The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-02-21

Twenty-FInh Anniversary

Skowhegan Grange was organized,
Feb l6, 1876. The twenty 18th anni.
versary therefrom was Feb. Is 1901
On the evening of this dale large NUN.
Der of the members gathered at the hall
to recognize by appropriate exercises
the event. As hany of the charter
members AS were available occupied the
officers chairs aud four new candidates
were Instructed In the first and second
degrees in the form that WAS customary
when the grange was organized. The
secretary gave history of the grange,
largely statistical, from which are gath
cred the following Interesting facts:
There were 80 charter members, but
only IA of these are nov on the ro.2s.
Their names are: Loantha j. Pal kman,
Elvira F. Beal, l. c. Dorothy, Sarah J.
Dorothy, Lucinda f. Worthy, a. r.
Smiley, Altaua d. Beal, Augusta A
Coleman, Philena L. Homsted, Abel IL.
Patten, Mary Patten, A. 5. Hoxie, Aria
Hoxie and Parthena Bowman.
The whole number of members who
have enrolled their names upon the
records of 637. AS 1856 now compose
llt ulttDOtisIlD IL iollOWS lIidt - 3
names have been dropped from the rolls
through the natural causes that con.
stantly tend to lesson the numbers of
all organizations.
During the quarter of century 80
have died while members of the grange.
The following have occupied the mas
ter's chair in the years mentioned. B..
NJ. Hight, 1876, II, rs; ". d. Hayden,
1879; A X. Smiley, 1850, Isl, 'S2, 81 +;
o. j. Hancock, 1888; Horace Eaton,
1884, '94; Lewis Beal, 1885; Horace Bpal,
1856; Ansel Holway, 1887, %, '95, sc,
81; X. A. Withee, 1888; c. (. smith.
1889; w. b. Whittier, 1890, '9S, 90,
1900; Aloi 20 Smith, 1893.
The important office of lecturer has
been filled by Horace Beal, 1876, II,
rs, 81, 'S5; Alonzo Smith, 1879, 1913,
SO, 95, SO; c. E. Smith, 1880; b. Nj.
Hight, 1881; Mrs. f. l.. X. Adams, 1882
Celia a. Nolin, 1856; Mrs. 5. F. Whit
tier, 1887, IS; S. f. Emerson, 1890; d.
S. Wiley, 1891; ID. II. Bartlett. 1892,
'93; S. S. Woodman, 1894; Ella Fl.
Crowell, 1897, '9S, '99, 1900
The Office OF secretary which the order
recognized as the most arduous of all,
by Lewis Beal, 1876, -; c. E. Smith,
1878, 70; Mrs. E. l.. X. Adams. 1880
Alorz Smith, 1881, 81; A. r. Smiley,
1883 Eva B. Smiley, 1854, Sc; Vesta A.
Withee, 1885; Ella ii. Growell, 1887, 'SS,
80, 30, 1913, "a; s. f. Emerson, 1891.
%, '96, '97 '9S, so, 1900; Georgia A.
Tobel, 1895.
Ella II. Crowell has been installed in
office in Skowhegan grange, l6 times
S. F. Emerson, IA; w. B. Whittier, II;
Ellen NJ. Eaton, IL; Horace Eaton, .;
Alor 70 Smith. Horace Beal, Y. a.
Withee and Ausel Holway each, S; A.
X. Smiley, Z.
The different secretaries have collected
in fees and dues and turned into the
treasury So, l76 90, and the grange has
held Gil meetings. Meetings we're for
merly held in the vestrY of the Christian
Church, in the vestry of the Methodist
Church and in Grand Army hail, but in
the summer OF 1897 the grange purchas-
ed n lot on Pleasant street and erected a
hall which it now controls in its own
interests. This hall was duly dedicated,
Nov. ~, 1897, by State Master Edward
Wiggin. The grange has expended
large sums in necessary improvements
and in purchasing such articles as were
absolutely necessary to furnish the hall
and at the same time it has been redue-
ing the interest bearing debt to that
extent that it is owing considerably less
than at the time of the dedication, be-
sides there are rs more members than at
that time.
Eva f. Gage presented an interesting
paper touching upon the work of the
grange in its past history and its in
fiuence for good in the community.
The secretary closed his history with
the following lines:
twenty-five evcntful years into the past have
rolled away,
And gathered in our stately hall we celebrate
the day.
The past comes rushing in like waves from OIL
And our minds are overhowing with deepening
memories.
We remember the near ones who have met us in
our meetings;
Met us with their pleasant smiles, with their
fraternal greetings,
But they have passed away from On to the
eternal shore,
And the place that gladly knew them once will
know them neVermore,
But our hearts may gladly brighten and sorrow
When we think of the blessed promises to each
of us belong
May we not surely greet them on that ever shin
And on, meeting be forever and our parting
nevernure.
Our grange has bright prospects In the years
that are to come.
We've only to rally round it as we rally round
our home.
With faith in God nurtuTing hope dispensing
noble deeds,
True to principles of fidelity, we are sowing
precious seeds
In the great seed bed of time that round us
surely lies,
With a reward in the bright Heaven beyond the
stormy skies.