The Grange advance., 1873-12-24
The State Grange.

The State Grange.
Aa0Tess OF Grand Master Parsons at the Meet
'"g hetd at fari6ault, December 16, 1873
Officers and Members Of the State Grange of Minneso-
In pursuance Of the provisions of our
constitution we are assembled in annual
convocation, for the purpose of deliber-
ating upon the interests of our Order,
and devising and enacting such meas
ures as may be deemed necessary to pro-
mote its welfare.
The year just drawing to a close has
been one Of great prosperity to the farm
ers OF Minnesota. A kind and bounti
full Providence has blessed the labors
Of the husbandmen with great reward.
Our fields have fairly teemed with the
fruits of the earth. and our granaries
are full to overAowing. Health in
degree rarely enjoyed elsewhere has
been bestowed upon us. Our lines
heve indeed been cast in pleasant places,
and ours is a goodly land. In view Of
these abundant mercies it is meet and
proper that we, as an Order of Hus-
bandmen, should recognize the Hand
from which these bounties flow, and be
thankful to the Giver of all Good for
kindness towards u.s.
Since the last session of the State
Grange the Order in this jurisdiction,
and throughout the country, has been
exceedingly prosperous. On the twenti-
eth day Of February last there were one
hundred and twenty-four Oranges in
the State. This was then thought to
be condition of prosperity worthy of
special rejoicing, and from the signs of
growth then visible it was predicted
that by the next meeting Of the State
Grange the numerical strength of the
Order would be doubled. A little less
thau ten months have now elapsed since
that prediction was ventured; we now
have on our rolls the names of more
than four hundred subordinate Gran
ges.
My worthy predecessor, in his annu-
al address, gloried in the tact that
there were organized in all the States
during the year 1872; one thousand and
fifty Oranges. BY the last report of
the Secretary of the National Grange
it appears that in the month of October
alone Of the current year precisely the
same number of Oranges were organ.
lied, and that the whole number Of
Oranges upon his roll up to date was
over nine thousand, and the reported
membership Of the Order was more than
seven hundred thousand. Truly, have
cause for congratulation upon the aston.
ishing spread and increase of the Order
Of the Patrons of Husbandry. Never,
since the world began has anything like
it been witnessed. History does not
furnish its parallel.
I congratulate you, also, worthy Pat
rons, upon the general harmony which
prevails within our gates. Composed
as the Oranges chiefly are, of men and
women in the rural districts, entertain:
ing all shades of religion and political
opinions, without previous experience
or training in societies like ours, and
mostly ignorant of parliamentary rules
and usages, it is indeed wonderful that
there have not been more conflicts and
dissensions amongst US. In a few in
stances minor difficulties have arisen
but am happy to announce that in
most of those cases which have occurred
they have by prudent and conciliatory
counsels been happily adjusted.
The main and primary objects. of ou,
Order are becoming gradually but sure
ly accomplished. The Grange, in it.
capacity as Farmers Club, is sue
cess. By meeting together at stated
periods, relating to one another thei1
experiences on the farm, recountinq
their successes and reverses, our mem
bers are learning new and better process
es, and thus drawing valuable lessons oI
Of wisdom from each other. As a So
cial circle, the Grange has become a
necessity, and supplied want peculiar
to the agricultural population. s. Il fur.
nishes opportunity for the J. cultivation
OF the social graces and means of en-.
joyment heretofore sadly neglected
amongst farmers. In the Grange as a