Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-11-07
The Patrons of Husbandry.

This order, as it at present exists, has
three distinct and prominent features,
namely, the social, the intellectual, and
the business. OF the social feature, Mr..
Saunders, late Master of the National
Grange, at the annual session of that
body in 1870, said, in an address reca-
pitulating the objects of the society.
"'To make country homes and country
society attractive, refined and enjoyable,
to balance exhaustive labor by iustruc4
tive social amusements and accomplish
ments is part Of our mission and our
aim" Of tho admission Of women he
said in the same address Their assis-
lance in the workings of the Order is
proving of incalcuable value; it is in
deed doubtful whether the aims of tho
institution, especially in regard to the
refnements of education. aud all that
tends to brighten heartlis and enliven
homes could have been accomplished
without her presence and aid" In one
of the circulars sent out by the National
Grange it is further said in defence of
the female feature: Every husband and
brother knows that where he can DO ac-
companied by his wife or sister, no les4
sons will be learned but those of purity
and truth" One of the pleasant social
features of the Oranges is the feasts pro-
vided by the ladies' once month. In
some parts of the West these banquets
take the form of picnics in the woods.
They are quite popular and have doubt
less done much toward swelling the mem-
bership of the order.
The Grange room is a Kind of moral
club room for the enjoyment Of both sex.
es There is much music in the ritual
to enliven the ceremonies, and many Of
the Oranges possess libraries for the
amusement and instruction Of its mem-
bers This, it is calculated, naturally
has tendency to prevent young men
from leaving rural life where they pos
sess comfortable competence for preca.
rous competition in large cities.
The Order proposes to abolish the conn
missions of the middlemon as far as it is
practicable to do so, and deal directly
with the manufacturers and CONSUMERS.
1t also proposes, in localities where it
may be deemed necessary, to reduce fares
and freights on railroads by system Of
corporation, and to promote tho inter-
ests Of the agricultural classes In every
legitimate and honorable way that may
suggest itself
One of the cardinal principles of tho
Order is to buy for cash IF worthy
member of the Order desires to make q
purchase, but is not possessed of the
means, the Grange to which he belongs
advances the money. 1t is common for
deputies of the Order to make arrange4
ments for the purchase of certain articles
by members Of the Grange. at wholesale
rates. and they are always to instruct the
manufacturer or producer not to fill any
single order for goods unless it is signed
by the Master and Secretary Of the
Grange, bears the seal Of the same, and
is invariably accompanied by the cash -
Some four hundred deputies whose ex-
penses have been paid, but who have re-
ceived no compensation for their servi-
ces, have been sent out by the State and
National Oranges within the past five
years, to act in the capacity of intermeA
diaries between the farmers and manu-
facturers. tradcsmen, transportation COM
panies, &c.