Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-05-05
THE WESTERN ORANGES.

In the discussion OF the late, or rath-
er present, troubles between the Western
farmers and the railroads, we have had
occasion to refer to the extensive and
powerful organization of agriculturists
known as the 'sPatrons of Husbandry,"
which now yields an influence stronger
than either existing political party in
several of the more important States
Indeed, its growth has been so rapid and
its platform so popular that there are
not wanting those who can see in its in
clplent movements the germ Of a new
political power. Primarily, it was moth
ing more than secret, cooperative, in
dustrial and literary ASSOCIATION, the
benefit of which not only the farmer, but
his wife and family, alike enjoyed. By
its means, middlemen were done away
with, thus making reduction of expense
upon every article purchased, whether
in the line of luxury or necessity
Early in 1868, the order was formed and
its general plan elaborated by a number
of the prominent agriculturists of Min
nesota.
The first lodge or ''grange," was or
ganized in Itasca in that state; the Sec
| ond was instituted in Iowa, and, a few
months later, two or three each in Wis
consin and Illinois. For four years the
order made little Roadway, and at the
close of the year 1871 there was not in
the whole West more than 10000 men,
bers. The seed had been carefully sown,
however, and by degrees the people be-
gan to see the benefits accruing from the
system pursued by the oranges, both in
a business and social point of view
They saw that the patron could live at
least ten per cent cheaper than the out
slider, while he was enabled to purchase
his farming utensils and machinery at a
discount of at least twenty per cent. from
the prices paid by others. They say,
too, that the organization must sometime
become a power in the land, and that it
was far better to be for it than against,
or even Indifferent to it. Certain local
causes, which are apparent to all who
have marked the current of Western
events for the past year or two, added in
giving a sudden and strong impetus to
the movement. To-day, the order ex-
lists in nineteen different states. and num-
bers nearly half million members
There is, of course, grand head, to
which the oranges of all the states are
subordinate. 1t is styled the National
Grange, and meets every two years.
State oranges are required to meet
every year, and subordinate oranges ev-
cry month, or oftener, if occasion require
In these last, women, as well as men,
are admitted to all the degrees, which
;, are four in number, and hold office the
same. The fifth degree is conferred up
on men only, and is peculiar to the
= State oranges. Those only are eligible
who have served as masters of subordi
nate bodies. The sixth degree is con
ferred only on members of the council
: of the national grange. This council i
composed of masters and past masters o
y the state oranges. The council meet
" once i'll every year. The seventh is tn
v highest degree to which any patron Cal
attain. 1t is conferred only on mem
= bers of the national senate, which i
, composed of members of the council VIII
have served one year in that boby.-
The functions of the council and senat
. are similar to those of Representative
h and Senators in legislative bodies Tn
supreme executive authority in the oil
der is lodged in the master of the ma
he tional grange but each subordinat
N grange has its own master, overseer, lee
b, turer and other officers. The halls G
y rooms used for the meetings of many {
IN the subordinate oranges are elegant
&c fitted up, and furnished with every II
re centive to attendance. Libraries-som
KS of them numbering thousands of volume
IN pianos, pictures, chess-tables, and, i
c. fact, everything that may serve to anus
IL and instruct, are the almost invariab
re concomitants of these places. Privat
Sc concerts and social parties are of frequel
to occurrence, the very intimacy thus ell
ly gendered rendering the bond more frn
and the action of the organization mo-
80 combined and powerful.
- It will be seen from this that the o
/. der is more compactly and thorough
- organized, and in manner that wou
~ make all opposition to it on the grour
voc of its principles, merely wholly vain
49, AS instances of what they have accor
~ plished in a material way, we are to
- that in some of the Western cities tn,
be have purchased or leased grain elevator
at other places they have employed fc
warding agents of their own order.
= Iowa they have already built an ag1
IN cultural implement mandatory of e
'ut tensive capacity. But what is most 81
on nifcant of this movement is the almc
miraculous progress it has made and
M making. In Tennessee, Mississippi,
ust ALBANIA. and, most of all, in Georgia. t