Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-01-24
Patrons Of Eusha .1dry.

Mr.. Il. r. Allen, of Allentown,
Mo-, General Deputy of the Nation
al Grange Of the Patrons Of Hus-
bandry for that State, in a letter to
the Missouri Democrat, thus gives
the objects and aims of the fratern-
ity:
A new agency, however, is in the
field, which promises to meet the
demands of the crisis. The Pa
irons of Husbandry arc technically
a secret brotherhood and sisterhood
for the order judiciously embra-
ces the fair sex. Its secrecy, how
ever, is like Gen. Pierce's Mexican
war generalship-not enough to
hurt. 1t seeks, by the charm of a
beautiful ritural, and by its facilities
for social improvement and enjoy
ment, to render its associations
very agreeable and attractive
These are well enough in their way,
as graceful adjuncts to its more Sc
rious and important functions. 1t
has, however, attractions far more
potent and permanent, founded up
on great economic advantage to the
individual farmer.
Whenever about thirty persons
associate themselves together in the
interest of agriculture, adopting q
specified form of constitution for
their government, and meeting for
business not less frequent than once
q month, we call this association q
Subordinate Grange of the Patrons
of Husbandry," and these subordi-
nate Oranges should consist in part,
say fully one-third of females. For
woman constitutes very important
element in the interest of agricul-
lure rs well as in all other depart
ments of society, and we have no
disposition to ignore her. We can
not consent to deny ourselves Of her
intuitive good Judgment in thous-
ands of instances, nor her superior
good taste and discretion, and
her refining and elevating social in
fluance.
These subordinate associations
are governed by the same general
principals throughout the land, and
all have the same objects in view
the promotion of the interests of
agriculture and the elevation, in the
social scale, Of all those engaged in
it.
All these primary organizations
are, by fixed rule, represented in
4 State organization, called State
grange, which meets annually; and
each State grange is represented in
National grange, which also meets
annually. Subordinate oranges re-
port to State oranges, and State
oranges to the National grange
Statistical and other most important
and valuable information, collected
by this system at tie National head
quarters, is being constantly distrib-
uted by an executive committee to
every subordinate grange in the
land. All this is made practically
easy by simply availing ourselves of
the facilities of the age for inter
communication.
Our system of finances is simple
and easily understood by all. Its
burden is equally distributed, and,
consequently, light on the individu-
al; while it is amply sufficient to
keep the machinery in easy running
order, while it is oppressive to
none.
But this article is already too
long for me to enter further into de-
tail. From what has been said
above, the mutual and reciprocal
benefit to all concerned may be
much more easily imagined than
described. or course it Will take
some time, and kind of missionary
effort, to get the system into efiec-
tive working order; and most likely
some individual sacrifice Of time,
labor and money TO explain the sys.
TEN and show how its real merits
will be REQUIRED.