St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-12-20
VERMONT STATE GRANGE
IL Holds Hts Twenty-eiehth Annual
session at 1T. j JOhnsbury.

IL Holds 1ts Twenty-eIghth Annual
session nj NJ. JOhnsbury.
The 2Sth annual meeting of the Yer
mont State Grange met in st. Johnsbury
last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
and the meetings which were largely OF a
secret nature, were attended by delegates
from all over the state and greatly
enjoyed by the members of the organiza-
ton. The officers had their headquarters
at the Avenue House and the sessions on
Wednesday were held in Odd Fellows
Hall. The other two days the meetings
were held in the Pythian Hail. About
200 delegates were present during the
session, so of the subordinate Oranges
and all the Pomona Oranges being repre-
sented. Most of the officers of the State
Grange were here and the representation
was one of the largest for many years.
On Wednesday the annual address was
given by c. !. Bell Master of the State
Grange, and routine business was dis
POSSp Ois vi uioddy thC llCClluSl
were devoted to the exempli6cation
secret work and the sixth degree was
worked in the eveniuq During Thurs
day two members r,e elected to the
executive committee, l. 7. Chase of
Essex being elected to succeed himself
and D. H. Morse of Randolph was elected
to succeed Alpha Messer Of Rochester.
The sessions closed on Friday morning.
No election Of officers was held as this
only occurs once in two years.
The meeting attracted many promi-
nent agriculturists to our town and the
ladies were well represented in the meet
ings. The public will be most interested
in the report OF the banquet which
occurred in Pytbian Hall on Wednesday
evening.
The banquet was a very enjoyable
feature OF the meeting Two hundred
and twenty-five members and invited
guests were present, both the banquet
room and the main hall being used and
the affair was one OF the most successful
oi the kind ever held here.
Hon. {. ]. Bell in his usual happy way
presided as toastmaster aud in his in
troductory remarks spoke entertainingIy
OF the old fashioned social lie OF the farm,
the neighborhood visits, huskings, barn
rasines etc; how these had in a measure
become things of the past and how the
grange had taken their place to large
degree. In introducing Gov. E. c. Smith,
the first speaker of the evening, Mr.. Bell
remarked that he had taken a greater
apparent interest in matters pertaining
to farmers than any governor of recent
years. Gov. Smith in responding to the
toast "Our Country" spoke briefly of
important questions which are before
our country today. The greater part of
his brief remarks however was devoted
to the subject of fraternal state meetings
as a means of bringing the east and west
sides of the state into a closer acquain-
tanceship.
"The National Grange" was the sub
ject of the Grand Lecturer of that body,
Hon. N. ]. Bachelor, of Andover, N. H.
He spoke OF the history and growth of
the order and in an interesting way Of
the three principal branches of the work !;
educational. financial and legislative.
Mr. Bachelor is an entertaining speaker
and held the close attention OF the audi
ence. One OF his remarks which created
quite ripple OF applause was when he
advised the members of the order to
watch closely the legislature of the state,
to get farmer governor as often as
possible. and to remember that a good
toastmaster would make good COVER
nor.
"The Poetry OF Farming" was the sub.
ject of an ably written poem by Mrs.
Luna S. Peck of Burlington.
Following this, c. F. Scarf read in
delightful way one of his dialect poems
"The 'Possum Roast" Later in the
evening he gave another, THE Roasting
of the Corn" In the absence of Lieut.
Gov. Bates the toast "Our Legislation"
was responded to by c. F. Smith of
Morrisville. Carl S. Hopkins of BrattIe-
boro spoke on The Growing Virtue of
the Grange Woman" Hon. M. S Stone
OF Montpelier, addressed the meeting on
"The Guarantee OF the Future-our BOYS
and Girls" Mr. Stone is an able, inter.
esting speaker and his remarks were re.
ceived with enthusiasm. THE Past,
Present and Future OF the Grange" was
the subject of bright talk by Mrs.
Mary A. Smith OF Morrisville. Hon.
Alpha Messer spoke for the press. Mr..
Messer has for a great many years been
closely identified with the state and ma
tional grange, having served six years as
master OF the organization in this state
and has just completed a term of six
years as lecturer OF the national grange.
One OF the brightest things of the even.
ing was the response of R. B. Galusha of
Jericho to the toast "Specialties in Farm.
ing" Mr.. Galusha is bright and witty
speaker and his remarks on this subject
caused good deal of merriment. Prof.
j. l.. Hills of the State Agricultural Col.
lege spoke briefly of that institution.
During the evening the Imperial Quar-.
tette rendered two selections and Frank
o, French in his inimitable way enter
tanned the company. The banquet was
served by s. D. Atwood.
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