The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-05-01
Advantages of CO-Operative
Acsion-HistOTy Of the
Organizations.


Advantages of Co-Operative
Acsion-HistOry Of the
Organizations.
The rapid Increase in numbers, and
the increasing prominence and infu-
ence of the order OF Patrons. OF Hus-
bafdry. have excited 10 little Interest
in the history of the origin and prog
ross of that influential organization, as
given bv the st. Louis RepUblicaH. The
idea was originally borrowed from an
association which has existed for many
years in a community of Scotch farm
efs In North Carolina. The Scotch So
cicty seems 10 have had FOR its objects
the purchase Of all needed supplies
from first hands, and ut Wholesale rates,
and the cultivation Of more Intimate so
cial relations among its members. IL
was really nothing more than secreF
co-oDeiniive, industrial and literary as
sociation. The numbers composing it
were few and its influence small. In
deed, the fact that such a society had an
existence was not known beyond the
limits OF the community affected by its
institutions. 1t was not until the
spring of 1868 that the order of the Pa
irons of Husbandrv became known TO
the people OF Tie west. During the pre-
coeding winter Mr.. ii. L. kelley, OF
itasca, Minnesota, and several other
leading agriculturists Of the west, hap
ppninv 10 be in Washington, had tre-
oueut inter views in relation to the in
forests Of the farming population OF the
west IL was about that period that the
character ana workings Of the Scotch
society of North Carolina became known
20 them. The idea was seized upon,
elaborated and matured TO ADAPT 1t tn
the more general purposes OF a national
order.
In the beginning of 1865 the order
was introduced into the west by the or
ganization of grange at ltasca, Mime
sotn. In a short time ano Their grange
was organized in Jasper county, Iowa;
a third grange soon came into existence
ut Waukon, Almakee county, in the
same State. From the year 1858 the or
der made little progress until the past
twelve months. A few oranges were
organized in Iowa, Minnesota, WiScon-
sin and Illinois, but up to the beginning
ofthe wear 1872 il Is estimated that the
whole number OF members in the States
named did not exceed twenty-five
thousand IL is claimed that in the
same States now there are nc least four
hundred and fifty thousand patrons.
10 may be interesting to our readers
to know something about the internal
organization of this, now, influential
body. "a before stated, the order Of
Patrons Of Husbandry is secret socie-
tv. no one except members being al
lowed to cross the threshold of their
granwe halls. Women as well as men
are admitted to the highest degrees in
the subordinate oranges. Beyond the
fourth degree II does not appear that fe-
males are admitted. Members admitted
to the first degree are known respect
lively rs Laborer and Maid; in the Soc
ond degree as CultiYator and Shepherd
css in the third degree rs Harvester
and Cleaner, and in the lourt degree
Husbandman and Matron.
The fi0h degree seems to be conferred
only i'm the State oranges, and upon men
only those who have been admitted
to this degree are called members Of the
Pomona, or Hope grange, composed on
~ Of masters and pNst-mHsters OF Suoor-
dnate oranges. Tho sixth degree Is
conferred only on members of the coun-
ell Of the national grange. The council
is composed OF masters and past-lnaSters
Of fine State oranges. The council
meets once iu every year. The seventh
is the highest degree 10 which any pa
tron can attain. IL is conferred only
on members of the national senate,
which is composed Of members Of the
council who have served one year in
that body. The emblem of this degree
Is Cores. The functions of the council
ana senate are similar to those of repre-
sentatiycS and senators In legislative
bodies The supreme executive author
fty in the order is lodged In the master
Of the national grange; but each subor-
dinate orange has its own master, OVER
seer, lecturer, steward assiStant-StcW-
ard, chaplain, treasurer, secretary, gate
keeper, Ceres, Pomona, Flora ana lady
assstant-stcWard. Officers IN suAordt-
nate oranges are elected TO serve for
one year, i'm State oranges two, and in
the natl nal grange five years. Subor-
6lnate oranges, by the rules, must meet
NJ least once In every month, state
a-anges once year, and the national
grange once In every two years.
Tho order seems TO be intended to eN-
craise q moral supervision over its
members, and provides for the care OF
such as may be unfortunate. The social
character OF the order is made proml-
ncut, bat tho material interests of the
class exclusively represented IN its Sc
crct conclaves are, it is said, most asSid.
uously guarded. IL Will be seen from
tho particulars given above tina, this or
der Is very compactly organized, and,
when taken In connection with is vast
focr.a 80 In numbers, its general ditiu-
sion over the whole country, and its
mantle stations OF power ana purpose
its existence constitutes most interest
inc study for the sociologtst rs we'll as
publiclst The moral and Intellectual
welfare of its members, though strict
" attended to, docs nat reveal the
broader AMI deeper significance of
The existence Of this organization. Al
ready, In many localities, has the occu-
uationof the agents, or ''middle-men, y
who deal in Manufactured wares con-
s,lmed by farmers, become obsolete.
The oranges have appointed mid6le-
men Of their own, through whom nm
interchange Of products is effected NJ
the minimum cost. In some places
they have purchased or leased grain ell
evarors. At other places they have en-
,lloved forwarding agents of their own
order In Iowa they have already
built an agricultural implement manu-
factor, of extensive capacity. Thus far
they claim that these enterprises have
proved profitable 20 them IN the great
reduction Ia The expense Of doing bust
uess and iesseued cost OF manufactures
fmpiemeuts. Bat what is most signiii-
cant OF this movement is the rapid adj
vance Il has made. In Tennessee, Mis-
slssippi. Alabama. and especially In
Georgia, the people are organizing
gr,,nges with the same avidity which
rharactprizps the progress of the order