Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-02

the proposed new order 70 the attention Of prom
inene agriculturiyts, among them Mr.. Arson
Of 9hsiS ShS
Muir, Of Missouri, associate editor Of the RuraI
World, published IN st. Louis, and who was
afterwards elected Steward Of the National
whom he mentioned the subject, approved the
scheme, and thenceforward took lively inter
est in its success. Mr.. Saunders reported pro-
grese from time to time to the agricultural syn
dictate in Washington, and furnished them with
the names Of such gentlemen as had promised
to cooperate. Correspondence was entered into
with those gentlemen, with Mr.. A. s. Moss and
MI. F. NJ. Mcdowell, prominent New York
agriculturists, and others, and the result was
the rece Ption of suggestions, which were of
and the formation of the Order. And here the
fact may be mentioned that Mr.. Saunders wrote
THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION
and bylaws, which in a few ringing lines re-
markable for beauty Of diction and force of
logic sets forth the necessity for, and the OBJ
jects Of, the organization. He also wrote some
of the finest charges in the ritual, the material
of which was by general consent submitted for
his judgment and decision. Much was written
for the ritual by the gentlemen whose names
have heretofore been mentioned which was
never incorporated in 1t, Mr.. Saunders taking
the view that 1t should not be made cumberS
some, and that while it should contain all the
essential ideas and principles they should be
clothed IN the briefest and most forcible Ian
guage possible.
The excellent judgment and fine organizing
mind OF Mr.. John X. Thompson, the first lee
turer Of the National Grange, were also of
great service in the task OF getting the project
into practical working shape.
IL was deemed necessary to the permanency
of the Order and its effectiveness in protecting
agricultural interest, to make 1t a secret one.
Its founders argued that persons engaged in
many vocations other than farming have
secrets which are essential to their success in
business, and that even the Senate of the
United States has its executive sessions, which
are held with closed doors. OF this
SECRET FEATURE OF THE ORDER
Mr.. Saunders wrote as follows in the preamble:
"Unity of action cannot be acquired without
discipline, and discipline cannot be enforced
without significant organi cation; hence we have
ceremony Of initiation which binds us in mu-
tual fraternity as with a band of iron; but al
though its influence is so powerful, its applica-
ton is as gentle as that of the silken thread
that binds wreath of flowers"
In September, 1861 a circular written by
Mr.. Saunders was sent out to prominent gentle
men connected with agriculture, stating what
had been done towards organizing the associa
ton, and asking for suggestions should the pro-
Ject meet their approval. Many responses were
received, most OF which were favorable; and,
encouraged by this, the gentlemen continued to
work on the fStpal. 1t was now about time to
think OF fitting name for the embryo order.
About forty in all were suggested, among them
being, Tillers of the SOil,n agricultural
Lodges" Temples of Industry" Bee
Hives" 1" Knil hts Of the Plow," knights of
Husbandry," and "Patrons of Husbandry.n
The latter was finally adopted, and its branches
we're to be called Oranges" from the Latin
Grdnum, grain; French, Grange, a barn; and
Scotch, Grange, the buildings belonging to a
corn farm, originally place where the rents
and tithes, paid in grain to religious houses
were deposited. The term was used by Milton
and Shakespeare to denote q farm, with the
buildings, stables, &c.
THE "EATIoNAL GRANGE"
was organized on the evening Of December 4th,
1867, at the Office of Mr.. Saunders, then on AZ
street, between Missouri avenue and the old
canal. Less than twenty persons were present,
ana the grange was organized by the election Of
the following officers: Master, VIM. Saunders,
ID. G.; Lecturer, j. b. Thompson, Vt; Over
seef, Ans0n Bartlett, Ohio; Steward, William
Mutr. s.,. assistant Steward, A. s. Moss, n.
Y; Chaplain, Rev. 4. Y. Gr0sh, Pa; Treas
urer, Wtn. n. ireland, Pa; Secretary, Q. H.
Kelley, MIN; Gate Keeper, Edward +. Faris,
~. Several Of the persons from the states
elected officers were not present, but were
elected because Of the interest they had mani
Tested in the matter, and with the hope that
they would serve. 1t was thought, proper to
the majority Of them had actively aided in es-
tablishing the organization, and having ma
tured their plan Of operations desired a suf-s
meier aeient time to ca5SHk out in acceptance with
subordinate Grange was established in wash
ington as q school Of instruction and to test the
efhciency Of the ritual This grange numbered
snS s ss. t.
culturist, Mr.. Arthur Shepherd, OF this CITY,
who, at later day, made report on the ag-
now "hoeing his way" on one OF the Washing
ton journals. s-.-
CIRCULARS SENT OUT. ~.
In January, 1868, the second circular was
sent cut to the country. The objects of the
order as announced In this circular were "to
advance education, to elevate and dignity the
occupation Of the farmer, and to protect it,
members against the numerous combinations
by which their interests are injpriously affect
ed" or the benefits 10 be derived the circu-
lar mentioned ''systematic arrangements for
procuring and disseminating, in the most ex-
peditions manner Information relative to crops,
demand and supply, prices, markete and trans
portation throughout the country, az I for the
establishment OF depots for the sale Of special
or general products in the cities; also, for the
purchase and exchange Of stock, seeds, and
desired varieties Of plants and trees, and fer
the purpose Of procuring help at home or from
abroad, and situations for persons seeking en-
merits Of newly-invented farming Implements,
and those not in general use, and for detecting
and exposing those that are unworthy, and for
protecting, by oil avdfia6le medns the farming in
terests from fraud apd deception Of every kind"
MR.. KELLEY LEADS THE PoRLoRN HOPE.
On the first OF April, 1868, Mr.. Kelley left
Washington, under the direction Of the Ma
tional Grange, to establish subordinate oranges
in the states. -Four months had elapsed since
the organization Of the National Grange, and
it had made no progress whatever except in the
way Of sending ont circulars and running in
debt. 1t owed $50, mainly for printing, and
therefore could not afford to pay any one a
regular salary. Mr.. Kelley was therefore au-
thorized to go out on q salary OF g., 900 per
year, prorided he could make IL by fees for estab-
fishing oranges In the states; but should he fail
he was given to understand that the National
Grange would not consider itself under anv OBJ
legation to pay even his expenses. So hopeful
and enthusiastic was Mr.: Kelley, however, that
he at once resigned his clerkshtp in the Post
Office department, and with . ticket for Har-
rfsburg and but $3.50 in his pocket departed
on his mission. He bore with him letters of in
PRODUCTION from Messrs. Saunders, Thomson
and others, and on reaching Harrisburg
ISSUED THE FIRST DEPRECIATION
for subordinate grange. Pursuing his course
westward, he frequently halted on the way to
talk to the farmers in regard to the now order,
but most Of them fought shy Of the "new fan
gled concern, }" and would take no stock in It
The second dispensation for Q subordinate
grange vas granted ut Fredonia, New York, and
the third ut Columbus, Ohio, where Col Joseph
Dwyer, Of stock raising, Agricultural and 20
htical renown. on the Recommendation Of his
friend, Mr.. John r. Th0mpson, lecturer of the
Nauspsl Grange, brought the third dispensa-