Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-07


ington; steward, VIM. Muir, st, Louis;
treasurer, VIM. Saunders, Washihgtohi
assistant steward, A. S. Moss, Ere
donia. N. "; Rev. A. b. Grosh was
later chosen chaplain.
1t was decided to organize SUD-
ordinate Grange in Washington for
a school for instruction and driil IN
ritualistic work. In order to get
larger working body several men ana
women were admitted free or for what
service they would render. These
members were Masons and the rituals
tic work of our Grange was taken
largely from that order. This Grange
was known as Pomona, No. /. In this
Grange the work was planned out and
the degrees named as they now stand.
More degrees were talked of but aban-
doned. The degree work was largely
contributed to by Miss Hall.
Mr.. Kelly and Miss Hall wrote all
Of the Fifth degree. The Sixth and
Seventh are generally accredited to j.
r. Thompson fer which he received
$500 from the National Grange.
II was originally intended by the
authors of the ritual to have the de-
idea could not be carried out.
The preamble was written by Mr..
Sanders and the declaration of pur-
poses by J. w. A. Wright of California.
The time for the completion of the
work was near at hand and the open
ing invocation by the Chaplain was
lacking. Mr.. Kelly was much puzzled
over this matter. At night he retired
but not to sleep; his thoughts were
on this last important subject. AS he
thought sentences began to form
selves and arising from his bed lie took
pencil and paper and wrote what is
/ now and ever has been the opening
words of our Chaplain
Thus was originated the Patrons of
Husbandry. MI Kelly and other good
men continued in this great work, un-
til Patrons of Husbandry are found in
every part of the United States. At the
present time there are 81 ,515 members
of the Patrons Of Husbandry in the
single state of Maine, of whom 1867
are in Kennebec county. The growth
of the Grange he's been rapid between
the year 1867 when the first Grange
in the Union was organized and the
year 1876 There had sprung \up in
Maine 214 Oranges. On March 4, 1916
while Nelson Ham was State Master
ana John N. Jackson was State seere-
tary. Chelsea Grange was organized
by j. NJ. Garland of WaterviIle with
% charter members. of whom i are
alive today. The first officers elected
were:
Master, w. T. Ssarles; overseer, A
y. Douglas; lecturer, L. w. Barker;
steward, Alonzo Gardiner; assistant
steward, P. s. Moody; chaplain, j. G..
Morang; Treas, ". ". Hankerson;
Sec, F. Z. Barker; gatekeeper. Isaac
Hall; Ceres, Lizzie Cobb; Pomona
Belle Barker; Flora, Rebccca Camp
bell; lady assistant steward, hrs
Phoebe Morang.
In it's infancy this Grange held its
meetings in The Searles Mill school
house. but it soon outgrew these quart
ers and a stock company was formed
and hall was built at the Four Corn
ers on the Togus- Gardiner read. Here
they had ample room in the hall above
and carried on a store in the room he
low. The store was abandoned after
few years as non paying PROPOSE
ton. sr155=..zzt
The Grange was Vastly different in
some respects, in those early days
from the Grange -ef today Although
its principles are the same it didn't
mean so much to the people as it does
today. In December 1891. they lost
their home by fire and found them
selves homeless and nearly penniIess
Again they took up their abode in the
ola echoolhouse. After q while hoping
to better themselves, they moved into
the townhouse where they held meet
ing for a few months, then returned
to the schoolhouse. where they re
mained until the last part Of the year
1855, when they moved into the Chapel
where they remained until they moved
into their new hall.
In April. 1911, they had far outgrown
the Chapel and ON motion Of Florence
Thompson, sustained by Earle Hayes,
it was voted 10 build a hall. Commit
tees were appointed to raise money
and draw up plans, etc. Different
plans were submitted and selection
was made and a building committee
was appointed On this committee was
Z. s. Grant. W. K. Thompson, f. G..
Meader, H. L. Hayes and Joseph Well
man. Mrs. Della watson offered the
Grange $40 on every $1o0 raised by the
Grange otherwise than by public
dances. Before the end of the year
they had $1,000 raised and secured the
500 offered.
With S1100 in cash in the fall Of 1912
operations were begun on the founda-
ton for their new hall. On Feb. Il,
1913, the Grange held its first meeting
in the new han. Through the untiring
efforts Of the members and the gener-
Gus efforts of the general public this
hall has been built at the standard
cost of $4,000. 1t stands here today as a
monument to the loyalty and energy
Of the members of Chelsea Grange
and to the prompt and generous re-
spouse of the public, with a debt of
only $500, and dedicated as the hall Of
Chelsea Grange, No. 215. P. of H., on
this, the 5th day of March, 1914.
Senator Ashurst and a delegation Of
! Western men interested in cattle rails
ing, called on President Wilson Thurs