Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-16
OPENING DAY.
Goth Annual Session of State
Grange at WaterviIIe.
The Annual Address and the Reports
Of Officers.
Nearly All the $50 Oranges Repre-.
Standardization, Today.

The Maine State Grange opened its
seth annua! session at City hall, this
forenoon, with the largest attendance
ever known on the opening day. There
were fully 1000 members of the order
present when the Grange was opened
in the fifth degree at 10 A. M. Later
in the day many more came in, SO that
the beautiful hall was filled pretty
we'll to it's capacity, and more still are
expected, tomorrow drawn by the in
| terest that cen;ers around the election
| of officers
The city belongs to the visitors. That
was made plain at the grand reception
| and concert Of Monday evening, and
the fact was emphasized, today, in
Mayor Davis address of welcome, in
| the beautiful decorations of the stores
and places of business, and in the cor
dial and whole hearted way in which
| all unite to extend the city's hospital
Iity. The Patrons are everywhere.
They overrun the hotels, have full pos
session of the Colby dormitories and
halls, and find q welcome in hundreds
of private homes. And not n word of
| complaint is heard. Everybody is
| happy: there is enough to eat, and no.
body worries, tonight, about a place
to sleep.
/ When Worthy Master Gardner called
| the gathering to order at 10 A. NJ
only the elect having passed the vigi
| liant gate keeper and steward. after
whispered consultations with cache
all the officers We're in their places ex-
cept the assistant steward. These Off
| GERS are: Worthy master, O. Gardner,
KOckland; overseer, Royden Bearce,
Eddington: lecturer. w. j. Thompson,
| China; steward, G. w. Benson. Dur
ham: assistant steward pro tenn. j. l..
| Lowell. Auburn: chaplain, r. c. Pease,
| Cornish; treasurer, M. 3. Hunt Bel
mont; secretary. f.. II. Libby, Auburn;
gate keeper, S. A. Cuslman. Steuben:
| Ceres, Mrs. Pease: Pomona, Mrs.
Bearce; Flora, Mrs. Gardner; executive
committee. r. d. Leavitt, Turner, CO.
lumbus Hayford. Pressure Isle, John
Dority. Bluehiil, and S. +. Sweetsir,
| New Gloucester
| The Grange was opened in form in
the fifth degree. or that of Pomona,
and then declared closed in this de-
gree and opened in the fourth, that
being the degree in which all the bust
ness of the order is transacted. The
| first business was the calling of the
roll of the subordinate and Pomona
, Oranges by Secretary Libby. and this
! consumed over an hour. OF the $50
subordinate Oranges about 800 re-
sponded to the roll call. the majority
being represented by the master and
wife, others by the master alone, and
some by delegates in the absence Of
the master. OF the 90 Pomona Oranges
in the State. 81 responded TO the roll
call the only absentees being Waldo
and West Penobscot. AT once after
this the committee on credentials was
appointed. consisting of T. d. Leavitt
f. II. Libby, Mrs. Geo. A. Huston and
| Mrs. G.. +. Bowman, and entered upon
it's work of examining the credentials
of the delegates. The full voting
strength of the State Grange is about
| $50, two for each subordinate and Po-
mona Grange, and it is evident that
this vii! be pretty we'll present, tomor-
| row, not to mention the hundreds of
other members of tie order who are
enjoying the sessions. The committee
on order of business was also appoint
cd. consisting of John +. Bishop, G. l..
TAYLOR, j. II. Perkins, Mrs. l.. II. Mar
tin. Mrs. l.. l.. Carter. Mrs. d. o.
Bowen and Mrs. H. d. Hammond.
After this came the address of well
come from Mayor Cyrus w. Davis,
who is himself q member of the order
| and who during the opening exercises
had been seated on the stage, not far
| IL. I,,I 0lgo
AS he stepped forward Mr. Davis was
greeted with enthusiastic applause
which was often and vigorously re-
newed during his remarks His address
was worthy Of the occasion and of his
own reputation as pleasing and
polished speaker. He spoke as fol-
lows
| Mayor Davis spoke as follows:
| Patrons of Maine State Grange,
ladies and gentlemen: No pleasanter
task has fallen to me, as Mayor of this
Gem City of the Kennebec. than that
of extending to you. upon this occasion,
the hearty greetings of our hospitable
sons and daughters. Were it possible
| to clorhe this welcome with sounding
phrase, / am fully persuaded such
effort would carry little weight. when
compared with the fact that for three
days this industrious and industrial
community will, as far as possible, turn
from the counter, from the ONCE. from
the shop. from the forge and from the
loom to show its appreciation OF your
coming.
This organization, with its proper
lions and scope; with its splendid
membership and machinery; and with
its intelligent and aggressive head;
this organization having for lis funda-
mentals the material ana moral pros
perity OF the State: better homes, bet
ter schools, better farms better men,
better laws and better enforcement
of all law, is an organization which
should and does appeal for endorse
ment to every Maine community.
Not Waterville alone, but every
single city. town and plantation IN the
State. is profoundly impressed WIN
~. $500. ;,,,,.+ro ticp of the mower OF /,