Hoosick Grange had a meeting on July 8. Worthy Master, David Comell presided over the meeting. After the business was completed the Lecturer, Corinne Philpott, had the program. Seeing that we just celebrated the Fourth of July, the program was on Americanism. They sang America then she talked on the Declaration of Independence.
She told the Grange [private]that 56 men signed the Declaration. Philip Livingston signed it from New York State. He was a merchant, active in state government and lived in Hudson, NY. Corinne asked if anyone knew which president died on the fourth?
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Monroe. She said Calvin Coolidge was born on the fourth. Then she asked who wrote the Declaration? Thomas Jefferson. It was written 239 years ago. She told them what Americanism meant to her. The freedom to speak, worship, gather, and vote, which saved millions of people from slavery. We are an amazing country – even with lots of problems – a great place to live. She recalled Thomas Jefferson’s famous lines – “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all people are created equal…”
She told them that in the War of 1812 the U.S. Government moved the Declaration of Independence to Leesburg, Va., and that’s the reason it wasn’t burned when the British attacked Washington. She also told of the background for our national anthem and how Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and a prisoner on the British ship, wrote the words of our national anthem while watching the attack on Fort McHenry. You can imagine the picture. She read the first verse. Very interesting.
The lecturer had a closing thought. If you do what you enjoy, why do you need a vacation? She reminded the Grange of the Pomona Picnic on Sunday at Brunswick Park at 1 pm. They had delicious refreshments. Next meeting is on July 22. Refreshment Committee is Marion Brenenstuhl.[/private]