Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-12-24
0UcEsTER COUNTY DEMOCRAT DECEMBER

so we may share with our brother far
mers the good things the Grange has
in store for the faithful laborers. With
an active earnest organizer and the CO.
operation of those members who live
near by, can see no valid reason why
Somerset and Middlesex Counties can
not be brought into the Grange fold.
DEPUTIES.
Much of the work of organizing new
Oranges depends upon the deputies,
and many of our deputies have done
very efficient work during the past
year and in order to push the work
deputies must be thoroughly qualified
to answer all questions without hesi-
tency; each deputy should be provided
with a digest and manual at the State
Grange expense to be delivered to his
successor in office, also application
blanks and leaflets telling how to pro
coed to organize Grange.
RURAL TELEPHONE.
There is a strong sentiment growing
in our country that the Government
should provide telegraph and tele-
phone service, in connection with the
mail service of our country. In our
Judgment it will take some time to
bring this about, and in order that we
may receive cheaper service, let us or
ganize rural telephone companies. Il
has been thoroughly demonstrated
that rural telephone companies can be
run at a profit at about half the price
charged by the monopoly companies
and at the same time pay good in
terest on the investment. One COM
pany in Sussex County has been in
successful operation for more than one
year, paying very good interest on the
investment and proving a great value
to the subscribers Other counties are
taking steps toward organizing rural
companies and the project deserves
the best thought and consideration of
our membership and all good people.
We do not recommend that it be made
strictly a Grange company, but on the
other hand, insist on business men
and farmers who are not members be-
coming stockholders and subscribers
as will thus prove to all that the
Grange is not a selfish organization.
FRATERNAL EXCHANGE.
desire to call your attention to the
Importance of fraternal visits among
Oranges, how often does a visit from
a friend cheer up one who is dis
couraged over some business difficulty,
apply the same to the weak Grange,
that is struggling along with just a
few loyal members. They sometimes
become discouraged and visit from
good strong Grange is sure to give
them encouragement.
The fraternal exchange Of visits be-
tween some of the Pomona Oranges
in this jurisdiction with those of our
sister States have proven to be very
interesting meetings and should be
continued
have been invited to attend the
meeting of two State Oranges within
the next few weeks. This has been
the custom in the New England States.
for number of years with good re-
suits. The visiting master is able to
get new ideas for conducting sue
cessful State Grange meeting.
IN MEMORIAM.
Since the last meeting of this State
Grange Brother John Trimble, one of
the noble founders of our order, and
for 18 years secretary of the National
Grange, has gone to his reward. He
was noble type of Christian man
hood. Brother David S. Adams, of
Swedesboro Grange, No. 5, one of the
pioneers of the order in New Jersey,
has passed over the river to his eter-
nal home Brother Adams helped or
ganize this State Grange and was
steward and lecturer for a number Of
years, and he seldom missed meeting
of this body until failing health pre-
vented him from attending.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, / congratulate this
State Grange upon the prosperity that
has rewarded the labors of the past
year. We are steadily advancing to a
higher plane of usefulness, an earnest
spirit seems to pervade the member
ship, and a more enlarged charity is
the result of our operations. We are
growing in membership and in good
deeds, and as the fields widen our en-
thusiasm keeps pace with it.
That we may be animated with a
sincere desire to accomplish in the fu-
ture still better and grander results
than in the past ought to be the hon
est wish of every true patron.
Fraternally,
GEORGE w F. GAUNT,
Master New Jersey State Grange.