The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-15

arc they ?" or "what is it ?" 1t is the
purpose of this article to introduce them
10 your readers. The Order Of Patrons
ia secret association of persons, males
over eighteen years OF age and females
over sixteen. interested in agricultural
pursuits, and bound together BY mystic
ties for the purpose Of mutual bcnctit
and protection. The organization con-
sists of subordinate or local oranges,
state oranges and . national grange.
The word grange, derived from the Lat
in Grdaivn. simply means farm Win
all it's outfit, buildings, lots and fields,
and is therefore moro appropriate and
svmbolrc,.l word than either club or
lodge. According to the constitution OF
the order, there are nine male ana tour
female officers in each local grange, and
elected annually. The presiding officer
Is STYLED the Master, and II not re elect
ed is of course Past Master. The state
orange has likewise Is officers, and It's
membership is composed of the Masters
..I Past Masters of the local oranges.
There must be Is local oranges in state
grange. The national grange Is COM
Doeed of the Masters and Past Masters
IF the state oranges. This beautiful or,
csnization prevents concentration Oh
power in the national grange, located at
Washington City, and the entire system
constitutes grand net work OF recIpro-
cal assistance that spreads aii over the
thousands of Agriculturists throughout
the Union who May become Patrons:
In this organization the little state of
Rhode Island, represented by her single
Master. has the same potent voice IN the
national council that Texas may have
and Kansas, represented with ability, Is
equally powerful there with the great
state Of New York.
So much for the organization. What
OF its object. The order OF the Patrons
Of Husbandry will accomplish u thor
ou..h aud systematic organization among
farmers and horticulturists throughout
the United States, and will secure among
them intimate social relations and ac-
auaintance with each other, for the ad-
yanccmcnt and elevation OF their pur-
suits, with an appreciation and proicc-
ton of their true. interests. by such
means may be accomplished that which
exists throughout the country H. all 9TH
avocations and among all other classes
combined cooperative association for
iadividual Improvement and comm; n
benefit.
Among the advantages which may be
derived from the order are systematic
arrangements for procuring ana dissent
mating, IN the most expeditions man.
ncr. information relative to crops, de-
,nand and supply prices, markets, and
transportation throughout the country
also for the purchase and exchange OF
stock, seeds, and for the purpose OF pro.
curing hep At home or from Abroad ana
situations for persons seeking employ
,nent: also, for ascertaining and testing
tho merits Of newly discovered farming
indictments and those not in general use
and for detecting and exposing those
that arc unworthy, and for protecting,
by all available means, the farming inter-
csts from fraud and deception, and COM
binations Of every kind.
We ignore all political or religious
d;scu ssi0ns IN the order; we do not So
Iicit the patronage Of any sect assoc'a-
ton, or individual, upon any grounds
Whatever, except upon the intrinsic
merits of the order.
tproposes to further the interests Of
Agriculture in every possible way. The
organization of o grange in any locality |
induces q community Of thought, there
by increasing the sociality of the neigh
borhood and improving it intellectually.
If tho order did nothing m ore than this,
who could measure its advantages to the
people of this Union, . vast majority OF
whom are agriculturists! And, through
out the country this feature OF the order
should commend itself as n sort OF
Quickening spirit divinely appointed
for we arc ali interested in agriculture,
and ut this moment society seems 10 DO
rapidly sag,egating, and children BY the
thousands are growing up in ignorance.
To check this disintegration, to Danish
ignorance from our doors, TO elevate the
farmer Intellectually. and to teach him
no has mind Is we'll as muscle, is ono OF
the grand objects of the Patrons OF
Hssbandry. Education is going back
ward even now in Kansas.
But it goes further. It proposes to
impress upon the farmer the mournful,
but not long since patented truth, that
he has heretofore been the pack-horse
for all other parties; that he has been
the dupe, the very scape,goat OF specu-
lators and middle-men Of every shape,
size, color and description; that he has
rights which, from ignorance, no has
never dared maintain that if he has
and patience to labor diligent-
", from seed time to harvest, he GER
tainly should have the intelligence to
know what he never has known-thc
true, marketable value of his hard
earned products; that If in union there
10 strength, 90 in this organization ends
may be aimed at and effects produced
which, in the future, will relieve the
farmer from that industrial thralldom to
which he has been subjected in the past.
These, and many other similar lessons.
practical every whit, aud profitable to
ths purse as we'll as to the mind, do the
Patrons Of Husbandry teach to those
armcrs all over tho Union who will
mite with the or.!cr and wherefore
hould any farmer refuse TO do SO! ,
m |