News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-12-14
Vermont Grange.
MASTER c. F. SMITHS ANNUAL
ADDRESS TO THAT BODY

AS we meet for the thirty ninth session
of our State Grange it is with pleasure
that we can record that there never was
time when there was more loyal feel
ine towards the roll OF officers, and a
more united interest for the success OF
the work of our Order than the present
lean assure you the helpful words spoken
and the aid you have given me have been
appreciated. trust the harmony that
has existed between the officers OF the
State Grange may extend to every rllem-
Der of the Order.
1t has been impossible for me to visit
all the Subordinate Oranges in the State.
but have tried to go where it seemed l
could be of most help. The largest
Oranges have never visited, believing l
should neglect these rather than the
smaller ones.
We have tried to visit a large number
of Pomona meetings, as by so doing we
could come in contact with larger num-
Der of patrons than in any other way
We feel that our work should be more es-
peciallv to encourage and help the newer
Oranges, and those, who have from any
cause, failed to realize the broad princi-
ples of our Order, and become disheart-
encd.
CONDITIONS OF THE ORDER
Fourteen new subordinate Oranges
have been organized since ourlast annual
meeting. These have had good charter
membership, and nearly all have taken
in several good classes. While we have
a few weak Oranges in the state, most OF
them have added to their membership.
Taken as a whole, we feel that the past
year has been prosperous one, from a
Grange standpoint.
Our territory seems to be pretty well
covered, and we have only a limited
number of prospects for new Oranges at
the present time. We can see marked
Improvement in many of our Oranges in
the ritualistic work in the past two
years, but there is still need of more i'm
provement in many places. Any Grange
can enhance its appearance and improve
the first impressions upon its candidates
one hundred per cent, by having the
beautiful lessons of our ritual rendered
in an impressive and painstaking nan
ner 1t will greatly increase the interest
of the members present and the lessons
of fraternity, so prominent in our Order,
will be more strongly enforced.
A goodly number of degree teams have
been organized, and are doing excellent
work We would encourage the forming
of these degree teams, also having them
visit neighboring Oranges, doing the de
gree work. thereby getting up little
friendly strife between different Oranges.
l am inclined to recommend that the
State Grange offer prizes for degree work.
A small sum of money placed with each
Deputy to be given by him, to the
Grange, in his district, doing the work
most accurately and impressively, all un-
written work to be included.
THE NATIONAL GRANGE
The 44th annual session of the Nation
al Grange, held in the beautiful Atlantic
City, was in some respects, a session long |
to be remembered by those taking part in
it's deliberations. AS nearly every one
knows, there has been for some time past |
certain persons and newspapers, in some |
parts of the country, who have been try |
ing to discredit the National Grange, and |
the work of the administration. These |
attacks had become so fragrant that it |
seemed necessary to call for a thorough |
sitting of these matters, for the good of
the Order. The parties who have been
making these serious charges, have been
claiming for months that they had, i'll
their possession, proofs which wouldcor-
roberate their statements. They had
been loud in their call for an opportunity
to give their proofs to the members.
When given this opportunity they failed
to appear. Those members of the Nation
al body who have been in sympathy with
these slanderers now came forward with
an unconstitutional proposition, which
they called an olive branch. 1t was too
late. The time had come when forbear-
ance ceased to be virtue These parties
failing to come out into the open and
prove their statements were then put on
the defensive. Even then they failed to
appear and try to justify any of their at
tempts to disrupt the Order. Whereupon
the National Grange meted out to them
the severest punishment it had at its dis
posal. 1t was very strongly rumored,
and with some proof to justify it, that
some financial interests were back of this
movement to disrupt our National or
ganization by poisoning the minds of the
people, both in and out of the Order. We
believe the action taken by the National
Grange was wise, and that the Order
will be strengthened thereby. The loyal
and devoted members whose faith has
not wavered and who did not sympathize
with these ATTACKS vvare onx;nuS for |