Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-11-03
NATIONAL GRANGE.
Final Word on Great Portland
Gathering.


Gathering.
Keen interest among thousands of
grange people in. New England
awaits the final word concerning
the big coming event at Portland
when the national grange assemblies
there on the morning of Wednesday,
Nov. 10, for its sixtieth annual ses-
sion. The near approach of the date
finds more New England people pre-
pairing to go to Portland than have
ever before set out towards any
single event. There is every indi-
cation that the estimates made
early in the season of an attendance
of at least $4,000 grangers at Port
land, with class to take the seventh
degree of fully 10000 candidates.
will be realized, especially if fine In
dian summer weather should be one
OF the session accompaniments.
During the last six weeks, every
state grange in New England has
held series of special sixth degree
meetings to fit their members for
reception into the highest degree of
the organization, and a great out
pouring of Patrons has resulted. In
are recorded for this series of meet
ings; almost 1900 in Massachusetts
and proportionately large classes in
all the other states. Inasmuch as
it is six years since a seventh de-
gree grange opportunity was afford
ed in the New England district,
there are thousands of other mem
bers anticipating the degree, be-
sides the nearly 10000 new ones
| who have advanced through the
sixth the past two months.
The program for the Portland ses-
sion includes opening at L a. m. on
Wednesday, Nov 10, with business
sessions that day and Thursday;
| comforting sixth degree in it's new
| revised form Thursday evening by
officers of Maine State grange; all
| day Friday, Nov. ~, seventh de-
gree, with at least four classes, in
| the Strand theatre, the hours of
| same being 9 a. M, IL M, 4 p. m.
and p. M, while fifth class will
| be crowded into the afternoon if the
number of candidates requires it.
Members of the grange who have
| taken the seventh degree are as
! sured of the opportunity to witness
| it at Portland, as a large block Of
| seats in the theatre will be reserved
at each working of the degree for
seventh degree members. Saturday
| morning, in the Portland Municipal
| Auditorium, occurs the annual con-
vocation of the Assembly of
Demeter, the highest ritualistic
meeting of the organization and
open only to seventh degree mem
bers.
Sunday all the grange members
will attend church in body, memo
rial services in the afternoon, and
probably a big union church gather
ing in the evening, the grange CO.
operating, in the interests of law en-
| forcement, good government and
American citizenship. Four days of
the second week will be devoted en-
tirely to business sessions, closing
Thursday night, Nov. Is.
Governor Ralph O. Brewster of
Maine will officially welcome the
convention members, Secretary Of
Agriculture William M. Jardine will
present an agricultural survey of the
country, and many other prominent
leaders will address the convention.
| Present indications are that the
greater number of New England at
tendants upon the Portland session
will motor to that city, many COM
munities making up bus parties;
while as far as can be arranged, the
members in Vermont are to assem-
BILE at White River Junction and
then proceed to Portland as motor
caravan Universal rates of fare
and one-half will prevail on all
railroads, under the certificate plan,
and in addition to regular trains
special cars, and in some instances
special trains, will be made up to
convey the crowds.