Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-09-27
How Can tho Interest in the
Grange Be Increased


The question is often asked, how can we
increase the interest in the Grange, or what
can We do to bring out the members to the
meetingsi These are difficult questions to
answer, and viii not presume to answer
them, but l do undertake to point ont, what
conceive to be a few Of the mistakes,
some Grsages have made, resulting in utter
failure and loss OF charter, and thereby in
juring the cause in proportion to the in
fuence and standing.of themembers, and in
others resulting in.:lpatlly and indifference.
Those Oranges which have utterly failed
and surrendered their charters, were rot
made up of the right material, or were or
gained from mere sordid, selfish, unwor-
motives, and being disappointed in their
unreasonable expectations, and having none
of the requisites of success, as a matter of
course, they failed to accomplish any bene-
fit to themselves or the Order. And be-
gin with the assertion, that any man who
commences any enterprise with q wrong
motive. viii ultimately fail in its accom-
plishment- Hemay flourish for time, his
influence may for tine be exercised for
good, ane happy results may follow, but
sooner OF later, that motive, hike the cloven
loot and horns, vii become SO apparent,
that all the good,he has done will be des-
froyed by the revelation of his true charac-
ter. II. then. this proposition is true, we
can at once see how so many Oranges have
failed TO accomplish any good, and have
died out Avance, the most unworthy,
soruld' soul-destronng, OF all traits, being
Their only motive. and only incentive too
aeuon, oeing ioilea IN It's unworthy efforts
70 use noble institution to base purposes,
Ignobly outline Grange and can see no use
IN IL While We admire iauDabie amol-
non, 10 improve our pecunary contirilon,
there IS nothing we 50 strongly depreca'e as
the idea or theory that everything depends
Inpon ne acquisition oiwealth. The object
Of the Grange movement was % improve
the iarmer socially, and thereby improve
nm intellectually fecuniary considera--
tons were OF minor Importance, but follows
ed as sequence the formation OF the
Order, and II integrity OF the agencies es-
ta5iished had not been doubted, and the
members Of the 0rderhad pauonized them
here, as they do IN New York, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Ohio, and other states, where the
Order Is increasing daily. and their Granges
count by the thousand, we should have
been on the sasie high footing.
LOOK at New York with her thousands
OF Oranges, and increasing every week.
Look al the world-wide influence welded
by the Eimlra Farmers Club, composed of
members Of the Order principally. Look
at the crowds that flock TO their hall every
Saturday, regardless ofthe heat of summer,
The cold Of winter, muddy roads or any
thing eise-eyery business is made to con-
ior1n 10 those weekly meetings, and the re
suits Of the discussions IN that club room
have been The exposure of.fraud, and saved
the farmers OF New York thousands Of dol
lars whieh would otherwise have gone into
the hands Of swindlers. ~
The discussion Of every question con-
nected with farming operations, all the in
teTests Of the farmer. are made the subject
of siiscussion-and the Light winch goes out
ION thai club room IS sending its brilliant
rays to every part Of the civilized world.
You may not be as wen educated or as able
to give your IDEAS in as handsomely round
ed periods as they dc, but as ii IS simply
facts that are 10 benefit those who hear or
read, let the members Of this Grange de-
termine that they VIII follow the example of
our brethren in Elmira, and even If we can
mt make IS great display Of talent, we
can At least add our mite to the vast store
house which IS being filed to ovegfowing
BY our brethren Of that club. No man has
a right TO withhold from his fellow man
that val add to his happiness, or
which would. result in mutual benefit if
made known. Pebble policy demands the
revelation, and his own interests should
prompt him to reveal it. In what sort OF
estimation would you hold a nan who
held a secret, which he was practicing sue
cessfully, which would greatly benefit the
community in which he lived by letting It
be known, and WHO with purely selfish
motives withholds II Would he not de-
serve and justly receive the condemnation
of just and true men OF course I do not
now speak of that class of secrets or inven-
lions which are protected by law. But
mean that knowledge acquired by practical
experience in tiiling. the soil, rearing Of
stock, and the general management OF the
farm Many OF you are subscribers to the 1
Husbandnaii. published and owned bp the
Farmers Club. You gel IN it, every week,
ION ,t So ,,,, v..s. 's 1890 -ss