Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-27

Fully recognizing the validity and binding |
force Of the constitution Of the National
Grange, itseemed perfectly competent for the
members of the State Grange 10 decide by
law how they should exercise the rights
vested in them as such members of the Ma !
tional Grange. The result Of these deliber-
ations was the enactment Of the following
law, which has, on trial, proved admirably
adapted to the purpose for which il was in
tended, and is generally approved:
The legislative and all other powers of
this State Grange shall be vested in certain
Of its members, to be selected ns follows
All members of the State Grange resident in
each county shall meet ON the first Tuesday
in December, at such place as they may
from time to time designate, and eject one Of
their members for the county at large, and
one additional member fer each eight oranges,
or fraction thereof equal to Eve, provided
that nothing in this act shall be construed to
prevent Masters and Past Masters aud their
wives from attending the meetings Of the
State Grange, and receiving the fifth de-
gree"
As very few have entertained doubts as
to the constitutionality of this law, it might
be well for the National Grange to take
some action.
Article 2, section l, provides that all bus
mess meetings are confined to the fourth de-
gree.
There seems to be very general wish that
all initiates be allowed voice in the business
of the grange, and this in some orders is
allowed. AS only one degree can be confer
red at the same meeting, Ia most excellent
law it takes some time for person to ac-
quire full membership. During all this
time he is excluded from all meetings for
business purposes, and his patience, perhaps,
unnecessarily taxed.
Article 3. This, as now worded, caused,
perhaps, more trouble and vexation than
any other.
refer to the clause which reads, Any
person engaged in agricultural pursuits"
This clause is capable of such varied con-
struction, that much confusion and misun.
Outstanding have resulted.
During the infancy of the Order, when
members were few, our strength puny, and
our chief aim simply social and educational,
there was little danger in constituting this
clause literally and admitting nearly all who
would pay the fee and consent to Join such
weak and unpopular institution. But now
all these circumstances are changed. To be
Patron of Husbandry is no longer of doubt
full propriety, but the proudest in the land
arc knocking at our door. The Order has
become recognized as one Of the great pow.
ers in the land, and the gates are beseiged,
from, oaoou 10 oaao,, b,, hood. - .,o.,.l.
tors, dcmagogues, small politicians. grain
buyers, cotton factors, lawyers, who suddenly
discover that they are interested in agri-
cultural pursuits" 1t is true that they are
interested in agricultural pursuits" but
only as hawks are interested in the sparrow.
a Careful Review.
You would do we'll to give this matter
most careful review, and by law determine
the proper construction of the constitution,
so We may be able to keep our gates closed
against those whose only interest consists in
what they can make out of us. To have such
admitted to our counsels can only result in
evil and SOW seeds Of internal strife.
Article 9 provides that the membership fee
for charter members shall be less than after.
wards. This feature has been subject to
much criticism in some quarters The law
was made as it now stands, after very careful
elaboration, to facilitate the introduction Of
the Order in new territory. That this action
was eminently wise is proven By the wonder
fully rapid spread of the Order during the
last year. In the course Of another year the
necessity Of this provision will have passed
away, and if an amendment is made at this
meeting, striking out that line referring to
charter members, it viii be nearly year
before it can secure the sanction of enough
states to accomplish the change Some Of the
newer subordinate oranges have urged that
the initiation fee be reduced to three dollars,
or even less. But l believe the older and
more successful oranges, who have had long
experience, are unanimously in favor of the
present or even larger fec, for even now the
fund at the command Of grange is not al
ways enough to furnish the necessary library
and othor appurtenances 10 make grange
room attractive and instructive, and still
have a surplus in the treasury for the efficient
transaction of business. There is no stronger
bond of union than a full treasury, no surer
sign of coming dissolution than bankruptcy.
Art 2, sec. 2, makes it the duty of the
Master to approve all bills. This seems to
me to be entirely. foreign to the duties which
should properly devolve on such an officer,
and respectfully ask your attention to this
matter.
Article IL also demands most serious con.