Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-11-29
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
Address OF the Worthy Master The
worthy Lecturers Report.

tnc auuIeSS Oh N0ftny MASTER JOnu -
Jones, Of Arkansas, to the National
Grange at its recent session IN Chicago:
At the last session Of this body several i'm
portant amendments TO the Constitution
were proposed and subsequently ratified by
the State Oranges, Of which proclamation
was duly made.
As part of the system and plan OF the or
ganization aud government OF the co-opera-
Tive societies Of Great Britain, which 1t was
our purpose TO adopt. these rules, with some
slight changes, will be most valuable, but
taken alone they IRE disjonted link in q
chain, the perfection OF which by our Brit
ish friends has been the work of their edu-
Gated thinking, practical men, for the last
tbirty-aye years. The fraction which we
have given our Order has been utilized to an
extent which we can only conjecture. Hun
dreds, and ii may be thousands, Of cooper
alive stores have been established in the
various States and Territories Of the Union,
with various amounts OF share capital, and
perhaps as various in other features and in
their fortunes. They are without a head or
connecting link, :" like so many islands in
the sea, without even a boat plying from one
to the other''-without that principle Of
unity which is the life OF corporations and
the guiding star of humanity.
With the perfection Of our system OF or
ganzation, il the necessity OF educating our
members IN the true principles Of co-opera-
ton. Let Us follow the example Of our En-
glish friends in this also. Through their
courtesy have received IL large number Of
tracts with the proceedings of their cooper
alive Congress from lstjS to the present
time, making most valuable collection Of
cooperative literature. We have TO reach
the minds of many who are ignorant and to
stimulate in them thirst for knowledge.
The latter, which is the first requisite, is
h,f mi aha1 LIZ living mi asi ips
If we could send out some of the friends of
cooperation twho could be namcd) to act as
pioneers in this work, we would soon see
large demand for cooperative intelligence.
1t may be thought by some who take
solely sentimental view Of our organization,
that | am giving an undue prominence to It's
material objects. If so, cannot think they
have studied the deep philosophy, pure
morality, lofty virtue, and genuine religion,
that underties cooperative {Je. Rightly UNI
dcfstood, it is the practical realization OF
Christian ethics. The silent virtues of tenn
perancc forcthought just dealing, and fell
lowshp In work, viii do more to correct tho
moral disorders which darkcn our land, and
have tainted our Government, as well as
trade and commerce, than all the penal
statutes that have been or can be devised.
The material, moral, social and Intellectual
Influences are In near connection with each
other. The most material thugs have great
influence on mental subjects, sentiment
that ages ago the poet Homer gave vent to-,
In saying that "whcn man becomes sln'. he
loses halt his virtue"
At the last session OF this Grange much
interest was expressed In the action which
had been taken by the CO. operate We societies
OF treat Britain IT, inauguratc a system Of
exchange between them and the agricultural
producers in this country, and in their
friendly messages to our Order, through
their special deputation, and subsequent
correspondence with our Executive Com
mittce, which was directed, by u resolution
of this body, to continue, as | did until a
point was reached when, in my Judgment,
With the approval Of the Executive Commit
tee, il became eXpcaient TO send special
commissioucr TO confer with the authorities
IN those societies upon this subject, and to
represent our ideas and interest In this con.
ucution. Brother J. w 4. Wright was APP
pointed 10 this office, and it affords me sin
Cerc pleasure to bear testimony TO the abili-
", dignity and grace with which he dis.
charged its important duties. Complica-
lions OF IL very serious character had arisen
through the Interpretations of unfricnd.
L. PARTIES. the character and extent of which
were unknown to uS until ascCrtaincd by
our Commissioner, after his arrival In En-.
gland. These matters were fully discussed
In The Cooperative Congress which met at
Glasgow la April last, the courtesy of omen.
Ing and closing the discus ion having been
extended To our Commissioner, The result
was reinsurance of that body OF the earn
cstncs- and integrity of our Order In these
NEGOTIATIONS, aud their reference TO MIR.
\, ale and our Commissioner, by whom Inn
poftant notifications and changes of the
original articles were agreed upon, submit.
Ted 70 he Executive Commi ttcc OF the Com
papy ON the other side, and assented to by
that Committee,
The plan of organizing the American sec
ton of this Association, which | submit,
may be improved 10y your jotnt wisdom an
uHittd Intelligence Of the extended field for
which 1t Is designed. b. some it may hc re.
g. Died as yielding much of the authority
am fostering care, which our Constitution
Wis, Is provides this National Grange shall
exercise, directly and through subordinate
GrUges, over the business interests of our
Ortcr, ia only becoming an "d}eiSoiy bafg."
On he other hand it might be objected
that The National Grange Is not clgei,d by
those who may bc stockholders In the enter.
prisy alone, but 10y the representatives, OF all
The members, and therefore should no. cxcr-
else supervision over their interests. OF
these opposite opinions the last would lead
10 con sequences, | think, fatal 10 our
order, aud Our cherished hopes The
purposes OF our Order are SO blended, each
so In harmony with the others, and
SO dependent upon one another, the scpara.
ton oi one, aud especially that one which is
the lie blood of tuv whole, would paralyze
the system. |, is not Ia The share capital in
these enterprises that our members will hook
Iur greatest benefits, but IN the facilities
they vii. afford for the sale OF our products
and the purchase of our supplies The mem.
Der mat holds nj a sin lV sh re- will bc en-.
uuoJ 10 the same benefits, and have an
equal voice with the member holding thy
maNlWum. Some OF GUY members may not
bc -bie 10 take 81 ,tpgl share, yet such may
contribute 10 the profits, 10 thar custom,
NOR than others holding the maximum OF
ares, shall such members have no repre-.
seniauun IA purely Patrons enterprise, to
the support ui which they contribute per
hAps tue largest >Aarry
a Coo erattvc Congress, elected by stock.
holders, could not bt more responsible. or