46 THE STORY OF THE U.F.O. 



In snow and storm, in discomfort and fatigue, 

 often paying their own expenses, these men 

 carried on their work, and the success of the 

 movement may justly be attributed to their 

 unselfish and, in many cases, almost unrecognized 

 efforts. 



The year 1914, however, brought results. 

 The first annual convention was held on 

 February 25th, 1915, in a small room adjoining 

 the dining hall at the Carls-Rite Hotel, 

 Toronto. The president of the organization at 

 this first annual meeting was E. C. Drury, who 

 had been elected to the office at the organization 

 meeting in the previous March. The year 

 showed encouraging progress. Fourteen new 

 branch organizations had been formed; fifteen 

 old Government Farmers' Clubs had affiliated, 

 while three Granges and two other associations 

 had come in. Thus, the first year witnessed 44 

 local organizations with approximately 2,000 

 members joining up. The trading company up 

 to this time, it is true, had shown comparatively 

 little activity, but the spirit of success was in the 

 air, and among the one hundred and fifty dele- 

 gates who attended the first annual meeting and 

 listened to the interesting and thoughtful 

 programme there was a distinct spirit of optim- 

 ism. They went out from this meeting mission- 

 aries of the movement. The good work was 



