The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1875-11-27
EDUCATION AND THE GRANGE.

rst created the necessity for the I
range. Bending the back pa
iently to the field-task, the former
ignored other duties,and
many of the interests in which his
,wn good was securely bound up,
remained to him, sealed book,
Progressive farmers
the grand idea Of lifting
him from this degrading condition,
and Of utilizing his great advan-
tages, not alone for his own proper
benefit, but for the good of all
other classes of workers, in the
economy of our modern industry.
The first necessity which stared
the projectors of the Grange move
ment in the face, was contest with
this ignorance, which had caused
the repression of intelligence among
the agricultural masses of the
Union. The Grange was launched
as an educator, and in that charac-
ter its mission has been q grand
one, but if it is allowed to become
mere trader, as the manifest incli-
nation of many would seem to
argue, its first and greatest intent is
lost.
The diffusion of general en-
lightenment among the farmers re-
veals all the mysteries of trade and
commerce, and the due relation of
agriculture to both, is clearly seen,
and only little further education
and attention tends to show to
the farmer, how he may take
advantage of the circumstances
governing them and himself, so
that the full force of his position
may be appreciated by all concern
ed, and he himself becomes
an equal with other producers, in
the race for success in this toiling,
struggling life of ours.
Education is cheap in this favor
ed land of ours, and where ignor-
ance appears, then you may look for
neglect also. The Grange being
a united band of the most prosper
GUS workers of the land, thanks to
the teachings of the order) and re-
cognizing the vast difference be-
tween ignorance and intelligence as
social forces in rural neighborhoods;
having the means and the disposi-
sition to do so, should at once COM
mence thorough system of educa-
ton, commencing at the ground, the
very foundation of the whole super.
structure of national intelligence
the primary school-the blessed old
log, field school-house, its money
and its spirit should reach cleal
through the whole system, unit
farmers sons and farmers daught
ers are returned to the duties o
everyday life as finished and pro
foundly educated, as any class o
our population. Then only will ag
riculture as pursuit, become equs
to any other pursuit which has bee
given earth workers to perform.
r There is not Grange in the Stat
but can afford to give the childre
, of the members, at least thre
, month instruction out of the twelv
p and where the proper combinatio
and cooperation is had, the ter
a can be greatly increased, and thi
added to what the State may
o able to accomplish for them, woul
: soon be felt and seen, in the rap
a advancement of the children
!. agriculture.
We are delighted beyond mea
ure to see the firm attitude of Il
e National Grange in this mat ter, ar
: that joined to the active desire no
" become almost universal in tn
). State, among the members of Il
= Order, will in time, we hope, q,
us a system which will go far
wards placing the Order in Tex
!, far in advance of their brethren
n other States, in this great and b
neficent work.