Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-12-13
The National Grange.
IN SESSION IN NOVEMBER AT PORTLAND,
oREGON-AN INTERESTING REPORT.

IN SESSION IN NOVEMBER AT PORTLAND
oREGON-AN INTERESTING REPORT.
The national grange met in 3Sth an
nual session ut Portland, Ore, Nov. Is
The armory where the meetings wer,
held was elaborately decorated and ;
notable feature was the fruit exhibi,
from Oregon and Washington. At the
evening public session Augustus High
past master of the Washington state
grange, presided. Gov. Chamberlain o
the state of Washington delivered th'
address of welcome and National Master
Jones responded in his characteristic,
vein. Mayor Williams of Portland ex
tended the hospitalities of the city and
Gov. Bachelor of New Hampshire re
sponded to his words of welcome
Speeches were also made by b. G. Lee
dy, master of the Oregon state grange
and by Hon. +. B. Norris, master of the
New York state grange.
National Master Jones delivered an ad
dress which was an exhaustive treat
ment of the various subjects that present
AOA bAC SOhoAbSA"hiOh va sh>
national body. Twenty-Five thousand
copies of the address were ordered
printed.
Aberne,hy grange of Oregon present
ed the presiding officer with gave
made from the wood of two historic
cherry trees. The seed of tree from
which the gavel was produced was plant
ed by Rev. A. F. Waller, Methodist
minister, who went TO Oregon in the
early 40's as missionary. The tree
grew on the main street of Portland un
disturbed for 60 years, being removed
only four years ago.
At the second days session the ma
tional officers made their reports. Ma
tional Treasurer, Mrs. Z. S. Mcdowell
of Rome, N Y, reported balances ano
receipts for the year to be S52,1l6.So
expenses $40, ,5l3. 10, leaving balance on
hand of So, ,203.15.
The roll call of states showed the
grange to be in hourishing condition
everywhere. New Hampshire reports
266 subordinate and - Pomona oranges
and grange fire insurance organization
having more than 100000 in policies
More than 100 members of the order
have lust been elected to serve in the
New Hampshire legislature and grange
school law will probably be enacted this
winter. Connecticut reported III
oranges and growth in membership
Minnesota reported gains during the
wear. Ohio has organized % new oranges
and travelling libraries are grange lea
ture there. Pennsylvania reports I,OOo
new members this year and grange life
insurance is becoming feature OF the
order in that state. South Carolina re-
ported the order in a tiourishing con
dition. In Wisconsin the grange has forg
ed ahead. Maine makes banner report
That state has now "A Pomona oranges
and 374 oranges all told in the state. II
has organized IS subordinate oranges
the past year and the total state mem
bership is 47,7T2. Thirteen new grange
halls were dedicated the past year and
the cost, on the average, was ~, 100 al
though one cost Sl4 500. One grange
has a membership of TS4 with posi-
bility of making it $50 before the enc
of the year.
Illinois reported an increase of about
30 per cent in membership. Delaware
reported that field work during the pas'
wear had received more attention Will
good results. In Illinois prizes wert.
offered by the state grange for Increased
membership and seven members OF tnt
grange in that state were recently elect
ed to the state legislature. The lnsur
ance feature is prosperous in that state
Vermont has added IS new oranges the
past year with a net membership o.
about 1000. Worthy Master Norris o.
the New York state grange said that the
past year had been a very prosperous on'
for the order in the state, 81 new oranges
having been organized, three Pomona'
and seven halls dedicated. The gam II
membership the past year is oetweeI
1000 and 5000. He recounted the wori
done during the summer months at th'
field meetings, state fair, Chautauqu;
and Thousand Islands, in all OF whici
much interest was taken. The state o.
Washington reported 15 oranges organ
lied, one Pomona, net gain in member
ship of 50 per cent.
Kansas has added 5000 to the mem
bership during the past year. One hre
insurance company carries RISKS 10 tn'
value of more than S3,2OO,OO Rhode
Island reported fair prosperity Tor th'
grange. Mutual fire insurance com
panies report saving of 80 per cent VI
the cost of insurance. Maryland report
ed good progress. Michigan has added
81 oranges the past year, making iis
oranges in the state with 44,Ol3 mem
bers. There are about 20 county an'
district fire insurance companies IN The
state. the average cost of insurance oI
each thousand being Sl.25 per annum
They have $4,000 in the state treasury
Four hundred grange halls are ownet
by subordinate oranges. There are :,
in one county. West Virginia is rapid
lx coming to the front. There is abou
100 oranges in good standing. New Jer
sew has Increased its membership abou
1000 the past year. There are aoou
s.. .OOO, 900 worth of property insurance
in grange fire insurance companie
which have been in existence 20 years.
The executive committees repor'
showed that the property OF the nationa
grange consists of 20 farm mortgage
amounting to S46,306, deposits in sav
ings banks Sl2,7l2, amount in fsc;'
agency s2O,49O, a total investment o
$50. l99, or total of SSO,69O, which
shows an increase during the year O
50, ,29S 1867. :.
A strong resolution was adopted il
favor of the parcels post. The com
mittee emphasized the fact that the rura
I'll sor,,;ca now has the machinery TO
a most efficient parcels post system an'
that the rural free delivery system is In
complete without the addition OF pro
visions for the delivery of parcels. Tn
committee did not advocate parcel
rate that would drive the express com
panies into bankruptcy but thought tina
the people had right to demand OF con
gress an extension of the usefulness q
the system of parcels delivery. On tn
question of public highways the com
mittee presented a strong resolution
fayoring the passage of house bill lO,l6
for national aid for highways and the
urged the state masters to take thes
matters up Immediately in their severa
states.
The committee on finances recon
mended the following salaries: $50
per year and three dollars per day an
actual travelling expenses while ava
from his office for the Worthy Master
s4OO and the same per diem for the Wol
thy Lecturer; $1,000 for the Worthy Se'
retary and travelling expenses whe
necessary; $400 for the Worthy Trea.
urar and travelling expenses; three do