Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-12-20
Annual Address Of Worthy Master
George ". +. Gauni Continued,

recognizes the fact that the OppOr-
tunities of the farmer for social cul-
ture, intellectual development, knoWl-
edge of existing commercial laws and
conditions, and en- understanding OF
the political and economic questions OF
the day, were in former years, limited
to the extreme; and by means of or
ganization and cooperation it seeks
to overcome these hindrances to the
highest degree of success in farm
life. and to give the farmer an oppor-
tunity to become the peer of any man,
in other classes, in ease or manner.
fluency of speech, practical common
sense and logical conclusions in re-
gard to current topics and questions
of State or National Importance. To
this end the Grange edueates its mem
bers along social lines, they are con-
tinually brought in contact with each
other. and from their frequent inter-
course, they learn to practice the so
cial amenities and courtesies OF life
which adorn society and give refine
ment and charm to the home life Of
any class of people. No other organ
ization possesses such valuable oppor-
tunities for self development in this
direction and no other class IN the
community stands in greater need OF
this kind of education. The farmer
needs the Grange to assist him to be-
come a better farmer, and the farm
er's wife to become better home
maker. No farmer in this country
has reached the highest possibilities
of farming.
In this occupation, as in most 9th
ers, we learn from study, observations,
experience, and the teachings of 9TH
ers. Individually and alone we can
hope to get but little from the great
storehouse of wisdom and knowledge
in regard to the intricate science of
farming, whose marvellous mysteries
have, scarcely yet begun to be unfold
ed. The laboratories of nature are too
numerous and life is too short to en-
able us to make special study of all
Soils plant growths, food nutriments,
and animal life. Much of this need
ed knowledge must come from the
study and experience of others. The
Grange becomes the special educator
of the farmer in this direction, supply
ing his needs in the most systematic
and practical way which can be de-
vised. The farmers wife also, whose
opportunities for obtaining know
ledge of many of the necessities of
the home art may have been limited,
receives most valuable lessons from
her sisters in the Grange, who, per-
chance, have had better opportunities
and a wider experience in life. In a
purely intellectual way the farmer
needs and must have the mental dis
cipline and ripened thought which
may be obtained in connection with
Grange work, in order to give him
an equal chance with other men whose
environments have been more favor
able for positions of trust and honor
within the gift of the people. BY study
and application the ambitious farmer
can do much by himself but he can
not become the ready thinker and easy
speaker without discipline and public
experience in this direction and the
Grange is the only organization
which affords him ample op-
portunities for the development of
the latent powers of thought and
speech which he may possess. The
above are some of the leading educa-
tional features Of the Grange.
Agriculture.
Statistics prove that there are
more people engaged in agricultural
pursuits than in any other single in
dustry, there being about 27.000,000
people cultivating the soil. There is
more capital invested in this occupa-
ton than any other single industry
Notwithstanding these facts how few
of those who are actively engaged in
agriculture have given sufficient
10 hn f1rn Of
agriculture among the industries or to
realize its great Importance to the
welfare of the country, therefore,
necessity of putting forth the effort
that is necessary to promote this
great industry that it shall enjoy its
full measure of prosperity. J. ]. Hill
has said the mineral resources in the
course of time must be exhausted and
in the near future the man behind the
pillow will be compelled to produce
more from each acre to feed the rapid
ly increasing population. Therefore
agriculture being the most important
industry in the country, it is entitled
to greater consideration by those in
charge of public affairs in the State
and in the Nation, and that public Off
cial who gives The most earnest at
tention to promote agriculture is there
fore promoting the general prosperity
of the Nation.
Denatured Alcohol.
The passage of the law removing the
internal revenue tax from alcohol.
rendered unfit for beverage purposes,
at the last session of Congress is only
another illustration of what the
Grange as a leader and a creator of
public sentiment in favor of just and
equable legislation is capable of per-
forming for the public welfare. Not
withstanding the fact that some of the
sensational magazine writer's are
spreading broadcast that the law was
past in the interest of the Standard
Oil Company Those who have given
this matter any consideration in the
least, know full well there was no
change in the law governing distil-
leries, and the policy that the Grange
ic ~, M q 10 a10nho1 unfit