Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-20

doubt the wisdom. but question the
honesty Of the motives in so doing 1t
is safe to say that this method has not
brought a desirable member within our
gates. nor kindled the zeal Of one al
ready there. Had any officer been
guilty of wrong doing his accusers
should have presented formal charges
against him at the proper place. Had
any failed in his duty. the majority of
this body are intelligent enough to
know it. and altogether free to elect
some one in his place; but parading our
private matters before the public is
ruinous All kindred organizations
who have kept their private affairs to
themselves have stood the test of
years. while those who have discussed
theirs in the public print have ceased
to be a power. If we are to build up
our organization and command the re
Spect Of others, we must cease the dis
cussion of our private differences in the
public print and with united effort ana
full confidence sustain those whom We
choose as leaders.
The disposition Of some of our sub
ordinate oranges to violate and evade
the laws by means that discredit the
order in the whole State is the same
as that which goes into print with mat
ter that pertains to the order alone.
Harsh measures are sometimes neces-
sary in dealing with these conditions.
will venture this: That no grange in
existence eXerts an influence for good
whose members are spelling its oppor-
tunitieS by frittering away time trying
to develop some scheme whereby the
laws Of the order can be violated. No
other order ever continued to prosper
for a long period of time composed Of
a membership not honest enough to re-
spect and honor obligations solemnly
and voluntarily assumed. We feel
thankful that, as we believe. this is
represented by n very small element
in our State. and | am firmly Of the
opinion that if such will not comply
with the laws of the order as inter-
preted by the national master and
formulated by the National Grange
then the State officers have no other
recourse than to administer the law of
the higher body whose servants they
are. | have gone slowly in this matter
in hopes that all would see the fallacy
If wrong-doing. but am now satisfied
that it becomes an imperative neces-
sity to move with a firm hand and rid
the organization OF its baneful effects.
I am prompted to speak thus plainly
that all may understand my position
1t seems to me that the whole future Of
the grange depends upon maintaining
its integrity, and | pledge myself to
help those who would sustain the honor
and strengthen the obligations of the
order
Some Patrons look upon the efforts
of the master to enforce the laws as
entirely unWarranted. an unjust inter-
ference with their rights. for no other
purpose but to subject them to hard
ships unnecessarily. and to show an
thority. When the truth is. if he per-
forms his duty he has no Other
recourse. he has no legislative author
ity. and is bound by his obligation to
enforce and obey the laws Of the
order. and should he fail to do this.
he is amenable to the appended law.
no matter what opinion he may have
as to whether the law is right or
wrong, just or unjust. he must take
the law as it is. and use his best en-
deavors to have it respected and
obeyed. This is the spirit that should