Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-13
DEDICATION or EKoNK
 GRANGE HALL.
EIaherats Exsrcisss Carried Out Addrssses by State Master Sher' wood-suppsr and Entertainnsn' Believed.

wooo-suPper and Entersalnnens ns
 Followed.
 The. neW hall. of Ekonk grange, No. s9, at Ekonlx, was dedicated Friday evening, May 8 at 2 D. m.. with im- pressive ceremonies by State Master J. A. Sherwood.
 The grange met in their old hall and with officers and members clad in full regalia and wearing their jewels and bearing the emblems of their office marched to their new hall
 On arriving at the hall the pro- cession opened ranks and the graces passed through followed by their of ficers.
 Flora, Pomona and ceres passed at once to their stations and the mem bers to their seats. The master of ceremonies. John Tanner led the of ficers around the hall on a tour of inspection and seated them in their respective stations.
 Worthy Master Harry Sayles on be- half of the grange presented to State Master Sherwood the keys of the building offered for dedication. After the reply of the dedicating officer came the beautiful ceremony of erect ing the altar. The altar bearers pre- ceded by the lady assistant steward and followed by the assistant steward, came bearing the. altar. to the center of the hall and having placed 1t re- tired. Then came the .graces follow ed by the officers. The chaplain. Rev. w. J. Reynolds offered the prayer of dedication. the grange joining in the responsive scripture. and the entire company in singing Coronation.
 Then Flora. Miss Margaret Tanner laid upon the altar her offering of the flowers of spring, Pomona. Mrs Benjamin Hall the offering of the fruits of summer and ceres. Miss Olive Tanner, the offering of the rip- ened grains of autumn.
 The chaplain recited the 18th chapter of 1 cor, and then State Master Sherwood formally dedicated the building, returned the keys to the master with the hope that they would never again be in possession of the state officer After singing the ed the congregation and the service came to happy conclusion
 The address of the state master followed the conclusion of the form al service and is worthy of wide read ing. He said in part:
 ''The grange stands for all that is purest and best in our American farm life. By loyalty to it's principles and fidelity in the discharge of all duties pertaining to human welfare il may achieve much. The keystone ot the order is cooperation. If farmers
 put Knew tnelT strength lHeE are lHt masters of every situation with which they have to do. They furnish the great majority of the successful meI of the great commercial enterprises ir our country, they fill the profession and lead every where in all walks oi life. The grange in every commu- nifty stands for better homes, better roads, higher education. and conse- qiently better citizenship
 State Lectured F. E. Blakeman spoke of the. importance of the intellectu- al work of the grange and urged the discussion of serious topics relating to the home, the farm, and the state and yet he would not confine tho programmes wholly to the serious, but
 would brighten them with wit anC song. The grange should be made al attractive and helpful as it is possi- ble to make 1t.
 J. H. Blackman of the state execu- tive committee on behalf of the statG gfange presented beautiful flag ir token of the states appreciation o the work of Ekonk grange No. -s9 MT. Blakeman is a member of the G A. R., and loves the flag.
 The address of presentations wa. worthily done.
 The speech of acceptance on be. half of the grange was made by Past Master Alfred Gallup and wa, inits way unique and beautiful Il fittingly closed the speech making o the day.
 Excellent music was provided bN Miss Mary Ross. violinist and Nils: Foster. soloist of Putnam.
 Prof. l.. T.. Battey of Putnam grange recited a number of selection: to the delight of all.
 Supper was served from 6 to s when the worthy lecturer. Miss Net tie Gallup presented a most excellen nf violin Cnlns by Miss Ross, vocal solos by Mis-: Foster and readings by Prof. Battey Despite the down pour of rain a large crowd was present to enjoy the pro gramme and partake of the supper. The building was begun last No vember and turned over by the car penters April 3rd. is 30x40. two storie. high and the interior finished in hart wood throughout. A modern kitcher and dining room -occup the first floor The dining room has seating ca pacity of 150 people.
 The main hall will seat 200 people comfortable and is fitted up witf cloak rooms and stage rooms and stag, for entertainments. Pictures donated by members and friends adorn thu walls The state officers assure II! that we have one of the finest anC most substantial halls in the state. To the members of the executiv, committee, Charles H. Barber, Johr Tanner. and G. Howard Gallup. thu grange feels especially indebted; fol it wsa no small task to look after th' details which naturally fell to them Worthy Master Sayles had charge O. the foundation work and saw to i that no untempered mortar was used laying the greater part of the wall' with his own hands. The most beau tiful part of it is that the buildinf has been completed without wort of fiction and as a work of love. Al had mind to work. The men gay' the use of their teams with theil own labor The women opened theil la.,on for S,1nners and ntAr-ta inmantI