The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-29
Study Your Ritual.

a want of proper appreciation Of the
sublime teachings in our ritual. To op-
preciate them fully, they must be under
stood and studied. The want of effect
is frequently destroyed by laundering
and stammering reading, so that what
would otherwise be beautiful and in.
structive is rendered simply ridiculous.
Oranges are so quickly organized that
really they have no time to get properly
Instructed in the working of the Order.
1t is not infrequent to find, during initia.
ton of candidates, number of members
who do not really know where to find
their respective parts. Then a great
number of our officers are not posted in
the secret and unwritten work of the
Order. This is a fatal mistake, and
must certainly detract from the useful
ness Of the Order. What impression
can candidates for initiation have of any
secret society, when they find those who
are to teach them the mysteries of their
Order are as ignorant ofits principles as
they are themselves ? and recollect, first
Impressions are lasting. We have no.
ticed on the part of some Changers an
inclination to omit certain Parts of the
initiatorv ceremonies and get through in
slipshod way-in fact, anything to
push them through and get the money.
This is wrong. What is worth doing at
all is worth doing we'll. We have no.
ticed that wherever a Grange has pur-
sued this course it soon became weakly
and the members lack interest. It is
an inherent principle in human nature
to be fond of ceremonies in some form
or other, and it is only through salts
flying this inclination that societies have
stood for centuries against all persecu-
tons and in all countries.
There is nothing will perpetuate the
Grange only strict adherence to its
ritual and secrecy. II this is tinkered
with, the whole fabric falls, and we
might as we'll 20 back to the old farm.
ers' clubs, which we I'LL know were nev
er success. We would suggest that
new oranges should not attempt to mi
tate until they are organized suffi cient
length Of time for each officer to be
well acquainted with the ritual and un-
written work of the Order; and that
deputies in forming new Oranges give
thorough instruction, and not leave the
Grange to itself, unless they are salts
fed it is in good working order. Not
having meetings oftener is a great
drawback; a Grange at least should
meet every three weeks, and during
good roads unless the members are
very remote, once week. Monthly
meetings in rural districts will not work
the same as in towns and cities, where
the members are of easy access by post.
Meetings are almost forgotten before
month elapses, unless notified day or
two before. Grange Halls, as far as
possible, should be secured, and proper
ly fitted up with convenience for the
officers to discharge their duties during
the different ceremonies of initiation
and other business We are glad to
hear number of halls are being erect
ed and purchased through the country.
Meeting in school.houses is poor ex
pedient, as there is really no means of
accommodation, besides, being continu-
ally at the mercy of trustees to turn
them out on any little pretence. We
would also urge proper and systemat-
ic way Of keeping the finances. Moth
ing is more detrimental to the welfare
of an institution, especially if it meets
with opposition, than doubtful or un-
Ineligible sheet. Everything in this
respect should be plain and clear-no
bungling. Why we are so explicit IN
this point is, that outsiders are raising
the cry that some day the society will
be minus lot of money through it's
officials. This, of course, is outside
claptrap; but still every officer entrust-
ed with money should show clean hands,
and be even above the shadow of re.
proach-"he Canadian Granger.