Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-07-23
QUERIES ANSWERED,
Important Subjects For Subordi-
nate Oranges.
About Open Meetings-The Lecturers
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
MS 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 are
held The privileges of the grange are too
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 'in charge of the meeting" while the
literary program is in progress?
Answer-1t 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
benedict1on 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. clear understand
ing or this fact makes for pleasant rela-
lions and for the greatest success.
Question-What is the best season for
holding childrens night?
-
June has been the most common month
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. 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-
1--WE nights VIII arouse friction among the |
members?
Answer-So far as reported very little
has ever arisen from such cause |
though cases of this sort are not I'M |
known. Where they have occurred it has
been due simply to lack of tact on some
Dody 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
their respective programs
without decision. judges or forfeit. This
method proves quite as satisfactory as
the other. leaves every spectator to Judge
Tor himself or herself which side did the
better and eliminates all chance of any
afterward
NlueSt1On-(an fpll Of
Where the grange has taken up the mat.
Ter OF lecture courses or attempted to dc
anything of that nature for its rural
towns?
Answer-New Hampshire is making an
extensive trial of just this plan and has
! We'll established lecture bureau. which
fine courses for the country
owns These lectures are highly spoken
II and seem to meet real need in the
ural communities. The originator of the
bureau was the state lecturer. Richard
'attee of Plymouth who has charge of
he work and its extension. INQUIRY from
ar. Pattee will secure whatever details
Il the course may be desired.
Organ :