The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-08-16
;MMkt MEatm.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION.

much misapprehension existing IN the
public mind in regard to its objects and
purposes. Because of its secrecy, it is
looked upon as dangerous. If it be for
a moment considered that among the
members are ladies, and that each men,
Der is pledged to works of benevolence
and love toward his associates and
neighbors, the danger is not so threat
ening.
Efforts will be made, undoubtedly, to
introduce mischevous side-issues, and
to divert from the influence of the order,
by it's opponents. The plan of organiza-
ton is, however, so complete that such
movements can scarcely prove success
full. As in Iowa the other day, when
few men, pretending to represent some
twenty oranges, met and made political
nominations and called forth the most
energetic denunciations from members
and officers of the order, so will it al
ways be.
The reasons of it's rapid growth are
found in the fact that the farmers are
beginning to learn that their business
systems are wrong; that their relations
with every other trade or industry are
such as to place them always at dis
advantage, and necessity is prompting
them to apply a remedy for the evils
under which they labor. Such publica-
tions as Bronson's upon Farmers unions
which, by close, logical, careful reas-
oning in farmer language, by farmer,
present the subject heretofore, almost
mystery, SO plainly, that "he who runs
may read" and he who reads may I'M
derstand; these are the initial and the
propelling forces of this great social up
heaval of old agricultural systems:
"The rapid increase in numbers, and
the increasing prominence and influence
of the order of Patrons Of Husbandry,
have excited no little interest in the his
tory of the origin and progress of that
influential organization, as given by the
MISSOURI 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 objects the purchase of
all needed supplies from first hands and
at wholesale rates, and the cultivation
of more intimate social relations among
it's members 1t was really nothing
more than secret, cooperative, indus.
trial and literary association. The num-
bcrs composing it were few, and its in
fluence small. Indeed, the fact that
such society had an existence was not
known beyond the limits of the COM
munity affected by its institutions. 1t
was not until the spring of 1868 that
the Order of Patrons of Husbandry be-
came known to the people of the West.
During the preceding winter, Mr. H. P.
Kelley, of Itasca, Minnesota, and seve-
raj other leading agriculturists of the
West, happening to be in Washington,
had frequent interviews in relation to
the interests of the farming population
of the great West 1t was about that
period that the character and workings
of the Scotch society of North Carolina
became known to them The idea was
seized upon, elaborated and matured to
adapt it to the more general purposes
of national order.
In the beginning of 1868, the order
was introduced into the West by the
organization of grange at 1tasca, Min
nesota In short time another grange
was organized in Jasper county, Iowa ;
Il third grange soon came into existence
at Waukon, Almakee county, in the
same State. From the year 1868 the
order made little progress until the past
twelve months. A few oranges were
organized in Iowa, Minnesota, Wiscon-
sin and Illinois, but up to the beginning
of the year 1872 it is estimated that the
whole number of members in the four
States named did not exceed seventy
five thousand 1t is claimed that in the
same States now there are at least four
hundred and fifty thousand patrons.
1t may he interesting to the readers
of the REPUBLICAN to know something
about the internal organization of this
now influential order AS before stated,
the Order of Patrons of Husbandrv is
q secret society, no one except members
being allowed to cross the treshold of
their grange halls. Women as well as
men are admitted to tie highest degrees
in the subordinate oranges. Beyond
the fourth degree it does not appear
that females are admitted. Members
admitted to the first degree are known
respectively as Laborer and Maid; in
the second degree as Cultiyator and
Shepherdess in the third degree as
Harvester and Cleaner, and in the
fourth degree as Husbandman and
Matron.
The fifth degree seems to be conferred
only in the State oranges, and upon
men only Those who have been ad-
mitted to this degree are called men,
bers of the Pomona, or Hope grange,
composed only of masters and past
masters of subordinate oranges. The
sixth degree is conferred only on men,
bers of the council of the national
grange This council is composed of
masters and past-masters of the State
oranges. The council meets once in
every year The seventh is the highest
degree to which any patron can attain.
1t is conferred only on members of the
national senate, which is composed of
members of the council who have served
one year in that body The emblem of
this degree is Ceres. The functions of
the council and senate are similar to
those of representatives and senators in
legislative bodies. The supreme execu-
tive authority in the order is lodged in
the master of the national grange; but
each subordinate grange has its own
master, oversecr, lecturer, steward, as
sistant steward, chaplain, treasurer,
secretary, gate-keeper, Ceres, Pomona,
Flora, and lady assistant steward
Officers in subordinate oranges are elect
ed to serve for one year, in State oranges
two, and in the national grange five
years. Subordinate oranges, by the
rules, must meet at least once in every
month. State oranges once year, and
the national grange once in every two
years.
The order seems to be intended to