The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-05-21
The Mistake OF Granges-CO-
operation.
FROM THE SECRETARY OF TIL
GEORGIA STATE GRANGE.

GEORGIA STATE GRANGE.
Editor Patron. After the echoes
of our Tennessee Coiunbiad on CO.
operation has been so long and dis.
tinCtiy heard, it would seem that
pop guns should keep silent But
you know there are boys and girls
who read your noble paper and
they perhaps will not object to the
use of this time honored but dimin-
uitive weapon Of warfare, SO here
gees for few china berries:
| have just caught fresh inspira-
ton from reading the quarterly re-
port of Doves Creek Grange, which
has ere hUndred and SeUeEtv-tzVo
members enrolled on its list! This
is the largest number ever reported
for one Grange in Georgia; and
now what? Why simply this; I'm
der operation, anything desirable
is attainable by this Grange! The
earnest, faithful combination of
such number will exert an inf1u,
ence in any desired direction simply
irresistible. | thank God there is
one Grange in Georgia-and there
are several others following rapidly
in the boom which has it in its
power to demonstrate the power,
the necessity, the practicability of
more thorough, sympathetic union
among the agricultural classes.
What responsibility rests upon
such an union of numbers? What
power and influence, for veal or
woe to their best interests, have
been entrusted to their guardian
ship. From such centers we can but
indulge the fond hope that streams
of light will radiate to guide the
struggling weary feet of full many
discouraged Patrons. Suppose there
should be but twenty five such cen
ters in the State, are not these suffi-
Gent to rally the strongest hopes of
our Patron host? Yea, sir, | tell
you many an aching heart for our
cause will light its Pickering lamp
from the fires of such burning al
tars, and pledge a new zeal, a more
devoted fidelity.
7 would not be understood as in
timating that Oranges less numeri-
cally strong have no access to. the
fruits of cooperation, How often
have we noted the marked influence
of few determined men and wo-
men in a community-under per-
sistent effort? What vices have
they not eradicated, what customs
changed and reformations pro-
duced2 This brings us to some of
the mist. kes of our Oranges. No
more fatal one has developed itself
than the disregard of the day Of
small things Patrons tell US that
they admit the power of co-opera-
tion-that the key mote to their
sanction of the truth, strength in
union" was struck upon the ''bun-
die of sticks" in the A, B, c spell
ling book. They admit what
mighty factor of success it is in en-
terprises conducted by other pro-
fessions of our fe1low-men. O,
yes, we know it sends the steam
engine :umbling along through hill
and over plains from ocean to
ocean, wakes up the hum of N.Y.
RAIDS OF factories, builds colleges
and school houses, and erects affairs
to the living God. Then why don't
Patrons cooperate? Pdradoxical,
certainly, is our existence. We
must take some horn of the dilemma.
Either we don't admit there is any
virtue in unity, or we havn't the
will-power to begin to illustrate it.
No Grange is SO poor in this worlds
goods, nor SO few in numbers as
TO be above the want of daily neces-
sites, daily comforts, daily Injuries.
if you please If you can't build a
factory, can't you purchase a sack
of coffee at wholesale rates and dis