The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-11-28

Meeting 'f the National Grange at Kicl-
Iuond, Virginia.

The National Ora gr Patrons Of Has
bandry met in twelfth annual session ut
Richmond on "Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The Grange oivncd at me hour ap-
pointed and was called to order by the
WORTHY Master, Alr. Samuel L. Adams,
OF Minnesota. The other officers were
T1pvTt,,. ~ pIcacn;.
y committee on credentials reported
twenty-five States represented and pres
cnt by delegates. Delegates were pres
cnt from all parts Of tie country-irom
Oregon, in the Northwest, to Florida, in
the Southwest, and from Maine to Texas.
Alter Il small amount Of routine bust
ness Dr. J. NJ. Blanton, Master OF Tie
state Grunge Of Virginia, delivered the
address Of welcome TO the National
Grange.
The Masters report was then read. In
conclusion the following suggestions are
made:
First. This session should be AS short
ana inexpensive as possible.
Second. The yistlom of this BODY
should be taxed to project D. ms for the
revival of dormant Oranges.
Third. In every proposed change of
laws, opinions, regulations. ritual. regalia
or anything else, the stability Of our or
Fourth. a new book has been publish-
cd and circulated ut very considerable
expense, containing the Constitution and
Sy-l Laws of the National Grange. cere-
monies appropriate for installation and
funeral occasions, for tie dedication of
Grange halls, rules for the organization
ana government of cooperative associa-
tlons, the declaration of pu Doses, a di-
gest OF decisions and OPT ons, parlia-
mentary law, &c. This vi! be likely TO
instruct and govern our members for a
long time to come and hence the fewer
lhc alterations made, consistent with our
general welfare, the more reliable and
more valuable will be this compendium.
| Fifth. Article n Of our Constitution
reads as follows:
"Keligious or political questions will
not be tolerated rs subjects of discussion
in the work of the order ard no political
or religious tests for mvn .Jcrship shall
be applied"
Every single member has dedicated
himself by solemn act to an inilcxiblc
support OF this provision.
The plcadngs Of shrcwd dcmagogucs.
the towering ambition of selfish, insidi-
Gus leaders in times Of intense excite.
ment, may create q temptation to cut
loose the Grange ship from her secure
moorIngs, but an unswervng fidelity to
obligations assumed will prove an anchor
both sure and stcadiaSt i'm sessions of
caJolcry and trial. Every scmblancc of
an infringement of our fundamental law
should be scdulolisly avoided. Fanati-
clsm, political or religious, if given un-
brIdled license, with torch and axe i'm
hand, will sooner or later seal the doom
oil society or Il republic.
Sixth. Let the doctrines enunciatcd in
the Declaration Of Purposes" be regard
ed rs immovabc landmarks.
Seventh. Standing, as we do to-day.
upon soil made ilustrous rs the Moth
cr of Presidents" and sacrcdly holding
the ashes of him who was ''first in war.
iirst in peace, and first in the hearts of
his countrymen," let us, the representa-
tives OF the agricultural classes OF this
country, ana the descendants of rcvolu-
ti0nary srcs, soemnly resolve to uphold
and maintain forever the unity of gov
ernmcnt"
At night thero was reception ut the
Capitol, where Governor Holiday deliv-
cred an address of welcome, which was
responded to by Master Adams. Col.
Lamb of Norfolk, the Hon. ID. p. Chase
OF New Hampshire, q. w. Korner Of
Augusta, and Col. ID. w. Aiken, of South
Carolina, also spoke. Col Aiken began
by apologizing for speaking. He had
spoken SO often to them, and did not
care to 90 over the same ground; not
that there was nothing to say. AS the
drunken man said of the road, it was not
the length but the breadth of the subject
which appalled, him. There was so much
to say. There was nothing, next to the
Church ITSELF which was nobler than this
Order of Patrons. They sought the
good of their fellow man--they sought to
elevate the farmer, and not only him, but
they made him bring his wife also and
If there was q bachelor farmer around.
he soon found wife to enjoy the great
blessings of the order with him. The
Order of Patrons, as had been said, was
non -partlsan-non-se -sectarian. Away up
in the SHOWS of Minnesota he was Il
Patron; in sunny Florida or in his own
home he could be no more. Finding out
that he WAS in n fair way to make one of
the best speeches of the evening, Mr.
Aiken thanked the meeting, and rather
abruptly concluded.
Grand Muster Bianton, at the close of
Mr.. Aiken's remarks, declared the meet
ting adjourned.
| at the conclusion Of the exercises
Governor Holiday was introduced to a
number CT the delegates and their wives.
The reception was pleasant one in
every respect, and seemed to have been
highly enjoyed by all present.