The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-07
Rise and Progress of the State
Grange.


The fifth annual session Of the North
Carolina State Grange of Patrons OF
Husbandry opened at Greensboro on
Yesterday, and will probably al lourn
tomorrow, three days being the usual
length Of time required for the transac-
ton Of the business of each yearly
meeting. This widespread order took
its rise in our State in 1873. The nrst
subordinate grange WAS organized June
eth, 1878, in the county OF Gulliord.
On the 9th of July of that year, the
State Grange was organized in this city,
with twenty-three subordinate oranges
then formed, nineteen of which were
represented. At the close OF the first
quarter, of that year, to wit: on the
3Oth Of September, one hundred oranges
were reported organized within our
borders: and at the close of the second
quarter, to wit on the 3lst of Decem-
Ger, 1873, the number had increased to
one hundred and forty-three. At the
first annual meeting held here on Febru-
ary 18th, 10Th and Goth, 1874, the Sec
Rotary reported two hundred and thir-
ty-seven under the jurisdiction of the
State Grange, with a membership OF
six thousand, in round numbers, ex-
tending through fo%rty-nine counties.
At the second annual session, held in
Raleigh, March Bird, 4th and 9th, 1870,
five hundred and one subordinate gran
ges, with an aggregate membership of
fifteen thousand, were reported. At
the third annual session. held at Greens-
boro, February 10th, 10th and 18th,
1876, five hundred and four was the
number of Oranges on the roll book,
with some decrease in active member
ship.
At the fourth annual session, at
Goldsborn, February eth, Sth and 9Th,
1877, the number of Oranges was re-
ported to be $50, 1l9 of whom were
set down as active" with a member
ship of about five thousand, in
round numbers. What showing
the annual report, to be submitted at
the present session, will make OF the
strength of the Order we can only con-
lecture. Such is the history of the rise
and progress Of the North Carolina
State Grange. 1t will be seen that it
grew with amazing swiftness at first;
then came to a stand-still, and then be-
gan to retrOgrade> Whether this re-
progression has continued since the last
annual report, or not, we do not know;
the proceedings of the present meeting.
which we shall publish from day
to day, will, of course, reveal the
existing condition Of the order and
furnish the statistics necessary for the
formation Of a correct Judgment of its
growth or decline within the past year.
IN all this land we are to-day expert
encing the good results of the grand
agricultural movement which began
five years ago., and crystalliZed into h
order of the patrons of husbandry.
The bountiful harvests Of 1877; the
cereals hat fill our barns almost to
OVERLOOKING; the cheapness of food
for man and beast; the plenty which
abounds in the rural districts; the I'M
precedented interest taken in agricul-
tural matters by the government, by the
press and by the people generally; and
the mighty revival now going on in the
farming element--may be traced more or
less directly to the agency, the teachings
and the example Of the Grange. 1t set
out in 1878 to urge upon farmers the
necessity Of planting less cotton aud
raising at home, as far as possible, all
supplies for consumption on
the farm. How far this purpose has
succeeded is witnessed to by the large
In the production of grain as
evidenced by last years crop, and by
the fact that we are less dependent on
the North for our ~food-supplies this
year than at n period since the war.
The Grange ende tvored from the start
to discOuntenance the credit system, the
mortgage system and every other sys-
tenn tending to bankruptcy; and to-day
while failures are occurring daily,
in the North, and ruin is fast
overtaking those people, bankruptcies
are faw with US, and we are cheered
all sides with marks of a
steady growth towards independence
and prosperity. AS a school of instruc
lion to the farmers, rendering them
more conversant with the laws Of sup
ply and demand, cost Of production and
regulation of trade, the Grange has
been Of much benefit. 1t has
much towards restoring good
between the masses of the exist
ng political parties in North Carolina.
10 a word, it has done a vast deal more
we could possibly mention, within
brief space of this article, to improve
condition Of the farmers-its great
,st work being the establishment Of the
of Agriculture, which owes
is origin to the State Grange, it having
at its annual meeting in Colds
)Oro last year, resolutions recommend
ng the General Assembly to organize
such a department. That work alone
it to the lasting gratitude of the
Whole people Of the State.-Raleigh