Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-05-23
THE NEW SECRET ORDER.
The western Oranges Their Character
and object.
IFrom the Boston Globe !

I, 1 AnU ODJtCas
IFrom the Boston Globel
In the discussion OF the late, or rather
present. troubles between the western farm
ers and the railroads. we have had occasion
to refer TO the extensive and powerful or
ganIzatlon of agricalturtsts known as th,
patrons OF Husbandry'' which now " w!eld
an influence stronger than either existing
political party in the several of the NOR,
important States. Indeed, its growth has
been SO rapid and its platform SO populal
that there are net wanting those who car
see in its iicipient movements the germ o
a new political power. Primarily, it was
4 nothing more than secret, cooperative
industrial and litel ary associations, the ben
eft Of which not only the farmer, but hi;
wife and family alike enjoyed: BY its means
middlemen were done away with, thus
4 making reduction Of expense upon every
article purchased, whether in the line oi
luxury or necessity. Early in 1868, the Or
der was formed ard its general plan elab.
grated by number Of the prominent agri.
culturists of Minnesota.
/ THE FIRST LODGE,
Or Grange Was organized in Itasca, in
!. that State the second was instituted in
/ Iowa. and few months later, two or three
each in Wisconsin and Illinois. For four
years the Order made little headWay, and
at the close of the year 1871 there were not
In the whole West more than 5000 men,
bers. The seed had been carefully sown.
however, and by degrees tile people began
to see the benefits accruing from the system
pursued by. the Oranges, both in business
and social point of view. They saw that
| the patron. could live at leasr ten per cent.
cheaper than the outsider, while he was
enabled to purchase his farming utensils
| and machinery at discount Of at least
| twenty per cent. from the prices paid by
Others. They saw, TOO, that the organiza-
ton must sometime become power in the
land. and that it was better to be tor it than
against, or even indifferent to it. Certain
local causes, which are apparent to all who
have marked the current OF Western events
ior the past year or two, adding in giving Il
sudden and strong impetous to the moves
ment. To-day the Order ea lists in nineteen
different States and numbers nearly halt a
million members. There is, of couse. a
grand head, to which the Oranges OF all the
States are subordinate. t is styled tue
National Grange, and meets every two
years. @45
S. . 9s5s STATE ORANGES +tE=sss{4
Are required to meet every year, and SUBJ
ordinate Oranges every month, or oftener If
occasion require. In these last. woman as
well as men are admitted to all the degrees,
which are tour III number, ana hold Office
the same. The fifth degree is conferred upon
men only, and is peculiar to the State
Oranges. Those only are eligible who have
strved as Masters OF subordinate bodies
The sixth degree is conferred only on MEM
bers OF the CsuLcil of the National Oranges.
This Council is composed OF Masters and
Past Masters Of the State Oranges. The
Council meets once i'll every year. The
seventh is the highest degree to which any
patron can attain. It is conferred only ON
members of the National Senate, which is
composed Of the members of the Council who
have served one year in that body. TIE
OF the Council and Senate ar, SINH |
lar to those of Representatives and Senators
In legislative bodies. The supreme executive |
in the Or. Ter is lodged in the Mas
Ter of the National Grange; but each SUBJ
ordinate Grange has its own Master, Over
seer. Lecturer and other officers. The balls I
Or rooms used for the meetings of many of |
the subordinate Oranges are elegantly fitted
ip and furnished with every attraction and T
incentive to attendance. Libraries some of
.hem mum bering thousands of volumes
pianos. pictures, cliess-tables, and in fact
that may serve to amuse and ln- /
'truct are the almost invariable concomlta nts
IF these places. Private concerts and social /
parties are of frequent occurrence, the very
intimacy thus engendered r nderlng the bond
more firm and the action of The Organization
more combined and powerful. It will be
een from this that
HE ORDER IS coMPAcTLY AND THOROUGHLY
ORGANIZED.
And in manner that would make all oppo-
ition to it on the ground of its principles
merely. holly vain. AS instances of what
hey have accomplished in material way, I,
10 are told that in some Of the Western
ities they have purchased or leased grain
iev;lters; at other places they have employ
d forwarding agents of their own Order. In
owa they have already built an agricultural
Implement manufetory of extensive capaci- !
=. But what Is most Significant of this !,
is the almost miraculous progress
has made aud is making. In Tennessee.
fississIppl, Alabama. and, most OF all In
ieorgia. the people are organizing Oranges
18th the same avidity as has characterized
le people of the No 'thwest, and the idea
ill probably ere long find Development in
,e New England and Middle Ttates. IA Is
A new gold bank has been started In y
tockton, California, and has commenced op- D
-ations. having received its notes fsom
1ashington. It IS probable that several |,
lore new gold banks will be started on the n
aciiic coast. The San Francisco gold notes Il
ready ii circIllation are very popular, snd 4
le two gold banks in Sau Francisco find NJ e