Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-06
Che farm aud the Orange.
The Grange.

st. Johnsbury, Feb. 20, 1877, by BcAumHn
Butler.
The subject have selected is, The
Grange Not the grange spoken Of by Mil
ton centuries ago, meaning the farm with its
buildings and surroundings, very appropri-
ate subject though for such meeting as
this, and one | thought was to be written
upon for this occasion. But that secret or
der in behalf of agricultural improvement,
known by the name Of Patrons of Husbandry
with its branches or smaller divisions scat
tered throughout the land, known as oranges
1t came at the instance Of one 0. IL. Kelly,
who was its master spirit, assisted by w. NJ.
ireland, Anson Bartett,J II. Thompson, Miss
q. A. Hall and few others who organized
it in Washington in November, 1867. 1t
came to our state at the instance Of Joua-
than Lawrence few years later, and Mr.
Lawrence has ever since been q faithful ia.
borer in the cause and has truly earned for
himself the title, Father Of the Order in YER
mont. The order was quite feeble ut first,
but it took well with the farmers aRd to-day
in Vermont there are over 800 oranges with
a membership OF about 1000.
From feeble beginning it has grown to
be one Of the most beneGcent secular inst itu-
tious in the land. 1t was organized for the
special purpose of improving the condition
Of those interested in agricultural pursuits.
Its founders saw and felt that the farmer was
not taking the stand in society and having
the influence his ability and the Importance
Of his calling entitled him to. They saw
that the tillers Of the soil, while they paid
all proper regard to the care of their stock
and the cultivation and the improvement of
their farms, were not caring for their social
aud intellectual improvement as they ought,
especially throughout the South. They saw
that though the Rebellion had been put Down
by force aud arms, the spirit of opposition
to the federal government had not been
crushed out from the hearts of the Southern
people, making it very unpleasant, if not
dangerous for q Dortherner to sojourn or
live among them. Despairiug Of politicians
ever improving this state Of things, and hop.
ing to bring about better feeling betwe en-
the North and South, aud unite all interest.
ed in agricultural pursuits in one strong
brotherhood for improvement, and hoping
thereby to make it stronger aud more ondur.
ing they formed il as a secret order.
Tho coming of the grange to this country
was very OpPOrtuno. Thought, genius, in
vention had come to the aid Of the farmer
The sewing machine and other implement.
of the household had essened the toll of the
housewife (but not so much as they ought,
giving her more time for thought the cult.
walton Of her mind and the proper training
and educating of those entrusted to her care
For the aid OF the hSalreRdman improved
implements we're more numerous and useful
Improved forks, hoes and shovels and smaller
tools had eased him much in his daily toll
aud tho chatter OF the glittering steel and tn
muscle Of the neighing steed had relieve,
him of the powerful strain on his strong rig b
arm in harvesting the hay aud grain crops
making farming of to-day a pastime com
pared with the farming Of fifty years age
and we'll has he improved it. lie has toun
time at the close Of his days work to mec
his neighboring farmers at their homes, o
in the grange, or both, anl in dscussin
: the various questions Of improvement an
economy he has gathered a fund of usefr
knowledge. He sees that ia many Of tn
business transactions Of life he has been sad
ly guled. lie sees that he has been besC
on every hand by multitude of unprnciple
spectators. lie had tired in his daily to
and the shoddy implements he bought to II
lieYe him broke in his hand. lie hungero
and the food he bought had not the rigl
f taste nor nourishment. He was cold, III
shOddy clothing protected hun not from tn
piercing blast. lie was sick, the patel
: medicine killed him and the funds no SUI
posed he had safely invested in the life il
i surance Office for the benefit ofhis family whC
r he should be taken away stepped out vii
one of the directors, and his wife and chi
. dren met tho cold shoulder OF a heartla
! world. What was to be done2
|. We became desperate; we went in
n trade; we bought the best of goods and fu
J, nished them at cost to our friends aud neg
! bOrs; We went to the other ex IRENE of trad
a forgetful that the workman is worthy of b
?, hire, But the result has justified the NEAR
aud to-day We think we are fairly dealt wi