Catoctin clarion., 1917-03-08
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1917
THE GRANGE.
What 1t Stands For And How
1t Benefits a Community.
COMMUNICATED

IL BcncnIS Il community.
[coMMUNICATED]
Last Thursday evening meeting was
held in the auditorium of the High School
Building, this place, for the purpose OF
discussing the feasibility of organizing
Grange in this community.
A Grange is farmers organization
composed of the farmer, his wife and
their children. But the membership is
not limited to people actually living on
the farm, in fact, anyone who is inter-
ested in the improvement of rural COM
munities along social, educational and in
dustrial lines are admitted into the Or
der.
The Grange is the oldest of the general
organization for farmers. 1t was found
ed by o. H. Kelly, an agent for the U.
S. Dept of Agriculture in 1866. Since
then it has had steady growth and is
today considered the strongest farmers
organization in existence. There is no
national farmers organization, but the
Grange approaches it nearer than any
other rural organization. 1t has stood
the test of time and has triumphed VIC
toriously, so we know of no better organ
ization for our community than the
Grange.
We need an organization of this kind
because our community, like most all 9TH
er rural communitiesin in the county, stands
in need of socialization. We need to
come together more often to discuss our
problems. We want to think of our COM
munity as being more than mere col
lection of householders. We want to rise
to the dignity of discussing things that
pertain to the common welfare of all and
thus be real live community. Once
community raises its standard and begins
to study the conditions round about, it
ceases to be dead and becomes a live
community. The monotony of rural life
becomes thing of the past.
Time and space will not permit US to
go on and show why such an organiza-
tion is desirable, because we feel that
such an apparent need exists in our COM
munity for betterment along social, NOR
al, educational and industrial lines that
it is not necessary to bring forth any
more evidence to convince the doubtful
mind. But let US say further that asso-
ciational life is desirable in itself. 1t sat
isfies social thirst that is just as ap-
parent and at times as real as the phys
ical thirst and hunger. Just as water
and food satisfies the physical thirst and
hunger so does social intercourse and dis
cussion satisfy the social side of man.
Furthermore, association is necessary to
bring about cooperative activities. 1t
fosters recreation and brings about So
cial solidarity.
AS already stated, the membership of
the Grange consists of both men and
women, and of young people over four
teen years of age who may apply and by
vote, be accepted. Meetings are held
weekly or fortnightly. Each regular
meeting has its business session and then
its literary session. The programs are
prepared by the Lecturer and consist of
general discussions, essays, talks, debates
readings and music; an attempt being
made to suit the tastes and talents of
young and old.
To enumerate the achievements of the
Grange would be to recall the progress
of agriculture during the past third of
century. 1t has been a motor force in
many helpful movements, and in many
ways has organized and Incorporated the
best thought of the most intelligent farm
ers, about means for rural advancement.
1t has been an integral part of, and
most potent factor in, the expansion of
American farm life.
The question now is, what are we 60
ing to do? Are we going to continue as
we have in the past or shall we foster an
organization that stands for community
betterment? Shall we try to keep our
young people at home by making them
contented or shall we let them drift away.
Shall we not try to come together at
least once month and discuss our prob
lens? Are we going to sit idly by and
let our sister town forge ahead in the
way of community improvement? Mid
dletown has the largest Grange in the
county with a membership of over one
hundred of the best people of the COM
munity. So the test question is what
will Thurmont and surrounding commun-
ity do toward fostering an organization
that stands for community improvement?
Rank FOOlishness.