Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-05-09
A New Secret Order of Farmers.

| "A Nv" SCCA Co OkWCA VI n SEUlCrS
The western farmers movement, with it
accompanying oranges, is attracting grea
attention on account of its political sisnif
canoe. As information upon the subject il
magnifed, for it is shown that these asso
cations are not mere concourse of people
lmpe!lcd by casual emotion, but parts of sn
organized system, possessing vast influence
and capable of concerted action. The Bal.
timore american" says:
1t seems that the "Order of Patrons of
Husbandry," as it is called, did not origi
nate in the West. but the idea was first Dor.
rowed from an association that had existed
for many years in community of Scotch
farmers in Ncrth Carolina. It is said to be
nothing more than secret cooperative, in
dustrial, and literary association. In the
winter of 1867, while several of the leading
agrlculturlsts of the west were in Washing
ton on business concerning the farmers in
terest, the character of this society became
known to them. The idea was taken up
and elaborated SO as to serve for the purpo
SEES of a large and influential Order, and in
the spring Of 1868 the Order was introduced
by the institution of grange at Itasca
MINI. From this beginning it spread grad.
ually through Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
and Illinois, so that about the beginning of
1872 the number Of members in those four
States were estimated ut about IS $780,
Later occurrences gave great impetus to
the movement, SO that the membership in
the four States is now Estimated at 45O..
600.
From western paper we CLEAN some &C.
count Of the order. It is secret society.
with regular degrees women as we'll as
men are admitted in the subordinate oranges
but females cannot get beyond the fourth
degree. The members of the first degree
are designated respectively as Laborer and
Maid in the second degree as Cultivator
and Shepherdess in the third degree as
Harvester ard Cleaner, and in the fourth
degree as Husbandman ard Mstron. The
other higher degrees are conferred upon men
only, and belong to the higher lodges or
oranges, as they are styled. The seventh
degree is the highest that can be attained,
and is only conferred upon officials of the
next higher order The supreme executive
authority in the Order is lod ged in the Mas
ter of the National Grange, but each sub
ordinate grange elects its own officer. The
lower oranges must meet at least once
year State oranges once year, and the
National grange every two years.
The Order is somewhat beneficial in its
character, as it exercises supervision of its
members and assists those who are unfortu-
nate. The oranges appoint agents of their
own for the sale Of agricultural implements.
In some places they have purchased or leas-
ed grain elevators in Iowa they have built
an agricultural implement factory of large
capacity, and similar enterprises are projec-
ted there and elsewhere
The political significance of such an Or
gan'zation can hardly be over-estimated. -
A body of such thorough organization is
formidable instrument in the hands of able
men, and the order comprises many such.
The growth Of such associations cannot but
powerfully effect the politics of the whole
nation and effect permanent changes in leg
islation. There will now be some legisla.
ton for the former.