River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-12
MEETING OF THE NATIONAL
GRANGE.

EDITORS JOCRNAL'-AAo Wis =" w.
time of year for farmers meetings
and talks, and many of your lntelh-
gent readers being farmers, and your
selves not unfriendly to 'the farmers
move," it may be interesting to speak
of an important farmers meeting
which has just closed.
1t was the National Grange meet
ing at Richmond, Virginia. This was
the twelfth annual session ofthis body,
and probably the best in some respects,
as in it we find more skillful and wise
heads to rule and transact business,
made so of necessity by eleven years
experience.
1t is eleven years last Wednesday
siuce the first grange was organized
in Washington city, with William
Saunders for Master.
Mr.. Saunders is an intellectual, we'll
read man of the Agricultural Depart
ment, and in 1866 and 1857 agriculture
being very much depressed, we see
this man espousing the farmers cause;
urging leading farmers in the middle
and western states, to join with him
in establishing society with the
strong bonds of brotherhood, so that
they might work together and rend
the trammels that the customs of ages
had woven around this honorable oc-
| cupation.
Still at his post in the Department
| we beLeld this venerable pioneer two
weeks ago visiting the National
Grange at Richmond, bearing official
recognition and an earnest invitation
from the head of the Department to
became more intimately acquainted at
''head quarters" and through Mr.. lie
Due an invitation from President
HAYES to visit him in Washington.
Worthy Master Adams delivered
good sensible address to the grange, IN
which he thus eloquently appeals for
the children "who are soon to fill the
places that we now occupy; in whose
hands the destiny of our order and
the nation will soon be placed; and we
are responsible in a great degree for
the manner in which the duty is per-
| formed. The pillars of the church
well know the sure effects of early,
| constant, christian training. Now
| the farmers children are needed in
our ark of safety, where they may be
instructed in good morals, correct
habits of thought and politeness.
Where faith in God, hope in immor-
tality, and charity to all mankind may
be taught and practiced.
Fifty-fye thousand dollars of the
funds of the National Grange have
been returned to the states in the form
of transformations, and forty-five thous-
| and have been used for charitable pur-
poses.
All Richmond gave the grange a
| hearty welcome. The governor was
| sensible, so was Mr.. Adams. Doctor
| Blantor, Master of Virginia State
Grange, was little too profuse in re-
gard to Virginia's part in the recent
| unpleasantness.
The councils of the session show in
creased stability and healthful growth
in the order. Several matters were re-
fered to the State Grange for salts
| faction-one to reduce the monthly
| dues from ten to five cents.
The executive committee were di-
rected to memorabilia congress in re-
gard to some oppressive features of
the tariff laws; also on the necessity
of national arrangement of quarantine
| and the cruelties in transporting live
| animals. Then the session closed after
adopting strong and righteous tenn
perance resolutions. .. ;.
4 naa 10Th 1879