The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-25
Delivered By the Hon. j. N. Lipseomb, at tn
recent Meeting Of the State Grange.

bSS~'~ <3SSs'''y ~ w.
Patrons: The year of1S79 has passed
away, and you in the threshold of the
new year 1880 are now met in serious
conclave to consider, consult, devise
and determine what is most needed and
best for yourselves, your families, your
State and your country as to domestic,
pecuniary, social and civic welfare. At
,sSeil-a-Eassting, custom, co-exlstent with
the Order itself, makes it my duty to ad-
dress you, to inform you of the condition
nd the past annual transactions OF the
Order, and to recommend action conduc-
i've to its future prosperity and advance
ment.
Since last you met the struggle to sus-
tain, revive and firmly establish the
Order in the State has been most patient
ly, persistently, earnestly and successful;
~ made by apart of your officers, aided
by some OF the Masters of Pomona and
subordinate Oranges, aud in some cases
conspicuously by individual Patrons un-
officially. But in many portions of the
State. owing to the indifference and
apathy of the farmers and the culpable
negligence of Patrons, who, after allow
ing themselves to be elected to and IN
stalled into Office, proved recklessly re-
creant to the solemn pledges and duties
they assumed, the Order has not advanced
but declined.
In all counties and sections wherever
= Patrons and their officers have done their
whole duty the Order fourishes and ad.
vances by healthy progression, and it is
not wrong to say that with the same spirit,
devotion to duty, sense of obligation, pa
tieDt and persistent scork, almost all the
counties of this State could and would
show as creditable and fourishiDg an ex-
hibit of the Order as Colleton, Darling
ton, Newberry, Kershaw, Lancaster, York
and Spartanburg. In all cases of decline
! or failure it is safe to say to those who were
.inofice, "You have done those things you
should, not have done and left undone
those, things You should have done"
No organization, association, corporation
or body of any kind, either social or imam, !,
cial, religious or secular, ever succeeded
or>ever will succeed, unless its officers,
leaders and members work, and work
continuously, in its interest Who ever
made anything success without devo..
ting to it time, toll, thought and money?
The great mistake made by the officers
of our Order has been and is that there
is no obligation where there is no salary.
This rule would ruin any organization,
and the very opposite should prevail and
be taught by US that while a man
cannot be compelled to assume an othce
that does or does not pay, when viewed
from sn individual standpoint, still as a
member of any organization he is bound
to assume and discharge the duties that
may be fairly and impartiallyimposed on
him at any time for the common good.
Further, that when by the aggregate
voice and for the common good he is
placed in non-paying Offices, then the
obligation is imperatively incumbent
upon him to either refuse to be installed,
or being installed to more punctiliously
and sedulously discharge all duties than if
amply paid. I lay great strees upon
this point, and urge that You will give it
your most mature consideration, for, in
my opinion, Just here must be instituted
or ;naugurated any successful attempt to
reform and revive our Order or society
and the civic and political condition of
our State and country. Look around
and you will see that Offices are sought or
avoided, as suits the welfare of the COM
,munity, and offices, from the highest to
the lowest, are now considered prizes to
be; e;obtained by electioneering, vancouver
ihg, chicanery, deception and fraud.
This has been carried to such an extent
that there is but little pretence now made
to public tone and morals, and it is rap
IDLY sapping the very foundations of So
ciety and civilization. The only remedy
is to establish and maintain that rule of
our Order with regard: to Office: "That no
man shall seek an Office or shirk one )"
."that the Office shall seek the man, and
not the man the Office" Patrons, stamp
this motto upon the banners of your Or
der, and nail it to your masthead; carry
it into all the organizations to which you
individually belong, whether social, re,
ligious, financial, civic or political, and
demand that it be made an irrevocable
rule. and in the near future it will re-
douud in untold good to you and yours ;
TO your country and to civilization itself.
The existence, and continued vitality OF
this Order in the United States is no lon
-ger an experiment, and it is impossible
to foresee, foretell, or estimate its future
power and influence upon society, busl-
ness and government.
The National Grange at its meeting in
Canaudiagua, New York, in November
last, considered, discussed and took ac.
tion upon questions of deep interest and
vast import TO US, our Order and the
country. I invite your earnest at
tention cnd consideration to their pro-
ceediugs. generally, but more especially
to the following, viz: The reports OF the
Committees on American Agriculture. on
Corporation, on Transportation, on Res
olutions, and Preamble and Resolutions
offered By Bro. Brigham, w. NJ. of Ohio
State Grange, and report of Committee
on Dormant Oranges, which are appen-
ded to and made part of this address.
By a study Of these it will be seen that
the field was widespread, the
thought deep and strong, the expression
bold and manly, the conclusions decided
and determined, and the intentions plain
" and most unequivocally stated. While
Idid, and may, dissent from some views
and doctrines contained in these and
other proceedings I am sure it will be
cordially admitted they are indubitable
evidence of devotion, zeal and interest in
and to the Order, and the people, in q
broad and liberal sense. Consider and
discuss them fully, giving full expression
to your endorsement or dissent. But one
amendment was proposed to the Consti-
tuition, and that 1 will lay before you for
your ratification or rejection, at the prop
er time, and as is required in such cases
Let me strongly urge you not to let this
session pass away without some very ct,
fective plans and rules being devised and
adopted as to the revival of dormant
Granges. While the Worthy Secretary
gives you encouraging information as to
fnO