Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-22
GRANGE Co o-oPsaATloN.

more succ<ssfuls - 80 -" >
This 10 = question OF deep interest 10
| all good patrons. While some of ne are
members Of strong oranges doing good
work, many are not living M % their
opportunities. Even the stronger should
never De satisfied with having done well,
but should constantly strive To do bet
ter, remembering that while content
ment is the high road TO happiness, I,
Is the bar TO progress.
Of the many ways which might be
mentioned for mxking the grange more
successful, will name but one, cooper
ation--not necessarily cooperation In
buying and selling, although this IL q
subject on which much might be said.
Successful cooperation OF this kind
comes only 70 those oranges that have
achieved success In other Hines, and II Ia
rarely q success in building up grange.
Cooperation Ia working together; we
are so used to thinking that co-opers-
ton means working together 70 achieve
some financial object that We seldom con-
slider it In It's 5eoxder sense.
None Of Us are perfect, uore have ex-
sctly the same opinions a. our neighbors I;
vet all when working together make
perfect whole.
The sculptor chiseling from marble
bis idea Of the perfect humsn figure
finds no one model sufficient for his
needs, but must take the face OF one, the
form OF another, the head OF q third, and
so ON, 70 make his figure complete.
MANY OF the most famous paintings
Of the world, representing historic bat
tie scenes, consist Of groups OF human
figures, each one necessarily silent and
separate from the rest, each necessary
70 complete the perfect picture, and the
sbsenee of single one would mar the
beauty and completeness OF the whole.
..Sor knowess thou what argument
Thy nfe 10 thy Deigheor, creed hath ient
All are needed by each one
Nothing is fair or good alone"
Yet too many OF us come 10 the
grange with the idea that we shall not
be needed, nodestly assuming that some
one else can do better than we, Ignoring
the fact that we were admitted because
we were wanted, and once there We
should never withhold our efforts TO do
all In our power for the success OF the
grange.
Each Of Us may learn something Of
the other II the other does not persist
in "hiding his light under bashel."
To repeat myself, our accomplishments
vary; some have musical talent, either
vocal or instrumental; some have the
faculty Of readily memorizing and re-
pesting interesting selections, and all
have the gift, or may acquire Is, OF
speaking thoughts that We may learn
from each other, and be the better for Ii.
To withhold or refuse 20 do each his
part. because we cannot do As well ss we
would like, 10 selnshness. Do you ever
think OF II In that wayt
Do YOU ever consider yourself part
of the grange; As . part, something IL
expected Of you.
In coming into the grange we sscri-
fee none Of those duties We owe TO our
Creator, our country or ourselves. In
all things which relate 10 our inter-
course with the world As individuals, we
can be A. separate AS the drops OF water
that fall from the heavens, but our work
as a grange should be rs united as the
ocean, and as strong. When We onvince
ourselves that the success Of the grange
depends upon the hearty co-operation OF
every member, when all are working to-
gether with this object In view, then
shall we make the grange so successful
that we shall hold our heads q little
higher whenever the grange IL men,
toned, proud that We are part OF IL.
In our work as q grange there are cer-
tain to be things which will come up to
vex us, but we must pass them by, being
willing to give up something for the
common good, having faith that In the
rule Of the majority there Is wisdom
having hope that our success in the past
Is but 9 prophecy OF our success In the
future. With that charity 10 our hearts
for the faults and fAilings OF others that
we ask Of others for ourselves, let vi
perform with fidelity the duties which a.
good patrons fall TO our lot.-Johr
wellenough In New England Farmer.