The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-23

some reason to believe met with the ap-
proval of many who were not members
of the Grange. Yet there are some causes
that impede our progress ut the present
time, of which the following may be
named: / find that the farmers of
this County are composed of many ma
tionalities in each there exists kind
Of clanishness, each has it's leader, on
whose supposed superior judgm ent,
the less informed hang in matters of
this kind. From intelligence and supe-
rior judgement we have nothing to fear
by little exertion on our part they
will soon become our allies, while it will
be question of time in dealing with
ignorance, bigotry and superstition.
When l find that men protesting to be
ministers of the Gospel, instead of
preaching the Gospel, occupy the time
in their pulpits in hurling vindictive
maledictions against the Oranges, pro-
hibiting their congregations from be-
coming members of the Grange, under
penalty Of communication from the
church, cannot but think that it
would be more consistent with the
teaching Of our Savior if they would
spend more time in guiding their hearers
to Heaven, and less time in driving
them to poverty and the poor house.
While it is true and rig,,t that the Con-
stitution OF the. I73;te4. t5states protects
and allows every citizen to worship God
according to the dictates of his own
conscience, yet, it is not less true that
very much gross immortality may be
practiced under the cloak of worshiping
God. In leaving this subject would
say, that while we have no right to
make any aggressions on any church,
we have a right to defend ourselves
against all agggressions made upon US
whether made by church or no church.
| l have noticed, among other things,
general lack of confidence among
farmers, and 1t is no wonder considering
that tor so many years the farmers have
been imposed upon by every unprinci-
pied person that chose to do so,
(though in most instances by strangers,)
it has destroyed the confidence of man
in his fellow men. 1t is essentially nec-
essary that this confidence should be re-
stored amongst ourselves, without which
any cooperative scheme or anything
else which may be got up for our ad-
vancement, will be in more danger of
failure for want of confidence than for
want Of capital, this lack of confidence
ought not to exist amongst us, if we
have lost confidence in strangers who
have been bad and unprincipled men,
that is no reason that we should not
have full confidence in each other as
friends and neighbors, and especially as
Patrons. We are not strangers to each
other; here to-day and gone tomorrow.
While I do not hold the doctrine that
all farmers are angels Of light, and all
others demons of darkness, do hold
the doctrine that every man has the
making of his own character and every
mans character is public property. If,
then, it be true that a good name is
rather to be chosen than great riches.
and loving favor rather than silver and
gold, let us strive to be more united on
the strength of character, and drive out
of our whole Order all little animosities
and petty jealousies that may exist
and let us be friendly, united in the
four great cardinal principles of our Or
der, Faith, Hope, Charity, and fidelity.
HENRY HEYS.