The New York herald., 1874-08-20
THE JERSEY CHANGERS.
Grand Open Air Reunion in
Somerset County.
Organisation Of a District Councii-A Basket
Picnic"-How the Jersey Farmers Are
Organizing for seifzProtsction.

For about year or so there has been hero and
there mention that the farmers OF New Jersey
had begun to emulate their fellow husbandmen 0f
the Western States In the organization OF grangers
but heretofore there has been procured for pub
1catton no reliable general and specific informa-
ton on the subject 1t was the mission yesterday
OF HERALD representative to fill this blank in the
history OF the grange movement to accomplish
which visit was made to place called Horlin-
gen. located In the west OF the State, in the town.
ship OF Montgomery and county OF Somerset.
There yesterday gathered the members Of some
eighteen oranges and their friends and relatives,
forming IN all a body OF
ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE
The occasion of the gathering was ..half pleasuro
aud hall pro1t'-as one Of the leading grangcrs
described it. The profitable portion occupied the
forenoon from ten till twelve O'Clock and consisted
OF secret meeting OF the members in Montgomery
Han In the village. This meeting was very largely
attended and was presided over by Mortimer
Whitehead, the Oldest granger in the State, Master
OF Somerset Grange, Deputy of the State Grange
and charter member OF Pioneer Grange OF New
Brunswick the first organized IN New jersey The
principal business OF the meeting was the organi-
zation OF a District Council sort of
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
senledMnameIy' Mercer. somerset. Mddiesex
and Hunterdon The committee was made up Of
the masters of the eighteen oranges represented
After the secret meeting was closed the grangerS
repaired IN carriages to Van Aikens Grove, a finely
shaded space OF about twenty-five acres. Here
had assembled the wlves daughters ana sweet
FOLLOWERS OF FATHER ADAMS CALLING
in fner ''Dest bib and tucker" There was also oa
hand fine brass band from New Brunswick,
which throughout the afternoon contributed In no
Inconsderable degree to the pleasure OF the occa-
sion, discoursng popular airs during the progress
of the basket picnic and between the speecncs
yUh IN fn th iAac In IN flNo
grove rough board platform Tor speakers mad
been erected, and around this seats and benches
the platform
TnE SCENE ABOUT FoUR O'CLOCK
was picturesque and interesting as we'll as deeply
Significant of the power, inhuence and numbers Of
this hitherto unknown quantity IN the body polite
OF New Jersey. The grangers wore sashes and
sklns' and embroidered with pioughs. Each
grange was distinguished in its membership By
the color and embroidery OF their regaa.
Between TWO aud three o'clock the intellectual
proceedings IN the grove were opened with PRAYER
ing speech was made by Grange Master Mortimer
Whitehead. OF Somerset Grange No. T. who stated
that the objects Of the meeting were pleasure and
proht-pleasure in the gathering together OF so
many happy families, arording delightful oppor-
tunity for friendly and social interchange;
strictly Grangers meeting In the forenoon
as above referred to. Remarks were also made.
movement, by Mr.. Welling OF Mercer county; Mr..
Dye, also OF Mercer; MI. pennyea, OF Haring!n
j.
county; Rev. Mr. Gardner OF Harlingin; Mr.. Hen
derson. Master Pioneer Grange OF New Brunswick;
Mr.. Kreuson, Master OF Ewing Grange. Mercer
county; Mr.. S. Cox, Of Hunterdon county. ana
George W. Thompson, Assistant steward OF the
National Grange. MIR. thompson dld not MAKE
speech exactly, but read with effect,
THE CHANGERS DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES,
gs promulgated by the National Grange constitute
ing the grangers' platform throughout the United
that If the organization OF the grangers had ac-
complished no more good Jhan TO bring
in ora orGaney harmcny 80 many
and the people had begun to n,a stream
alls the HERALD representative had
INTERVIEW WITH THE BOSS GRANGER
present, 6ir. Mortimer Wnitehead, who expressed
graneers OF America know, through the HERALD.
what the grangers OF New Jersey were about Ho
manner IN winch the great American journal had
orally treated their rganzatlon that at their
meeting last year they passed
VOTE OF THANKS TO THE HERALD.
Three years ago the hrst grange was organized
In New Jersey-the Pioneer, OF New Brunswick.
For year or two the work Of organization was
very slow, farmers being Impressed with the idea
that there were polltcs in the matter. Last jan
uary at the meeting III Camden there were re-
continuing to Increase Now they had
egrW ana OF ooo or
religion were permitted any place IN the proceed
ings or spirit OF the organization. the objects, he
said, were mutual benefit and improvements In
their material condition, cheapness In the buying
OF their farming machinery, seeds fertilizers,
sowing machines &C., and Ia selling also Some
oranges had this year saved over ST 900 in the pur
chase OF the things enumerated. The grange
movement in New Jersey is, In word, grand CO.
operative sale and purchase system. MI. White-
head said that the movement was now spreading
with rapidity throughout the State, and ere oag
would probably double It's membership. In De-
cemDer there Ia TO be grand gathering OF al tne
oranges IN the state at New BRUNSWICK.