Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1909-09-02
QUERIES ANSWERED,
important Subjects For Subordi-
nate Oranges.
About Open Meetings-The Lecturer S
Province-Best Time For Children S
Exercises = Membership Contests
Grange Lecture Courses.

Question-What should be our policy In
regard to open meetings?
Answer-Make them just as rare as the
conditions will warrant, and in some
oranges there is no need of ever having
one except on such necessary occasions
as Grand Army night. children's night
ETC., and even then attendance of outsid-
ers should be confined to those especially
associated with the evening in question.
Undoubtedly too many open meetings ar
held The privileges of the grange are to
often given free to those who ought to be
members, and by so much does the Order
lose instead of gain by the practice.
Question-To what extent is the lectur
er lin charge of the meeting while the
literary program is in progress?
Answer-It is a mistaken idea in many
oranges that during the lecture hour the
master is to give over all authority over
the meeting to the hands of the lecturer,
the oft repeated declaration of the mas
ter, Il now place the meeting in the
hands of the lecturer" being in itself
misnomer. AS a matter of fact the mas
ter is in charge of the meeting from the
first rap of the gavel until the closing
benediction and should occupy his chair
as much during the literary program as
at any other time. The lecturer simply
conducts the program features but should
not be required to maintain order or 9th
erwise assume the functions of the mas
ter. The authority of the latter never
suspends during the progress of the
grange meeting. and the proper function
of the lecturer is always secondary to
that of the master. A clear understand
ing of this fact makes for pleasant rela-
tions and for the greatest success.
Question-What Is the best season for
holding children's night?
Answer-In the majority Of oranges
l
for entertaining the children, and this
custom still largely prevails. Yet there is
a growing disposition to get away from
the month of school graduations and
church observances, both of which occupy
so much of the time and strength of the
children. a July date has been, adopted
in many oranges. While this particular
evening IS now often set for the second
meeting night in September, thus secur
| Ing the assistance of the teachers. who
are invaluable helpers in training the chill
dren.
Question-Is there danger that competi-
tive nights will arouse friction among the
members?
Answer-So far as reported very little
difficulty has ever arisen from such cause,
though cases of this sort not un-
known. Where they have occurred it has
been due simply to lack of tact on some
body's part and might as easily have
grown out of any other occasion How
ever the competitive night is rapidly TAX
ing on the form of simply the two sides
| presenting their respective programs
| without decision. judges or forfeit. This
| method proves quite as satisfactory as
| the other. leaves every spectator to judge
for himself or herself which side did the
| better and eliminates all chance of any
unplea asantness afterward.
Question-Can you tell us of any state
where the grange has taken up the mat
| ter of lecture courses or attempted to do
| anything of that nature for its rural
| towns?
| Answer-New Hampshire is making al
| extensive trial of just this plan and has
! well established lecture bureau, which
| furnishes fine courses for the countr!
| towns. These lectures are highly spoken
| of and seem TO meet real need in the
| rural communities. The originator OF the
| bureau was the state lecturer, Richard
| Pattee of Plymouth, who has charge OF
| the work and its extension. Inquiry from
| Mr.. Pattee will secure whatever details
| of the course may be desired.-Ofiicia
Organ.