revival in every State where our Order has ever had an existence and that new fields will be brought under the influence of our fraternal body. The relief that follows the transfer to another of responsible duties will be very welcome, but I shall lose none of my interest in the grand work of the Order. I bespeak for my successor the same loyal and fraternal sympathy and support that have always been ac corded to me. I trust the work of the session will redound to your honor and the good of the Order.

Fraternally submitted,

J. H. BRIGHAM, Master of the National Grangé. Brother Edward Wiggin, of Maine, moved the following, which was adopted:

Ordered, That the Executive Committee be instructed to cause five hundred copies of the Master's address to be printed for immediate distribution among the members.

Brother W. M. Hilleary, of Oregon, offered the following, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the Master's address be referred to the Committee on Division of Labor.

The Worthy Lecturer, Brother Alpha Messer, read his annual report, following:

Report of the Worthy Lecturer. Worthy Master:

It becomes my official duty, for the fourth time, to present to this body such thoughts and suggestions from the experiences of the work as may relate to the position which I now occupy, and to render an account of my office expenses for the past year.

It is a cause for rejoicing that in the inception of this grand fraternal organization the Founders of the Order seem to have been inspired with the thought that the uplifting of the farming population of this country, and the prosperity of the nation, depended largely upon the degree of intelligence which they might possess, in connection with a general knowledge of those economic and political questions that have such an intimate relation to the interests of the people, and the affairs of State and nation.

To obtain this knowledge and use it for their own and their country's good, called not only for organization, but for a school of thought and development, whereby the latent intellectual powers of the strong and vigorous minds that are

brought into life and activity on the farm might be so trained and developed and directed along such paths as lead to the highest type of citizenship, and thus make their influence more potent in society, more effective in battling against the forces of evil, and more powerful in maintaining a just and beneficent government "of the people, by the people and for the people."

This nation to-day stands out in bold relief as the world's most noted experiment of self-government in modern times. The ancient republics went to decay because of the ignorance of the masses and the vice and corruption which prevailed in official circles. The monarchies of the old world view with alarm the marvelous growth and development of this nation in agriculture, manufactures, mining, commerce; in institutions of learning, in the arts and sciences, and in all the civilizing influences that tend to make a people truly great and prosperous; and they are intently watching the tension on the weaker links in the chain of liberty that bind us together as a nation and would undoubtedly rejoice if one of these links should be broken. But fortunately for the nation and for the progress of liberty in the world, the mass of our people, and especially our farming population, are in a large measure free from the conditions of ignorance, superstition and slavish subserviency to the will of others, which so universally prevailed in ancient republics; but unfortuately we are not free from the powerful influences of individual and corporate wealth, the baneful results of using party superemacy for personal and partisan ends, the demoralizing influences of corruption in high places, and an element of ignorant and vicious population from foreign lands; all of which have a tendency to drive the nation from its established landmarks of peace, prosperity and a higher and better civilization.

To overcome these and other harmful tendencies in our midst, and keep the government on the side of justice and equity to all classes, calls for a high degree of intelligence among the people, the most exalted patriotism and the most unselfish devotion to the best interests of the home, the State and the nation.

EDUCATIONAL WORK OF THE GRANGE.

The central thought of the educational work of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry is to dignify the rural homes of the nation and develop in them an exalted type of character and true American citizenship. The farmer's home is the key to the situation, and if the farmers of the nation are intelligent, broad-minded, thinking men and women, and act

in accordance with their convictious of right and duty, there need be no fear about the future of the greatest republic of modern times.

The educational work of the Grange is not for the present only, valuable as that may be, but it reaches out into the future, and will have an influence in solving the problem of self-government, or government by the people, which, sooner or later, must be the government of the entire world. The Grange, then, not only has a grand opportunity before it, but a great responsibility resting upon it, to so fulfill its mission by educating and developing its members along those lines. of thought and action which will bring greater contentment and happiness to their homes, insure peace and prosperity to the nation and make it the bulwark of liberty for all time to

come.

I am well aware that during the time which the educational work of the Order has, in a small measure, been intrusted to my care, I have fallen far short of the possibilities before me, yet, with the co-operation of State and Subordinate Lecturers, some progress has been made. During this time it has been my constant aim, so far as my ability and the means at my command would permit, to raise the standard of the educational work of the Order, give it greater prominence and efficiency, and thus make it an irresistible power for good in the land. To this end it seemed to me that system and co-operation would be of much advantage in the work. While system and co-operation are among the fundamental principles of the Order, they seem to have been least applied in this most important feature of its work. But few, if any, Granges neglected the educational work, and very many of them brought it to a high degree of efficiency, yet there was entire lack of system and uniformity between the States, and in the States, with few exceptions.

To obviate some of these difficulties, and to render assistance to such Subordinate Grange Lecturers as needed help in their work, and to bring them in closer touch aud sympathy with their several State Lecturers and the National Lecturer, this body, at its session two years ago, authorized the publication of the Quarterly Bulletin by the Lecturer of the National Grange, and its publication has been continued to the present time. You are all familiar with it, and know of its work. In some respects it has fallen short of what was expected of it, while in others it seems to have fully met the demands of the time by giving some system and uniformity to the work, and rendering assistance to the many Lecturers in all parts of the land who needed help and encouragement in their work.

The curriculum of the educational work of the Grange, if I may so speak, is entirely different from that of the school and the college. While the latter is in a large measure theoretical and disciplinary, and applies to the conditions of youth, the former is largely of a practical nature, relating to home life, current events, economic conditions, and the ethics of government. Hence it is, that principles and conditions, instead of text books and rules, furnish the basis of thought, the occasion for investigation and study, and the themes for discussion in the Grange. The spirit of inquiry is abroad among the farming population of the land. The members of the Grange are asking for mental food, and earnestly seeking the solution of such problems as seriously affect the interests of agriculture, and the future welfare of the nation. Right here is where the opportunity lies, and the responsibility rests, to give such direction and trend to the thought of the membership of the Grange, and to offer such suggestions to aid in the discussion of the questions before them, as will tend to increase the love of home among our rural population, to give them clear conceptions and unbiased minds, and thus enable them to discern between truth and error in solving the intricate problems before them, for the good of all the people. How this work can best be done, whether by continuing the Quarterly Bulletin in its present or in a modified form, or in some other way, is for this body to determine. The importance of the matter calls for your most careful consideration and deliberate action.

MEETING OF STATE LECTURERS.

In this connection I desire to call your attention to the seeming necessity of some movement looking to greater coucert of action in regard to lecture work. It seems to me that if some provisions could be made whereby State Lecturers would be able to meet the National Lecturer, and carefully consider the lecture work in the various States, and in the country at large, better and more satisfactory results could be secured from the same amount of labor. This would be in the direct line of efforts that are being made to systematize and give greater uniformity to the educational features of the Grange.

On account of traveling expenses, it might not be best for all State Lecturers to meet in one place. Six or eight States could be grouped together and a meeting called at some central point with comparatively small cost. The plan of lecture conferences has been tried in several States with most gratifying results, the State Lecturer meeting the Subordinate Grange Lecturers in the several Pomona jurisdictions. I ask your careful consideration of this suggestion.

STATE LECTURERS.

The success of the lecture work during the past year has largely been owing to the hearty co-operation and individual efforts of State Lecturers. In those States where the means have been provided the State Lecturers have been almost constantly in the field to enlighten the public in regard to the objects and aims of the Order, to give encouragement to Subordinate and Pomona Lecturers, and to carry forward the plan of more systematic and efficient lecture work.

FIELD WORK.

During the past year more of my time has been employed in field work than during the preceding year, and at times, especially during the months of August and September, I was unable to meet all of the demand upon my time. Field meetings, picnics and Grauge fairs are on the increase, and there is a corresponding increase in the demand for Grange speakers. But fortunately this demand is met by scores of talented young farmers who are yearly coming to the front as platform speakers by reason of their education and experience in Subordinate and Pomona Granges.

Too much cannot be said in favor of these public gatherings if they are conducted on non-partisan and non-sectarian lines.

GRANGE LITERATURE.

In addition to the Quarterly Bulletin a large amount of Grange literature has been sent out in response to the calls of Deputies, Organizers and other Grange workers. As the Grange increases in strength and influence, there is a growing desire on the part of the people to learn more on the work of this great farmers' organization, which is so silently, but surely, directing and molding public opinion along those channels which lead to good homes, good citizenship and good government.

THE PRESS.

In giving credit for this good work the public press should not be omitted. While some are pleased to make sweeping declarations and denounce the press in general as the enemy of public good and the creature of corporate greed and unholy combinations, I am free to say that in my judgment a majority of the newspapers of this country are as free from corruption as those who make the charges, and they are striving as best they can, and with honest intent, to represent the best interests of the people. Aside from the papers that are