JANUARY ‘ 4, 1894. THE GRANGE V ISITOB. 3 Woman’s Worth. REPOIH‘ 01-‘ (7HAl’LAIN. The past year seems to us to be the year of the nineteenth century. \Ve have been carried back again and again to our earli- est historyasa new world. The past. with all its wonders of discovery, its gradual growth and development, has been spread before us like a wonderful panorama. History tells us that it was in the ear- ly Lenten season of the same year that Col- umbus was begging and pleading for the three poor boats with which to set out on his wonderful untried pathway across un- known seas, that in the world renowned city of Florence, a poor friar clothed in his habit of gray, as denoting the somberness of his life, walked back and forth through the city’s streets. His heart is heavy at the wrong that he sees on every hand, but his face is fairly radiant with the mission of his life, which was to make humanity bet- ter, truer, wiser, teaching men and women how to live well. He saw that wrong was triumphant in high places; that churches were accumu- lating great wealth which was used in cost- ly decorations. Altar clothes worth their weight in gold, beautiful images of the Mother Mary, and the crucified Christ, while at the curbs near the church doors. the cruel whip of the driver of costly equip- ages, lashed the poor niendicants who beg- ged bread from those who came to worship what? mammoii. He saw their courts of justice but farces— played well——saw woman degrading herself by spending the whole night at the gaming table. Saw children suffering from want, while wine made beasts of those who should have been their supporters and protectors. He saw all this and with a rare boldness dared to denounce the evils of the hour. That famous city has hardly changed its outline—it seems to stand as a living sym- bol to the fact we resemble the people of the past more than we differ from them. There is want and suffering today from the very same causes that there was then. Intemperance and its associate evils are abroad in our land creating the keeiiest suf- fering and the cruelest despair. Monopo- lies and great corporations grind the life blood out of industry. Extravagance and profligacy make want now as then. In this land of plenty——where graneries are filled with wheat, thousands are suffering for bread. Yet, let us be thankful that down through the ages the beautiful spirit of the Dominican, Friar has multiplied and grown, until today men, women, and even children are endeavoring to stay this tide of evil. There are men today, clean and strong, that are yearning for the reign of peace and righteousness, and they are dedicating all their life-’s energies as a willing offering to the good of the whole. The principles of right and justice must rule this land; men must be taught that the brotherhood of man as taught in our decla- rations of purpose means, “ my brother as myself.” If we could be only so imbued with honor as to stand the test of the market place,where men meet in traffic, there should be no scheming, no trickery, weights and measures should be accurate, food be pure. grain be clean, fruit honest both in meas- urejand quality. The principles of our Or- der demand this. They are broad enough to build the sweetest, noblest character up- on. Our lives ought be broader and better because we belong to the brotherhood. A general public will soon make great de- mands upon us. Will we be equal to the fulfillment of those demands? In that memorable address of our hon- ored National Master, Colonel Brigham, at the world’s congress of agriculture, he said: “ The hope and salvation of this nation lies in the rural homes.” The cities with the influence of saloons, corrupt courts, and the foreign element that congregate there is not helping this nation in the right direc- tion. The pure clean life blood of this must come from the farm. Patrons, let us press the work of the Grange. The old guards are falling and the ranks are thin- ning, some of us have not long to stay. Press the work of the Grange. Teach our boys and girls its beautiful principles. Their hearts are fallow fields; let us sow the seeds with a liberal hand, knowing that there shall be an abundant harvest. MARY A. MAYO. REPORT OF CERES. “The ancients worshiped Ceres as the Goddess of Agriculture, but we, in a more enlightened age, give her the honored position metaphorically and to show our respect for women.” _ I find myself in something of a quandry in compiling a report of the proceedings of Ceres, since the only established duty is to pose as a Goddess metaphorically. But there is something more significant back of it all in the added sentence “ and to show our respect for women.” _ _ The Grange was the pioneer organiza- tion to receive women into full, and we hope soon to be able to add, equal mem- bership, and thus make Victor Hugo’s statement a living truth. At the 27th session of the National Grange the time was considered full y ripe to record itself in favor of bestowing on women the ballot. Yet, even if it is not desired, there is a certain satisfaction in the thought that. we are considered at least equal to those elements which are unable to read the ballot they deposit. We hail with delight the sentiment expressed by the highest degree of our Order, and one which should be made t.o ring from every subordinate, America for Amerz'c(ms. “God sifted three kingdoms to find the wheat for this planting, then sifted the wheat as the living seed of a nation.” If God saw fit to sift the wheat preparatory to planting our fair continent, should not man keep sacred the charge and winnow out the chaff? It is conceded by some that wheat may turn to chess, but never by any that chess will turn to wheat. There is still room for the liberty loving oppressed but not for the red flag of the anarcliist. _ Throughout all the years this wheat has been watched and tended and watered by God's love, and the seed has sprung up and produced an hundred fold, nurtured by the care of an all wise Father who rules -the destinies of nations. guided through wars and saved from, pestilence or famine, it has grown a mighty people and with pride we look on this as the crowning year of the harvest. A year to which we have looked forward with aiiticipation and hope and on which we will look back with pride and delight-. The sickle and sheaf of ripened wheat are emblems of the degree of Ceres. “ The sheaf of wheat-—many grains to each ear, and all the ears united in one sheaf by a common band-not only represents the resulting product of the soil and our labors in this chief of grains, but also presents an emblem of ourOrder, the many united to form a Grange, and the many thus united again to form the Order and all bound together in one band of fraternal unity." Let us cherish our symbols; if we would reap bountifully we must sow liberally. “ Sow with a generous hand. Pause not for toil or pain; Weary not through the heat of summer. Weary not through the cold spring rain: But wait till autumn comes For the sheaves of golden grain. “ Scatter the seed and fear not. A table will be spread; What matter if you are too wean" To eat your hard earned bread ! Sow while the earth is broken, For the hungry must be fed. “ Sow, and look onward. upward. While the starry light appeal-9-- Where. in spite of the cowtu-d's doubting. Or your own heart's trembling fears, You shall reap in joy the harvest. You have sown ' tear " "iii REPORT OF FLORA. 4, WOBTHY MASTER, BROTHERS AND Sisrsl s ——The farmer has the most honored occ i- pation, for upon his industry the weal h and prosperity of this country is founded. The masses are dependent upon the farmer for nearly every form of food supply. Not only this, but manufacturers are dependent upon the products of agriculture to a great extent. The great cotton mills are suppli- ed with the fibre which they make into va- rious fabrics by the farmers of the south. The woolen mills are dependent upon the product of the sheep farmers, and the tan- neries and shoe shops upon the hides of the farmers’ cattle. The grain and flour mills are wholly supplied from the fields of the farm, while our railroads and steamboats flourish from the revenue received from the transportation of farm products. Leaving the farmer’s occupation let us look at him as a citizen. I need not fear contradiction when I make the assertion that the character of the farmer as a class is as great a factor for good in our land as is the importance of his industry. He is honest, sober, industrious, warm hearted, and friendly; he possesses a high sense of right and wrong and has good cause to be proud of his occupation and the important position which he fills in the world. But should he be content with this? Are there not some things left undone that would tend to elevate and educate the mind? In taking a drive of ten or fifteen miles through the country let us look at the farms. Do the buildings with their surroundings indicate the spirit of progress which is man- ifest by your presence here? Are the grounds around each residence neat and well kept, ornamented with shade trees, shrubbery, and flowers. 0! but you say you have not time. When you look at it in its true light and make up your mind to do it the trouble and labor will be found very light indeed, not so much as the feeding a few pigs three times a day for a year. Look at the result that will follow. The good lady of the house will be sure to ap- plaud every movement of this kind. The children grow up more contented and re- fined (the love of the beautiful exists in every child), even the passer-by brightens at the sight of a home with beautiful sur- roundings. Flowers have been defined as “Nature's smiles;” they are nourished by light as smiles by pure love;they revive af- ter a generous shower, as smiles appear af- ter a flood of tears. If we look the world over, in its natural state before the soil is cultivated by man, we find flowers every- Aifi (1. ‘ “ ~~~ en where; they may wellbe termed “Naturess' jewels.” The one that possesses his mil- lions, with all his wealth, can purchase noth- ing more beautiful than they. On the other hand, no matter how poor a man may be he may cherish and wear them. Find men or women who delight in growing or even in talking of flowers and you will find them genial and kind. not knowingly injuring any one. Where flowers grow refinement dwells, for although voiceless. they appeal most el- oquently to that which is best in man. In Bryaut’s Thanatopsis we read “ To him who in the love of nature holds Communion with her visible form she speaks A various language. For his prayer hours She has a voice of gladness. and a smile And eloquence of beauty, and she glides Into his darker musings, with a mild And healing sympathy, that steals away Their sharpness, ere he is aware." Our district school buildings and grounds are more desolate than our homes. I know of a teacher who, wishing to brighten up the school room, asked the pupils if they could bring a few plants. The result was two or three uncouth looking plants so dwarfed and stunted that the most skillful handling could not coax them to produce one blossom. Cannot farmers’ wives help in this? Althougli not strong enough to help level the yard or assist in planting shade trees, we can each wiiiter,before time for the spring term t.o begin, have some plant that is a free blooiiier, ready for the school room. This love of the beautiful, which every child of nature inherits, should be cultivat- ed, developed and stieiigtlieiied. The floral entertainments of the Grange the past season were zi great help in this. Oui' best cultivated minds love flowers, and in the search among our best authors and poets for appropriate quotations for for these entertaiiinienis more than one mind has been elevated. For the intellect- ual advaiicement of the Grange there is nothing more beiieticial than these. May the Floras of the subordinate Granges never fail to give in the future a floral entertain- ment. A poet has said: “Tliere is a lesson in every flower. A story in every tree and bower. In every herb on which we tread, Arc written words which rightly read. Will lead us from this fragraiit sod. To happiness. holiness and God." We value plants for the good they do, their power to elevate characterand eiiiioble thought. They inspire us with more lofty ideas and a truer appreciation of the good- ness and greatness of our Creator. In the spring we may learn lessons of “and perseverance by watching how I and the obstacles they have to ' against, also f the resurrection of I . Show that: ue-atn 18 but a burnt- tiful necessity that marks a. continued existence. The autumn brings its frosts and soon all * nature seems to be dressed in mourning, but in the spring rake away the weeds which widowed nature has been wearing and we find thousands of plants have arisen in evidence of the truth that it is only through death we live again. Longfellow beautifully expressed in these iiiies: “ And with childlike credulous affection. We behold their tender buds expand; Emblem of our own great resurrection, Emblem of the bright and better land." SARAH 0. ST. CLAIR. REPORT OF POMONA. WORTHY Masras AND PATRONS——AS Pomona of this Grange I believe it becomes my duty to give a report for the past year. Very gladly would I shirk this responsi- bility if possible, as I feel that I have done absolutely nothing that I ought. I have been so situated that my time has been wholly occupied with home duties. Our house burned in March and the extra work of rebuilding and replacing some of the necessaries has about filled our hearts, minds and hands. As Pomona I should encourage fruit culture. Owing to our situation on the little peninsula between the two Grand Traverse bays, where fruit raising is the principal business, we do not see the need of urging its extension immediately around us. Indeed, I sometimes feel like working in the opposite direction when I see so much small fruit as well as large being set every spring, and know by experience the work it brings to the usually overburdened housewife, for she generally has to put her shoulder to the wheel and help prepare the fruit for market. But for all this I know that fruit does not form one of the articles of diet among many families of our land, where ivery little work is all that is needed that they may have it in abundance. Many of our farmers who turn their attention to stock raising, dairying, grain raising and any other vocations do not feel that hey can spend the time to raise these rticles, which they consider luxuries, but hich are really necessaries when consid- red from the standpoint of health. How 6, who are in the habit of having fruit henever we wish, miss it when deprived f it, I know by experience. When fire wept our canned fruit, as well as many arrels of apples from our grasp, I think here was nothing I missed more in all our ss than I did the fruit, although the 'ends divided their stores with us. I sometimes feel that it partially repaid us to learn we had so many friends ready and anxious to divi(l»- their supplies with their friends in need. I would urge upon all the farmers of our land, where soil and climate will permit, to raisc at least fruit eiiougli for their own faiiiilie.s, as it is cer- tain, if they do not, most of them will be deprived of what they so much need. I have one recomniendation to offer: All subordinate Granges slionl-rl have stands in front of the lady officers, Ceres, Flora, and Pomona. Always have a fresh bouquet if possible on Flora’:-3 stand, when that cannot be had one of grases and artificial flowers. Then let Ceres have her grains in a suitable receptacle on the stand before her. Pomona should always see that a nice plate of fruit is on her table. I think it should be the duties of these officers to see that these articles are pro- vided and in their places. I will close my report for this year by promising to try to inore fully do my duty in the future. Miis. Alllllli (‘. Li:iGH'roN. IN N ICMORY. l)L‘Cll'.llT (Sraiige moiirii.< till-, lo» of .\'i