JOHN TRIMBLF, 514 F Street, Washington, D. C.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

N. J. BACHELDER, Ch'n, East Andover, Merrimac Co., N. H LEONARD RHONE, Centre Hall, Centre Co., Pa.

J. J. WOODMAN, Secretary, Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Mich. AARON JONES, ex-officio, South Bend, Ind.

ADDRESS OF THE

Fiscal Agency-The Farmers' Loan & Trust Company, 22 William Street, New York, N. Y.

Journal of Proceedings.

FIRST DAY.

ROOM OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE,
HARRISBURG, PA., November 10, 1897.

In accordance with the Constitution and the action of the National Grange at its Thirtieth session, the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry assembled in its Thirty-first Annual Session, and was opened in the Sixth Degree, at 11.00 o'clock a. m., there being present:

George Austin Bowen, Conn. Mrs. C. E. Bowen, Conn.
Mrs. Laura C. Douglas, Mass. C. H. Knott, W Va.

MEMBERS.

W. W. Greer, Cal.
J. A. Newcomb, Col.
S. O. Bowen, Conn.
S. H. Messick, Del.
Oliver Wilson, Ill.
Aaron Jones, Ind.
A. B. Judson, Ia.
Henry Rhoades, Kan.
Edward Wiggin, Me.
G. B. Horton, Mich.
George W. Baird, Minn.
S. L. Wilson, Miss.
D. N. Thompson, Mo.
N. J. Bachelder, N. H.
Mrs. Rachael E. Cox, N. J.
Mrs. Maggie Hale, N. Y.
Mrs. R. J. Ellis, Ohio.
Mrs. Irene L. Hilleary, Ore.
Mrs. M. S. Rhone, Pa.
Mrs. S. W. Thompson, S. C.
Mrs. M. Louise Bell, Vt.
Mrs. J.Sarah Wedderburn, Va.
Mrs. Ida V. High, Wash.
H. E. Huxley, Wis.

Mrs. Frankie M. Greer, Cal.
Mrs. Emma J. Newcomb, Col.
Mrs. A. L. Bowen, Conn.
Mrs. Lena M. Messick, Del.
Mrs. Martha M. Wilson, Ill.
Mrs. Maggie W. Jones, Ind.
Mrs. Ida Judson, Ia.
Mrs. Ruth Rhoades, Kan.
Mrs. E. L. A. Wiggin, Me.
Mrs. A. M. Horton, Mich.
Mrs. Sarah G. Baird, Minn.
Mrs. E. P. Wilson, Miss.
Mrs. A. K. Thompson, Mo.
John T. Cox, N. J.
O. H. Hale, N. Y.
S. H. Ellis, Ohio.
W. M. Hilleary, Ore.
Leonard Rhone, Pa.
W. K. Thompson, S. C.
C. J. Bell, Vt.

Alexander J. Wedderburn, Va.
Augustus High, Wash.
T. C. Atkeson, W. Va.
Mrs. Mary S. Huxley, Wis.

Sister Cordelia Atkeson, wife of T. C. Atkeson, Master of the West Virginia State Grange, was conducted to the altar and obligated in the Sixth Degree, Flora.

The Worthy Master declared the Grange closed in the Sixth Degree and opened in the Fourth Degree.

A Committee from the Pennsylvania State Grange was escorted into the hall by the Worthy Steward and introduced to the Worthy Master, and the Committee was then formally presented to the National Grange by the Worthy

Master.

The Committee tendered fraternal welcome to the National Grange on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Grange, now

in session in the city of Harrisburg, and invited the National body to witness the conferring of the Sixth Degree, Flora, at the Opera House this evening.

Worthy Master J. H. Brigham responded for, and in behalf of, the National Grange.

On motion of Brother S. L. Wilson, of Mississippi, the National Grange voted unanimously to accept the invitation of the Pennsylvania State Grange to attend the Sixth Degree session at the Opera House this evening, where the Degree of Flora will be conferred in form.

Brother Dr. J. T. Rothrock, Commissioner of Forestry, special committee of the Pennsylvania State Grange, presented to the members of the National Grange souvenirs of the Thirty-first Annual Session of the National Grange now holding in Harrisburg.

On motion of Brother S. H. Ellis, of Ohio, the following. was adopted unanimously:

Resolved, That the thanks of the National Grange be, and hereby are, extended to the Pennsylvania State Grange for the volume presented to each of our members as a souvenir of this meeting, and we assure the officers and members of the Pennsylvania State Grange that, as we shall look over the pages of this book in years to come, we will remember with pleasure their kindnesses and the pleasures we have enjoyed while sojourning with them.

The Worthy Master announced the appointment of the Committee on Credentials, as follows:

Brothers S. O. Bowen, J. T. Cox and Henry Rhoades, and Sisters A. M. Horton and Mary S. Huxley.

Brother George B. Horton, Worthy Annalist, made the following announcement:

In accordance with a formal notice previously given and issued to all the States of the Union where Granges exist, the Seventh, or Degree of Ceres, will be conferred on Thursday evening, Nov. 11th, at the Walnut Street Opeara House, commencing at 7:30 o'clock. GEO. AUSTIN BOWEN, Worthy High Priest.

GEO. B. HORTON,
Annalist.

The following is the formal notice referred to above:

ASSEMBLY OF THE PRIESTS OF DEMETER.

ORDER OF THE

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

OFFICE OF THE ANNALIST,

FRUIT RIDGE, MICH., Oct. 1, 1897.

The Assembly of the Priests of Demeter (High Court of Ceres) of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry will impart the instructive lessons and disclose the profound mysteries of the Seventh, or Degree of Ceres, at the Thirty-first Session of the National Grange, to be convened at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 10, 1897.

The ceremonies of conferring this most high degree of the Order will take place on Thursday evening, Nov. 11th, in one of the large opera houses of the city, notice of which will be duly announced at Harrisburg.

New equipment and paraphernalia is being procured for a perfect reproduction and rendition of such rites as characterized and were incident to the Temple and Court of Ceres thousands of years ago.

Members having received the Sixth and all lower Degrees, and are now in good standing in a Subordinate Grange, are entitled to the lessons of the Seventh Degree, by the payment of one dollar, accompanied by a proper application, copies of which may be had by writing to the Master of your State Grange, or from the Annalist at the National Grange.

The Sixth, or Degree of Flora, will be conferred on Wednesday evening, the 10th, at Harrisburg, which will give members an opportunity to prepare for the Seventh Degree.

All applications must be approved by the Worthy Master of the State Grange in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides.

We therefore recommend that all applications, prior to Nov. 5th, be sent to respective Masters of State Granges, who will supply the proper blank Forms of Application, and give the necessary approval. Subsequent to Nov. 5th ap