The Republican journal., 1908-10-22
An All-day Grange.
Harvest Moon Has Harvest Dinner And
An Interesting Session.

AAA AAA SsSSy oAUAA6~s
Harvest Moon Has Harvest Dinner AND
An Interesting Session.
Harvest Moon Grange, Thorndike, held an all
day session last Saturday. A fine harvest din.
ner was enjoyed at noon. At the proper hou1
the Worthy Master called the afternoon meet.
ing to order. Visitors were present from Dirige
Grange, Freedom, and Star of Progress, Jack.
son. After the opening exercises were con-
cluded the Worthy Lecturer presented an in
teresting program. Singing by the choir was
followed by remarks by J. H. Sayward, and
original paper in her usual fine manner:
WORTHY MASTER, PATRONS AND. FRIENDS
We meet again in our Grange Home to renew
our acquaintance with each other. 1t is fitting
thus to do at this season of the year, when the
crops are all gathered after liberal harvest.
1t is well that we meet and partake of the
bounties God has spread, and as Grange re-
turn thanks for liberal harvest and for the
bounties heaped upon our board. Not only so,
but to lift our voices in song-at least those of
our number who have the ability to sing; who
are blest with the gift of song 1t has been my
privilege for many years to mingle my voice
with others-some who are members of this
Grange and others who are not-in song, in
glad songs and it was perpetual delight to
me thus to do, and am at a loss to understand
why those who can sing refuse to do SO.
l remember hearing story told of man
who was under sentence of death, and it was
decided to starve him rather than execute him
in the usual manner. After he had tasted
some days and became very hungry, he ex-
claimed: 90 why didn't l eat more while l
could get it, Now mine is not parallel case
to his at all, for in the line of singing l was
always instant in season and out of season, as
you can all bear me witness.
The question is asked sometimes: What can
we do to increase the interest in the grange?
1t seems to me to encourage and cultivate mu-
sic would be one good way. l wish we could
sing today and all join in the chorus of the old
song
GIVE HONOR TO THE PLoW.
Tho clouds oercast ou. native sky
And seem to dim the sun
We will not down in languor lie
Or deem the day is done;
The rural arts we loved before
No less We'll cherish now
And crown the banquet as of yore
With honor to the plow.
The heath redress the meadow drain,
The latent swamp explore,
And o'er the long eXpectant plain
Ditfuse the quickening store
Then fearless urge the furrow deep
Up to the mountains brow
And when the rich results we reap
Give honor to the pow.
So still shall beasts by pastures green
And nodding harvests roam,
And still behind our rustic screen
Shall virtue find home.
Then grid US for the work like men
Who own a holy vow,
And if in JOY we meet again
Give honor to the plow.
And again, when the corn is in the barn
And old winter comes so stern,
O, then to music's joyous note
Well troll the noble song.
AS we cluster warm within
Around the dear old blazing fire
Well merriiy sing both loud and long
Give honor to the plow
Those old songs are just as good, and just as
appropriate, as they ever were.
And, furthermore, it seems to me that if we
would bear in mind this fact, that the grange
is interesting or dull by what we do or fail to
do as individual members, we might be alert to
treasure some fact or incident in expert
ence collect some item or selection, instructive
or amusing, and present it for the instruction
or pleasure of the grange the act would be in
accord with our obligation to work for the good
of the grange and for each other. There are
experiences coming into every family that
might act as helps or warning to others if
communicated to members in grange meeting.
Our lives are made up of trifes, which if
needed as helps or warnings tend to perfect us
and ''perfection is trlt1e.
/ once heard a man, preacher, say that
his wife never had to speak to their children
but once to have them mind what she said.
If any of you have been SO successful as that
in training your children, tell US about it in
the grange. Most fathers and mothers l have
had acquaintance with need to know the best
way in that respect. ! was in Sunday school
convention at one time when the question of
training children was under discussion and one
minister was called upon for remarks He said,
to use his own words; Before l had q wife or
children | could preach a sermon about the
bringing up of children but since have both,
say but little about it."
So it seems the best theories sonnet ines fail
in practice Now we can all understand pla in
facts told in plain language such as common
people use. There was once minister who
found himself in neighboring pulpit, and he
wished to make a good impression and show
off his learning in a certain sense, and although
the audience was composed of plain people he
launched out in oratory and scared aloft. He
soon noticed that they did not seem much i'm
pressed with his great effort. Some were
nodding, others yawning, while others were
looking out at the windows. The thought
finally came to him that he was using language
above their comprehension, so he concluded to
come down to earth and speak the dialect of
the common people, Presently he noticed a
marked change in the attitude of his audience
Shortly a colored brother who had become
greatly interested shouted out, ''Bress de Lawd
Masser. OATS right. Put de cookies on de
lower shelf
The remainder of the program was as fol-
lows: question, To what extent does wealth
determine the happiness or usefulness of a
person? opened by Flora Ward, followed by
others; song by Mrs. Annie Cole; conundrums
and quotations; song, Mr.. o. j. Parsons; read
ing, Mrs. Belle C. Crosby; song, Mrs Annie
Cole; reading Mrs. Maria Rollins; song, Give
Honor to the Plow, by the choir; recitation,
Mrs. Flora Ward; closing hymn, Nearer my
God to Thee"
wINTERPORT.
From an occasional correspondent: S. Ritchie
made brief trip to Boston via Bangor asst