The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-07
WORTHY MASTER w. H. WILL
SONS ADDPEGC

WORTHY MASTER w. H. WILL
SONS ADDRESS.
| DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL SESSION OF.
THE STATE GRANGE OF FLORIDA, HELD
ATT LAKE CITY, DECEMBER 10, 1870.
Worthy Patrons-To-day is the sew
enth anniversary of our State Grange.
Six years ago it met in this city and was
organized. The life of our order was
looked upon as ephemeral-a kind of po-
litical insect-conceived by a fanatical
brain, to subsist on the excitements of
the day. The progress of the order was
beyond the most sanguine expectations
of the most Jealous ofits advocates. The
first subordinate Grange was organized
at the city of Washington, D. G., with
VIM. M, Ireland, Master, Ian. 9TH, 1867.
Eleven Oranges were organized in 1868;
80 in 1869; 38 in 1870; I25 in 1871; 1862
in 1872; 7,o6S in 1873; 1891 in 1874 and
q State Oranges organized; in 1875, So5
new Oranges were organized. Up to
November I6, 1876, s24,Soo subordinate
Oranges had been organized; and 5000
Oranges had been organized up to the
Twelfth Annual Session of the National
Grange, held at Richmond, Va, Novem-
Der, 1873.
Notwithstanding many Oranges have
consolidated, surrendered their charters,
etc, we, to-day stand the strongest in
number of Oranges and membership of
any fraternal organization in the United
States-this much we are, proud of.
Again, we need be proud that it is the
only fraternal organization ever Inaugural
ted for the elevation of the tiller of the
soil-for the protection Of his interests
to teach, not only to intelligently grow
his crops of the various productions OF
the soil, but to grow a crop of men and
women, educated and trained, physically
and intellectually, ready to step upon the
great theatre of time with confidence suf-
fcent to battle with the Universities of life.
Whilst our order was the talk of everyone
and its members, our halls were crowded;
this seemingly gave way very gradually
until some, we find, appear to be asham-
ed they were ever granger. All who
have kept pace with the advancement
our order is making, fear no thrusts that
are mace at it. Our motto, ''eSto perpetual"
(may it be perpetual), pulsates in the bo-
som of a million souls, who know no
| East no South, no West, no North, and
are linked forever together with one grip
and one soft whisper; and show to me
man or woman who has been initiated IN
| to the mysteries of our order and l will
guarantee that he OF she is a better man
or woman and more intelligent than be-
fore Our order is closely allied to the
! Christian Churches of our land, and IN
proportion to the accesslonS to our num-
! bers, Just in that proportion will be the
memberships of our churches be inCre9s-
ed and Just in that proportion will the
ministry of our country be sustained.
| AT this stage OF our order, many won
der why we in Florida are not doing as
the patrons of other States. One great
reason is, we of the South, as farmers,
have n9ver been disciplined in any organ
| ization; we have allowed every other
class to organize and protect their inter
ests at our expense.
| OUR PRESS.
| Within the last two years those of US
who are welded to the order have built
! up the most widely circulated press in
! United StateS-naDerS that are issued
weekly and that Circulate III different
parts of every State in the United States,
and are published exclusively in the in
terests of the farmer. They are conducted
with signal ability and their influence is
| being stronger and more powerful every
day. We would suggest that every
| Grange in our State subscribe for copy
of a Grange paper for every family in the
! Grange and of different publications and
that an exchange of papers be made
among the members that each family
may have the reading of every paper ia
ken. In no other way can so much use
full and important information be dissem-
minated among our members at so COM
paratively small cost. This can all be
done in many instances by the dues that
have accumulated in the treasury. In
this way every member would become ia
miliar with the progress Of the order in
the different states.
| .z- COOPERATION.
While every facility is offered for CO.
operating together and with the members
of other states, we are content to go along
in the old way. In one of our southern
States Pomona Grange bought six car
loads of bacon, we learn, at three and one
half cents per pound, the past summer,
and the same Grange has secured S., 900
in cash to buy their supplies the next
season. Every humble Grange by pro-
per cooperation has the same facilities.
To 90 to work in earnest is all that is
necessary, and it will not be long before
it will be necessity, then we will see
our error in not commencing ere now.
| Without cooperation to some extent, the
farmer, as class, must grow poorer and
poorer every crop he makes. Cooperation
for our welfare will stimulate every inter
est in our country-let it be manufactur-
ing, mechanical or mercantile BY a uni
ted effort, the sugar, syrup and sweet po-
tatoes OF our state could be made to yield
handsome income and bring US in ex-
change the -four and bacon of the West
In our state, co operation in the Grange
has never been used rightly or wisely but
to little extent. When it is, it will inspire
the commentator of every good citizen
in our country-of any and every calling
The Grange has been used as a scape
goat by too many-often innocently--and
created preiudices we have to overcome