USA > New York > The History of New York State Grange, 1934-1960 > Part 3
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3. WILLIAM JOSEPH RICH
Known to many friends as "Joe," William Joseph Rich, of Salem, joined the Grange in 1907. Former Secretary, then Master of Salem Union Grange No. 1100, in 1925-26 he was Master of Washington County Pomona Grange. 1928-33 saw him Deputy Grange Master, and he and his wife Nan grew close to their friends, Washington County Patrons. Steward of New York State Grange February, 1934 to December 1935, at that Oneonta session he advanced to Overseer. From December, 1939-1943 he served well as State Master. Through this trying period when our Nation was at war, his service was exceptional. A severe attack of influenza prevented his attendance at the 1943 Syracuse State session. Past Master Raymond Cooper read Mr. Rich's annual message; State Grange Overseer Henry Sherwood presid- ed throughout the session.
In 1942 Mr. Rich served as Grange representative on the Agricultural College Council. At the 1943 Grand Rapids National Grange session Mr. Rich, as Priest Hierophant in the Assembly of Demeter, brought honor to the Empire State, and was elected National Grange Chaplain. He held this position through 1945. New York State Grange was enriched by his leadership.
HIS ADMINISTRATION December 1935 - December 1939
During these four years many things occurred that affected Grange and National destiny. It was a time of testing. Freedom itself hung in the balance. Farmers were in the deep shadow of world depression. Machinery, equipment, and farm buildings showed years of wear. Prices were in no way comparable with those of industry. The farmer, too, showed great courage in this time of terrible conflict.
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In 1940 State Master Rich pointed out: "In this present emer- gency the farmer and Patron of Husbandry can be counted upon to do their part in national defense, and in preserving democracy in this land of ours, but we want it distinctly understood that in any defense plan that may be set up, agriculture must be on a parity with labor and industry; without a prosperous agri- culture we cannot have a prosperous nation."
In 1941, he stated: "The Grange has not escaped the effect of National Defense. In some cases, Granges have been compelled to move, due to large tracts of land being taken over by the Government. In one case, a Grange forced to move its hall would have surrendered its charter had it not been for Past Master Raymond Cooper, who helped to secure a new site, and arranged for moving the hall. ... Many Grange officers and members have been drafted, necessitating election of new officers. Thus we have before us the problem to maintain the independence of the farm-
er, to help him stay in business, meet competition for labor, and give a fair return for his labor and investment. 'The Grange policy has always been to seek. the greatest good for the greatest number. In demanding a fair and reasonable price for farm products divested of all subsidies we believe we are seeking the greatest good for the greatest number."
In 1942: "Besides helping raise the largest crops of food and fibre, members of the Grange have also found time to take an active part in other war and defense activities. In some cases Grange halls have been taken over entirely for the use of the army. Others have been fitted out as airplane lookout stations, first aid and blackout rooms. The Granges of our State have taken an active part in the Scrap Harvest. Tons of scrap were turned in to help win the war."
How much did Granges and Grange members contribute to War Bonds and Stamps? According to a Grange survey, a con- servative one-third amount, up to August, 1943, Grange members had invested $5,547,802.00. There were two more issues of War Bonds that year. In addition, , Granges had purchased $70,327.00, and the Revolving Scholarship Fund, $10,000.
CHANGE IN SESSION DATE: State Master Rich continuously advised a change in the annual session from December to the latter part of October. "Thus any resolutions passed by the State Grange could be presented the following month at the annual National Grange session," whereas formerly they had to wait a year before reference to the higher body, a weak policy. State Secretary Stanley also reaffirmed this:
"We have been sending our State Master as Delegate from this great State with material which has grown out of date when
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the time finally came to present it. We have had the cart ahead of the horse long enough." The question was debated thoroughly for nearly a decade before adoption.
SEVENTH DEGREE SESSION: In 1940, the 74th annual National Grange session was held in the Lincoln Auditorium, Central High School, Syracuse. 5,256 candidates took the impressive seventh degree in Loew's State Theatre. It was conferred four times. Charles M. Gardner was High Priest of Demeter, Fred J. Free- stone Priest Interpreter.
"State Master Rich and his associate State officers exerted themselves to the utmost," reported the National Grange Month- ly, "to assure the comfort and happiness of their guests." This included a banquet tendered the National Grange officers, in "genuine get-to-gether spirit."
During the convocation of the Assembly of Demeter, the members were shown an almost priceless heirloom in the form of the Masonic certificate which Oliver Hudson Kelley carried with him on his historic trip to the South after the Civil War, and also during the early, trying organization days when his faith and courage brought about the Order of Patrons of Husban- dry.
Accompanying this was a letter from Francis M. McDowell, Priest of Demeter and Grange Founder from New York, to Miss Caroline Hall, in which the title of Ceres was first conferred upon that fine young woman to whom all members are indebted, since it was she who first requested that women be admitted to membership on an equal basis.
During the National Grange Memorial service, tribute was paid to Sherman J. Lowell, Past New York State Grange Lect- urer, and Master, Master of the National Grange and member of the United States Tariff Commission under President Calvin J. Coolidge:
CHANGE IN RESOLUTION CONSIDERATION: In 1940, the result of delegate action of 1939, resolutions were printed for the first time, so delegates could have copies and therefore act with more understanding when questions came to a vote. This had been under consideration for several years, and we believe the plan has since been adopted by other State groups as sane pro- cedure.
MEMBERSHIP: June 30, 1943, showed a gain in members, due largely to the effort made by all officers. "Early in the year our State got back of National Master Albert Goss" plan for 'Every officer get a member.' The gain shows conclusively that there are large numbers of eligible members who can be brought into the Grange." Membership totaled 128,515.
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SIXTH DEGREE INITIATES: There were 5,860.
SILVER STAR CERTIFICATES: 5,296.
GOLDEN SHEAF: 454 were awarded.
ORGANIZATION AND REORGANIZATION: 16, which made a total of 893 Granges in the State.
GRANGE HALLS DEDICATED: 26. State Master Rich com- mented. "It is interesting to note the many kinds of buildings, ranging all the way from padlocked roadhouses, abandoned milk plants and railroad stations to schools and churches that have been made over into useful and attractive Grange Halls. It seems to me that if a church is to be abandoned as such, it can be put to no better use than to make it into a Grange Hall. No Grange should be content until it owns a home of its own."
SEVEN POINT PROGRAM: advised by State Master Rich in his final address included: Building membership; paying off debt on the modern National Grange Headquarters, Washington, D. C .; continuation of war cooperation, production of food, fibre, feed, Victory Gardens; continuation of Grange ritualism and Fratern- ity, and encouragement of Education .
GRANGE IDEALS: In one of his annual messages, State Master Rich gave the following, worthy of our thought today: "In these modern days when so many of the ideals and institutions that our fathers held sacred are being shattered or undermined by the world at large, we as Patrons have an important duty to perform in seeing that the ideals upon which the Grange is founded shall be maintained."
This was the close of his final report: "I bring you no message graced With wonders I have done; No great achievement can I show At this year's set of sun.
Perhaps I've erred in judgment, Have not clearly seen the way;
Yet I'm sure you'll judge me kindly
By what I've tried to do each day."
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4. HENRY D. SHERWOOD
"Thousands of people living in rural areas and producing the life-giving food of the world need the Grange," said Henry D. Sherwood, State Master, in a 1946 National Grange Monthly. "With the rapid growth of all other groups we must build our own reliable, independent Grange to the strongest possible posi- tion, by working together and bringing more people into the Grange."
What type of man is Henry D. Sherwood, of Pine Plains? Where do his roots lie? In what soil did they flourish? The Sher- wood family migrated in 1803 from Fairfield, Connecticut to their 137 acre farm in Dutchess County. Mr. Sherwood no longer farms actively, but they still live in their lovely farm home. A farmer, in the April, 1946, National Grange Monthly, he said:
"It is always good to see the first grass and earliest dandelion. The new grass coming to life after the long, hard winter seems like a symbol of Easter, and the new life we have been promised at the close of our days on earth."
He had farmer bouts with the weather. "It has seemed some- times as if we just could not get our work done on the farm- the fields were so wet and muddy. "A farmer, this.
Where did his Grange life take root? The boy Henry lived one year with his grandparents. "Because they were members there," he joined Millerton Grange No. 796. Later, by demit he joined his parents' Grange, Jackson Corners No. 905, "because it was their Grange." He used to help Frank Lacy, Dutchess County Agent, to show slides, etc. "It was Frank," Mr. Sherwood added, "who encouraged me to compete for a $50.00 State Grange Scholarship in 1920. I won one of the twelve scholarships then offered, and went to Cornell 1920-221 for the winter short course. It could be that if Mr. Lacy had not mentioned Grange scholar-
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ships I would never have been as interested in Grange as I have been throughout the years."
In 1921 Mr. Sherwood joined Pine Plains Grange No. 803, which his wife Thelma joined. Secretary, then Master of Pine Plains, in 1932-36 Dutchess County Pomona Grange Master, at the 1935 Oneonta State session, Mr. Sherwood became State Grange Steward. 1939-43 he was Overseer, then 1943-51, State Master. In 1945 he was elected National Grange Overseer. Follow- ing the demise of National Master Albert Goss, October 25, 1950, he fulfilled the duties of National Grange Master until the November election. Henry Sherwood filled every office capably, with a record that lent lustre to our Order. He had every qualifi- cation of a fine National Grange Master.
His contemporaries witness the type of man. The National Grange Monthly recounts the stories: February, 1944, Pine Plains Grange celebrated his election as State Master. Dutchess County tendered a reception with 400 present. Attorney Benton R. Frost, toastmaster, characterized the honor guest as: "An ideal man to head our great State organization in these trying times. He has the heritage of a fine American family. He is honest, sincere, slow to anger, a true friend, and enjoys the respect of his com- munity and State."
Dutchess County Judge Gordon J. Flannery described Mr. Sherwood: "A real American, devoting his time and energy that America will survive regardless of any isms of any other country, a man who is running his end as the constitutional government wants it run."
"Our State Master is certainly an early bird! If you have ever had the good fortune to travel with him you will not need to worry about oversleeping, for he will get you up in time to milk, and you will never miss that early train!" Harold M. Stanley testified in the National Grange Monthly. Other Execu- tive Committee members agreed with a chuckle.
A member of the State Grange Executive Committee 1952-57, Mr. Sherwood also served as Assistant to State Master Leland D. Smith. He gave twenty-two years as a builder of our New York State Farm, the Grange. As Chairman of the State Executive Committee of CROP, and Regional Director of CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM, he put in many hours. His wife, Thelma, was a mem- ber of the National Grange Home Economics Committee.
HIS ADMINISTRATION
December 1943 - October 1951
The epoch of World War II had developed into an era of world shaking events. Mysterious Yalta, seedbed of troubles;
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Europe and the Far East in tumult and turmoil, each to bear physical and spiritual scars for generations; tragic Hiroshima, where Science bore on the tip of its sceptre an atom, laden with terror and potential good to mankind; World War II at an end, but in its trail the phantom of World War III haunting the world; mil- lions of starving, and the finger of the unthinking pointing to the weary food producer, the farmer, as villain and scapegoat-these were among the factors of those years, There were surpluses and subsidies, strikes and shouting, forty-nine nations at San Fran- cisco to form the United Nations. There was the veto curse of the Security Council, the erection of the U. N. Building in New York, secret agents and subversive elements, Communism versus Chris- tianity, the age old struggle of the forces of evil against the army of good to mankind.
During those years State Master Sherwood and his officer staff held grave deliberations. There were unforgetable achieve- ments which were not due to helter-skelter beginnings or haphazard methods. Mr. Sherwood and helpers kept in mind the ultimate good of rural people. Of necessity they agreed with Abraham Lincoln, "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. We must think and act anew. "
"Nineteen hundred forty-five," stated Mr. Sherwood in his annual report at Rochester, "is the year which historians of all times will rank high among important dates in the history of mankind. Into a world of strife there has been ushered a new era-that of atomic energy. Future historians unquestionably will rank the atomic era with the stone age, the iron age, the age of steam and electricity. In considering our everyday problems they become dwarfed in the shadow of a new and frightening force. Perhaps never before have we needed Divine guidance as we need it today. We must pray that the power which we have wrested from Nature will make us humble, not boastful or arrogant. We must resolve to use that power for good, not evil. God give us wisdom to use it wisely."
SUBSIDIES: Mr. Sherwood summarized the Grange position: "Why should we ask future generations to pay the food bill of our present day? Why not develop a sound system of price structure for farm commodities and put an end to this present day unsound reasoning? The Grange will use all influence pos- sible to defeat the subsidy policy and will fight for the establish- ment of a sound policy of cost of production plus a reasonable profit .... Farm organizations have battled continuously to have prices on a par with the prices of industry and the prices received by labor ... . Government agencies have seemed to prefer a sub- sidy payment rather than a price based upon cost of production. The farmer, due to inadequate prices, has been forced to accept
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these subsidy payments, but has done so under protest as the principle involved is unsound and places a heavy burden on future tax-paying generations."
FACTOR IN UNDERSTANDING: "I like to think that during those eight years we had a wonderful cooperation from the other farm organizations. We began our annual State Grange Farm Dinner. State Farm groups leaders were invited to this dinner sponsored by the State Grange; we felt this was one of the events that helped bind our groups together."
MEMBERSHIP: June 30, 1951,-143,088; a gain of 14,773 in eight years.
GRANGES ORGANIZED OR REORGANIZED: 16; a total of 891 Granges.
SIXTH DEGREE INITIATES: 8,188 in eight regular and five special sessions. At Saratoga Springs, 1946, there were 1,635 candidates, the LARGEST SIXTH DEGREE CLASS IN GRANGE HISTORY! What a class!
GOLDEN SHEAF: 1,183.
SILVER STAR: 12,025.
SEVENTY YEAR MEMBERSHIP: At least four received awards: Frank A. Dorman, Ontario County, originator of the Dorman Award to member of longest membership; Mrs. Olive Dean, and Miss Fannie E. Brodie, both of Genesee County, and Leonard L. Allen, former State Historian, Jefferson County.
COUNTY WIDE INITIATIONS: In twelve meetings, held in Orange County, Ontario County, Livingston, Chautauqua, Dela- ware, Erie, Orange-Rockland, Otsego, Monroe and in Fredonia Grange No. 1, 1,364 new members were added to our Order.
STATE MASTER SHERWOOD WAS A GUEST of several groups, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Interstate Cooperation, in New York City, and a meeting of the New York State Sheriff's Association, Utica.
NOTEWORTHY PEOPLE AND EVENTS OF THE SHERWOOD ERA: On December 13, 1944, the Pomona Masters' Association was organized. Howard Hill, Orleans County, was first President; Nehemiah Andrews, Orange County, first. Vice-President; and Clyde Hitchcock, Chenango County, Secretary-Treasurer.
PULPWOOD PROGRAM: Farm leaders of New York State met as guests of "The Periodical Publishing Association of America." Purpose, correction of the serious shortage of pulpwood for paper mills. Committee appointed to head up the program: W. J. Rich and Leland D. Smith, Promotional Directors of the Project, 1944.
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A PERIOD OF SUSPENSE developed when for months it was uncertain that the annual State Session could be held. In late fall, 1945, the Office of Defense Transportation lifted the ban on travel so that large groups could attend conferences. Grange members drew a breath of relief.
THE DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY of New York State Grange was fittingly observed at Oswego December 9 through 12, 1947. JULY 24, 1948 was a RED LETTER DAY: Pawling Grange No. 831 helped entertain 75 farm editors called in conference by Governor Thomas E. Dewey, member of Pawling Grange. A tour of the Dewey farm; a three hour conference in the Grange Hall, and a delicious Grange luncheon kept visitors busy. National Chaplain Joseph Fichter, Ohio; Paul Sanders, Master Virginia State Grange and Editor "Southern Planter,"; William A. Ayers, managing Editor National Grange Monthly; Harry Graham, Editor Indiana Grange News; Fred Bailey, Editor "Washington Farm Reporter"; Senator George Aiken of Vermont, and Repre- sentative Clifford Hope of Kansas were among guests. The editors represented 16,000,000 rual subscribers.
JUNE 24, 1949: Officers of New York State Grange unveiled a bronze tablet in honor of Francis Marion McDowell, on the farm, Wayne, Yates County, which was his birthplace in 1831. One of the Seven Founders of the Order, Mr. McDowell was National Grange Treasurer for twenty-one years. It was upon his sugges- tion that the Seventh Degree was built, and he contributed many ideas for it. He was a Yates County fruit farmer.
DATE TO REMEMBER: August 19, 1950, E. Carroll Bean, High Priest of Demeter, Winterport, Maine, gave an impressive talk to a large audience in the stately Grange Temple, Chautauqua State Park. This Temple was the scene of many annual activities, including picnics where from 500 to 1000 Grange members often gathered.
YOUR FLAG presentatiton changed at the 1951 Syracuse Session, when the Pledge of Allegiance was authorized to follow present- ation at the Altar.
SERIOUS WARNING against the creeping, insidious evils of socialism was given by State Master Sherwood in his annual re- port. He regretted that even some farmers were falling for ideas of the welfare state. "Socialized medicine, compulsory health in- surance, federal aid to education and many others are being wrapped up in attractive bundles and the non-thinking are tempted to them all." He added a warning against the Brennan Plan. "What price freedom? That grand old hymn, 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic', closes with these familiar lines, 'As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,'. They are
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wonderful lines, but let us change them to conform with our thinking of today- 'As He died to make men Holy, let us live to make men Free.'"
In his final report, 1951, he urged "greater interest in the wel- fare of our local and community religious organizations. Church attendance, as I observe it, is far from being what it should be. For some reason or other people neglect their Church both in attendance and financial support. The Church stands out as the guiding light for a civilized world. America was built and grew to a prosperous nation because its people followed the teachings of the Great Teacher of Galilee. The pioneer made religion a part of his life. The real purpose of the Church still exists. It is the one organization we should support above all others. We, in the Grange, recognize the value of religion, and should, wherever possible, give all the aid we can to the promotion of the Rural Church."
That this administration was a power for rural good none can question.
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4. LELAND D. SMITH
Residents of this State may point with pride to agricultural leader, North Country Leland D. Smith. An alumnus of St. Law- rence University, he owns a 400 acre farm, formerly dairy and maple sugar acreage, near Brasher Falls.
In 1930, Mr. Smith was Master of Bombay Grange No. 924. A year later he was the head of Franklin County Pomona Grange. 1934-38 saw him Deputy State Master, then State Grange Execu- tive Committee member. In 1946 he was elected State Grange Overseer, and in October, 1951, he became State Grange Master, the first, out of nineteen who have headed our State Grange in its 88 years, to be elected for the fifth two-year term. Well versed in Roberts' Rules of Order, he is an excellent presiding officer, and his rendition of the Sixth Degree Ritual is flawless. His wife, Florence, has rendered gracious and efficient assistance in Grange affairs.
An imposing array of responsibilities has rested on his shoulders: State Master Smith has been a member of: State Education Commission on Redistricting of Schools; President Eisenhower's Advisory Committee on Education; State Senator Van Lare's Commission on Water Use and Rights; State Senator Milmoe's Conservation Commission; the State Soil and Conserva- tion Commission, and the Forest Products Production Commis- sion. He has served as a member of the New York University Council, the Agricultural Council of Cornell University, and the Council for the Agricultural and Technical Institute, Canton. He is President of the New York State Rural Safety Council, and Chairman of the North Country Development Committee in the interests of Agriculture.
Mr. Smith is a Director of: National Grange Insurance Com- pany, Farmers and Traders Life Insurance Company and Empire Livestock Cooperative. In 1953 he was elected Treasurer of the National Grange, which position he still holds.
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In 1955, Mr. Smith represented the State Grange on the im- portant State-wide Committee on Youth and Delinquency, and in the words of Mr. Smith: "The thinking of the Grange that has been injected there has had a direct bearing on changing legisla- tion in that field."
In 1957, as Grange representative, Mr. Smith was appointed spokesman for Agriculture on the New York Joint Legislative Committee on State Economy, created to give consideration to the total economy of the State. Agricultural skills, training, farm modernization and interests entered into its consideration.
In 1958 State Master Smith was one of the judges in the "Top- Ten" Community Service award contestants in the Nation. In 1960, he was elected Chairman of the New York Conference Board of Farm Organizations.
. It was also in 1960 that Mr. and Mrs. Smith were recipients of a silver tea set presented by Juvenile Granges of the State, at the dedication of the Leland D. Smith Juvenile Forest near Malone.
William Shakespeare wrote: "And one man in his time plays many parts," which reminds us of the manifold demands and alert devotion required of every State Master, nor do they receive high monetary reward. Leland D. Smith, like his predecessors, spends himself in untiring service not only for rural people, but for the general public good. In this relation we quote Carlyle: "All work is as seed sown. It grows and spreads, and sows itself anew."
HIS ADMINISTRATION
October 1951 - October 196-
MILES TRAVELED annually by the State Master, on Grange work, average 38,000.
SIXTH DEGREE INITIATES: During the first eight years, 8,930 received this beautiful degree. There were nine regular sessions, five special sessions in 1952, prior to National Grange session at Burlington, Vermont, and seventeen before the 1956 Rochester session of the higher body.
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