Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-18
Gath ANNUAL SESSION.
Continued from Page One.)

ton; Good Will. South Warren: High
lard, East Warren; Athens; Union
League NinSman: 0. Gardner, Winter
porl; making SO grange halls that have
Ooen dedicated to tn" use and purpose
OF the Order
Since | have had the honor Of helm;
master, during the 10 years we have
had a steady and substantial growth %
members and influence. By rcfertnc"
10 our register you will find that on
September 30th, 1897, our membership
was given as 21,515. September 30th,
1901, it is 55.016. showing m increase for
ten years of 24,504. an average Of 3,45p
per year, which IS not equalled by any
state in the Union. when the popula-
ton of cur State is taken into account.
Orr membership has increased pro-
pOrtionately from one for every 81
of our people. to one for every
II, or from three and one-third
per cent. to eight and one-half per
cent. Of the entire population Of the
state.
a larger proportion of our subOrdi-
nate oranges own their halls than in
any other state in the Union. if indeed
grange halls owned in Maine than in
the entire rest Of the country combined.
1t is well for us to remember in this
connection that bigness is not necessar-
lily greatness. Greatness in accomplish
ment does not always follow vastness in
numbers. The greatness of the grange
Will be measured by the moral and in
tclleCtual stature of it's individual mem
- Nj nl,E fN
ward developing Il higher manhood and
wo.nanhood among its members. The
spirit oi social service is abroad in our
land.
The grange has revolutioniZed the So
ciai life of our rural population and
this feature of its work alone is well
worth the entire cost of its members,
and is in evidence through the helpful
men and women who assist their I'M
fortunate neighborS in a thousand ways
in time of trouble. Such work is not
done for money; it is done for service,
and service to ones fellows is 4 coin
that PASSES current in the realm Of the
grange.
While we talk of the greatness of the
grange let US make it great by our
devotion II its principles and precepts.
Emerson says: "How can l hear what
YOU say, when what YOU are keeps
laundering in my ears" Let US not
give opportunity for the criticism that
we are not living up to the highest
ideals of the tenets of our order. Much
has been done; much remains to be
done. Some grangers seem to feel that
there is no purpose in the order but TO
perform something that is purely local
in its character. While with some it is
along social lines. with others il is ot
local business. Social culture is one
of the most important features oi
grange work, but the grange that lives
Tor itself alone will never be great
factor in the accomplishment of what
ever successes may be in state. The
four great successes of the order ma
tiohally were rot brought about by the
influence of such oranges. but through
the efforts of those who work upon the
broader plane. constantly and ag.
excessively along the lines of grange en-
oeavor locally and nationally; by be-
inE Ill touch with the work being done
Dy poth the state and national oranges
In no other way can subordinat.
grange occupy the full measure of it.
usefulness.
Inc work of the National Grange fo
several years past has been along sucl
broad lines and of such vital interest t,
an the people of the rural section
everywhere, that it Is almost a refiec