The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-24
Agricultural Department.
CONDUCTED by ALBERT CHAPMAN
THE MISSION OF THE GRANGE.


T.. \. Stowell, Cornwall, VT.
Great events are often heralded by
great throes and presaged and oittimes
accompanied by great woes and great
pains. The lowering cloud, the blind
ing forked lightning, the roaring thun-
der are precursors ofthe grateful shower
that moistens the parched earth, revivi-
fles the dried leaf and withered grass,
and makes all nature smile at the pros
pect of waving grains and bountiful
harvests. Influences that would compel
the determination of the vast hordes OF
workers, of agricultural workers in q
land, into our grand brotherhood fol-
mutual protection, mutual profit and
mutual improvement, might be the re.
verse of pleasant at the time and still be
blessing in disguise.
Since 1867, when the secretary of the
National Grange, Bro. o. III. Kelley.
first brought it to to my notice, have
looked upon the order of Patrons OF
Husbandry as eminently calculated to
meet the wants ofan agricultural people,
especially so, if oppressed. | have
watched its progress and noted its eff
fects with interest, and think no true
lover of his country, of his people, of his
town, can comprehend its workings
without arriving at the conclusion that
It has Its true place of need as well as
the church, the district and the Sabbath
school in America. Its motto, 'In essen
tails unity, in non-essentials liberty, i'm
all things charity" is the basis of broad
policy ofprotection ofthc rights ofman
rights as laborer worthy of his hire,
rights OF a citizen worthy of his fran
chise, rights as farmer to culture, to
improvement, to liberty, to the fruits OF
his industry. To insure these he is
associated and bound by obligations :
but his obligation interferes not with his
religion, his politics or his social rela-
tions.
The order is founded upon the truths
that the products of the soil COMPRISE
the basis of all wealth, that individual
happiness depends upon general pros
perfty. and that the wealth of nation
depends altogether upon the general in
telligence and mental culture of the
producing classes.
Schemes for the accomplishment of
this result have not been wanting. We
have had without number, agricultural
FAIRS with their competitive exhibit of
line stock, rare products, mammoth
squashes, beautiful flowers and i'm
proved machinery, and they have ac-
complished much, but they have lived
and died, and lived again in farmers
clubs, with their debates. their potent
measures and agricultural libraries, but
tney could scarcely survive one season !:
fruit growers and dairymen's associa-
lions, but decay seems to mark them all /.
Still they are based upon the principle
that unity is essential to success, but their
union seems to be spasmodic. rather
than permanent.
why Is this! The motive is worthy, the
elements good, and other institutions,
US the masonic and kindred orders. have
existed for ages. What is the mystic tie
that binds them, that continues them
along from generation to generation.
ever the same? What, but the secret
initiatory service with its imaginary
creased pole to climb, and sheared goat
10 ride! If so slender thread binds
them, why not farmers, where unity of
action can be enforced by discipline. and
where discipline can be secured by sip-
nliicant organizations! This order eS
hibits this and another element of suc-
cess, the association of women in its
councils; and may say that this seems
TO me one of the wisest provisions Of
them all, for surely she whose counsels
are wisest in the family circle. insnired
by her exquisite intuitiye iudoment
will be honored in this LARGER clrcle
And every husband and brother knows
,nat Where he can be accompanied by
his wife or sister. no lessons will he
learned but those of purity and truth.
Tins tho nInaattnno1
ments are united to the practical. The
educational by the reading of essays
upon the current topics of the day, up
on History, Geography, the farm, the
garden, the dairy, practical hints to the
housewife, the stakeholder, the colt
trainer, Nc, &C.; discussions arising
rom the same, or upon Independent
subjects, as they may be presented from
time to time; lectures also from gentle
men abroad, or gentlemen at home: the
formation OF libraries; the circulation
OF the standard magazines. And here
let me say that have ever cherished
hopes that IN every country town there
would be building containing good
hall for literary entertainments: n GOOD
room Tor the reception of valuable
public library that, with tho incentive
thrown around it of convenient access
ana constant accessions, its value would
be perceived and utilized; and further
more kitchen and pantry for the
necessary grange feasts and grange So
cables, TINT are one of the features and
prominent one, and essential to the
prosperous workings of our order.
The practical clements are not to be
overlooked, for much of the prestige
ana marvellous growth of the grange
movement is no doubt due to these.
HINTS and advice as to where to buy
and where TO sell, the condition of the
market and how the utmost ADVANTAGE
can be secured, and this too without the
aid OF too many middle men.
am not in favor of running crusade
against the entire fraternity, for they
have commercial value and should |
not be ignored. But the eytent m
which they flourished only a short time
since, sapping as it were the whole vi
tality of trade, was truly alarming. but
They should be regulated and controlled.
as they have been since this order he.
came OF sufficient importance TO he n
power in the land, and with very safis-
factory results, millions of dollars hay
ing already been saved both TO nrodncer
and to consumer. Only short time
since corner in wheat was broken in
,alirornia by the grangers erecting
their own elevators, chartering their
own vessels, and shipping to Europe
their own wheat,
ms part of my subject might be ex-
pended indefinitely, but why repeat
what we all can read in the newsna-
perss, for take il that no granger lives !
without one at least, if not more.
Perhaps The most important mission
OF the granger IN practical sense Is VET
TO DO mentioned, and | approach this |
branch Of my subject with considerable
eautloh' Tor 1t Is of great delicacy and
Twelve years ago this nation saw the
close of sangninary intemecine war oil
over five years duration, in the
which herresources, her exehequer and
her credit were strained as il were to