Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-02-05
Special Grange Correspondence.

One of the strong features of the Mont
gomery County Pomona Grange meeting
held at Liberty Grove vest erday was the
discussion of the Country Church problem,
which occupied most of the afternoon
session. Rev. H. H. Marsden Lecturer of
olney Grange, made most telling talk on
How The Grange and The Churches can
unite to help the country community in
dustrialy.' He said in part. THE modern
country church should follow Christ's ex-
ample. The rural minister should truly
minister to the needs of his people, bodily
as well as spiritually. If the country church
is the conscience of organized society, it
should seek to make conditions such
that its teachings may be carried into
practice in the everyday life and business
of the neighborhoOd. The Grange and The
Church should work together in advocating
the reforms that will help the community
to higher plane of living and make every
one within its boundaries feel to improve
his condition. They should unite in sup
porting the following movements and in
situations
First they should unite their forces, the
Oranges and the Churches. in the support
of things helpful to the whole community
regardless of their own selfish interests.
Second. they should keep their people
well-lnformed in the best knowledge of
agricultural theory and practice, urging
our country boys and girls to learn all they
can about their future business as farmers
and homemakers.
Third, they should support the work of
the State Agricultural College, since it is
the only State institution devotine its en-
ergies entirely to the improvement of
country conditions and the education of
country boys and girls. Both the grange
and the churches of the community should
lend their influence toward helping in the
spread of its useful activity and in encour-
aging its representatives with honest trial
and criticism.
Fourth, they should likewise support the
work of the local agricultural high schools,
which are still in the very beginnings of
their work, and should be fostered and en-
couraged rather than treated with indif-
ference or ridicule.
Fifth, the grange and the churches
should unite in securing for the neigh
borhood better means of transportation and
communication better roads. telephone
service, parcel post facilities, etc.-all of
which tend to make the life of the country
more beautiful home-like and satisfying
to the ambitions of our young people.
Sixth, they should urge the improvement
of living conditions for farm hands and !
tenant farmers. 1t is of no use to preach |
sermons or urge scientific methods on peo-
pie whom we do not give decent house !
to live in or allow enough wages to clOthe |
their children decently Neither can we
expect the renters of today, who will be
the farm owners and community leaders
of the next generation. to accept our no.
tons as to how they should live when they
have the means to do so, il when they are
less able we do not make such conditions
possible for them. Give them decent living
conditions first the spiritual and mental
growth will then follow
Mr. Marsden then concluded with a strong
plea for compulsory education stating that
the children of today are too prone to follow
their inclinatiOns rather than their sense
of obligation, Sinking their needed train
ing in fit citizenship and useful neighbor-
hood activity.
Preceding Mr.. Marsden, Mr. b. II. Oar
row, of the Maryland Agricultural College.
read an exceedingly interesting report of
the Country Life Conference for Rural Min
listers held at the Agricultural College in
August. He elaborated on the working
Program of Rural Ministers" which was
the result of the discussions at the confer
Saunders, of Beltsvlle Grange. speaking
on the united work Of the grange and the
churches in improving social conditions in
the country neighborhood. A most attrac-
tive part of the program was the number
Of recitations and musical selections con-
tributed under the direction of Miss Pearl
Marlowe, Lecturer Of Liberty Grove Grange.
Mr. R. Bentley Thomas, of Olney Grange,
who was reelected as Pomona Master.
presided at the meeting and gave an en-
thusiastic report of the recent State Grange
meeting held in Baltimore. Pomona Lee
turer Reuben Brigham reported the oreani-
cation of Student Grange at the Mary
land Agricultural College, which increases
the membership of the Montgomery County
Pomona Grange to subordinate oranges.
Patuxent Grange, of Highland, having also
been added to the number.
The grange adjourned to meet at Belts
vile on April 9th. when the Fifth Degree
will be conferred on graneers desiring to
take the work by the members of the PO-
mona degree team. The officers elected
at the Liberty Grove meeting will also be
installed by Pomona Lecturers. Reed Chat
fey. of Somerset county. who will address
the CHANGERS.
The following officers were elected:
Master, X. Bentley Thomas overseer,
Alex. Guide; lecturer, Reuben Brigham;
steward. Howard M. C. NARROW; assistant
steward, Calvin Broadly chaplain, Samuel
Harding treasurer. Samuel W. Beall sec
rotary, f. L. HartshOrne gate-keeper. John
Case ceres, Ethel F. Thomas; pomona,
Pearl MARROW; fora. Marjorie Snowden
l.. A. s., Lillian Johnson.
College Park, Md. January 20, 1915.
Religious Notices.