Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
July 12, 2025 – 9 am until 1 pm
Danville Junction Grange will be holding a yard sale on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the hall, 15 Grange Street (off rt. 202) in Danville.
Items available will include “pick your prize” raffle, 50/50, baked goods, baked beans to go, RADA Cutlery, attic treasures, plants, and more! Tables are available for rent. FMI contact Maynard at 312-5591
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
June Bulletin is available for download and will be mailed soon. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Please note that Cumberland Deputy Dave Gowen and Master of Highland Lake Grange has a new email address: davegowen84@gmail.com.
“There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need.”
Evangeline Booth
Does your Grange have a membership directory–even just a simple one you can easily share with each other? Since we’re all electing officers this month, they could be identified in it.
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With the election of officers coming up, don’t forget!
Many years ago, one of my consulting assignments included auditing the hiring process of a manufacturing company. That process included giving prospective employees a tour of the plant. I followed one of those tours, staying at the end of the line and observing.
One of those prospective employees would often reach down and pick up stray pieces of paper and trash on the floor. Based on my observation and recommendation, at the end of the tour, he was pulled from the group and hired on the spot.
Wherever you go, whatever your calling, aim to do good. Good deeds are ever fruitful of yet more good.
Lecturer to Candidates, Second Degree
It didn’t occur to me to ask if he was a Grange Member, but he could have been!
The second sentence of the lecturer’s instruction is a bit obtuse. Just prior to this advice, she asks the Assistant Steward if the candidates have been furnished with seed. The reply is that Ceres has provided corn and “enjoined” them to save the best for planting. The Lecturer notes that the candidates have been “guided by the lesson of faith.”
If we save the best seed for replanting, the harvest will increase. Doing good is much like planting seeds. Doing the most good produces even more good and that’s true regardless of who we are and where we are.
A candidate for employment picks up trash. He does some good and gets hired. He demonstrated that he aims to do good. His simple act demonstrates his potential as a good employee.
A candidate for membership in the Grange gets some good but simple advice. “Aim to do good.” It might be interesting if the lecturer were to ask each candidate to share an example of something good they have done. It shouldn’t be an intimidating question, although for some, doing good is instinctive and unconscious. The job candidate didn’t call attention to himself.
After receiving the Lecturer’s instruction, the Grange candidates move on to the Chaplain. The Chaplain reminds us “the springing seed teaches us to increase goodness…” and to “Do good, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward shall be great.”
This is not so complex or controversial. But in today’s society, where there is much complexity and controversy, a value of the Grange and Grangers is the demonstration of “doing good.”
A demonstration doesn’t have to be a protest.
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.
By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
Thank you to all the folks who helped with the recent State Grange yard sale & fundraiser. We appreciate your efforts, those who sold and bought raffle tickets, made donations, and your hard work. Thank you to Manchester Grange #172 for hosting this event. The weather was great, and thanks to those who came to support us.
The routine of Grange meetings, activities, events, fundraisers, yard sales, dinners, and more is in full swing all over the state. I would like to encourage everyone to support in some way Grange events planned for this summer and fall. Get involved, spread the word around, and be there for your Grange. Agricultural Fairs are going on throughout the summer and fall.
REMINDER, there are set things that must happen to “open” the Grange in due form. There must be seven members of that Grange present to be a legal meeting. Assistant Stewards open the Bible on the Altar, Opening Prayer, Salutation, the Charter MUST be present, the Implement case is opened, the Grange is declared open, and Salute to the Flag. Business and votes may only happen when the Grange is opened in full form. Special meetings are exactly as implied, “Special” for a specific, pre-designated event or activity only. No other business may be conducted.
RESOLUTIONS are due in the office August 15, 2025, either by email to mainestategrange@myfairpoint.net or by standard mail to 146 State St., Augusta 04330. Submit both ways to ensure we receive them. Each Resolution is required to have a title when it is submitted to the office. I cannot give them a title; you must come up with one yourself. The resolution must be voted on by the Grange submitting the resolution. After the 15th, we then have to print everything and mail all resolutions back to each Grange. The Delegate Registration, Banquet and Luncheon forms, etc., will be sent later in August. This all takes time.
Officer and Department Reports are due in the office no later than September 15th. (written or emailed to the office and to my email SHarriman@twc.com). I prefer emailed reports. These dates may seem early, but getting everything put together for the session takes time.
ELECTIONS are at hand, and every Grange is required to have full elections every year. Please consider the officers and leaders of your Grange. Are you ready for a change? What is best for your Grange? Are there others who would make good officers? Are you helping others learn the different duties of the offices, or are you pushing too hard? Some offices are more involved than others. Some committees are more involved than others. Maine State Grange will have full elections at the State Session in October. MASTERS and SECRETARIES – A strong reminder – Your correct ROSTER information is to be sent to the State Grange office as soon as possible after your elections are completed. The Master of each Grange sets up the Committee Chairmen for the Grange and informs the Secretary who those people are. The Secretary gets and/or checks the name, address, phone, email, etc. for each of the people involved, fills in the entire form provided, and gets it back to the state office.
June 21, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
by Sherry Harriman, MSG Master
There will be a Ritualistic Instruction Meeting on June 21, held at Excelsior Grange #5, 446 Harris Hill Road, Poland, ME, starting at 4:00 p.m. Supper will be served at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Excelsior Grange’s regular meeting at 7:00 p.m.
All are welcome to attend, no matter what Grange you are a member of or if you are an Officer or not.
We will cover Opening, Closing, Presenting the Flag, Balloting for candidates, other instructions and information that are part of our Grange work.
Please let Cynthia Maxwell (207 740-2741) know how many will be coming so they can plan for supper.
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
Deadline for June Columns is the 14th! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
June 7, 2025, is the Maine State Grange Yard Sale, 9 am – 2 pm at Manchester Grange, Route 202, FMI including table rental, Linda (207 623-5159) or Norma (207 583-7211).
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”
Wayne Dyer
Can you interest a local garden club or business in creating a flower bed in exchange for a sign in it promoting the club or business?
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With the election of officers coming up, don’t forget!
Highland Lake Grange 87, Westbrook, placed flags at Highland Lake Cemetery. The flags are supplied by Stephen Manchester American Legion Post 62. The Grange has been assisting the American Legion with placing flags for several years.
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
Please note the May Sagadahoc Pomona Meeting is cancelled. The next meeting is at Merriconeag Grange in Harpswell on Wednesday, June 25th at 7:00 with a potluck supper at 6:00. FM contact Stephanie Alexander, 207-841-9481
How will you celebrate? Have you found a ceremony or parade to attend? Will you hang out your flag? Visit a cemetery? Here’s some ideas for you.
We’ve recently added more subscribers! Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Copy and share that link with new members!
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With election of officers coming up, don’t forget!
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
Deadline for May Columns is the 14th! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
How will you celebrate? Have you found a ceremony or parade to attend? Will you hang out your flag? Visit a cemetery? Here’s some ideas for you.
The Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs (MAAF) lists Maine Fairs by month. How many will you attend?
Did you know how easy it is to learn who your Senator and Representative is? Just use this link: https://www.mainechamber.org/find.html.
It’s easy and risk-free! With the recent influx of new members and degree recipients, we should see some new subscribers! Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Copy and share that link with new members!
Assume everyone is interested in your Grange Events! Broadcast the news far and wide–including submitting to the Maine Website Calendar. When sending information to the media (including MSG) send the information at least one month before it takes place!
“A life without love is like a year without summer.”
Swedish Proverb