Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-18

The Order OF Patrons of Hnsbandry, as
II 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 @ D
address recapitulatine the objects of the
Society "TO make country homes and
country society attractive, refined and en-
joyable to balance exhaustive labor by
instructive social amusements and ac-
compllshments, is part Of our mission
and our aim.h OF the admission Of
women, he said in the sane address
"Their assistance In the workings of the
Order Is proving of incalculable value
1t Is indeed doubtful whether the objects
of the institution, especially In regard TO
the rednemeuts of education, and all
that tends to brighten hearths aud 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 be ac-
companied by his wife or sister, no
lessons will be learned but those of purity
and truth" One of the pleasant social
features of the Oranges is the feast pro-
vided by the ladies once month. In
some parts of the West these bsnquets
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 q kind Of moral
club room for the enjoyment OF both
sexes. There is much music In the ritual
to enliven the ceremonies, and many of
tue Oranges possess libraries for the
amusement and instruction of its mem
bers. This, Il is calculated, naturally has
a tendency 10 prevent young men from
leaving a rural life where they possess
comfortable competence for precarious
competition In the large cities.
The Order proposes TO abolish the COM
missions Of the mlddlemon as far as Ii is
practicable 70 do 20, and deal directly
with the manufacturers and consumers.
Il also proposes, In localities where It
may be deemed necessary to reduce fares
aud frelghts on railroads by a system of
cooperation, and 10 promote the interests
of the agricultural classes In every legiti-
mate and honorable way that may sug-
gest itself.
One OF the cardinal principles Of the
Order is To buy for cash. II worthy
LntinDeI VI tue Oiuei utplioe W mehO 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 arrange
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 hll 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 whoeC
J expenses have been paid, but who have
/ received no compensation for services
. have been sent out by State and Nationa
' Oranges within the past i've years, 10 &C
in the capacity of the Intermediates
I between the farmers and manufacturer
+ tradesmen, transportation companies, sc