Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-14


material interests of life, and the
other. the educational, moral and spir-
itual-the ideal, in a word. He was
glad that the farmers were going on to
consider these higher things, for the
material things of this world are not
the real, after all. 1t is the ideal which
has called them into existence and they
cease to exist SO soon as the ideal gives
place to higher one. Cities could not
exist, if everybody wanted TO be a
farmer. The Changers had great
future before them, and splendid things
We're to be hoped for, hereafter.
He then spoke earnestly of the dang
ers confronting the Grange, should it
NEEDLE with affairs outside it's legiti-
mate territory. 1t was becoming pros
porous and powerful, and people who
had grist to grind were anxious to
bring it to the Grange mill; and against
such he would warn all Oranges. The
Oranges had problems enough of their
own to take up their attention, such as
the unjust taxation to which farmers
are subjected. Mr. Thompson presen-
led clearly the business problems of the
Patrons of Husbandry, and wound up
his address with another plea for
earnestness of purpose and diligence of
effort.
DR.. G. M. Twitchell was next called
upon, and he made a rafting speech,
full of life and enthusiasm. He felt
that Changers were hardly awake to
the possibilities of life on the farm,
and of life in these glorious days of
the present. 1t was worth while to
look back over the past to catch in
spiratiOn for the future, and apprecia-
ton for the present. We must be alive
to tomorrow if we are to live our rich
est, best life in it. We are apt to get
into ruts and forget that the world
is moving on, fail to hear the call to
us to be our deepest, strongest selves
We must swing into line and get ready
for the uplift that is coming to u.s.
The best work that the Grange can do
is to wake us up and make us take
hold of things and if we do take hold
of them as we can and must, there
is no question about the future of our
people, no doubt as to the success of
our Grange.
"Clean your house and clean your she'd
And clean your barn in every part;
But brush the cobwebs from your head,
And sweep the snowbanks from your
heart
In conclusion, Master Gardner spoke
a few minutes in his humorous, force
full style, and gave valuable sugges-
tons as to what the policy of the
Grange should be. 1t should take care
he said, that it might remain farm
ers organization, under farmers con-
troll entirely, and devoted to the cause
of agriculture. 1t should foster ideals
of right living, good citizenship and
humanity, but should not NEEDLE fur
Their than this in political or social
questions. It's future would then be
assured, for it would endure so long
as there was need of brotherly love
and sympathy, of nobility in character
and of uplift in any phase of life.
The meeting was the largest and
most successful ever held in the county,
and any one who fears for tho safety
of the nation or is losing faith in the
American people should have heard
those addresses, ringing true to the
core, and looked into the faces of those
strong men, met there to work for the
welfare of the land they love. > 1t,
would have been a revelation, indeed.
But this meeting was no mere holiday
occasion, as one of the speakers said.
1t was not a spasmodic outburst of
short Lived enthusiasm. 1t was not
even climax. 1t was rather the be-
ginning of year of work among the
Oranges, an indication of what they
have been doing, and an earnest of
what they are to do. 1t voiced the
determination, felt by everyone pres
ent, to make it a stepping stone to
the greater meeting of next year, and
the increasing success of the Grange
work everywhere. Many of the speak
ers mentioned the ''uplift' as some
thing to be greatly desired, and one
interested in the welfare of his country
could find no better place to obtain
it than in such meeting of the Maine
Patrons of HuSbandry.