The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-12-25

MANT ORANGES.
Worthy Master and Members of the
National Grange:
Gentlemen. Your Committee on
Dormant Oranges beg leave to
make the following report:
There is no subject of more inn
portance to the members of our
Order than the one under consider
alton, for it affects the existence of
the State and National Oranges.
1t is right and proper, indeed, it
is imperative, that something be
done to arouse the sleeping mem
bers of our Order and restore life
and energy to the Oranges which
now lie in a dormant condition.
The committee which had under
consideration this same subject at
the last annual meeting of this body,
composed, as it was, of some of the
ablest and most experienced mem
bers in our Order, prepared most
excellent report, in which was set
forth the causes which had pro-
duced the unhappy condition of
very many of our Oranges, and sug-
gested some remedies which would
likely cure the evils and bring about
healthy condition in the same.
This valuable report, which may
be found on pages 1876, I37, I3S,
and I3o of the Journal of Proceed
ings of the Thirteenth Session of
the National Grange, refers to the
fact that wrong material was ad-
mitted into the Oranges in the ear
lier days of formation; that i'm
proper persons were selected as of
fcers: that there was lack of prop
er instruction in the principles of
the Order, as well as the ritualistlc
work; and that the failures in busi-
ness and other experiments, the dis
regard of law, violation of Grange
rules and regulations, and the intro
duction of personal and partisan
differences, all tended to bring
about the very state of things, which
we find to exist in most, if not all,
of the States of this Union.
That there is much truth in the
statements made and conclusions
arrived at, there can be no doubt;
that the conditions which are pre-
sumed to have produced such de-
plorable and widespread results
confined to no section or locality,
must be evident to every intelligent
individual.
The very interesting and instruct
i've, and we may say cheering re-
ports made by the various Masters
Of State Oranges to this body, in
reference to the condition of the
| Order in their several States, show
ed too plainly that the same causes
were at work in all; and since it is
a settled principle that like causes
under like circumstances will, in all
localities, produce like results, we
were not surprised to learn that in
all the States there were very many
dormant Oranges.
When we trace the history of
other organizations, we find that
they have been subjected to like
causes, and have passed through
Just such periods of depression and
lukewarmness, and sometimes 1t
would appear that life was almost
extinct, and even the strong and
faithful began to lose confidence in
their success. But when we re-
member that the principles of right
and Justice are eternal, and call to
mind the fact that our Order is
founded upon these principles, there
is nothing so very discouraging in
the situation. We may rest conf
dent that the Order will never die
so long as the principles remain,
and the necessities which called it
into existence shall continue. True,
the members may at times become
discouraged, and in some degree
lose interest; Subordinate Oranges
NAV fall asleep and become dor
mant, but if the Grange principle
be once fully understood and sim
cerely adopted-if the State and
National Oranges will extend to
: them a fostering care, and manifest
an interest in their welfare-life and
energy will again be infused, and
the dying embers upon their altars
will be rekindled, and the fires will
burn with steadier AMI more bril-
liant fame.
1t is a great and fearful mistake
to regard dormant Oranges as ne
cessaiily dead We should rather
look upon them as being sick and
in need of a physician. 1t is wise
principle in the practice of the heal
ing art that, for the relief of th'
Icontmasd On 4th pags.l