STATE GRANGE 4Sl 



More than one-half of all the Granges in the State were represented 

 on the Journals of the House and Senate during the legislative session 

 ais petitioning in respect to one or more of these measures. 



The close times have been prosperously passed by Michigan Granges 

 iind they safely report ''Progress.'' 



ADDRESS OF MASTER, GEO. B. HORTON. 



To the Representatives of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry con- 

 vened in State Grange: 



Onvk-ard we are moving. Years seem but a day. Events great and 

 small, joyous and sad, in fast succession crowd for our attention, and 

 so absorb us that we little realize how time flies. Once more we meet 

 in the interests of the order we love and revere, for the good it has done 

 and is destined to do for the farmer and the agricultural interests of our 

 country. We scarcely realize that another year has fled. How well we 

 remember the earnestness and enthusiasm that characterized the last 

 State Grange, and the renewed zeal with which the delegates departed 

 for their respective homes, determined to be more devoted workers in the 

 Grange vineyard. The deliberations of the State Grange should impress 

 each and every delegate with the great importance of the order at large. 

 They are here led to see aud realize, as never before, the magnitude and 

 grandness of its work. The new fires thus kindled should spread out to 

 i\\\ parts of our State to warm and invigorate to extra effort the thousands 

 who form our membership. Thus we see the great importance of our 

 coming together. Sister and brother Patrons, the work and duties of 

 this session are essentially yours to perform. With each succeeding 

 year new^ responsibilities must be assumed, and your order must stand 

 for more and more before the woild. Thus you see that you ctinnot, alto- 

 gether, pattern aftei- the past. Xew and original thought and ideas are 

 demanded. 



The object of this communication is to give you a fair understanding 

 of the best condition of the order throughout the State, to call your at- 

 tention to questions of interest and regarding which the Grange has 

 placed itself on record as favoring, and to make such general suggestions 

 as may be hel])ful to this body in formulating the work of the session. 

 To give each part that distinctiveness desirable to impress importance, 

 separate headings are used. 



GENERAL CONDITION. 



Throughout the United States substantial growth has been made dur- 

 ing the year just ])ast. From every direction come reports of work well 

 done. A spirit of unit}' prevails throughout our ranks, and never has 

 faith in the order been more manifest. 



There has been issued to Michigan during the year, twelve charters 

 for absolutely new Granges and seven others as good as new have been 

 established by the use of charters that had not been called in since these 

 Granges ceased to work, some fifteen to twenty years ago. These added 

 to dormant Granges that have gone to work again, after a brief inactive 

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