The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-05

proposed amendments to the constitu-
ton involve reduction of the member
ship of the State Grange and CORES.
ponding reduction of the expenses, he
invites careful attention to the subject.
The amendment contemplAtes that one
delegate from every ten, fifteen, or twen-
ty Oranges, as may be determined upon,
shall be elected to the State Grange, and
constitute, with his wife, if matron,
the voting members thereof. All Mas
tiers and Past Masters, and their wives,
if matrons, are to be honorary members
of the State Grange, entitled to seats
and to hold Office therein, but not to vote.
He regards the organization of county
oranges as necessary to the business
system of the Order, and recommends
their establishment wherever the Order
has considerable strength.
In relation to cooperation, after
showing that it is one of the purposes
of the Order, he says that the appoint
ment Of agents has not usually been
crowned with success; oftentimes the
newly fedged agent has rushed head
long into market, and purchased every
thing of everybody, everywhere. Act
ing thus indiscreetly, why should not
disappointment and disaster legitimately
follow And then comes the convic-
ton that these agents have not been
properly supported by members of the
Order.
It is now thought that the true place
of commencement is in the very roots
of the Order, the subordinate Oranges.
And, as the principle shall there be de-
veloped and branch out, and the demand
for wholesale agents, such as county,
state and Interstate, be made, it will
then be soon enough to supply these
necessities, as they may in fact arise.
Incidentally, it is especially worthy Of
remark that the State Agency, under
Bro. Milne, has been very prudently
and satisfactorily managed.
The Worthy Master next referred to
cooperative societies and quoted at
length the plan developed at the last SEES.
sion Of the National Grange.
The extreme length of this document
prevents our publishing it this week,
but we will take an early occasion to
lay it before our readers. He recon
mends that it be carefully studied, and
as it is virtually a reproduction of the
Rochdale (English) plan and has had
nearly forty years successful trial, be-
lieves that it's adoption, without altera-
ton, will be highly advantageous. He
next compliments the Patrons of Hen
nepin county for having brought about
a considerable reduction in the price Of
school books, and the Patrons of sever
al other localities for procuring school
furniture and apparatus at greatly re-
duced prices, and says that by looking
about them the members of the Order
will perceive that they can thwart the
regulations of existing monopolies, and
promote ut much less cost their educa-
t;onal, social and material advancement.
Concerning the financial condition of
the State Grange, Master Adams said
that on the 9Th of October, the Execu-
tive Committee of the National Grange
warned me of the delinquency Of Min
nesota in the payment Of dues, and call
ed my attention to the fact that un@er
the constitution, our State would not
be entitled to representation, if in ar
rears for more than one quarter.
! The statement of account furnished
by the Treasurer of the National
Grange showed that we owed $465.84
for tie year 1874, and the dues for two
quarters in 1875, being $4,000, the
sum of our dues then would be 1892. 23
and this must be paid.
Brother Hoyt had reported to me
just prior, that he had in the treasury
only $541.72.
In view Of this state Of things, l con
cluded it to he wise to call meeting OF
our Executive committee and lay thu
matter beeor>, them. After due DELHI
Grafton they decided that the good o.
the Order required that application b
made for the loan granted upon certain
conditions by the National to State