The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-12-06
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
LETTER FROM THE MASTER OF THE TEN
NESSEE STATE GRANGE

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LETTER FROM THE MASTER OF THE TEN
NEssEE STATE. GRANGE.
CANANDAIGUA, n. Y, Nov. 2S.
Editor Patron. The Grange closed its
I3th annual session to-day, after a most
harmonious session. The members are
hurrying off in every direction to meet
their homeward bound trains, satisfied
with their work and proud of the cause
they have espoused The session has
been a laborious one, composed as it was
Of representatives from nearly every
State in the Union, who, deeply impressed
with their noble mission, have labored
earnestly to clearly define the objects of
the Order, and to perfect the methods by
which it seeks to accomplish them. There
has been some. constitutional tinkering,
but the diversity of views in relation to
the supposed defects has settled in the
minds Of members that there are more
important considerations which claim
their attention, and there will be much in
the printed proceedings to convince those
who follow us of the necessity of leaving
to State Oranges the control of State mat
ters, and thus put an end TO much discus
sion that seems unavoidable in regard to
small and questionable defects, which do
not and can not influence to any great eX--
tent the growth of our Order or retard the
development of the great interests,
through Grange methods,it champions.
We have abundant evidence that the
movement has awakened deep interest
in agricultural progress, and in the eleva-
ton of its votaries, but the causes of wa
ming interest and zeal in the organization
ITSELF If any such waning exist, are not to
he traced to supposed imperfections in the
constitution, but lie deeper. And there
has been on the part of the body an earn
search for them with view to their Grad
icatfon. ~-te - q 10 goI9 -5 aa g
The committees have been in the main
wisely selected, and have been indie
fatigable in the discharge of the duties
imposed upon them, and you will find
much interesting reading in their reports.
The CommitteeG5on the Condition Dof
American Agriculture, of which Brother
Lang of Texas is chairman, who is, a
statesman of no ordinary abilities and one
of the most prominent men in his Sta C.,
made an able and exhaustive report, set
ting forth in terse and forcible language
the grievances under which; this great in
dustry labors, from unfriendly legislation
and the want of proper protection from
the government, and appealed to the far
mers of the country in the strongest terms
to come to the rescue, and clearly indlca-
ted the means by which they could do So.
The c committee on Education, confining
itself to the practical solution of the edu-
cational problem, proposed a method of
reaching the masses, that received the
hearty concurrence of the whole body,
and one of the most interesting and i'm
portant experiments in this direction will
thus be inaugurated under Grange ausp1-
ces. The rapid concentration of popular
Grange sentiment in reference TO the
practical education of farmers and their
children has been most marked in this
body, and whether or not the same may
be said in regard to other matters, in this
most important of all Grange work the
| Order is abreast with.the spirit of progress
| that distinguishes our age. tai 4 seil.
The Committees on Transportation and
Co operation made reports that will se
read with interest by members of the Or
| der throughout the country, and will soon
| be in print, so | will not occupy your
| space with any. further allusion now.
| The solution of affairs distributed as yor
see, throughout the States was not only
/ very gratifying but gives assurance of the
fraternal feeling that pervades the body
1t contained amongst its members no TO
mentcrs of sectional discord or Presiden
makers, but was harmonious body O
earnest workers in the cause of agricul
| tural reform and progress. ''' 'aA
/ There was peculiar fitness recognized
in the election of our Worthy Brothel
Darden, of your State, as Overseer,. Tht
/ Farmers Movement has no bolder cham
pion than he is, and he brings to the dis
/ charge Of his duties an ability and earn
estness that inspires the strongest conf
1 Gence and the conviction that the Ordei
can. not falter. with such leaders at IT
head. .s..a
| One of the most gratifying features o
/ our session has been the deep interest II
| our proceedings manifested by the patrons
/ of this and surrounding counties. Throng
| have daily resorted to the hall, giving u
/ the impression that the Empire State i
/ wide awak to the. interests of the farmer
And indeed in no State, perhaps, has CO
operative Grangerism, in its widest sense
received more intelligent or jealous sup
port or endorsement. In Worthy Maste
! Wayne the Patrons Of the State have
bt9ls asa Ss.le sk9s