Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-18
EVENING Session,

At the appointed hour Worthy Master
Gardner called the Grange to order for
the last meeting of the session. The at
tendance was fully up to that of the af-
ternoon. about 500 Patrons being pres
ent and they remained to the end. After
two side-spltting selections from Prof.
Morse of Norway, the favorite entertainer
of the Grange, the worthy lecturer. ". >.
Thompson of China. stepped to the front
of the stage ard in a very neatly worded
epeech of presentation handed to Faith
err O. FL. Kelley, who was sitting beside
Worthy Master Gardner. a well hiled
purse. appropriately inscribed, as token
OF the appreciation felt by the Maine
Patrons for the presence of the beloved
founder of the order: A storm OF APP
and briefly but feeingly expressed his
thanks for the kindness shown him by
the Patrons of Maine, whom he came
from Florida to meet AS he sat down a
brother in the hall arose and said:
IF it is not too personal question,
should like to ask Brother Kelley his
Evidently Brother Kelley considered it
too personal Il question, for quick as q
fash he was on his feet and answered:
Il am just the age that Ann was when
she was half the age Of my aunt,
The apt alusion to the great conundrum
of the day put the crowd into roars of
laughter which were renewed again ana
again. AS a matter of sober fact, MI
Kelley is n years old. but the frosts have
never chilled his heart. and he is as full
of fun as he is of enthusiasm for the
great order he established. His presence
at this years session OF the MAINE STATE
Grange was a notable feature and Will
always be remembered by all present.
An important and impressive feature OF
the evening session was the brief memo
rial service for the Patrons who have
deG during ot the Xear wha Was
ciated with Mr.. Kelley in the establish
ment of the order in Washington in 1857.
and for Fred A. Amen of Auburn, who
Grange. The appropriate resolutions
were presented by Eli Hodgkins Of
Greene, and after a prayer by Chaplain
F.. NJ. Titcomb and the sond Face to
land, remarks were made by Mr. Hodg-
kins, Mrs. Kate Ellis of Fairfield. G. $.
Stetson of Greene. and Worthy Master
Gardner, The resolutions were ordered
spread upon the records.
j. H. Blanchard of Auburn. chairman
of the committee on resolutions. present.
ed resolutions endorsing woman suffrage;
demanding the strict and continued en-
forcement of the prohibitory law: emphat-
ically opposing resubmission: supporting
the plan for an industrial school for the
blind; approving the Old Home move
ment and urging subordinate Oranges to
set apart a day during the weeh for a
public meeting and reunion urging Con-
gress to pass & law providing for par
Gel post ard {, IOst Al currency, ana eS-
tending the Thanks Of the order to the
| city of Watcrville. its business men. or
and citizens generally, also to
the railroads and to the ladies' degree
staff of Excelsior Grange.
These resolutions were passed one by
one without opposition and with little dis.
cussion, but a resolution relative to the
game laws stirred up a breeze and re-
suited in flood Of oratory from Prof. l.
/ Bateman. He declared that the game
| interests of the country plan to turn
Maine into a game preserve for the bene-
FIT of the miilionaires and coming bill
Iionaires of the land. He quoted classic
poetry to the delight of the crowd and
abused the game commissioners to Its
greater delight. A resolution urging 9
1 law giving farmers the right to protect
! their crops by killing wild animals tres
passing upon their fields was then unan
limously passed
4 A, little later, though not in this con
i neetion, ex-senator M. l.. Merrill Of st
I Adams, made an earnest and sensible ples
A to the assembly urging it to be more eau
4 ton in the matter of putting the staInl
4 of its approval and endorsement upol
i outside matters brought before it. Sucl
4 reimbursement too freely given, become
worthless and especially tends to max
things hard fof the committee on leeis