The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-05-04
History Of Granite Grange.
BY A. Stinson.

BY A. Stinson.
CRead at the anniversary meeting of the
Grange April, 1911.
Granite Grange, No. 1872. was organized
November 13, 1875, by Bro. Geo. M.
Clements of Winterport, with about 40
charter members. Of the thirteen offic-
ers then elected few are living today.
The first Master, E. H. Chase. died in
Colorado. The next, E. w. Robbins and
H. P. Carter, are both dead. The last
meeting of the old Granite Grange was
held Feb. 2, 1880, when it disbanded.
How we'll remember that meeting. The
old Grange held its first meeting in the
church, and its last in C. P. Carter's
house, since burned. The Grange existed
about four years, during which time two
deaths occurred-Bro. Waldo Matthews
and Bro. H. S. Black. The Grange was
non-existant for about IL years, when it
was reorganized by Bro. Geo. w. Richie
of Northern Light Grange, with SO
charter members. The first meeting
was held in Bro. Howard Wards hall,
April 20, 1892, and the first officers were
as follows: A. Stinson, Master; F. L.
Trundy, Overseer; E. B. Thayer, Lee
turer; W. C. Mathews, Steward; Harry
Moore, Asst. Steward; Mrs. w. j.
Matthews, Chaplain; F. A. Spaulding,
Treasurer; Mrs. F. J. Dow, Secretary;
M. M. Curtis, Gate Keeper; Sarah
Trundy, Pomona; Martha Moore, Flora;
Myra Black, Ceres; Mabel Dow, L. A.
Steward Three of these officers have
passed over to the Grange above.
The hall now occupied by the Grange
was built in the year 1894, and in Sep
TENDER of that year the grange moved
in. Since its reorganization about IS
members have died. Sister Emma
Thayer was the first to go, and Bro. T. D.
Nickerson the last. But one of the old
members has kept square in the grange
for Sc years. The following have served
as Masters Of Granite Grange: A. Stin-
son, 1923; Arthur Boyd, 1894; Fred
Black, 1896; Arthur Boyd, 1896; E. B.
Thayer, 1897; F. M. Nickerson, 1898; F.
L. Trundy, 1899; W. j. Matthews, 1900;
c. A. Hartshorn, 1901; A. Stinson, 1902;
W. J. Matthews, 1903; Irwin Harris,
19O4-5; z. D. Hartshorn, 1906; F. M.
Nickerson, 1907; F. L. Trundy, 1908;
Hollis Black, Jr., 19O9-1O; Ira Veazie,
now in the chair Of this number all are
alive but Bro. C. A. Hartshorn, who died
this spring. We think that nearly 1000
members have joined this grange in the
past 10 years. They are scattered all
over the world and many will never re-
turn to Granite or meet with US again.
Otherwise than by death we have met
with some great losses. A few years
since we lost by the removal of the fam
lily of Fred Black eight good and worthy
members-one has since died-which was
great loss to our grange. Brother
F. J. Dow also moved away, taking five
worthy members, nearly all in office
when they moved. Two of them have
since died. Others have gone and new
ones have taken their places. Twenty
years more will find many absent faces
and empty places, but the grange will
move on just the same. Could we re-
turn one hundred years hence we should
expect to find Granite Grange alive and
well.
Now, Worthy Master, a few words
more and will close. How few of us
understand what we are banded together
for. 1t is to develop better and higher
manhood and womanhood; to enhance the
comforts and attractions of our homes;
to foster mutual understanding and CO.
operation; to maintain the laws of the
land. And to hasten the good time
coming, as we meet together and talk
together we should work together and
endeavor to suppress all personal strife
in our grange. Faithfulness to these
principles will ensure our mental, moral,
social, and material advancement.
In conclusion, it shall be an abiding
principle with US to relieve any of our
suffering brotherhood by every means at
our command.
And now, Brothers and Sisters, wish
you all many years of happiness, and
this grange many years of prosperity;
and should the call come for any of us
before another anniversary shall roll
that we may meet in the Grange
above is my sincere wish.