Hoosick Grange News

Hoosick Grange met Wednesday night, August 24, with Master David Cornell. The Grange had lots of business – the price of oil, cleaning the heaters, the Schaghticoke Fair Booth, sitters for the Fair booth and workers setting up. There was an invitation from Center Brunswick Grange inviting Hoosick Grange for installation of officers. This is to be on Thursday, September 8, at 7 pm at Brunswick. Albany County will be doing the installing. The New York State Master, Stephen Coye, will be there. They are also giving out certificates. Hoosick Grange accepted the invitation. After all that business they had election of officers, and the officers are the same as this year, with David Cornell as Master and etc.
The Lecturer was in charge of the program for the evening. She read a little story of a pastor playing sick and instead went golfing on Sunday morning. She read some jokes for fun. Seeing that school will be starting soon she read a true story of a boy in school and how his teacher learned how she could make a difference in his life. The Lecturer asked Grangers, “Did anyone remember any of Benjamin Franklin’s famous sayings?” They remembered some. She read some of his wise and witty sayings, like “Early to bed…..etc.” Ben Franklin’s picture is on the one hundred dollar bill, and Independence Hall is on the back. In a letter to his daughter he expressed unhappiness over the choice of the eagle as the symbol of America and expressed his own preference – the turkey. As you probably know the eagle is on many coins – the quarter, half dollar and dollar coins and not the turkey. The Lecturer asked Grangers to get out a dollar bill. They were to look at the back of it at the Great Seal of the United States. It symbolizes the sovereignty of the U.S. It’s used to authenticate important documents. The face bears the American eagle with a shield, symbolizing America’s self-reliance. The 13 stripes were from the flag of 1777. The blue chief above the stripes is Congress and all branches of government. The eagle holds an olive branch of 13 leaves and 13 olives in its right talon and 13 arrows in its left. It prefers to live in peace but can wage war. As you can see, the eagle has a great part of our history. Then they studied the reverse side of the Great Seal and the mottoes. The Lecturer had a closing thought – “If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” – Ben Franklin.
Our next meeting is September 14. It will be a planning meeting for the year. Refreshment Chairman is Martha Babbitt. Don’t forget September 8 at 7 pm at Brunswick.