state of perfection
the science of agriculture. -
| While frf1n the very nature OF the or
ganization all men cannot be members OF
IT, still the grange has made it's progress
because it has advanced in the lines OF
liberality and broadness in the admission
of members. 1t needs and wants the CO.
. operation of every good man and woman
who believe that agriculture is the OASIS
| ,arif an