The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-27
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY.

a New Society to help the Producer
Beautiful Ceremonies to Elevate and
COnsecrate Labor Everywhere-Plan
ana Purposes of the Order.
Correspondence of The Philadelphia Press
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1873.
A new secret society has sprung into ex-
istence, apparently in the space of single
night. The city of Washington was its
birthplace, and remains its head centre, but
its branches already penetrate every state
in the Union. Even Canada bows the knee
to the WORTHY Master" who called this
mighty organization into being, and as SUI
perintendent of. the agricultural grounds at
the capital he may be seen any day attend
ing to his duties, as modest as the fisher
man who raised the box which contained
the enormous genii from the bottom of the
sea.
This society has nothing to do with poll
tics, except in an indirect way. Its oranges
are composed of all the elements which
compose the different parties. 1t is simply
a union to promote the welfare of the
tollers of the soil. The farmer asks,
"Why should we be paid fifteen cents
bushel for corn when this same article
costs the consumer eighty-fiye "
Why does the poor widow pay sixty
five dollars for sewing machine that COSTS
the manufacturer only fifteen? When a
man is nominated for Congress, the ques-
ton is not asked whether he is a Republic
can or Democrat, but the grange says:
'tWill lie go for the extension of patents
Is he liable to be bought by the railroads
in other words, is he the staunch, loyal
friend Of the husbandman? In this way,
but no other, politics sways the organiza-
ton.
During the month of February a name
was found for the baby, and it was de-
cided to call the order 'The Patrons of
Husbandry," and that which would be
called a lodge in Masonry or Odd Fellow
ship in the new order is styled grange.
1t was found that something of this kind
must be adopted to insure coherency !;
besides, as this society intended that its
highest offices should be eligible to wo-
men, it was necessary to draw line Of
purity somewhere-at least, there should
be certainty that an incoming member
was worthy to be presented to their wives
and daughters.
Says one of the highest officers of the
Patrons of IIusbandry: "We must have
women with us everywhere suffrage for
women is coming; we have the certain
press cannot find out. We have taken q
broad stride in the worlds progress we
have given woman her true place. We not
only make her eligible to our highest office,
but we have three places which only wo-
man can fill. You may call it the poetry
of our order, but it is part of the founda-
ton, as well as principle, for no person
can become member until they have been
consecrated and blessed by their hands,"
The following introduces the reader to the
new order:
Till thou return to court, will exchange
For some poor cottage or some country grange,
Where TO our distaves as we sit and spin,
My maid and will tell what things have bin.
Lady Geraldine to the Earl Of Surrey
SUBORDINATE ORANGES.
Fast Degee-Laborer (man), maid
(woman).
Second Degree Cultiyator (tnan), shep-
herdess (woman).
Third Degree Harvester (man), cleaner
(woman).
Fourth Deg,ee-Husbandlnan (man),
matron (woman)
STATE GRANGE.
FVM Degree--Pomo QIope).
Composed of Masters of subordinate
oranges and their wives who are matrons.
Past Masters and their wives who are
matrons shall be honorary members and
eligible to office, but not entitled to vote
NATIONAL GRANGE.
Sirth Degree-Flora Charity.
Composed of Masters Of state oranges
and their wives who have taken the de-
gree of Pomona. Past Masters Of state
oranges and their wives who have taken
- hall
members, and eligible to office. but not en-
titled to vote.
SeUeaM Deg3ee.-C Ceres FAITH.
Members of the national grange who
have served one year therein may become
members of this degree upon application
and election. 1t shall have charge of the
secret work of the order, and shall be
court of impeachment of all officers of the
national grange.
Members Of this degree are honorary
members Of the national grange, and are
eligible to office therein, but not entitled
to vote.
The national grange possesses no direct
power over subordinate oranges. Each
grange must be self-supporting, and eli Their
stand or fall by its own weight. Now
that il has become such a power some
designing men wish to make it political
machine, others wish to turn 1t into grand
insurance enterprise, but the national
grange reserves advisory power, and says:
Let every subordinate grange become an
insurance company and take care of them
selves" There is no reason why house
burned in Minnesota should be paid for in
part by South Carolina.
The great man who originated the
scheme, if such 1t may be called, is the
farmers true friend, and so long as he can
prevent it, no absolute power will be
invested in the high authorities at Wash
ingtOn.
During the year 1872 new oranges were
formed to the number of one thousand
one hundred and five. Among the items
for expenditure for printing we find the
sum Of 80, 344.S6, and since the order was
introduced there have been issued for gra-
tnitons distribution one million seven hun
dred and fve thousand sheets of printed
matter, and not single sheet has been
ranked since the order was started, and
there is not state or territory where the
order is not known. In regard to the
standing Of the states, Iowa stands first
and South Carolina next.
FANCIFUL DESCRIPTION OF A GRANGE.
And now description Of the grange
proper, perhaps little idealized, for the
4 q 4