The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-03-20
eoNcrusra~

i have endeavored, brethren. to. present vol
with some suggestions for the good of the Orde
and RECOMMENDATIONS of the National Grang.
as briefly as the Importance of the several subject
Allows. There IS unquestionably a reviving inte
i rest throughout the State, but we urge upon yos
i CAIN and deliberate action, that your work ma,
increase this interest and revive the dropping sp
| Tits or our friends. The harmony, hope and sin
gieness OF purpose which characterized the deib
eratlons of the National Grange at its last session
should impress our brethren everywhere that the
order contains within itself the germ of vitality
Laae no other association of farmers ever possessed
Olner organizations amongst them have been
purely industrial in their character often local II,
| Their operations, too frequently manipulated in
the interests OF other organizations, aud ephemeral
| IN their duration. Whilst our organization com
prenends every interest of the farmer, material,
SOCIAL, educational, and political, is homogeneous
IN every state, with government National, State
ana subordinate, all of which are being perfected
as experience dictates, are working harnoniously
toge.ner, and developing amongst our hitherto
passive farmers through its peculiarly instructive
processes, an amount of administrative talent that
gives the most encouraging assurances of its flu
lure success in consumnlatng its purposes The
generations of its representatives in the recent
National questions ofvital interest to
farmers OF the whole country, were signalized by
an ability and directness of purpose that would
have been creditable to the highest legislative
body in the land
Inese representatives, coming from every sec
uon OF the country, from the ice bound regions of
the North and the orange and palmetto regions of
SUMMER cline, from the great grain growing
States of the West and the growing States
of the South, from the tidewater States of the At
lantic and the golden shores of the Pacific, nani-
fstas N their intercourse those kindly fraternal
feelings which characterize the members of our
Order everywhere, and an entire absence of all
sectional antagonisms, proclaimed the brother
hood and community of interests which should
bind together the farmers of our whole country.
In this harmonious concentration of thought
and purpose IN pursuit of a common end, indicates
the instruinentality which, under Providence will
yet restore to the several sections of our common
country that good will and confidence so essential
to its peace and prosperity and the preservation
of its institutions. We can point with pride to
ours as the only organization which exercises an
influence which can teach us, in every section,
how to bring all our old hates and sectional pref
udces, all the bitter feeling engendered by unfor
tunate STRIFE and sacrifice them upon the altar of
common patriotism and common purpose to
labor together in harmony for general good, and
how, the incense ascends to heaven to register
in hearts thus purified noble resolve to make of
ours again the bestgovernment the world ever saw
We have witnessed the operations of this infl,i-
ence in levelng the distinctions of party found
ed upon local and sectional rivalries and Jealous
les, and in uniting upon the broad principles of
right and justice those who friends to that pro-
gress towards the higher civilization to which we
aspre-an influence that operates upon the minds
hearts Vi dil VINO GOING WlInln It's range, Q1S-
ciplining, expanding and informing the one, and
developing, elevating and purifying the good in
the other. Then. BRETHREN the Order, the inter
ests of which we have met together to consider
demands of us higher consideration than any
other organization known amongst men, save that
one other which seeks to subserve higher and
holier interest. Next to it. the Order of the Pa
irons of Husbandry is the most charitable in its
character, widest in the sphere of its usefulness,
most comprehensive in its aims, simplest in its
l.
then labor to build up, to live up to its precepts
and to apply its principles in our business opera
tons and pursuits and to the noblest of all Grange
aspirations-the development of higher and
nobler manhood and womanhood amongst our
people, then. in the light of our council fires, we
may march Onward and upward to the attainment
of our highest hopes; but let 1t die let us quench
the light thatnow guides our feet, then cropping in
the twilight that remains, we may, perchance,
stumble upon success only after long and ardu
Gus struggle, or achieve if alone through the in
domitable force of the American character aid by
the aid of those superior natural advantages with
which Providence has blessed our country. Its
blessings are like golden fruits that hang just
above our heads: we have only to thrust forth our
hands and pluck them. Work is the talismanic
word that will open to us its treasures. if we will
And now, brethren, in restoring to you the Of
fee of Master, / thank you again for the generous
confidence you reposed in me. In accepting it at
the hands of the Patrons of the State, pledged
to sustain the fattering estimate your action i'm
piled, deplore it as well the circumstances
which have restricted my efforts. When | was
elected two years ago, the Grange had been with
out Master for nearly two years, owing to the
death of my predecessor; it had not been repre-
scented in the National Grange for the same length
of time and had, indeed, lost its connection with
that body by its failure to meet the conditions of
membership. In restoring you the Office, it is a
source of pride that, notwithstanding the luke
warmness of large part of the membership in
the State, the State Grange is in full connection
with the National Grange, and with Frightening
prospect of future prosperity before it. To our
worthy and most excellent Secretary, ever active,
earnest and jealous to the Executive Committee,
who have been faithful to the trust reposed in
them; and to the Brethren, from whom have
ever received the kindest courtesies, tender my
grateful acknowledgements And you, brethren,
with the assurance that the cause will ever COM
mand my efforts to advance it. / bid you "God
speed in your noble efforts in behalf of the farm
ers of Tennessee.