Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-02-09

fold: No business association (Which every
Grange is) can or would conduct lis Affairs in
the hearing and presence of those who have no
part or concern in it, You could moi imagine
the directors Of a bank, of an insurance. com
pany Of sugar refinery, of horsethief
detective association, delberatng with doors
wide open 10 friends and rivals, to opposers
and supporters.
Besides This, it 10 bond Of union which on
reflection will be found not only proper but
reasonable Our ceremonies are appropriate
and fall of significance; our manual, portions
of which you have heard, chasle and beautiful
in expression. No oath is required Of our
members and only an obligation which GER
tanly docs not conflict with any social, moral
religious or civil duiy-an obligation which
even conscientious and venerable members Of
teh Society Of Friends 1.-THE stricies: class, sup
pose, in the world, concerning such matters
find unohjectionable, aud towards which, too,
the Roman Catholic Church, suspicious Of all
other secret societies, is entirely tolerant.
The Grange, too, is an educational institu-
| ton. One Of its most important functions is
to bring farmers together for mutual COMPARE
son Of ideas each expressing his own opinions
and weighing those Of others. No practical
education surpasscs this, where all are eager
10 learn and each anxious to keep pace with
his fellows From this comes the habit Of
correct and fluent expression Here arises not
only the ability to think for oneself, but the
power Of imparting thoughts, and the prac-
tice of speaking TO public and mixed audiences,
with The need of some acquaintance with the
operations of parliamentary law, on the
knowledge Of which in all Democratic com
munites considerable stress is laid. These all
are educational helps to the Young man who
may seek (rather should say be sought) to
occupy other stations and fulfill other duties
which may await him.
The order insists, too, upon the necessity
| for agricultural education, upon suitable
schools for farmers sons who are to be farm
ers themselves, where they may be qualified to
successfully conduct the operations Of their
farms in the light which science sheds. The
| Changers belief is, that no other vocation
needs more intelligence or gives better returns
for liberal education than that of the farmer,
who keeps awake and abreast Of his age.
The Grange exerts moral influence. It
aims to prevent strife, discord and litigation.
| 1t is not only pacific but peace-maker. 1t
arbirates between its members in cases of un-
fortunate differences, and deprecates resort 10
the law. 1t stimulates all to the proper per-
Torrance of their duties ms citizens and,
standing entirely aloof from partisan politics
it still inquiries into the operation of both
local and general laws into the faiIhfulness
or infdelity OF public servants, and it is here
that it has already made, and will still further
make, felt its power to do good The ques-
lions of good roads, of good schools of
economical and efficient local administration,
are topics coming fully within the purview
and influence of the Grange.
Nor is it destitute of chords Of humanity
and sentiment Mercy and compassion to the
domestic animals committed to our charge are
incucdted, and he is deemed unworthy a
place in our order who countenances their i'll
treatment or abuse Kindness and consdera-
ton to those subject unto Us are ever coun-
seled. The adjournment Of the home, within
and without, is commended Books and
papers, pictures and music, Il spirit of con-
tentment and mutual forhearance, fraternal
and fal love are to make the home cheerful
and bright within vines and flowers shrubs
and trees, green grass and birds Of song are
to make it beautiful without.
Time forbids my saying more, and | con-
clude by quoting from one whose eloquent
words are far more expressive than any
could use on the influence of our order, its
animating spirit, and its bond Of fraierna
union:
"There is bond among Patrons stronger
than iron 1t is bond invisible, but potent
rs the circumanbient air, without which all
living things instantly perish potent as the
electric fluid which annihilates space, antic-
pates time, and brings together people far re-
moved by mountain desert or ocean. This
bond is Faith. Hope and Charity. These three
this triple chord which no man can break,
bond imperishabe lasting as the existence Of
Him whose august nature it is at once por-
ton Nnd an emanation.
"When earth shall have been burned by
fire, when the elements shall have melted with
ferveut heat, when the light Of the moon and
stars shall have been put out, when the sun
himself, like giant in his course, shall have
turned pale and sickened, and hung his head
and died > when the Heavens shall have
withered as patched scroll, this bond will
still exist, not link Of the chain missing
strengthened by trial, FURNISHED by time and
frightened by the great conhagration Faith,
Hope and Charity-these three, the founda-
ton, the solace and the guide Of or Order!
1T is this bond which binds together the
members of the Grange, separate and wide
spread as the limits OF our country, and with
them the inhabitants of the whole land in
which we dwell Naryl1nd journal.