The patron of husbandry., 1881-12-10
Letter from Worthy Master Har
well. of the Tennessee State
Grange.

WASHINGTON, b. c., Nov. *.
Editor Of The Patron. We are
approaching the close of the 15th
annual session of the National
Grange: About thirty States are
represented by active, Jealous Mas
ters, and we think much good will
result from the meeting. Many of
the representatives present have
served in former sessions, and, in
deed, some of them have been iden.
tined with this Grange almost from
its first organization. we have rec
ognized among the visitors from the
surrounding States the familiar faces
of many who have honored our
meetings at former sessions. The
large attendance of visitors, indeed,
speaks well for the vitality of the
Order, and gives assurance of a
vigor and a future promise that is
very encouraging.
Alabama and Arkansas have sent
representatives to this body for the
first time in several years, and so
favorable has been the impression
made by these new representatives
upon the body that one of them,
Bro. Scott from Arkansas, has been,
Notwithstanding his brief connec-
ton with it, elected to an important
office. Had it not been for sickness
and death in the families of Grange
Masters, this would have been the
largest gathering of State represen-
tatlves since the organization.
THE PERsoNEL
OF this body will compare most fa-
vorably with any previous meeting,
and the deliberations of the body
have given abundant evidence Of a
vigorous growth in such practical
knowledge as is needed to make the
movement a grand success. The
reports of the committees abound,
IN the main, with vigorous and ma
ture thought, aud ought to be care
fully read by every Patron and far
mer in the whole country, and we
might add by every politician, that
he may see the handwriting on the
wall so that he may adjust his views
to meet the demands of the moving
masses.
There has been a very emphatic
recognition of the necessity of a
proper
| EDUCATION
of the farmer through the plans of
the Order, and for the more practi-
cal education of the young through
the common schools.
This BODY has also enunciated its
views in reference to the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and, indeed,
IN regard to all legislation, in it's
Judgment, required to properly pro-
tect the interests of our great Ma
tional industry.
Very little change has been made
in our organic law, but at the pres
ent writing the reports have not all
been received.
On the 23d the Grange called in
a body on the President, who re-
celved them in the beautiful parlor
of the Jones' mansion with proper
courtesy, and we feel assured that
he shook more honest hands on that
day than usually falls TO his lot in
one day in Washington.
| Few deliberative bodies ever met
IN this great city of magnificent dis.
tances, splendid and costly build
lngs, and rare and attractive exhibi.
tons, that give SO little attention to
sightseeing or ceremonial visits,
and few bodies, we dare say, work
more persistently and industtiouslv
IN the discharge of official duties.
Many of the members, however,
have paid their respects to the vile
murderer, who is daily on exhibition
at the Criminal Court room but a
few minutes walk from the hall in
which we meet. Large and excited
crowds are in daily attendance upon
the levees which this consummate
and egotistical villain holds in the
temple of justice. He Is, by virtue
OF his crime and his irrepressibilitv.
the central figure, and his every act
IN the court room, and every detail
OF the daily exhibition from the time
he emerges from the iron cage in
which he is brought to the court
mouse to the moment he enters ii to
be returned to the jail and even
later, is caught at by the eager and
many hued crowd that follow with
misses and boots the rapidly retreat
ing van and its mounted guard.
This is grave and dignifed body.
There are very few heads amongst
the members that are not frosted
over by the ruthless hand of time.
There are many eloquent and forci-
bic speakers amongst them, and few
who do not feel the responsibilities
resting upon them and who do not
demonstrate their readiness to make
personal sacrifices in the interests of
the Order. We should be pleased
TO present to your readers pen pho
tographs of many of them if we had
the time and you the space to spare,
and particularly of our most promi
nent members.
Bro. Aiken, of South Carolina.
has just taken his seat. He is an
eloquent and forcible speaker. and
so true Patron that all should |