Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-06-27
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary.

Pu o'oi ny John II. Janney, who
welcomed the guests with few words
expressing the pleasure of the Club al
having so many present; and after enjoy.
ing the bountiful viands set out on Ions
tables by Mrs. Clarence Gilpin and host
OF fair helpers, John E. Muncaster was
call on for history of the Club, which he
gave as follows:
A History Or The FARMERS CLUB.
Mr.. Foreman
OF course you and all the rest of the
friends here assembled recognize the fact
that one who is only secretary can not
do much impromptu speaking, so you must
pardon the use Of voluminous notes that
have not much in them. and bear with the
assemblaee Of dry facts here presented as
a so-called history Of the Farmers Club of
Sandy Spring. 1t is about the only club of
its kind that has history. at least for so
long period Of time at any rate. il the
traditions that come down along with its
Is volumes say true.
To make clear the reason for having a
Farmers Club it seems to be well to 90
back few years and trace up some
points which at first blush may seem
little distant in various ways. Most of
you will remember that the first time az
rlculture Is mentioned in the Oldest record
we have the farmer was in trouble. The
accepted date is about 5000 B. c., when
Cain made his Offering Of the fruits of the
ground and 1t was no more acceptable
than the market price Of strawberries at
the present time. The farmer has been
more or less in trouble ever since, some
times in one way. sometimes in another.
lie has his grievance at the present time
In the daylight saving which was war
time measure when Joshua had the sun and
moon still for him while his army made
good job. Only difference is that he had sense
enough to repeal the order when the war
was over, while present day folks have not
In 1910 the grievance was poor land and
small crops. OF course. the basic princi-
pies Of farming are just the same now as
they were in the times Of long ago. and
the advice given by the old writer's in Greek
and Latin is just as good now as it was
then, and is the same as some of this
newest discoveries of the Department of
Agriculture, some of which are no doubt
taken from the old fellows by some young
man Of the Department with nothing to
do but make little translation from the
dead language, and get new thing that has
been forgotten as easily as a club member
foreets the answer to the question he had
his fellow-members puzzl!ne their brains
over last year.
From all accounts, available records and
traditions the farmers of this section of
Montgomery county had got down to a
pretty poor pass between the time of its
settlement, about 1920, and 1910. A hun
dred years and more of farming. mostly
for tobacco. with a little live stock, we
may suppose. had made serious inroads on
a soil never very fertile. and one that falls
rapidly il neglected. and the farmers were
enjoying hand-to-mouth existence-just
living-like Florida cracker who has hook
worm, and is too lazy to shell bushel of
corn if 1t is given him. Just about the
same kind of living we may expect in a
couple Of years from now if labor conditions
keep on improving as they have done the
past year. Something new was needed
and that quickly. There are leaders for
every movement, and the leaders for a
better agriculture arose in this section in
the early months Of 1914, when. tradition
says, that while the roads were bad and
the ground unfit to cultivate, Richard T.
Bentley and Benjamin Hallowell met on
horseback between Bloomfield and Rock
land, each having started to visit the other
with the idea Of forming farmers club
and having started to visit the other with
his suggestion. From this meeting arose
the institution we celebrate tonight. The
first meeting of record was held at Bloom
field on February 18th. 1914.
There were present. Richard Bently,
Samuel Ellicott. VIM. H. Farquhar. Robert
R. Moore, Edward Lea. Caleb Stabler and
Geo. E. Brooke. They talked the matter over,
and being in no special hurry. unlike the
folks Of today. they appointed the next
meeting two months off. in April. At this
meeting Benjamin Hallowell. Thomas Lea
and Henry Stabler were present. and Mahlon
Kirk and VIM. John Thomas were elected
members. making up the original twelve
members. This number was continued the
limit for several years. Afterwards the
number was increased, first to IA. then to
16, so that the meetings of the Club W uld
not come at the same season at a mem
ber's home every year.
The constitution is in the handwriting
Of Richard Bentley. and is as elastic as
the hands of the Supreme Court. and not so
difficult of Interpretation. He wrote -
I'VE propose forming an association for
improvement in agriculture upon the sOcia =
Bile principle of a mutual Interchange Of
visits For this purpose we propose to
meet in the afternoon on the - day of
every month. taking each members house
in rotation.
when assembled, we shall proceed to
inspect the crops. stock, farm implements
and contrivances. and inquire into the
modes Of culture and system of arrange
ment generally. pursued by the member at
whose house we may be. A free inter
change Of ideas upon agricultural subjects
will be expected by all and If any men,
Der is making experiments which are likely
to be useful or interesting, we shall take
especial care to notice their progress and
results. When the examinations are COM
pleted we shall return to the house, and
after taking tea. our host for the evening
will be expected to read us an original
] - nd