Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-18
THE STATE GRANGE
Opens Its Three Days Annual
Session at Bangor.
Attendance Sadly Interfered With by
the Lack Of transportation.
State Ma stef Gardncr's AanuaI Address. Other
| Reports Reception ia evening.

Bangor, Nc, Dec. 1.-THE Maine
State Grange opened 4 three days ses-
sion in city hall here, this morning,
with 90 delegates present. This was a
much smaller number than had been
expected. but more were prevented
, from reaching the city by the fact thgt
al railroad communication with the
west has been interrupted since Sun
days storm. Many members of the or
der were present from the vicinity Of
his city and the galleries were well
filled
The morning session was opened in
form and was devoted to routine busi-
ness.
iu the afternoon. Worthy Master
Obadiah Gardner of Rockland. deliv
cred his annual address.
The reports Of Lecturer W. J.
Thompson. Secretary +. II. Libby,
Treasurer NJ. B. Hunt and the audit
ing committee were also received.
After the reading of TIE reports. in
tie afternoon session. various matters
Df routine business We're discussed.
and NJ p. VI. the Grange took a re-
cess until Wednesday morning. Mas
ter Gardner received message an
nouncing that no through trains from
tie west could be run until Friday,
and announced the fact to the Grange.
Tonight. the Bangor & -troostoJk
tain came through, bringing the
Aroost ouk delegates. ana aboat 20 from
Auburn arrived. tonight. via Rockland
and Camden.
Tonight. in City hall. q reception and
entertainment was given for the Gran
gers. which was largely attended. Ad
dresses We're made by Mayor Chaplin
for the city and by Charles s. Pearl.
presiden; Of the Bangor Board of
Trade. for that body. Welcoming the
visitors. and responses We're made by
Master Gardner and state Lecturer w.
J. Thompson.
y fine concert was given by Pullen's
Symphony Orchestra. the Apollo Quar-
tct and local singers. and the enter
tair ment closed with a Juvenile cake
walk.
The address of State Master Gardner
follows:
In opening Mr. Gardner referred to
agriculture as the great basic indus
try" and declared that wherever It nad
been fostered the country had prosper
cd: but wherever the contrary had been
the case legeneracy had been the re-
suit. He referred with pride to the
work Of the order during the year
which he declared showed progress in
every department of Grange progress.
During the past four Years the order
has increased in membership in this
state from 2i, SIS in 1891 To &C. .06i in 1907.
This has beer a most eventful year
ir' our order-not only have VIC made
the most rapid gain in membership, but
the order has acquired a standing and
influence 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 eN-
pectations. The holding Of the 25th ses
sion of the National Grange in our
State, the manner that the Patrons
and citizens OF our grand Old State did
their part of the social and fraternal
entertainment Of our honored guests.
will give every true citizen Of Maine
thrill of pride. The attention shown,
the high order of the entertainment.
and corDiete method of carrying out
The details. and above all the manner
in which the several degree staffs of
Maine gave honor and credit to all.
From the little Juveniles of East He
bron who furnished one of the most
pleasing features of the session by COM
ing before the National Grange, and
with such great credit to themselves,
eXempliiied the Juvenile degree of the
order so finely that We are all proud OF
them, and snail expect great things |
from them in the future. Then the |
teams from Skcwhegap, West Bath |
and by no means least, Auburn No. 4. |
gave such a complete and magnificent |
rendition of the subordinate degrees, |
ii is safe to say. taken all in all. moth |
ing equally good has ever been present
ed in this or any other State, and every |
citizen OF Maine should have q just |
sense of pride in their splendid work, |
and | wish at this time to tender my |
and high appreciation |
of the manner in which they did credit !
10 Maine | believe the example they |
have given us will be a 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 re-
mote sections. Occasionally we meet a
nerson who asks. What has the
Grange dOne?" Such question at this
time is n 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 tie agricultural people:
yet We have never asked a favor, u
blessing. or a benefit, that we We're not
ready and willing should be shared and
enjoyed by all other classes. Thus has
he past built for us an order which
has completely revolutionized the con-
fition of the American farmer.
CONTINUED on page ~