Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-08
Grange Lecturers
Open Conference at
|Waterville, Maine

handling of programs, likening the
grange to a great school in which the
| lecturer was the teacher and the mem
hers were the pupils. He went into de-
! tail as to how the best good could be
accomplished, drawing freely from his
store Of information gathered from II
years of experience as teacher OF ar
academy and his many years with the
grange.
Mr. Thompson's address was schedul-
| ed as the last of the afternoon, but ow'
! ing to the fact that the hour was We,
early, Mrs. George Ladd, lecturer OF the
| Massachusetts State Crane, was called
upon to speak upon the subject: THE
Lecturers Opportunity" Mrs. Laid de-
clared that the opportunity was won
derful one, and that 1t was the duty OF
every lecturer to study constantly how
| to accomplish the best things for the
grange, that the lecturer acting as the
| teacher of the grange should be better
informed on every subject which was
discussed than any other member.
A year in Office is as good as a year
in school, The grange is fitted to do
its best work in the small town and
is measured by it's local achievements.
Lecturers should so arrange their pro-
grams that members will have a chance
to discuss those things with which they
are familiar. Mrs. Laid then discussed
some of the features of the work as
it is done in Massachusetts,, and spoke
of a fund which has been raised by
the oranges of that State to assist
young men in obtaining a normal school
or college education, by the help of
which nearly 100 members are now en-
rolled in normal schools or colleges
! Mrs. Laid closed with a plea to the
grangers to pay more attention to the
agricultural side of farming and told
how one small grange in Massachusetts
had greatly improved the conditions in
its home town through contests in rails
ing corps.
The meeting then adjourned until 7.45
in the evening.
Evening Session
The evening meeting Of the Grange
Lecturers convention was CALLED to
order at about O'Clock by State Lee
turer Purinton, and the song, "Hur-
rah for Old New England" was sung
by all. This was followed by an adj
dress by O. l.. Martin, lecturer of the
Vermont State Grange, who spoke on
THE Patrons Cooperative Disability
Insurance" Mr.. Martin outlined the
formation of the association in Yer
mont and the work that has been done
by it and told briefly of its success and
suggested its adoption in Maine.
National Lecturer Edward +. Chap
man was introduced by Mr.. Purinton,
who said he could sing as well as
speak and that he would put the as
Semblage in good humor by singing a
! lullaby. Mr.. Chapman sang q beautiful
song and was forced to respond to two
enoores. Mr.. Purinton then addressed
; the members briefly saying that he felt
that 1t was bringing matters straight
home to the lecturers present bv hav-
ing the men who We're thorouehlv IA
inillar with matters of education and
Grange work address them.
, ne then called on Mr.. Chapman for his
address. saying that if he spoke as well
as ne sang a great treat was in store for
an present. Everyone who heard Mr.
chapman was agreed at the end of his
ADDRESS that he could speak as well as he
could sing and that he eXcelled in both
branches. Mr.. Chapman first told a few
good stories and then took UP the work
of the subordinate Grange lecturers TOLL
ing them how they could produce interest
III thelr meetings. He called attention to
great number of subjects that could be
taken up. told of the work of the Grange
and what it should ACCOMPLISH struck
out straight from the shoulder at those
members of the Grange who oppose
dancing and card playing in the Grange
halls, but declared that they should not
come together and it was impossible to
have a Grange meeting, card plaving
and dancing all in one evening he stating
that he believed each should have its
separate evening. He went to some ex-
tent into the community work that the
Oranges can do and showed how they
could greatly improve their towns He
discussed the work they could do for the
rural schools. told of his experiences in
travelling about the country for the
Grange and impressed upon his hearers
the necessity of booming their own town
and own State.
He closed with an eloquent tribute
to the Grange and the work it is do
ing and a demand that everyone go
home and sit down with his or her
/ thoughts and decide whether they were
doing all that they could do in this life
for themselves and for others.
Following Mr.. Chapman's address
there was a round table discussion Of
the work of the lecturers and how they
could best help out in the attendance
and work of the Oranges Mr.. Chapman
was the target for great many ques-
tions which he answered in a clear and
pleasing way
The me.etings will be continued
through Thursday the first being at 9
O'Clock. in the morning and the closing
session at Las in the afternoon.
During the evening several snow
slides from the roof of the Armory
caused some of the women present TO
cry out. but Mr.. Chapman who was
speaking, assured them that the Ger
mans had not yet arrived. The Armory
was fine and warm in the evening, in
contrast to what 1t was in the after
/ noon. when it was rather cold, due to
the breaking of steam pipe Janitor
Lowe had a crew of men ut work as
/ quickly as possible and repairs were
made on the pipe SO that there was
plenty of steam in the evening.