Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-13

The Red Letter day fer Winthrop
Grange. the day to which AZ! of its
members have been loohin. forward
to for months, came eff Saturday with
smiling skies, and early IN ,hc morn
ing the teams began to sathe! from
miles around bringing their load o.
eager mem and women to join in the
festivities of the day-the day when
they celebrated the cancelling of all
debts and obligations and observed
the 14th anniversary of the dedication
Of the pretty little hall, which is now
their own in every sense of the word.
The hall had been newly vanished
with all its furnishings for the occa-
sion and decorated gaily with bunting
and evergreen, with traces of golden
ears of corn shown Respondent for the
occasion. Mr.. and Mrs George Gray,
with large corps of workers from the
Grange members had charge of the
decorating and their work was highly
successful.
The morning session opened with
music by Prescotts Orchestra of Mon
gagged for the day and evening.
A chorus of Changers gave u wei
come song, then came remarks by Co.'S
tello Weston of Readfield Grange, who
spoke of the frauds in government. of
monopolies, trusts and "onc-man pow
err and brought out the thought that
in no time in our COuntry's history
was there such need OF independent
thought and purpose.
MISS Maude Andrews of Augusta
who was reader for the days exercises,
gave selections and then the company
was invited to the dining room, where
q very excellent Grange dinner was
served by the ladies under the super
vision Of committee composed of Mr..
and Mrs. G. +. Kcmpton. Mr. and Mrs
M. F. Norcross, Mr.. and Mrs. George
Gray and Mr. and Mrs Everett Long
fellow.
The principal address of the after
noon was given by state Master c.. S.
Stetson, who warmly congratulated
the Grange. particularly the older
members who had stood by and for
and with the Grange had made it DOS
sible for them to enjoy the events Of
the day.
He dwelt at some length upon his
work in the Oranges He said he had
recently visited Eastern Star Grange,
No. I. of Hampden,, the first Grange
organized in Maine. Here he found Il
Of the charter members living and 10
OF them present at the meeting. There
are, he said, 4i0 Oranges in Maine and
about 60, 900 members. He does not be-
lieve that the Grange is living on past
glOries, but that it is facing the sun
rise
He mades it one of trinity which
IS to DO more for our country than any
thing else, placing it side by side with
the church and the schoohousc.
The Grange must in the future stand
for many things more than in the past.
1T must discuss the great farm prob
lens and all the great economic prob
lens of the times. He predicted that
the days meeting would be a lasting
benefit to the local Grange.
After Mr.. Stetsons address Mrs. c..
w. Taggart sang, and Miss Andrews
gave three fine readings.
Then followed what was perhaps the
feature of the whole days entertain
ment. the history of the Grange. writ
ten and presented by j. Henry Moore.
This number contains so much of in
terest to all that we give it in full:
HISTORY OF THE GRANGE.
Away back in the COS in West Win
tiirop. mot weekly 4 band of sturdy
farmers. The organization to which
they belonged WAS known as the West
Winthrop Farmers and Mechanics
Club. The little red schoolhouse in
the Howard district was their place of
meeting ard here they gathered year
after year, rcapirg lasting benefits
trcm their coming together and dis
cussinS the great vital questions that
3 confronted them in those da-s Years
passed by. the organization Of Pat
rons of Husbandry came into existence
Ihcn came the question. Shall We in
winthrop organize a Grange: The
matter was talked W. both q. West
winthrop and East Winthrop. D. W.
white of East Winthrop and Joseph
X Nelson of this part of the town. cir
cuiated paper. and accordingly. in
me last of 1875 or the first of 1876, Mr.
"hite met the members of the Farm
ers Cub and We joined in a petition
~ organize Grange. There were 30
petitloners who later became charter
members of Winthrop Grange, No. 200
80. M. Garland, county deputy from
WatefVille. organized at the Town hail
rep 10, 1876, what was known as Win
.hrop Grange, Patrons of Hushantlry
III the early days of the Grange
oaoges We're not worn, the regalia. con-
s'suns OF white aprons trimmed with
Ieu ior the sisters and a sash and
poaen Tor the brothers. At the first
tnNetlnR they chose Mr.. and Mrs. Sam
= vet crane, and George Z. Crane to pro-