The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-01-31
THE ORDER IN LEE AND FAY
ETTE COUNTIES, TEXAS.

THE ORDER IN LEE AND FAY
ETTE COUNTIES, TEXAS.
1t was our privilege to attend Grange
meeting at Giddings, Lee county, and at
Ledbetter, Fayette county, Immediately
after the adjournment of the State Grange,
and to listen to speeches from that able
and earnest champion of the cause, Wor-
thy Overseer A. J. Rose, who is justly
styled the father of the Cooperative
movement in Texas. AT Giddings, the
crowd was not large one, as but few
had been notified of the meeting. Con-
cord Grange, which is located near Gid
dings, is the largest Grange in the State
except one, Salado Grange, Bell county,
being first in point of numbers and eff
cheney Its strength is due mainly to the
cooperative store which was established
at Giddings under its auspices, and to the
zeal and enthusiasm of Worthy Master
A F. league and his Jealous co-workers.
The store is marked success, though not
conducted on the Rochdale co-operativs
system entirely. 1t is doing an immens
business, and giving satisfaction to all
both the stockholders and the patrons
ConcordGrange is aptly named The mem
bers work IN perfect harmony and with 4
zeal that is giving the Order a command
ing position and influence throughout
that entire section of country, and which
will do more for the advancement of the
agricultural interest in that section than all
the political conventions and Legislatures
have ever done.
At Ledbetter, in the adjoining county
of Fayette, on Wednesday, the 2Ist
inst, a large number Of Patrons and
dedication of the new hall just erected
by Ledbetter Grange. This hall,
the basement story of which will be used
for cooperative store on the Rochdale
plan, is one of the largest that we have yet
seen and is very tastefully designed. The
dedication ceremonies, which were con-
Quoted by Worthy Overseer Rose, were
exceedingly interesting and impressive,
and we feel sure that the large crowd
present were never so fully impressed
with the grandeur and far-reaching pow
er of the organization. At the conclusion
of the dedication ceremonies, Worthy
Overseer Rose delivered forcible and
address, which was one of the
best and clearest expositions and defenses
of Grange principles and purposes we
ever heard. His explanation OF the Roch-
dale system of cooperation was so clear,
SO plainly set forth by facts and figures,
that the least intelligent could fully COM
prehend it. After hearing this patriot far.
mer in advocacy and defense of thier
cause, one can readily understand how he
has SO completely won the confidence and
affections of the farmers of Texas. He is
not only earnest in their cause, but he is
fearless and unselish, and the work he is
now doing in behalf of the Grange in all
its features will be seen and felt in the
Empire State of the Sonth for generations
yet to come tasaaaE9 - eaz
The enthusiasm of the large crowd at
Ledbetter was a marked feature of the
occasion, and a sure indication That the
Order IN Texas is on the eve of wide
spread revival. The Grange at this place
had fallen asleep, but it was touched by
the wand of cooperation, and 10, it is now
a giant in strength, in numbers and in
spirit. The store will be a success, no doubt
of that. Like their brethren at Giddings,
the members are thoroughly aroused to
the importance of the ''new process" cot
ton factory system, and will soon take
steps to erect a factory. We never saw
more intelligent and enthusiastic crowds
than those assembled at Giddings and
Ledbetter, and we feel sure that hence
forth their motto will be-upward and
onward! The dinner which was pre-.
pared by the lady members at Led
better was superb, the tables were loaded
with every delicacy, and the entire ar
displayed exquisite taste.
We, in company with Brother Rose,
were the recipient of the most elegant
and refined hospitality from the Patrons
both at Giddings and Ledbetter.
The public printing monopoly has been
continued by the Legislature of this State