Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-05-17
THE PATRONS OF HUsBAsDRf.

9EE
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
The following article, giving the
origin and progress of the Order o.
Husbandry, which is taken from the
st. Louis Republican, will be read with
interest by our agricultural friends al
this time:
The rapid increase in numbers, and
the increasing prominence and inhu-
ence of the order of Patrons of Hus-
bandry have excited no little interest
in the history of the origin and pro-
gress of that influential organization,
as given by the st. Louis Republican.
The idea was originally borrowed from
an association which has existed for
many years in community of Scotch
farmers in North Carolina. This
Scotch society seems to have had for
its object the purchase of all needed
supplies from first hands, and at
wholesale rates, and the cultivation of
of more intimate social relations
among its members. It was really
more than a secret co-opera-
tive, industrial and literary associa-
ton. The numbers composing it we're
few and in its influence small. Indeed,
the fact that such society had an ax-
istence was not known beyond the
limits of the community affected by
its institutions. 1t was not until
lhe spring of 1860 that the Order of
Patrons of Husbandry became known
to the people of the West. During
The preceding winter, Mr.. III. p. Kel-
y, of Itasca, Minnesota, and several
other leading agriculturists of the
West, happening to be in Washington,
lad frequent interviews in relation to
he interests of the farming popula-
ion of the great West. 1t was about
hat period that the character and
of the Scotch society of
North Carolina became known to them.
The idea was seized upon, elaborated
md matured to adapt it to the more
general purposes of a national order.
In the beginning of 1868, the order
vas introduced in the west by the or
,anization of grange at Itasca, Min
lesota. In short time another
range was organized in Jasper coun-
y, Iowa third grange soon came
nto existence at Waukon, Almakee
ounty, in the same State. From the
ear 1868 the order made little pro-
,ress until the past twelve months. A
ew oranges were organized in Iowa,
Wisconsin and Illinois, but
Ip to the beginning of the year 1872 it
5 estimated thatthe whole number of
members insthe four States named did
lot exceed seventy-five thousand. 1t
) claimed that in the same States now
here are at least four hundred and fifty
housand patrons.
1t may be interesting to the readers
f the Republican to know something
bout the internal organization of
his, now,, influential order. As be-
ore stated the Order of Patrons of
Iusbandry is a secret society, no one
kept members being allowed to cross
be threshold of their grange halls.
Vomen as we'll as men are admitted
0 the highest degrees in the subordi-
ate oranges. Beyond the fourth de-
rec it does not appear that females
re admitted. Members admitted to
be first degree are known respectively
5 Laborer and Maid in the second
egree as CuItivator and Sheperdess +;
, the third degree Harvester and
Ileaner, and in the fourth degree Hus-
andman and Matron.
The fifth degrees seems to be con-
,rred only in the State oranges, and
pom men only. Those who have been |
United to this degree are called men,
ers of the Pomona, or Hope grange,
only of masters and past
rs of subordinate oranges. The sixth
egree is conferred only on members
the council of the national grange.
This council is composed of masters
nd past-masters of the state oranges.
he council meets once in every year.
he seventh is the highest degree to
hich any patron can attain. 1t Is
inferred only On members of the ma
onal senate, which is composed of
lie council who have served one year
that body. The emblem of this
egree is Ceres. The functions of the
,uncil and senate are similar to those
: representatives and senators in leg
latives bodies. The supreme exeeu-
We authority in the order is lodged in
le master of the national grange but
lch subordinate grange has its own
aster, overseer, lecturer, steward, as
stant-steward, chaplin, treasurer,
cretary, gate-keeper, Ceres, Pomona,
lora and lady assistant-steward. Of
;ers in subordinate oranges are elect
to serve for one year, in State
anges two, and in the national grange
ye years. Subordinate oranges. by
Ie rules, must meet at least once in
-ery month, State oranges once year,
Id the national grange once In every
-ery two years.
The order seems to be intended to
,ercise moral supervision over its
embers, and provides for the care of
Ich as may be unfortunate. The
cial character of the order is made
ointment, but the material interests
the class exclusively represented in
s:secret conclaves are, it is said most
siduously guarded. 1t will be seen
ON the particulars given above that
is order is very compactly organized,
ID, when taken in connection with
] vast increase in numbers, its gener-
diffusion over the whole country, and
; manifestations of powers and pur-
,se. its existence constitutes most
teresting study for the sociologist as
we'll as the publicist. The moral
ID intellectual welfare of its men,
RS, though strictly attended to, does
It reveal the broader and deeper sig
ficance of the existence of the or
nization. Already, in many locali-
IS, has the occupation OF the. agents,
'middlemen," who dealin manufac-
red wares consumed by farmers, be-
me obsolete. The oranges have ap-
,inted middlemen of their own,
rough whom an interchange of pro-
tets is effected at the minimum cost.
some places they have purchased
leased grain elevators. At other
aces theyemployed forwarding agents
their own order. In Iowa they have
ready built an agricultural implement
anufactory of extensive capacity.
hus far they claim that these enter
ises have proved profitable to them
the great reduction in the expense
doing business and lessened cost of
implements. But what
most significant of this movement is
e rapid advance it has made. In
ennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and
nac;allv in Georgia. the people are