Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-16
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churches and schools and realize that
nearly all this has been accomplished
within the memory of men now living,
and it has all been made possible by the
result of the toll of the aEriculturist,
we may begin to understand something
of our importance to the industrial pro-
gress of our great country. AS we far
mers are the source Of all this great
ness, it is highly important that we see
to it that we get our just and equitable
portion Of it's profits. Destroy all our
cities and they can be rebuilt; remove
all our commerce and manufacturing
and all business of every kind except
agriculture and all can be replaced, but
destroy the agriculture of the country
entirely and the earth would become
an arid. barren waste.
Thus it becomes our duty in annual
session to consider ways and means
through which agriculture, the indus
try upon which all other industries de-
pend, may receive it's full share of what
justly belongs to it.
And as we assemble in this beautiful
city of Waterville and note the growth
and development Of this hustling, busy
city of our commonwealth, our minds
are in a measure prepared to recall the
fact that it has been % years since the
Maine State grange last met in annual
session in this city. The unselfish 10y
atty and self-sacriticing devotion to the
principles of the order, by the early pio-
neers of the work, laid the foundation
for the grand organization represented
by the 10000 members in the old Pine
Tree State today.
Sept. 80, 1902, our membership, as re-
ported by the worthy secretary was
34.1SS: Sept. 80, 1908, our membership
IS reported as being 40O33, a gain for
the year of 5S45 members. In addition
to this gain of members, there have
been II grange halls, representing
the best in the State, built and dedicat-
ed to the use and purposes of our order
and several are at this time in process
OF completion. When subordinate
oranges construct grange homes at a
cost of from $4,000 to $1,000, it demon
strates the stability and permanency
of the order in our State. and that the
question as to whether the grange is to
remain as one of the great educational
forces of the State, has passed the point
of debate.
When was elected at the close of the
year 1897, the official membership in
| the State was 21,515; at the close of this
year it is 4O,033, an average yearly gain
of 3086.33, and total gain for the six
years term of 1885, and in all lines of
| grange work the same relative gain has
been made, and today the grange oc-
cupies higher plane of usefulness
| III Al in, re
and is doing as great good to the peo-
| pie of our State as any other agency.
The State of Maine has especial rea-
son to be proud of the subordinate
| oranges of the State. Nowhere in the
world is there better or more finely es-
| tablshed oranges than here in Maine.
DEPUTY WORK.
The deputy work of the State has
been very efficient during the past year
| and is manifest in the improved ritual
| work of the subordinate oranges every
where. Upon the loyalty, ability and
| tact of the deputy. in a great measure,
depends the growth and progress of the
order. The deputy is the local repre-
| sentative in his respective jurisdiction.
1 wish to especially commend the
bee who, acting directly under orders
from the master, has added many hun
| dred members by his persistent and
consistent work. More than one half of
the years increase has been through
| his work.
FIELD MEETINGS.
| In accordance with the action of the
| executive committee, field meetings
We're held in every county in Maine, be-
| ginning Aug. 4 and continuing and in
Guiding Aug. %. Most of these meet
ings were we'll attended and were of
material value to the growth of the or
| der. This is especially true where the
| Patrons of a county co-operated with
| the executive committee to make the
meetings successful, not only in get
| ting the Patrons to attend, but also to
invite those who were not members of
the order to be present and in this way
become interested in the principles that
the Grange stands for. The worthy
lecturer of the National Grange was
| present at three of the meetings, Bry
| ants Pond, Lake Grove and Lakewood.
In the absence of speakers from out of
the State, loyal work was done for the
| good of the order by Bros. TWtchell,
Rogers, Merrill, Stetson and Worthy
State Lecturer Thompson. President
Fellows of the University of Maine.
was also present at a part Of these
meetings and addressed the audiences
in the interest of the University.
| NATIONAL GRANGE.
The National Grange convened in an
| nual session Nov. II. in the beautiful
city of Rochester, N. Y.
The Grange was in session 10 days
and re-affirmed it position on matters
referred to this body at former SEES
sions. The reports show the order to
be in a very prosperous condition. the
four states that have shown the great
est advance being Michigan, Maine
New York and Pennsylvania.
TAXATION.
Taxation is ever present and is tbs
contribution of each individual. as well
as corporations of every sort and kind
for public necessities, and when the
burden is borne equally, none have any
just cause for complaint. When equal
ly assessed and the money properly ex,
pended, more benefit is furnished te
every one, than is received in any