The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-05-21
increasing Grange Activity.

especially the case. and the Grange in
fluence is the leaven which appears to be
working in the minds and hearts of the
great mass of people. From the Grange
practical, concentrated, utilitarian con-
ceptions have gone out into the world;
and like bread cast upon the waters, they
are beginning to return with fair in
crease The wild chaos Of ideas which
prevailed few years since as to the OBJ
iects and purposes of the Order have been
relieved of their turbid, indefinite charac-
ter, and the light OF future purpose Is
growing clearer every day. The divinity
of intelligence has bathed his robes anew
in the pure, rich fountain which continu-
ally flows around the sanctuary OF the
Grange God has built an altar upon the
heart of every man and woman, and on it
piled the faggots which need but the con-
tagion of kindred spirits TO give out fame
which can reduce to ashes every obstruc
ton that stands in the way Of noble pur-
poses and a higher manhood. with indif-
ferent, distinguished, moral and intellec-
tual effort the world swings its round in
chaos. But to strengthen and multiply
the cords which bind one noble impulse 10
another, is the source whence comes all
mental, moral and physical force.
The united action and thought of the
Grange has developed degree of strength
which indicates FERTILIZATION of the full
fruition to come. BY contact and inter
change of thought, the asperities which
seclusion begets are rounded of, and
united action in any given direction is
made possible. The development of this
conception is radiating from our Grange
affairs. In consequence. the great conser-
vative mass of our people are nearing
common ground for common defense Of
individual rights and national unity.
Around the horizon of the future are dis
covered clouds of evil omen of our country
and conservative rights. Like the sea
ward sailor who braces up his wavering
heart with thoughts of conscious duty.
clouds which hang on the border of the
coming storm. so the farmers of the ma
ton, in the widening sphere of knowledge
which shows its silver lining everywhere
about them, discern future full of peril.
| To live for the pottage and husks which
have been their portion, thrown to them
by their masters, has ceased to fill the
measure of the farmers hopes. Severed
in thought and action they have been the
toy and sport of weaker men. Lions
without knowledge of their strength led
| by string!-the mudsills on which fair
| fabrics have been reared; in which corrup-
| ton and licentionsness have snapped their
foundations.
God ordained that every one should
live by his own labor, and the violation of
| this eternal truth has caused the destruc-
ton of kingdoms, and crumbled the for
tunes of the fairest republics. History is
continually repeating itself. and we have
no wav of judging of the future but BY the
past. Like conditions produce like re-
suits The embarrassments which beset
| the Greek and Roman republics are null
/ tiplied in our era. The chief condition of
our safety is in the greater intelligence of
the people. Extremes meet. Pauperism
| and ponderous wealth alike are baneful in
their influence. The latter begets ,,ae for
mer, and, ike the Car of Juggerna, IN the
down Crane, gain momentum by thcir own
weight. To increase the intellectual and
moral light about US, and with it check the
growth of these extremes of wealth and
/ poverty, is the province of the Grange
| Wherefore. then, should the Granger and
farmer stand alone ii this good work:
| Why should not the merchant. trader. me-
chanic, artisan. and every other class who
have common interest in the welfare OF
a common country, enoeavo- to act united
/ ly in preserving that well adjusted order
and equitable balance which alone can
save US as a nation?
The Grange hath rs appointed work
| and if every one will put a shoulder to the
wheel, the Mecca lands of Faith, Hone and
Charity will soon be reached. Life ;s
something more than living, and he who
expeRds the energies of his soul in looking
after Mammon will never see the light of
J higher life. Then why should we not
work together for good, to the end that
our lives man not be altogether in vain?
/ The past achievements of our Order are at
least secure. Its victories and influences
have been as numerous and, in most cases
as delicate as the sands upon the sea-shore
For the future, it will live. for its princi-
Piles and declarations are founded on truth
and Justice The fool in his heart NAV
! say that the Grange must die. and in his
conceit shun its gates; but while human
institutions moulder and crumble into
dust, eternal principles never decay. For
US s.death NAV be an eternal Sleep but If
the Grange dies, it will live again in the
green spring of human hope and action
blessing millions etunborn.-- Cakfernia
Patron.