The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-11-01
GRANGE EDUCATION.
RY THE MASTER OF THE TENNESSEE


| Grange had fully awakened TO It's lInpoI-
lance. and so we'll pleased were we with
the manner in which Worthy Master
Eshbaugh of the Missouri State Grange
treats it in your issue of the 18th inst,
that we wish it could be read by every
Patron and farmer in our whole land.
We should be familiar with the subject of
| Grange Education, for the Order, as it has
been truly said, bases its hope of success
upon it. To educate farmers is its express
mission, and Brother Eshbaugh's article is |
most timely and appropriate, and were ITS |
suggestions pursued in every Grange a
| Glorious Grange era would soon dawn |
upon us. =,
No one should be ignorant that the
Grange is farmers movement organized
to improve his condition, elevate his IN.
dustry, promote social progress, and to
qualify him foi intelligent action upon all
questions that affect his interests as an IN
dustrial factor ard citizen. To accom-
plish these purposes the farmers must be
educated up to the standard ofintelligence
required, and the problem of how this
may be done has been solved by the
| Grange, so far as it relates to those al
ready engaged in the active duties OF lite,
in its well devised educational plans.
These plans, looking to a gradual growth
in practical knowledge, are simple and
effective, and are truly the basis of the or
ganization, and we may say to those in
whose interests it exists, get wisdom, that
practical sort of wisdom the Grange con-
templates, and all other Grange blessings
will surely follow.
By Grange education, 1t is not meant
that we must undergo the scholastic train
ing of the regular schools, butt system
attic growth in practical knowledge acCor
ding to clearly defined Grange methods,
ann is possible to every Patron who will
properly employ the means, and, as is as
serted in the article to which we have
referred. those Oranges are distinguished
by ZEAL progress, and intelligence in
which those methods have been applied.
But, conceding that the farmers are as
much alive to their interest as any other
class, why has not the Grange made more
progress in organizing and educating
them in accordance with its purposes?
Now, the Order cannot succeed in its
aims without individual as well as cor
porate effort; but it encounters one of its
gravest obstacles in the indifference of the
average farmer to mental effort. He is
willing to labor diligently with his hands,
but his mind is unused to it, and he is
either unwilling, or does not know how
to labor with it. He knows nothing of
the amount or character of mental labor
? he is capable of performing. He knows
nothing of the extent to which his mental
may supplement his physical labor. He is
incapable of intelligent progress, and
either falls into the better methods of his
progressive neighbors, or plods on in the
old rut made by his father. He does not
know the value of a good Grange or ag-
ricultural paper, for he will not read and
think for himself, but is too ready to ac-
!, cept the opinions of others, and too often
such as have been manufactured to suit
individual and corporate interests, of pro-
fessional politicians, and partisan leaders.
This indifference, which is SO often a
S barrier to Grange progress, can only be
It remedied by arousing him to clear com
}; prehension of the conditions upon which
:. his prosperity depends. This knowledge
e will soonest reach him through Grange
r methods. 1t is the grand educator of the
2, masses. The apparent pause in its growth
t. and development, has been employed III
3, pefecting these methods, and it is to-day
l. stronger in the hearts of its friends thar
10 ever before, and there is a better ground
to ed hope, better because its purposes art
-e more clearly understood, of its ultimate
er success. But no Grange truth is. more full,
re realised than that it can only succeed
sp through such education the Grang
d, contemplates, and an important step will
e be gained when the farmers are taught t,
lie realize the extent to which they are, eacl
re one, factor in this great work. They car
only be enlisted in it by persistent anC
intelligent effort, and we must not be dis
5e couraged by the slow awakening tina
clouds the prospects of the movement
We must rather gather hope from tn
steady progressive growth of the Order
TO- from the Strengthening of its hold upol
Sc, the minds Of thinking farmers, and NOR
re- particularly, from the efforts of those no
y BILE, Jealous men, who, in almost ever
State, are laboring in behalf of caus
Gil that so highly commends itself to ever
HE good citizen.
nd But whilst the Grange seeks to dignif
Of and elevate our great industry, by the bet
=. ter and more practical education of thos
'0t' who pursue it, it is one of the most hope
full sigrs of the farmers future prosperity
he that 1t recognizes the necessity for a pre-
oto1 paratory education, that they may. be bet
'ur ter fitted for that systematic work upo
Be which success depends. The indisposi
VS. ton to mental effort which we have char
of acterized as grave obstacle to Grang
ew progress, must be brevenfed by judi
eat cious early training that will enure tn
re- mind to habits of thought, and awaken
De- desire for information. There is little i
at the present system of education in tn
he public schools, that is calculated to arous
Let the latent energies of the young mind, c
st, to quicken its action. Education in sue
th schools ought to be practical and,techn
lu- cal far possible, and compatibl
rit with the public interests. But we are dea
mo with the subject from Gran ore sra n r
in point, and advocate such a preparation
&C. training, as will qualify the individual fc
efficient Grange labor at later day. Sue
ac- early training in the common schools a
.ed will overcome the obstacles already RI
for ferred To and which NAV be done h,z S.,c