Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-08
A THRIVING GRANGE.
Fairview Grange, SmiihHeId. in Less Than
Two Years Has Enrolled 140 Members.

rairview Grange, No. 342 of Smithfield
was organized Jan. II, 1898. with "a char
| for Somerset county. AS time went OF
| other names were presented for member
| ship am when Jan. !. 1899, arrived Fair
view Grange numbered l07 members.
At that time they were folding meet
ings in the town hall. which was too small
| for the use Of the grange. Then came tnt
| question: shall We build hall?' New
| names still came flowing in which caused
! the patrons to agitate the hall question
| more freely until a committee was chosen
| to solicit funds, procure lumber, buy 10;
| and other material necessary for build
| ing hall.
| 4 building committee was chosen and
| IN the month of August last the service.
| of builder were secured and hall erect
| ed 30 by 50 feet. two stories, with a eel
| lar under the whole building. In the
! basement is furnace which heats every
room in the building. On the. first floor
/ is kitchen, dining hall and reception
, room. On the second floor is the main
hall, 80 by As feet, also an ante room and
stage. The hall is finished with hard pine
and experts pronounce it second to none
in the State of its class.
The hall being completed, the State
master was notified and it was decided to
dedicate the hall to the grange, Oct. %.
AS the day arrived it proved TO be the
day Of all the week, the best. When the
appointed hour arrived II found the
grangers at the old hall. The grange was
opened in form with Master Downs in tbs.
chair. Then came the order forward
march" from State Deputy Ansel Holway,
To the new hall. Upon entering the build
ing, they were greeted with music by the
choir which lasted until all were seated.
The meeting was again called to order
by Worthy Master Downs and addressing
the worthy State master, who came for :
ward and performed the services of ded
icating the hall TO the Order Of Patrons
OF Husbandry.
The services being completed, Master
Downs closed the grange in form then
all repaired to the dining hall where a
feast had been prepared by sisters of the
grange.
At 1870 o'clock the doors were opened to
the public who entered the hall with the
patrons. The master again called to or.
der and introduced Worthy State Lectur-
er Elijah Cook who delivered one of his
able lectures which was both instructive
and impressive Fairview Grange mum
bers AT the present time las members.
But let me say right here that a grange
formed of good material is sure of sue
cess. In this canvass the good wife
should not be overlooked nor the intelli
gent boy, nor the bright girl. All are
needed To make up the ideal grange.
When a sufficient number have become
interested a meeting should at once be
called and an organization effected. The
grange will then be ready to begin its
field with renewed zeal and energy.
Twenty or thirty members are enough to
start grange. If these are OF the right
material, others will soon join, and the
grange will be able to do better work
than with a large organization at the out
set
From what, has been said IL should not
be inferred that all the work of organi-
cation must be done by the deputies
Each member of the subordinate grange
should become worker and a missionary
to carry the good grange gospel wherever
he or she goes. and thus scatter the
seeds OF love, of hope and good cheer
which will spring up. and bear the prec
ious fruits of fraternity and the brother
hood of man to the blessings Of home
the uplifting OF humanity, and the saving
OF the country.
C. r. PIERCE. Secretary.