Farmer Now Up in Ranks With His Fellow Men

Grange Day Appropriately Celebrated Yesterday at the Pan-American.

Attendance Was Unusually Large.
Grangers, Both State and National, Were Present -- Superintendent Converse Welcomed Them.
E.B. Norris Responded.

Buffalo Evening News, August 29, 1901

Grange Day was the absorbing occasion at the Exposition yesterday. Grangers, both State and National, were present in large numbers. When the hour for the exercises arrives the Temple of Music was filled. Among those on the stage were U.E. Dodge of Fredonia, the patriarch of the organization, the first master and organizer of the first subordinate Grange. Fredonia Grange No. 1, which, although 50 years old, is still one of the most progressive and prosperous of the State granges. Others present were H.A. Goff of Spencerport, for 20 years secretary of the New York State Grange; P.A. Welling of Hannibal, N.Y., treasurer of the State Grange; W.N. Giles of Skaneateles, N.Y., secretary of the State Grange; Jacob Saltsman of Fonda, N.Y., of the State executive committee; Mrs. W.W. Ware of Batavia, N.Y., lady assistant steward; Mrs. S.M. Judd of Canton, N.Y., State lecturer of the State Grange; Mrs. J.J. Woodman of Pawpaw, Michigan, past master of the National Grange; W.C. Gifford of Jamestown, N.Y., past master of the State Grange; J. H. Durkee, superintendent of the New York State Agricultural exhibit, and Senator H.S. Ambler of Chatham, N.Y.

E. B. Norris, master of the State Grange, called the assemblage to order. Chaplain A.H. Dewey of the Rochester N.Y. Grange, delivered the invocation.

In the absence from the city of both President Milburn and Director-General Buchanan, the address of welcome in behalf of the Pan-American Exposition was delivered by Frank A. Converse, superintendent of the departments of agriculture and livestock. Mr. Converse extended a cordial greeting to the Grangers, assuring them that the Exposition officials greatly appreciated their interest in the Exposition and were pleased to see such a large number of their members present in celebration of the day. He expressed the hope that the Grangers might find their visit to the Pan-American both pleasant and profitable.

Mr. Norris responded in a brief and cordial address. he expressed in behalf of the State Grange great appreciation of the courtesies extended by the Pan-American Exposition. Mr. Norris said that the day when the farmer was a fit subject for ridicule had gone, that he now is up in the ranks with his fellow workers in all professions and lines of business, and is keeping himself well to the front. The State Grange had become a great educational instead of a mere financial organization; it is engaged not only in making good farmers, but good men and women and good citizens. In the State the Grange has 45,000 members and the order is represented in 44 states.

Hon. D.N. Lockwood, chairman of the New York State Pan-American Commission, welcomed the Grangers in behalf of the State and the city. Mr. Lockwood's address was felicitous and was very enthusiastically received.

Mr. E.A. Callahan of Albany sang a solo, "That Good Old Fashioned Mother," which so delighted the audience that he was compelled to sing a Dutch lullaby in response to the encore. His singing was a most enjoyable feature of the exercises.

Mrs. J.J. Woodman of Pawpaw, Mich., member of the National Grange, and Mrs. B.B. Lord of Sinclairville, N.Y., State deputy of the New York State Grange, made brief addresses. Mrs. Woodman spoke eloquently and forcefully of the work accomplished by the women in the Grange. She expressed the hope that the good work of the women of the Grange might continue and that great results might be attained while working along the lines of the organization, the lines of fraternity and Christianity.

The exercises closed at 3:30 o'clock with a selection by the band and the Grangers dispersed to enjoy the sights of the Exposition.

 

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