Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-07-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Patrons of Husbandrv---A BRIEF
Sketch Of the 0riginof the Order.


pec'a correspondence Of the STATE JouRsAL
WASHINGTON, d. O. July 10th, lsT3.-
N the summer of 1868 q couple Of ladies
allied upon me, at my office In Washing
on, and asked me to announce that a
,ew order or secret society had been re- |
emily founded In the city. As | was |
supplying several Western aud Southern |
papers with Washington letters, l was on |
he look out for anything about which
,ould make an interesting paragraph 50
read with care some printed documents
he ladies left with me, setting forth the
objects of the new order, its organlza-
lion ,Sc., and was so favorably Impressed
that wrote letter on the subject which
was widely copied. Thus early COM
menced my acquaintance with the PA
trons of Hnsbandry" now n powerful
order, which, If the benofcent purposes
and wise methods of its founders be adj
hered to, is destined to effect, AZ no distant
day, a radical but peaceful amelloration
of our present social system.
The founders Of the new Order are VIM.
Saunders, o. II. Kelly, WIN. NJ. LELAND,
John K. Thompson, Rev. DR.. John Trim
BILE, Rev. A. b. Grosh and T. b. Bryan.
The first Of these gentlemen, MIR.
Saunders, is a Scotchman by birth, and
about fifty years of age. lie has been
about twenty-five years citizen of the
United States, and was Superintendent of
the propagating garden of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, when the measures
were iniated which gave birth to the
Order. Mr.. Saunders is a superior man.
Perhaps the most marked characteristic
of his mental organization is his thorough
ness. You feel, when he speaks eouh-
IDENTIFY on amy subject, that he has inves-
tigated IL from many standpolnts, has
laborfd over il and has thoroughly mas
tered il. You are convinced, also, that
he is in earnest, says nothing tor effect,
and has no other motive than that which
he declares. MIR. Saunders is Il landscape
gardener by profession, but he has not
confined his studies TO botany, chemistry,
engineering and the other material
sciences popularity supposed to be allsut-
hecnt, with experience, TO the achieve
mpuL of the highest success In his pro-
fcssion. Approaching the necessity Of
heing familiar, also, with the laws of the
human mind and Of the human tastes
that his ant Is designed to crafty, lie has
devoted a fair share OF his time to meta
physics and aesthetics. lie still retains
hif position in the Department Of Agri-
The nrs, "national grange" was or.
ganjzed on the evening of December 4th,
1867, at the office OF MI. Saunders, " hen
the following officers were elected ;
Master, WIN. Saunders, d. &. Lecturer,
j. 4. Thompson, VI; Overscer, Arson
Bartlett, Ohio; steward, William Muir,
Mo-, Assistant Stcwari l., \. s. Moss, ".
y. Chaplain, Rev. a. Is. Groeh, Pa.
Secretary, q. II. Eciley, Mum. Gate
Keeper, Edward +. Faris, IN. Most Of
these officers were residents OF Washing.
TN. an connected 'Lh ono or other OF
the departments of the G0vcrnmont The
others were residents of their several
States, aud were not present but wer,
elected because of the interest they had
manifested IN the matter, and with IN,
hope that they would serve. 1t was
though. proper to elect the officers of tn,
/ National Grange for term Oi five years
the majority of them had actively aided
| in establishing the organization, and hay
| ing Inatufed their plan OF operations, de.
sired a sufficient time TO carry II out il
accordance with their own preconceiyet
idgas. SOon after, subordinate GraDg,
was established in Washington as schoO
of instruction, aud to test the efficiency
of the ritual. This grange numbered
about sixty members.
The gentlemen connected with the or
ganiaatiou ofthe,'Patrons of IIusbandry'
mad been long convinced that the onl,
way TO keep young men from crOwdinl
into the cities from tue rural districts Il
to show them how 10 make their country
homes more attractive, and the vocation
Of farmer more independent and profit
able. Farmers and their wives an,
daughters need recreation and the facili
ties for cultivating the mind and taste
just as much as city people; and if the,
do not have these facilities, many of then
will be discontinued. They need acces
to larger variety of books and othe
aids to the acquisition Of knowledge thai
is usually found in any one farm house
more frequent opportunities Of llstenin
10 lectures, readings and discussions b
the ablest men and women of their ~
spective townships and counties, and o
comparing their intellectual progress
their aesthetic developeInent and thei
thoughts on all the great questions of tn
day with those Of their neighbors. The
need also more of the refining inlluenc
of vocal and instrumental music.
nearly every county there arc more q
less persons of both sexes of fine musica
taste and powers who would De Wiling I
perform occasionally for the gratlfcatio
of their neighbors, If the proper cond
lions existed. These musicians wOul
also he greatly benefited, themselves, b
listening to each others performance
And the young people-ior that matte
the Old people, loO-should have. oCci
sionally, according to the season, ri,
mic, good dance, a good supper, and
good time generally.
sec that this letter already occupl,
as much space as you care, perhaps,
y devote to any one subject, aud that hay
thus far referred only to the social, recr
alive and educational needs of the ayr
. cultural population which the ne
E "Order" was designed by its founders
! supply. In another letter shall refer
= the methods by which il was designed
help the farmer to save money In his pu
chases, to make more money on his sale
. and to further, generally, his matcri
Interests and those Of his family.
A. +. b.