The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-11-01
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

The object and purpose of the Order of
the Patrons of Husbandry is a subject
which, in this progressive age, should
commend itself to the favorable consid.
Grafton of the farmers of this great coun.
try. All other interests embracing and
considerable numbers of our people, have
their secret or special societies or associ-
alton to unite the strength and weight of
numbers, and advance and protect the ag.
gregate and Individual interests of the
members. While the farmers have had no
general association as a means of union
in sympathy and purpose to give effective
force and weight to the influence to which
their members and the importance of their
high vocation entitle them, they have, in
their business and social relation, as class,
been. largely reduced to. condition of
comparative subserviency to all other
classes who pluck and plumber to the ex.
tent of opportunity and sufferance. This
should not be, and will not continue longer
| than may be necessary to advance them
selves, in education and culture, to a STAN
dard equal in dignity to the prime impor.
lance of their high calling. Our farmers
must educate themselves to just appre.
| citation of their true worth as the CONTROL
ing element of society, which they must
become if we maintain a government re-
ally and substantially controlled by the
will of the people. They comprise the
great laboring class whose labor produ.
ces the material of the food and clothing
chiefly, of all classes. Hence they should
not underrate their importance as an ele-
ment, and, as they should be, the CONTROL.
ing element of society. They should I'M
derstand that the helps which inventive
genius has brought to their aid in their
work will afford them more time for
mental culture and improvement gener-
ally than any other business requiring
steady or continuous attention. They
should also understand that agriculture
requires less capital, economically employ.
ed, than any other business of importance,
to achieve remunerative results, and GER
tainly, also less severe application.
With the improved machinery and i'm.
plements now within reach of every
American farmer, eight hours ordinarily
employed in field labor, each day of work,
is all sufficient for success, and will afford
nine hours to devote to his light work,
meals, reading and intellectual improve
ment and recreation, and seven hours to
sleep Some such division of time, gen.
orally abused, would afford sufficient
time, ''all the year round',' for all the de.
mands for society, education and mental
culture, and enable the farmer to attain
the highest state of practical proficiency
in every useful branch of learning. Two
or three hours of his time, once or twicea
month, could usually, also with much
profit, be devoted to the Grange in his
neighborhood, and the pleasing social du.
ties therein imposed by the bond of the
true patron. In the Grange he would
find the school, every true hearted mem
Der needs, to cultivate the better qualities
which ennoble and dignity man in all his
relations. 1t is also the only social insti-
tuition adapted to a general fraternity
founded upon the principles of personal
worth, in which woman is received on
the level of perfect social equality in all
the dignity and respect of common sister.
hood.
The rules of the Order also permit and
encourage temperate discussion of all
questions and subjects of public and social
interest. Discussions, essays and lectures
should become a part of the work of
every Grange. The dissemination of
useful information by such means is duty
of the patron; and the fraternal confidence
which is healthy outgrowth of the soci-
ETY. within the Grange tends to cherish
that freedom and self possession so nee.
essary in public discussion and to develop
the powers and capabilities of the partic.
ipants, This is a preparation necessary
to enable this great class of our people to
assert their just authority in the councils
of the State, which of itself should be
sufficient to prompt union in association
of themselves.