The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-08-28
Worthy Master Darden in West
Mississippi.

YAzoo, HOLMES AND CARROLL
COUNTIES.
Editor Patron. According to
previous arrangement met Worthy
Master Darden at Free Run in Va
zoo county on the 9TH inst. On ar
irving there we found that the news
of his coming had been imperfectly |
circulated, and the attendance would |
in all probability be small. After
waiting at Col. Richardson's for an
hour or more, we walked down to
the church and found only about II
or ID persons present. was afraid
the small attendance would have
discouraging effect upon Bro. Oar
den, but l found that his zeal for the
great work he is doing is sufficient
to surmount every obstacle. He
made them a short, forcible and
comprehensive talk, which opened
their eyes and set them to thinking;
and before we left they said they
intended to reorganize the Grange
at that place and go to work at once.
We came from there that evening
to 7. E. Standfeld's, in the neigh
borhood of Harland's Creek Church,
the place of his first appointment in
this { Holmes) county, where we
spent Sunday. On account of a
Democratic county convention on
Tuesday, the 10th, Bro. Darden ad-
dressed the people in the southern
part of the county at the place men
toned above on Monday, the 9th.
Sunday night after IL o'clock, the
good people in the neighborhood
got up and killed their fatlings,
commenced to barbecue their meats,
and make preparations for giving
our Worthy Master a grand recep-
ton. Notwithstanding the inclem-
ency of the weather, the hill was lit
orally covered with people, and Bro.
den, being in one of his best moods,
spoke with telling effect to this large
and attentive audience for about an
hour and a quarter, and all seemed
to regret that he did not talk longer
After partaking Of a sumptuous
| feast, a few remarks were made by
two other members, whom the peo-
pie of this county are in the habit of
thinking must have something to
say at every Grange gathering; af-
ter which, the crowd began to dis
perse, feeling that it was good for
them that they had been there, that
they understood more thoroughly
the objects of our Order, the duties
of the hour, the great work that lies
before them, and firmly resolving to
discharge their duties more faithful
ly in the future. That evening we
came up to Lexington, whereupon
l took immediate charge of Bro
| Darden, promising to deliver him
safely at his next place of appoint
ment (Sweetwater) in the northern
part of this county on the nth.
On the 9th, a tremendous fell in
the country north of Lexington,
which washed away the bridge
across large creek Just above
Sweetwater, and in Consequence oil
which report was circulated in the
extreme northern Fart of the county
that Capt. Darden would speak al
Acona, six miles north Of Sweet
water, instead of at Sweetwater
This report was not circulated
through any malice to Capt Dafder
or our Order, but by few of GU,
members because they thought il
would be better under the circum
stances to have the speaking there
than at the place first selected. Our
only way of correcting the report
was to start runners early on the
morning of the nth in every direc.
ton, station others at the cross roads
and turn the people in the right di.
rection. Although this confusion
had been created, the crowd was
larger at Sweetwater than at Har-
lands Creek Church. The people
north of the creek, good Changers
that they are, old and young, great
and small, male and female, came to
where the bridge had been washed
away, left their conveyances, walked
over the creek on temporary cross
ing, and were taken in vehicles up
to the place of speaking.
| will venture the assertion that
Capt. Darden will not have the
pleasure of speaking to more in
telligent audience during the remain
der of his tour through the Stnte.
The words which he spoke sank
deep into their hearts, like good seed
sown in good ground, which hope
will spring up and bring forth fruit
an hundred fold for the good of our
Order in the near future. An old
| lukewarm brother came up to me
after the speaking was over and
asked the question, "How is Bro.
| Darden supported in this work."
and | answered by donations from
Subordinate Oranges and from indi-
viduals; he said, "If that be the case,
| think have gotten five dollars
worth of good out of that talk to-
| day; here, give him that for me-
After dinner, as the weather was
threatening and that miserable creek
was in the way, the crowd dispersed
Bro. Darden's buggy was put on
the other side of the creek by some
negroes, and he spent the night with
Bro. r. T. Bailey. The next day we
attended preaching at Acona, dined
with Bro. John johnson, and that
evening went to Mr.. John Ships in
the neighborhood of Midway, the
place of his first appointment in
Carroll county.
The next morning, the 18th, we