Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1899-02-03
Corvallis Grange.

Last Saturday afternoon the Corvallis
Grange held it's regular installation ol
officers. A. large number were in at
tendance, including visiting members
from various oranges throughout the
Willamette Valley. Judge r. P. Boise,
formerly master of the state grange, de-
livered short lecture upon the teachings
of the order. The newly-installed master,
Professor J. B. Horner, in his remarks,
took occasion to discourage politics in
the grange. He said:
The good work of the faithful few who
never failed Corvallis Grange in the days
of need has been blest with such a
harvest as few have been privileged to
witness. Sometimes these devoted hus-
bandmen and matrons with scarce a
quorum to transact the business of the
hour have met amidst discouragements,
and considered weighty questions that
were worthy OF the attention of the
greatest minds of the nation. They re-
ceived strength from their associations,
and they never gave up until the good
seed sown ripened. and it was heralded
through the press that sCoryallis Grange
had developed into the largest organiza-
tion of the kind in Oregon.
And when the long roll OF members
was read it was learned that this grange
was made up from the leading classes of
men and women in this part of the
county; and no grange represents great
er variety of superior talent than is found
in our grange. We have the young that
are full of promise, the middle-aged that
are triumphantly marching on, and those
who, having already made success Of
life in. the various departments OF human
endeavor, are, now, in their later years
enjoying the comfort and ease they have
justly earned, and are sready to give us
the benefit OF the. rich experiences they
planned ins the days of their greatest
activity and wrought out with mastery
hand.
Then, this grange is located at the
farmers educational center-the State
College-where the farmers.
the fruit-growers, the mechanics-the
industrial classes in general-should for
their own advancement as well as for the
good of the state at large, assemble an
nually il order that they may CLEAN
scientific information and discuss such
topics as touch culture and bear upon
higher industrial life. Here much is |
of US we reach all the industrial |
classes of the state, and our influence |
should be such as to exalt every interest |
of the honest toiler in whatsoever station |
he may be found.
We are so located, environed and edue
,ated that when necessary we should be I
'eady to take the initiative in any move
nent that improves the shops, the farms,
he. gardens, and the castles of the
people; and We as the members of this
grange can and will bring on these move
nents by the improvement of the shops,
he fields, the gardens, and the homes
which are the castles of the people
This is genuine husbandry; it is good
1T is ideal statesmanshio-
he craftsmanship that results in larger
.rops, better prices, better homes, better
and purer society. We
Is grangers need not therefore resort to
PARTISAN measures in the improvement
If our conditions and the accomplish
nent of our purposes as was common in
he days of yore; for every thorough
is an intelligent, true statesman
developing his own possibilities While he
8 moving in that higher plane of citizen
hip where. every man is SO loyal, patri-
,tic and charitable that he carefully
the various phases of question
ind weighs every possible interest before
le permits himself to criticise the acts OF
lis government. This is the part of
wisdom; for the government is within
IS, and when we presume to rebuke to
,ur government we merely reprove our
Ielves. And it is one OF the promising
eatures of Corvallis Grange. feature
which of itself will sustain the grange
lmlQSC every ODSIcClc, lJF ouI grange
consists of a class of men and women
yho are improving the country by inn
proving their farms, their orchards, their
gardens, their shops and their homes;
md they are improving their government
~ improving themselves. This is cul-
ure; this is patriotism; this is the
mission of the grange.
Inasnuch as Corvallis Grange repre-
ents diversity of interests some of
which are in danger of being overlooked
lnless special attention be given them,
t will be advantageous to discuss these
matters from time to time. The worthy
master ventures the opinion that this
grange will always welcome profitable,
imely discussion from any of its MEM
,ers 1t is hoped by. all that these
Meetings will be frightened with ad-
lresses on various topics and that the
exercises will be sweetened with song
md the music of instruments. Let
veryone feel that he is invited to co..
operate with the lecturer in the prepara-