The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-14

all this material must foot up hand
somely at the end of the year, A uev
member Of q Subordinate Grange. af
ter having taken four degrees, ha!
paid into tho treasury Of tho GrangC
Ave dollars, besides his regular month
y dues. or this sum, the treasurer
Of bis Grange pays the secretary of the
State Grange twenty five cents for cacl
degree the new member has taken
also, IN annual due Of twenty-five cents
for said member, making a total of one
dolla, aud twenty-five for the year
The treasurer Of the Sta to Grange then
pays to the secretary Of tho Nationa,
Grange ten cents for each degree con-
cercd upon this member, together with
au additional ten cents, as an annual
due for him, or total Of fifty cents
for the year. Thus, Of Eve dollars aud
over, paid by new member into the
treasury Of the Grange during the FIRST
year Of bis membership, only fifty
cents is claimed By tho National
Grange, and, after hc has taken all tho
degrees, it claims only ten cents as his
annual due,
Tho woman membership feature,
likewise, appeared to be a very ohjcc
tiouablo one. .WOmau's proper
sphere Of action" I repeated, is the
frcsido; when she leaves that 10 join
societies, ETC., she takes tho first step
towards wOman's rights" But there
is no moro danger Of her becoming
a wOman's rights woman at tue Grange
than there is Of her becoming one at
the titcsids, for ut each place she is in
company with her husband and broth.
or. Il Il n u
As to tho importance Of woman's
aid. I thought OF tho numerous in
stances afforded by history Of tho pow.
erful influence she has always Sxer.
ciscd over tho iestinios Of mankind,
but stronger proof Of that importance
exists in tho mind Of every man in the
United States who is blessed with
faithful and intelligent wife. But
whereas tho necessity for secrecy;
Why cannot the workings Of the Or
dor be open to tho gaze Of all men |;
Men who do good only arc never afraid
to have their actions scrutinized. Ger.
tainly not. But wise men keep their
own counsel, and Of what they do the
world knows nothing until it is done.
The general who cOnceiycs a great
stragStic movement cOnlles his plans
only to few trusty followers, aud
when any business Of great moment
comes. before Congress Il sits in secret
session. The general docs not conceal
bis plans, nor Congress its dclibtrI.
tons, through fear Of tho worlds scra'
tiny, but because the safety Of tho in.
terosts involved demands that secrecy
DO observed. In like manner, then,
tho Patrons conceal their elaboration,
because by so doing they insure great.
er security and efficiency in their
workings. Thus, also, ara bad men
prevented ayailing themselves Of the
advantages Of the Order to impose up.
on the credulity Of mankind. Secret
Societies, too, have always been more
permanent than others, and will flour.
ish where tho latter do out. When,
however, l had got this far, l sudden.
ly rene bcred that We had an agri
cultural society in our county, and |
began asking myself why it would not
answer alltho purposes Of this secret
Order Of farmers? After q little reaCc.
tion upon tho objects Of such organi.
cations I found that agricultural sOci-
tics arc limited 10 their application to
furnishing information on tho practice
Of agricultural, horticulture, etc., on
the nature Of soils aud manures, to the
establishment Of shows for produce,
stock, etc., and to the promotion Of ag.
ricultural education. Here, then,
were tue most important objects Of ag'
ricultural societies unless the Patrons
proposed to do moro, it was useless to
think further on tho subject of joining
them. But, on turning my attention
to tho objects of tho Patrons, il soon
became evident that not only did they
propose to do oil of the above, bu. also
a great deal moro. Besides teaching
tho farmer how to practice agriculture
after the most improved methods they,
likewise, protect him in the act. They
aro ever on tho watch to detect aud
warn him Of impositions, 10 prevent bis
intrusting his produce to fraudulent
agents, and to bring abont a reduction
Of high freights for his benefit. They
enable him 10 purchase his supplies
cheaper, and his tools and machinery
at from ten to twenty-five per cent.
lcss,than he can by any other means.
They prevent cruelty TO animals,
nurse tho sick, assist the poor. instruct
tho youth, establish libraries and
reading.rooms, and aim at clcvating all
classes, both socially aud morally.
And while agricultural societies, in
general, possess no common bond Of
union, each being wholly Independent
Of tho other, tho Oranges arc but so
many "parts of one stupondous whole"
which whole Is body firuily united in
substance and intent, guided by ono
head. striving for the ACHIEVEMENT Of
one end, namely, TnE GENERAL doOg