Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-31
MASTER,s ADDRESS.

ucK 1uuItsc ~ TIC annual ecBolOu Va buo - aAA'
State Grange as Bangor
Officers and members of the Maine
State Grange:
We have assembled in the twenty
eighth annual session of the Maine
State Grange to devise ways and means
for advancing the interests, and pro-
noting the welfare of all our members
as an organization, and to improve the
condition of all that pertains to the ag
riculture of our country-the great basic
industry upon which the success of all
other interests depends.
History teaches us where agriculture
has been fostered, that country has
prospered and maintained high degree
of prosperity, but whenever this great
interest has been unjustly Disseminated
against, degeneracy has been the result
Let us heed the warning, and escape the
doom, and see TO it that agriculture with
all its varied interests receives its full
share of what is justly its own.
As we return to this beautiful Queen
CITY of the East, after lapse OF three
wears. to renew our former pleasant ac-
ouaintances, and form new friendships
with the good people of the city of Ban,
gor, take great pleasure in congratulate.
ing you upon the general success OF the
order in the state and nation, and upon
the prosperity that attends the labors OF
the husbandmen in the orchard, field
and dairy-the God of nature has given
of it's bounties with most lavish hand.
Splendid crops, coupled with a ready
market, have given the farmers of the
state a courage and hopefulness in their
calling for the future that has been con-
spicuous in the past by its absence.
A careful review of the work OF the
year reveals progress in every avenue OF
grange influence, and enables US to
repeat what we have truthfully said at
every previous annual meeting: That
the record of the last year is the grand
est of all. This is true whether we
measure by the number of members
gained, the number of meetings held,
the exercises conducted, the influence
exerted, or the victories won. The
order in Maine has become strong,
rugged, progressive organization-act-
lively engaged in the mental and moral
VI ITO hVhoShct eAN 80 e>~~
material welfare of the state.
As my term of Office as master expires
with this session, perhaps it will not be
amiss for me to give retrospect of the
work and progress during my term OF
office:
BY reference to the report of 1897 our
was given as 2l,5l5; in
1901, 30,O64, or an average increase OF
!, ,l3S each year for the past four years.
The past year has been unexampled in
progress in the history of the order in
Maine; we have not only added 4,SOO to
our membership, but we have gained in
influence, and commanded the respect
of all other professions and interests,
and the farmer is no longer conspicuous
by the amount of "hayseed" he carries
on top of his Uranium; but because he
has so rapidly learned the value of Co
operation, and the great power OF Or
ganized effort. 1t is true the lesson has
not been fully learned, yet great prog
ress has been made-which will stimu-
late more rapid advancement. The sue
cess of the past testities that it is possi-
BILE for farmers to work together in har-
mony, and maintain organized effort.
All that has been accomplished as an
has been along conserva-
tive lines. The greatest achievement Of
the grange, in my Judgment, is the aoii-
ity it has shown to arouse and sustain
interest in a great popular organization,
whose object is education, and whose
is self-culture. OF course it
would be but half the truth to assert
that the order placed all its emphasis on
the sober problems of education; activ-
ity for fairness to the farmer, to be
achieved through legislation and busi-
ness cooperation, has properly been an
to activity, but the note
worthy fact remains that the grange has
achieved its principal successes by ap-
peals to the larger and nobler interests.
While the grange does not teach partisan
politics, it does impress its members
with the responsibilities of citizenship,
and to do all in their power to secure
honest legislation, purer politics, and see
that the interests Of the farmer are
fairly represented.
This has been most eventful year in
our order-not only have we made the
most rapid gain in membership, but the
order has acquired a standing and intiu-
ence that heretofore was unknown. The
year 1901 marks an epoch in our history
that will WELD an influence for good far
beyond our most sanguine expectations.
The holding of the 35th session of the
National Grange in our state, the man
ner that the patrons and citizens OF our
grand old state did their part in the
social and fraternal entertainment Of our
honored guests, will give every true cit
izen of Maine thrill of pride. The at
tention shown, the high order Of the en-
and complete method OF
carrying out the details, and above all
the manner in which the several degree
staffs of Maine rendered the work gave
honor and credit to all.
The little Juveniles" of East Hebron
furnished one of the most pleasing feat
ures of the session by coming be-
fore the National Grange, and with
such credit to themselves, exempli-
fed the Juvenile degree Of the order so
finely that we are all proud Of them, and
ahall expect great things from them in
the future. Then the teams from Skow-
hogan, West Bath, and by no means
least, Auburn No. 4, gave such COM
plete and magnificent rendition OF the
degrees, it is safe to say,
taken all in all, nothing equally good
has ever been presented in this or any
other state, and every citizen Of Maine
should have just sense OF pride In
their splendid work; and wish at this
time to tender my acknowledgment and
high appreciation of the manner in which
they did credit to Maine. believe the
example they have given us will be
strong incentive for better work all
along the line of grange endeavor; the
result of their efforts will reach out over
our great country until it penetrates the
most remote sections. Occasionally we
meet a person who asks, "What has the
grange done?" Such a question at this
time is a reflection upon the intelligence
of the one who asks the question. No
observing person can but know that
there is no one agency that has done,
is doing, and will continue to do, as
much for the whole people as the
grange, and especially is this true in its
relation to the agricultural people; yet
we have never asked favor, bless
ing or q benefit, that we were not
ready and willing should be shared
and enjoyed by all other classes. Thus
has the past built for us an order which
has completely revolutionized the con-
dition of the American farmer.
CONDITION OF THE ORDER.
The present condition Of our order Is
source of qualification to every true