The Somerset reporter., 1899-11-02
why Are We Changers.

| Paper read by Bro. Paige in Athens Grange
| October 2lst
There are no new reasons other than
what has been told. The variations of
individual effort is what puts a newness
on any thing we say or do. Perhaps that
is the reason why so many dislike to
contribute to the lecturers hour If we
knew it all and could tell it just right,
we would not care to hear it over and
again. There is a relative interest in
the family, a friendly interest in the
neighborhood, social interest in the
grange. We come away from the family
circle, we come away from the neighbor
hood circle and come to the grange
circle togive and receive of our individual
experiences. 1t is beneficial tonic to
the cares of daily life. so the sum total
our reasons for being grangers are the
"benefits" we receive.
| will leave out the pecuniary and
astronomical benefits, important though
| they are, for the thought conveyed is to
follow the social and educational de-
velopment, and often these benefits
might be termed blessings in disguise.
BY the exodus of the children of Israel
out of Egypt a great many benefits were
conferred on the Jews and were only
realized through compulsory law. And
among the beDefactions to mankind in
the last half century, Alexander III by an
edict emancipated the serfs in the great
Empire of Russia. Don Pedro at one
stroke freed all the slaves in his Empire
of Brazil.
" hen Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation freeing the slaves, great
many of them refused to accept their
freedom prefering to stay with their
masters, and today, we are asked what
difference between slave fed and
housed and free man under monopoly
rule, securing just wages enough to buy
the same thing; even the tiller of the
soil though not in AFFECT slavery, occu-
pied field of neglected industry for
many centuries. Yet his vision looked
beyond his own condition and faint
hope was all that educated his mental
faculties that posterity might improve,
and today posterity appreciates that
forlorn hope.
If the children of Israel had not come
out of their bondage and established
those primal truths that have elevated
the moral and spiritual life, we should
nave CiNllIZdliOu u6NOlu VI many
benefits to the masses of mankind.
Society is essential to the well being of
the race, and cultivated society awakens
the highest aspirations in mankind; and
its ethical standards in our day are be
coming more universally adapted to, and
accepted by every class and calling.
From mental tiller of the soil has
come a series of benefits all the way
along to a professor in the science of
agriculture. The resources for continu
ing these benefits are many, and among
them such organizations formed TO con
fer Especial benefits" and surrounded
with safe guards and secrets.
The grange il par EXCELLENCE for 1t
takes in the whole family and becomes a
school for the cultivation of unexpressed
thought, that We might enjoy more free.
dom of action in social and educational
practice and for general exchange OF
information. 1t is not new school,
not new idea but its sphere of influence
is greater than others of like character
and varying efforts.
The grange is not an imperishable
institution, it should have something
quite as substantial as its social feature;
and | believe no better returns could
come from the investment of grange
funds than through grange library. 1t
would not only prove benefit to present
membership but beautiful illustration
of the prime pie of fidelity inculcated,
and a lasting monument to our faith in
its future membership. While this
grange is enjoying season of prosperity
new and permanent features should be
added to its present interest until its
beneficial resources become boundless,
as well az a beacon sending forth its
radiant light over every hill and dale
and into every home and hamlet.