The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-16
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC.
Letter from Col. VIM. H Cheek,
Grand Master of the State
Grange
{ C0acluded from last weeh.. J

All that can be lone in these other Orders
can te done In the Grange, and much be-
side. These are organized for special OBJ
Iects. The Grange combines them all. Ii
those Patrons who take up with these new
o. organizations at the expense of the Grange
will put the same amount of work and ener-
gy in our Order that they DO with their new
found love, more and better results can Re
accomplished. The Grange is already or
ganized, drilled, and the machinery in good
running order, it covers the whole land. 1t
has taken long years to perfect 1t, why cast
it aside and spend years In re-organlzing on
other plans. Our only hope as farmers is in
thorough organization Which is better, a
number Of independent orders or one grand
organization, knowing only the shores of a
continent as its limits Through it we can
speak in thunder tones to Congresses and
Legislatures and to the giant powers hat
would enslave us.
Let us extend the right hand Of fellow
ship TO all other organizations that will help
free and build up the farmer AMI our whole
nation, but ever recognize in the Grange the
central power through which our greatest
help must come.
In conclusion, you will pardon me for
calling attention to your remarks made al
"Mecklenburg Grange Picnics," in regard
to the fees sent on to Washington as being
htgh, &c I'm explanation | desire to state
that of the annual dues paid by each mem
Ter of our order into the treasury of the
Subordinate Grange, only twenty four cents
of this amount goes into the treasury of the
State Grange, and one fifth of this twenty
four cents Is all that is forwarded to the
treasurer of the National Grange. Surely
this is not so high and costly as to be an OBJ
lection to an institution capable OF accom-
plishing SO much good as does our National
Grange. The balance of the monthly dues
remains with the Subordinate Grange, and
is expended in books, periodicals, &c, IL
fitting up the hall and in deeds of charity.
WM. III. CHEEK.
Col. Cheek will remember that at the
time to which allusion was male (lS75 o.,
the initiation fees were high namely, at
first, - per head, and afterwards So pei
head. By this means, (charter fees) the
large sum Of above eighty thousand dollar.
accumulated in the National Grange Trea>u
nv, at Washington, and was invested in L.
S. Bonds. Our idea, as stated week before
last, was that these large sum for charter
fees, and annual dues, might be kept al
home, If we had a society, or club, in every
county. It will be remembered that nearly
six hundred Oranges have been organized IL
North Carolina, first and last SO that the
charter fees alone nave amounted to. say
| so, 600. We confess we had forgotten, OF
was not aware, that the annual dues
have been reduced. Certainly the present
dues are small enough in fact merely nom
inal. But the SIS charter for new Lodges
still exists. However these remarks are
simply in explanation. We nave none bu,
the heartiest good wishes for the Grange.
and have many hundreds Of times borne
| witness to its merits, It's works, and its use
fulness.