The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-17

the manufacturer, but to bring him aud
the producer closer together; to diminish
excessive profits and exorbitant charges;
to give, but also to take to live, while it
lets live.
II is an educational institution, also.
The assembling of farmers together for
conference, mutual advice and common
effort evoking the exercise Of their highest
powers Of thought the friction Of mind
against mind; the comparison Of views aud
experiences; the formation and maturing
Of judgments; the exercise of speech 10 the
sessions Of the Grange are all helps
to education-to 'the drawing OUT of the
man. The order, too, is pledged to the
advancement Of agricultural education
aud il regards the ayocation Of an enlight-
eued, educated farmer, as the noblest given
the sons Of men on the face Of the earth.
Influences such as | have named, sur
rounding the farmer and the farmer son
give occupation for thought, and hands,
and time. The spirit of generous emula-
ton becomes aroused on every side, when
the full, free and uninterrupted influence
of the Grange for good is felt; and doubt
less w. Master Moore could tell, if he
would, of neighborhoods which have been
almost reyolutionized by the workings of
an animated and well directed Grange.
Two points against which objections are
sometimes urged by those unacquainted
with the operations of the Grange are the
admission to membership of woman, and
the feature Of secrecy.
The sneer about strong-minded women
is entirely misapplied when directed to this
order. There is nothing more unwoma n
ly or immodest in her assumption of Off
ces in the Grange than there is in her
taking part in the management of Sun
day School. Her very participation in
the exercises gives assurance that unworthy
persons have no partthere Her positions
are such as tend to add dignity and beau
ty to the effective working of the order :;
and her influence softens and besses,
while her spirit animates and cheers.
The secrecy Of the order is partly pre-
cautionary, and partly symbolic. No bus
iness organization, where the individual
interest Of its members are involved could
be conducted outofdoors Besides this
it is a sign of union and community of
sentiment. These people have something
which those outside do not possess-that
is bond of fraternity There is no oath
OF fidelity to the order. The obligation is
one which any honest man or delicate
woman can conseientiously assume. 1t
conflicts with no religious, moral, social or
political duties. 1t is so unobjectionable
that those two great religious bodies, mo-
ted for their objection to secret societies,
the Church Of Rome and the Society of
Friends, do not consider this one included
in their expressed prohibitions Of them.
recently heard one of the most intel
ligent and thoroughly educated farmers of
our State, say in public address, that our
farmers reminded him Of the old fable of
tho Disconnected Pendulum. The pen
dulum which had for so many years slowly
but regularly swung to and fro in the
clock in the farmers kitchen, grew tired
and dissatisfied The hands, it said, are
always on the move, ever changing their
position; the figures on the dial see every
thing that is going on in the bright world
outside; but LII only get a glimpse at it
as | swing past the little hole in the dark
box where | have swayed SO long, and
am so sick and tired of it that for my part
I'll stop. Aud SO it did. The next morn
ing, when the farmer came down, every
thing was belated The maids were be-
hind with the fires; the men had not had
their breakfasts; the teams were not fed;
and everything was in confusion Inquiry
Of course, soon discovered the cause; and,
being upbraided, the pendulum told tho
story of its discomfort 1t was of little
use; no responsibility rested on Il; 10 NOV
ed in one and the same arc all the time !
But said the farmer, see how in stopping
yourself, you have stopped everything elsel
So with the farmers. All depends at
last on them. Agriculture furnishes the
streams which drives the wheels of com
merce and of manufactures, and as it de-
clines they decline with it. The busy
mart, the bustling factory, the noisy mill,
the snow-white sails dotting every sea, the
speed of the iron horse, all, all depend, at
last, on the sturdy arm of the farmer. 1t
is not well, then, for him to be discOnten-
ted or laggart
Do you, farmers of Carroll, with the
magnificent agricultural capacity of your
county, third in area and third in produc-
tivcness in our State, do you remain dis
contented, or are you laggart in any good
work? Is it source Of repining with
you that the bottom rail is on top? Do
you complain of dull times and the hard
ships of the farmers ealling2 If SO, we
have shown you a way of escape.
This movement to which we point is not
ephemcral Its foundations are based on
the everlasting principles of right and jus
tiCei and to you, as intelligent tillers of
the soil ,--''the noblest, the most honorable
and the most useful occupation of man. -
We commend it, satisfied you will find it
is working for your welfare, and for the
good ofthe cause ofagricultufe everywhere.