Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-27
MEETING OF NATIONAL GRANGE
ADDRESS OF MASTER ADAMS.

ADDRESS OF MASTER ADAMS.
Brothers and Sisters of the National
Grange In conformity to our constitution,
we have convened in annual meeting to coun-
sci and act for the good of our Order
The work of the National Grange for the
past year has been almost exclusively one Of
organization. In this direction its success
has been such as to excite the constant won
der Of even its own members, while those
outside the gates have beheld our growth
with undsguised amazement.
At our last annual meeting there were
represented nine state oranges, having un-
der their jurisdiction about 300 subordl-
nate oranges. To-day there are state gran
ges in thirty-two states, two territories and
the province Of Quebec, in the Dominion of
Canada, all of which are to-day present
through their chosen representatives, and
claim under their jurisdiction nearly 10000
subordinate oranges in America.
This result has been in the main achieved
through the instrumentaity Of deputies APP
pointed by the state oranges, where such
had been organized, and by the National
grange in those states where no state grange
existed. To this army of faithful men, who,
from ocean to ocean, and from the gulf to,
and even beyond, the great lakes, have done
missionary work so effective, we owe last
ing debt Of gratitude.
The causes which have led to this great
uprising which have rendered the work Of
organization possible, and even easy, are few
but grave, and mainly of nature never
contemplated by the originatorS Of tho Or
der. In its inception it was intended TO be
chiefly social and educational institution,
something after the nature of Farmers
Club, only more comprehensive in its plan,
including both sexes, and rendered more at
tractive by q pleasing ritual and the subtle
charm of secrecy.
1t was intended to bring together at fire.
queut and stated periods the agricultural
population, to interchange views, discuss ag-
ricultural literary and scientific questions,
and cultivate the social amenities Of civil
lied life. In short, it was intended to i'm
prove the standing Of the tillers of the soil,
mentally, morally and socially. AS such it
has been and is being most magnificent
success. Though some other features, which
have been engrafted on the parent stock at a
later day, have occupied more prominent
place in the eye Of the public than this, yet
it cannot be denied that none are Of equal
Importance to the permanent welfare of the
Order and its members; for, really, moral
worth, mental power and social culture lie
at the foundation of all real progress.
There is danger that, in graphing with
the gigantic questions Of the hour, we may
lose sight Of the rock on which we bulded.
Remember the Beginning.
1t is of prime importance, in order to
maintain the strength of the national organ.
ization, that the subordinate oranges be
kept up to a high standard of efficiency.
During the first months of the existence of a
grange, the novelty, preparation of regalia
and initiation Of new members secures a full
and interested attendance. After this there
is often want of amusing and instructive
exercises; the interest flags, the attendance
falls off, and the grange seems to lack vital.
ity.
This matter demands the careful consider
alton Of the National Grange. 1t should be
made the duty of some branch to provide a
plan Of work by which the meetings Of the
subordinate Oranges will be rendered con.
stantly and increasingly attractive. Only
thus can the present membership be re-
tanned and regular increase secured. My
correspondence reveals very general feel.
ing among the subordinate oranges that the
National Grange should do something of this
kind, and in this view | most heartily con-
cur, deeming it one Of the most legitimate
and important Of all the works which de-
mand our attention. This work should DO
placed in thoroughly competent hands, for
the very existence of the Order depends
upon vigorous and healthy subordinate
oranges.
First Discussions.
When the first subordinate oranges had
been organized, one of the first and most
proper subjects for discussion was how to
make two blades of grass grow where one
grew before. During these discussions the
fact soon became prominent that how to sell
crops was fully as knotty question as how
to grow them. II came to the conviction of
members that we received 60 cents for a
bushel of wheat, while the man who ate it
paid Sl.20 for it, We were selling corn at
20 cents per bushel, while the consumer was
paying so cents for it, In what we bought
there was the same discrepancy between first
cost and what we we're obliged to pay. For
mowers, sewing machines, plOws, musical in
struments, etc., we were paying from 30 to
200 per cent, above the original cost. We
asked ourselves whether this amazing differ
ence was a necessity or the result Of circum-
stances over which We had control. The So
luton of this problem soon became q leading
idea in the Order.
Subordinate oranges, county councils
and state oranges have given this ono point
more thought and attention than, perhaps
any other, and | am happy to know that sat.
istaetory progress has been made--millions
OF dollars saved to members Of the Order
and still the outlook is, that we are as yet
only on the threshold of this great work
Almost universally we find manufacturers
and consumers equally anxious to be relieved