Year: 1879

Ihe subject previously announced and
discussed at the last meeting of the Pc
nobscot County Council was, "Discipline
in the Grange" Not being present, nor
having any extended report of the discus
sion we cannot Judge how profitable it
might be, but in view of the importance
of the subject and the fact that many
Oranges of the county were represented
by their most experienced and ablest mem
bers, all capable of contributing something
to the general fund of instruction that
such discussion should produce, we be-
lieve it could not be otherwise than pro-
ductive of much good.


Those who love the Grange and believe
in it, desire to make it a success, and if
the desire is sufficiently intense and the
will to do strong enough, it can be acheiv-
ed. Experience observation and history,
all teach us that any undertaking not char
acterized by system and discipline has
failed to succeed And there is no reason
for believing the Grange is any exception.
If the Order is to be the great bulwark of
farmers rights and interests it was intend


ed to be, it must be built strong; and its
strength and the benefit received by MEM
bers will be in proportion to the discipline
enforced. aaa IA. ff.,'


Farmers have already received great
benefits from their connection with the
Order Of Patrons of Husbandry. They
see more clearly their needs, their duties,
and what should be their privileges; they
have larger charity for those of their own
class whose political and religious, views
do not coincide with theirs, and are less
positive and aggressive in these matters
for themselves. They have been improved
and benefited in many ways. but those
who have tried hardest to help others
through the medium of the Grange have
in return, ottentimes been most benefited.
A noble, unselfish act always brings its
reward, but never more certain, or more
generous, than to the open-handed, free


hearted and worthy Patron. 4. a.-,.-s.


And yet but little has been done in the
six years since the Order was instituted
in this State compared with what ought
to have been done and what might have
been done by so large force properly
disciplined. If farmers were SO trained
that all their efforts, their very best efforts,
could be used in their own behalf and
not perverted and made to serve other in
terests, indifferent and perhaps unfriendly,
they would then indeed be strong. When
farmers can1e-together in the Grange, at
first, they might be likened to team made
up from all the horses in aneighborhood,
which would work well singly, but not
so wen together, until they had for time
been under the care of skillful teamster.
So it is with the associated efforts of
farmers, the strength is there; all
they need is the training and discipline
that viii develop it and make it available.


The value of discipline is seen in well
trained school, army, or any body of men,
when contrasted. with those where there
is no order or system. Proud achieve
ments mark the course of one, disaster
and failure the other. The sailor, the sol
dier, the mechanic, the merchant, the law
yer and the doctor must each be trained
and skilled in the work of his calling or
he is failure. Why should not farmer
be trained to do his work skillfully and
in accordance with approved scientific
principles? The farmer works as hard
perhaps as an average of other trades and
professions but very often not to SO good
purpose. Does not the farmer frequently
sieze stump, log, or stone and move
| it by main strength when little manage
ment would have done the same thing


much easier and just as well? M


It is the duty of every one to use his
faculties, and also his duty not to waste