The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-21
Sept, 10.
AeeordeOns at Brinkmsa's.
THE pATRoNs or HUsRANpRY

Much interest has been reused
throughout the United States upon the
subject ofthe patrons Of Husbandry,"
and innumerable inquiries made as to
"Who are they 2" or "What is Il Z"
It is tho purpose Of this article to in.
troduco them familiarity to the readers
Of The Rural Gnrolioaian.
The Order Of Patrons is q secret as
ISOLATION Of persons, males over eigh-
teen years Of age aud females over six
teen, interested IN agricultural pursuits,
and bound together by mystic ties tor
the purpose Of mutual benefit aud pro.
lection. Tho organization consists Of
subordinate or local Oranges. State
Oranges. and a National Grange.
The word Grange, derived from tho
latin Uranium, simply means q farm
with oil its outfit, buildings, lots, and
fields, and is therefore more appro.
pirate and symbolical word than either
club or lodge.
According to The constitution Of the
Order, there ore nine male and four
female officers in each local Grange
elected annually. The presiding officer
is styled the Master, and if not rc.elec..
cd is Of course Past Master. The
State Grange has likewise nine male
and four female officers, aud It's mem.
bcrship is composed Of tho Masters
and Past Masters Of tho local Oranges,
with their wives who have taken four
degrees in the Order. The con.titu.
ton requires that there shall DO fifteen
local Oranges in q State before there
can be State Grange. The National
Grange is composed Of the Masters aud
Past Masters Of the State Oranges,
with their wives who have been mem
bers Of tho State Grange. This beau.
tiful organization prevents eentraliza-
ton Of power in the National Grange,
located at Washington city, and the
entire system constitutes a grand net
work Of reciprocal assistances that
spread all over the thousands Of agri.
culturists throughout the Union who
may become Patrons. 10 this organi.
zation the little State Of Rhode Island
represented by her single Master. has
the same potent voice 10 tho National
Grange chat Texas may have; and
South Carolina, IL represented with
ability, is equally powerful there with
the great State Of New York.
So much for the organization.
What Of It's object?
II proposes 70 further the interests
Of agriculture in every possible way.
The organization Of a Grange in any
locality induces q community o.
thought. thereby increasing the social
ity Of tho neighborhood and improving
L intellectually. II the Order did
nothing more than this, who could
measure It's advantages TO the people OIL
this Union, vast majority Of whom
arc agriculturists? And throughou,
tho South this feature Of the Oder
should commend itself as o sort oil
quickcning spirit divinely appointed
for we are all interested in agriculture,
and at this moment society seem to be
rapidly segregating, aud children by
the thousand are growing up 10 igno.
rance. TO check this disintegration,
TO Danish ignorance from our doors, to
elevate the farmer intellectually, aud
to teach him be has mind as we'll aa
muscle, Is one Of the grand objects Of
the Patrons Of Husbandry.
But II goes further. II proposes 10
impress upon tho farmer the mournful
but long ,sinco patent truth that he has
heretofore been the paok.horse for all
other parties that he has been the
dupc, the very scape.gout Of speculators
and middle.men ofevery shape, size,
color, and description that hc has
rights which, from ignorance, DO has
dared maintainj that II hs has the en-.
erny and patienco 10 labor diligently,