The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-11-27

during that year los dispensations
were issued; and in 1872, I,IS5,
making total of 1873 in January,
1873, when the first annual meeting
of the National Grange, composed
of Masters of State Oranges, con-
vened in this city.
y p to that time the founders of
the Order had made and executed
the laws, but now their long cher
ished hopes were about to be real
lied, and the Order become a re-
ality. Eleven State Oranges We're
represented-by intelligent repre-
sentative farmers, who had tested
the practicability of organizing the
cultivators of the soil into a broth
erhood, and the adaptability of the
Order for accomplishing that end.
The founders of the Order were in
tull possession of all records and
authority up to that time, all of
which they generously turned over
to the representatives of the State
Oranges, with the following re-
quest: "Make such a Constitution
and Bylaws as, in your judgment,
the good cf the Order requires, and
we will endorse it. We have work :
ed to build up an institution which,
IN our judgment, was absolutely
needed, and now all we ask is that
you shall legislate for its future
good
Their five years experience in
perfecting and systematizing the
work, together with that of the
Masters of the State Oranges, fresh
from their fields of labor in organic
ing and instructing Subordinate
Oranges, proved to be of great
value in framing a Constitution ad
apted to the want~sOf the Order.
By the new Constitution, the
voting members were confined to
the representatives of the State
Oranges, and this received the cor
dial support of all the founders,
and thus deprived themselves Of
even a vote in the organization
which they had labored so long and
under so many discouragements to
bring into existence; and volunta-
rily took the position Of honorary
members of the National Grange.
Such instances Of unse. fish devotion
to noble cause are rare, and did
great credit to those who gave US
this Order.
Up to this time, the progress of
the work Of organization has been
attended with but very little excite
ment, and farmers affiliated with it
only after a careful investigation of
its principles and purposes. The
war had stimulated wild specula-
ton in all business circles, and cor
porations were formed for almost
every conceivable purpose, with
special privileges denied to individ--
ual enterprise. Combinations were
formed among dealers, shippers,
and transportation companies, for
the purpose of controlling prices
and increasing profits without re-
gard to the ruin they were bringing
upon the wealth producing classes
The eXorbitant prices which farm
ers were compelled to pay for al
most every article or implement
used or consumed upon the farm
or in the household, and the low
price of farm produce, caused by
excessive transportation rates, and
high commissions, combined to alb
sorb the profits of the farm, and
consequently farming ceased to be
renunerative. Debts were con-
tracted and mortgages given bear
Ing high rates of interest: so that
when the financial crisis of 1873
burst upon the country, carrying
ruin to almost every department of
business, it fell most heavily upon
the agricultural classes, causing a
sudden sllrinkage of the value of
farms and farm products unprece-
delted in the history of the country.
The absence of any real co-opera
ton among farmers for tae mutual
protection of their interests, made
them an easy prey to the organized
and incorporated combinations, OPP
Grating and controlling other inter
ests Realizing their situation, and
the necessity for organized effort to
protect their rights and redress their
wrongs, farmers sought the Grange
as the best mode of organization
ever presented TO them, and Depu
ties went forth to organize them
wherever sufficient number could
b. got together to fill the offices OF
Grange.
The movement which at first
seemed but a ground-swell, now be
Came tidal wave, and during the
month of December, 1873, and the