The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-10-03

Grange at Beeler's School-Hou =
Lecture Of Benjamin Petree, OF
Savannah Grange, on Saturday
Last.
On Friday, September 10, a Grange of
the Patrons of Husbandry was organized
al Beeler's SchoOl-hOuse, jefferson town.
ship, by Mr.. E. Brayton, Special Deputy.
with a membership of twenty men and
ten women, the maximum number of
| chartered members allowed. Mr.. Bray
ton not having time to instruct the grange
as fully as was necessary, promised to
send a member of Savannah Grange to
do so. BY a vote of Savannah Grange
MI. Benjamin Petree was designated to
perform the work and upon the prom
Use of assistance from Mr.. J. l.. Bennett,
consented. Expecting Mr.. Bennett to
rehearse the unwritten work, MIR. Pc
tree prepared and delivered the address
below, which was requested to be pub
lished. Mr.. Bennett not appearing, the
whole work was done by Mr.. Petree to
the best of his ability and with general
acceptance.
The order of the patrons of Husband
ry' was organized six Or seven years
ago. The object of the order was mu-
tual instruction, and us this could not be
accomplished without unity of action,
! all questions containing elements of dis
cord were strictly prohibited in the
Grange and only such questions tolerated
as would be mutually beneficial to all,
by instructing the members of the order
in everything relating to their own pro-
f~ession, such things as would refine the
mind and make them better farmers and
more useful citizens. The order made
very slow progress until within the last
wear or so, when Il chain of peculiar cir
cumstances-such rs the combination
and consolidation of some of the leading
railroads, and placing the control of
| them in the hands of one man so rs to
break down competition and create mo-
nOpoly, and other gigantic schemes and
swindleS-waked up the farmers to he
fact that every other trade and profess
sion had their organization through
which they worked to one another's i'll
terest, and that the farmers alone were
~unerganized and scattered abroad over
the land, and consequently a prey to
every other interest. This is inducing
them to organize for their protec-
ton, not for the purpose of making war
on other industries. We have no bitter
ness of feeling towards other orders and
associations. but will strive to work
hand in hand for the good of all. Wash
ingtOn said that agriculture was the
most useful. most hea:thful and the most
noble occupation of man. This was I'M
doubtedly true. There is no doubt but
it is the most useful and the most health
full, but there are a great many that
have grave doubts about its being the
most noble, as matters now stand. The
calling is to a certain extent degraded /;
people in other callings look down on us
with disdain. This is an unnatural state
of affairs, and why is it so' 1t is be-
cause we have become careless of our
own interests, and, contrary to the true
principles of government, allowed the
minority to rule us. They not only make
and administer our laws for Us. but they
set a price on our produce, and compel
us to take it. They also set 4 price on
what we have to buy. and compel us to
give it. How do they accomplish this?
They do it by combination and associa-
ton. They understand that in union
there is strength. They are all organ
lied; they make their moves in solid
pbalanx. Now, it behoOves lis to unite
our scattered forces and combine for the
purpose of raising the occupation of ag-
%riculture up to its proper level, and
making it in reality the most noble occu-
patton of man. We will have a harl
fight to accomplish this. We heve not
only the monopolists to fight, viii. biz
lions of capital, but we have to eradicate
ignorance. superstition, prejudice, NAL
ice and strife from our w ranks. We
will need all of the strength we can
muster, and every member should do all
he can to add to our strength; but We
should he very careful whom we recon-
mend for membership, and not admit any
one that we do no deem a fit person to
associate with our W sisters, wives and
daughters. II any person sends i'll an
application, and n brother or sister
knows any reason why they are not Il fit
person for membership, they should
make it known to a sufficient number al
least to exclude them from the grange.
There are II great many that are not fiji
to become members, particularly those
who are addicted to the wee of drunken
ness. To the youth that has only been
guilty of occasional indiScretions, we
should be somewhat l%enient for. through
precept, admonition and example, set by
members of our order, he might be in
+, duced to reform. But the old repro
/ bate, in or past the middle age of life,
, according to my observation, it is safe tc
I consider past redemption. A member
can be expelled from our order for cru
city to ANIMALS, and it would not he con
sistent in It's to admit a person that woul,
get drunk and abuse his wife and chill
dren. | have little fear that many sucl
will be admitted while the ladies have /;
vote, as they all have here. As it is thu
object of our society to elevate the occu
patton of agriculture, and those that ar,
!. engaged in that pursuit, it is not gooc
policy to admit any but those who art
= honest, sober and industrious. We wan
, no drones in our society. Ii is intendc'
: that the grange should not only be
), place of enjoyment and recreation
. where we may, through the influence o
y social intercourse, throw off dull care
lint II * Intended as n school where W,