Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-26
THE CHANGERS.

Secretary Currey on the Growth Of
the Order in Tennessee-An EneOuF
aging Outlook for 1870.
We are permitted to make the following
extract from the annual report Of Secretary
John II. Currey to the State Grange Of
Tennessee Patrons Of HUsbandTy:
GROWTH OF THE ORDER.
Since the establishment of the Order OF
Patrons Of HuSbandry, six years ago the
4th Of last December, there have been or
ganized in the United States fully $4,000
Subordinate and SO State Oranges, with a
membership of over a million persons.
During the years 1873 and 1874, owe
1000 Oranges have been established in
Tennessee, and ], $50 are now actively at
work.
According to sec. 4, Art. VII of the Con-
stitutiOn Of the National Grange, / have
made four reports during the past year to
the Secretary Of the National Grange,
showing the whole number in the State to
be as follows:
For the quarter ending March 81, lS74.....lO,lg7
June 80, 1874. %, $50
" Sept. 30, 1sI4......32, 573
Dec. 81, 1s74......34, $50
To the number contained in the report
for December Ito arrive al the full mem
bership in the STATE at presently we must
add the strength of those Oranges that
have been organized since September, from
which no report has been received and
from which none is due, and We have a
solid membership in Tennessee Of at least
$1,000 persons.
My observation in other Orders leads me
TO anticipate, during the coming year, de-
crease in the number Of Oranges greater,
possibly, than the number that will be es-
tablished. This will not necessarily cause
a loss in membership, for the decrease in
the number of Oranges viii, to a great ex-
tent, be occasioned by consultations and
suTenders Of charters when the members
desire 10 unite with other Oranges more
conveniently located for their attendance.
Again, so rapid has been the growth Of the
Order, and 50 exclusively has its branches
been established, that it may be reasonably
expected that large numbers Of them have
been planted where the two objects Of the
Order were unknown or being known are
not appreciated And also in neighbOr-
hoods where from local causes it has ever
been found impossible to maintain a
healthy organization Of any kind. Other
Changes may suspend work because Of the
inefficiency of their officers, the apathy of
CitiZeIIs and the nOn-attendance and want
Of interest among the members themselves.
mention these that you may be prepared
for the reaction. should it come, and know
ing the probable or true cause thereof, that
YOU may not be discouraged and abandon
the field, unjustly attributing the expert
ence that has marked the career Of all Or
CARNATIONS, TO a want Of merit in the Or
der itself. While l would refrain in the
report !rOm making any Recommendations, 1
hope l Ilay be pardOned for urging upon
this body the adoption Of some plan where
by the meetings Of the subordinate Grange
can be made at all times attractive and
Observation-Disclosures by encouraging the
Interchange Of social and fraiernal c0urte-
sizes neighbOT with neighbOT; profitable by
establishing a proper order Of exercises in
the meeting, whereby all may be taught
and encouraged to so cultivate and improve
their lands that prosperity viii again crown
the tolls Of the year.
All that can be accomplished for a prop
er and thorough agricultural education,
aud for the success and happiness Of the
farming population, should be taught and
enforced in the Grange room. An active
interest must be awakened in those who
constitute theimass Of the Order; it must be
kept alive and perpetUared as the surest
means OF. sustaining and uniting the Order.
All other questions that occupy so largely
the attention Of the prominent men Of the
Order shouldibe subOrdinated to the pros
perity and perpetuity Of the subordinate
Grange. For this secured, all the rest
must naturally follow, and from legitimate
causes. How this can be done, your ex-
perience as Masters Of subordinate Oranges
will readily suggest, and upon such we can
safely rely for that judiciOus legislation so
essential to the welfare and permanency Of
the Order. trust, therefore, your deliber-
atiOns viii partake largely Of the consider
alton Of questions that affect the domestic
concerns Of the Husbandmau and MatrOn.
Sustain and cheer them; implant in their
hearts an affection, deep and abiding, for
the Grange; teach them to bless it and up
hold It. OF else it viii laDguish and die,
and with it viii fall to the ground all your
vast enterprises, your cherished schemes OF
revolution in the producing and industrial
world, and your fond hopes of agricultural
progress and power and Independence.