The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-04-25

North Waldo Pomona Grange
Holds Successful Meeting with Burnham
Grange.
North Waldo Pomona Grange held ire
regular monthly meeting with Durham
Grange, Burnham, April 10, 1912. It
was the first meeting of Pomona with
this grange, which was organized about
one year ago, and despite the unfavor-
able condition of the roads there was a
good attendance. The visiting patrons
were met at the station by 0. B. Nc
Kechnie, master of Burnham Grange. and
conducted to the hall, where they were en-
tertained throughout the day. The Off
GERS received the hearty cooperation of
the host grange during the session.
Worthy Master G. H. York occupied
the chair and the grange was opened in
regular form. After selection by the
choir, with Mrs. O. B. McKechnie at the
piano, the regular routine business was
in order and was quickly disposed of.
Only six of the officers were present,
but the vacant, stations were very &C
ceptably filled by the following men,
bers: Overseer, o. B. McKechnie; stew.
ard, F. W. Burrill; chaplain, Ermine
Davis; A. S., Everett Davis; ceres, Mrs.
Reynolds and lady steward, Lu eli a
Crowell. Seven oranges of this jurisdic-
ton were represented and Androscoggin
and East Kennebec Pomonas by J. H.
Blanchard, master, and L. T. Merrill,
master, respectively. There was also a
good delegation from Clinton grange.
The secretary presented the names of
SO candidates for initiation, which is the
largest class ever initiated in Waldo
county, and we shall consider our Pomona
the banner grange of the State in this
respect unless we hear of a larger class
from some other Pomona. The sixtieth
candidate presented himself too late for
initiation. These candidates were intro
duced and received the full instructions
of the fifth degree. Recess was declared
and the guests were conducted to the
dining-hall, where most sumptuous din
ner was awaiting them, with an efficient
corps of walters to anticipate every want.
At the conclusion of dinner the grange
resumed work in the fifth degree and the
following unusually fine address of well
come was extended by 0. B. McKechnie:
Worthy Master and Patrons of North
Waldo Pomona: AS you gather here in
this hall today in such large numbers,
representing as you do the blue blood of
northern Waldo, we ask ourselves, why
are you here and for what purpose have
you met on this occa sion? and as we look
around into the intelligent faces and
eager countenances of this audience we
are convinced that somehow, and some
where, you must have heard that we
have a new grange in Burnham and so
you have come to look us over, see what
we are like and place your seal of ap-
proval or disapproval upon US.
Upon me has fallen the pleasing duty
Of assuring you in behalf of Burnham
Grange that you are indeed welcome.
We have no costly home to which to in
vite you; We have no superior facilities
for your entertainment. But we have,
what is more than all these, the true
fraternal spirit of Faith, Hope and Char
lty, together with Fidelity, to present
to you as you honor us with your pres
ence or this our first Pomona meeting;
and as look around me and see so many
members OF the order who have labored
long in the service | feel incompetent
and like kindergarten scholar talking to
high school graduate if | attempt any
words of wisdom or advice. The order
of P. Of H. | regard as the grandest
order of the age for the farmers of our
country for the upbuilding, socially,
financially and Intellectually of the
common people of agriculture. Abra-
ham Lincoln once said that God must
have loved the common people, because
indeed love the grangers because they
are indeed of the common people. When
we look back decade and see what the
grange has accomplished, the thousands
that it has taken out of the ruts in which
their ancestors trod and placed them
upon the niacadam road, as it were, of
profit combined with pleasure, leading to
success and happiness, we are impressed
with the magnitude of our order and the
great work it has performed. Starting,
as we well know, with very humble be-
ginning, it has forced recognition and
pushed its way onward and ever upward,
until today it is the most powerful fra
ternal organization for the moulding of
character and the development of all
that pertains to justice and equality that
exists on the face of the globe.
1t has been boon to the farmer and
his family and its teaching and in flu
ence have shown them that they are the
peers of their city cousins and given them
a respect for themselves such as their
forefathers never knew.
The grange has become power that is
felt in every State and town in the land,
and the officials in high Office are begin
ming to sit up and take notice and find
out our wishes and ask our opinions on
the great questions of the hour before
making new laws for our government.
And there is not an office holder or poll
tician of today who has not his ear to
the ground listening to the onward
march of our order and asking himself
what action the grange will take upon
any proposed legislation 1t has taken
man from the common ranks of agricul-
ture, plain tiller of the soil in Gods
open air and sunshine, and after retain