Middletown transcript., 1914-11-07
NATIONAL GRANGE


The most impressive gathering Of
farmers and agricultural experts in the
country will assemble in Wilmington,
Del, November 10 to q. when the For
ty-eighth Annual Session of the National
Grange, Patrons Of Husbandry, con-
venes. Both the Chamber Of Commerce
Delaware, and the State Grange, who
secured the convention by their united
effort, are making elaborate plans to
entertain the thousands Of Grangers,
and from every indication Wilmington
will be called upon to provide for more
outside people than at any time in its
history. Fully 5000 delegates and
visitors from thirty-four states are ex-
pected for the more important days, not
to speak of several thousand nearby
farmers, who it is thought viii flock to
the city Friday, November 1s, when the
seventh degree will be conferred on
large class in the Playhouse.
At the Manchester, N. H., Conven-
ton last year there was an attendance
of fully 5000 the day the seventh de-
gree was conferred. Already the Con-
vention is beginning to attract attention
among the Grangers on the Delmarvia
Peninsula and in adjacent portions of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Many
of the Wilmington hotels are already
reserved to their capacity. The Cham
ber of Commerce Office, however, is
having all persons. register who can ac-
commodate guests in their homes. and
already five hundred such rooms are at
the disposal of the visitors. Wilmington
win be amply able to provide for all the
Convention guests, it is believed, unless
they come in far greater numbers than
anticipated.
Wilmington will take on holiday
appearance in honor of the Convention.
CITY Council at the request of the
Chamber of Commerce has appropriated
money to restore on Market street the
elaborate street decorations used during
the recent Old Home Week celebration,
while practically all the downtown mer-
chants will decorate their store fronts.
In addition the extra lights on Market
street will be continued for the COnven-
ton period through the generosity Of
the electric lighting company. The
Market street decorations will include
bedecked shields bearing the names OF
Oranges all over the country.
The officers and executive committee
Of the National Grange, including Oliver
Wilson,. Master, Peoria, ILL.,; W. H.
Vary, overseer, Watertown, N. Y.s
G. w. G. Gaunt, Lecturer, Mullica Hill,
N. j.; Mrs. E. S. Mcdowell, Treasurer,
Wellesley, Mass. C. M. Freeman, Sec
retary, Tippecanoe City. Ohio, arrived
in Wilmington, November 6, to go over
routine Convention matters and make
final arrangements The delegates
themselves will arrive November 10.
The first day will be devoted to regis
tration, and assignment to quarters.
In the evening public reception will
be given to all the Grange officers, dele
gates and visitors in the Auditorium of
the Hotel du Pont by the Delaware
State Grange and the Chamber of Com
me1ce jointly. At this reception ad-
dresses will be made by Governor
Charles R. Miller, Mayor Harrison W.
Howell, President Samuel C. Mitchell,
of Delaware College, and Josiah Marvel,
ESQ.,, to which responses will be made
by four prominent Grangers.
On the morning of November II, the
opening business session will be held.
There will be another business session
in the afternoon and in the evening the
fifth degree will be conferred in the du-
Pont Auditorium. Business sessions
will occupy the morning and afternoon
of the 18th, while the sixth degree will
be conferred IN the evening in the same
hall. Two business sessions and the
conferring of the seventh degree is the
program for the 18th. The exercises
attending the latter ceremony will be
held in the Playhouse, which was Sc
cured by the Chamber of Commerce
after much effort by buying out the
entire theatre for the evening. This
course was made necessary by conflict
in dates.
November IA, there will be three
business sessions. Sunday, November
Is, Memorial Services will be held in the
afternoon. On the 16, there will also
be three business sessions. An auto
mobile excursion to all Grangers will be
given on the 18th by the Chamber of
Commerce and Delaware State Grange
jointly. The route will be to Cooch's
Bridge and other communities nearby.
In the evening there win be business
session. Wednesday, November 18,
there will be two business sessions,
while in the evening the Priests of De-
meter will hold their exercises.
Thursday morning the entire Conven-
ton party will go to Newark by special
train over the Pennsylvania and will
inspect the State Farm, the Expert,
mental Station, Delaware College,
Delaware College for Women and other