Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-12-14
ADDRESS.

Worthy Master John L. Jones, ueiiSeioa
before the National Grange, which convened
in Chicago, Nov. 18th, 1876:
Brothers and Sisters of the Na!iolaa
Grange: Under the requirements ol oui
Constitution we are again convened in an
nual session, to consider. and a suci ao
tion in the great interests OF the class We
represent, as may appear,eXpedienC loi Il
advancement of their prosperity, anu a.
consequence, the prosperity OF our ooNihiJ'
and for the good of our order.
The feeling Of enthusiasm with Whlcl YOU
have heretofore been greeted from tiifs'ciiai,
on like occasions, experiences no apatalllell1
but receives new force from year 10 year,
with the increase of our membership, pow
er and good works. If we shall bulid our
superstructure in harmony with, anu IN JusI
proportions to-, the broad and substantial
foundations we have laid, we shall nave
cause of deeper, OF immeasurable ,gratlttloe
to Him who has sustained us so tar in our
work. and permitted us to meet together
again, with our ranks u%nDroken, to LABOR III
this glorious cause. -. 80
+ observe but few changes in this body
since our first grand parliamentin ST. Louis,
and have the happiness to know that the
brothers and sisters representing the order
on that occasion, who are noe here III the
same capacity, are yet active laDorers IN our
field. We cordially extend to Their success
sors here a fraternal welcome.
Ishall briefly allude to such matters as
deem it expedient to call your attention to,
referring you to the reports OF the executive
committee, secretary and treasurer, Tor de-
tails of the business in their respective dec
partments, and for the general progress OF
our work. ;,
At the last session Of this body, several
amendments to the constitution were pro-
posed, and subsequently ratified by the
State oranges. of Which proclamation was
duly made.
While | am impressed with the evil of fire.
quent and needless changes in our consti-
tuition and laws, experience has confirmed
my conviction that some changes are eApe-
dent. Prominent among these is the neccs-
sity of amending section 2. OF the constitu-
ton. under the head of organization, as to
preserve that unity and symmetry in our
grange system, which had characterized Il
before the adoption of this section, and
which is so essential to its harmonious and
efficient working. In providing for the es-
tablishment of Pomona oranges under
such regulations as IA be established by
State granges,'' instead of placing them up
on the same footing as other gradges i'll
their organization and government, we nave
not only married the harmony and beauty
of our system, but greatly impaired the eff
ficiency of this valuable link in our chain OF
oranges.
At the same session a set of "rules tor
Patrons cooperative associations" were
submitted to the National Grange, and
6 recommended to the Patrons throughout
the country"
AS a part of the system and plan of the
organization and government of the coop
erative societies of great Britain, which it
xxroc OI1r ,I1r,,oca tn aHnpf fhaSn rI11nS with
some slight changes, will be most valuable,
but taken alone they are a %disjointed link i'll
a chain, the perfection of which by our Brit
ish friends has been the work other educat-
ed, thinking, practical men for the last thir-
ty-ive-years. The traction which we have
given our order has been utilized to an ex-
tent which we can only conjecture. Hun
dreds, and it may be thousands, OF co-opera-
tive stores nave been established in the va
rious 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 i'll
the sea, without even a boat plying from
one to the other''-without that principle
of unity which is the life and the guiding star
of humanity.
Contrast the chaos and ignorance with
the admirable and intelligent system WI
would follow. | have before me, or a sin
gle sheet, a bird's-eye view of four hundred
cooperative societies in the United Kingdom;
giving of each the name, location, number
of members, purchases from wholesale du-
ring the year; quarterly, half-yearly anC
nnual sales in each department of trade.
share capital, reserve fund, buildings and
fixed stock for trade purposes, rate of divi
dend per E, amount of dividend declared
to members, and amount devoted to educa.
ton. On the same sheet is bird's-eye view
of cooperation in England and Wales, com