The patron of husbandry., 1881-06-25
Number z.
How to Build Up the arder.


l have been pondering over several
questions that have arisen before the minds
of many members of the Grange. Many
of us well remember the great ground
swell of the Grange movement in Iowa
eight or ten years since, when every man
or woman who had an AK to grind, politi-
cally, or otherwise, rushed tor our outer
gates and was admitted (alas! too many for
the good of the Order) within her inner
gates. Very many prominent men in
Iowa came in and were the magnates of
the Order for four or five years, after
the first three years after the organization
of the Iowa State Grange.
Many of us remember the "Big State
Grange" held at Sherman Hall, Des
Moines. What an immense amount of
zeal we all possessed. With one purpose
in view, apparently, we moved in solid
phalanx to charge upon the lines of mo-
nopolies and rings, formed for the purpose
of fleeing the laboring men and women
out of their just dues-the products of
their own labor. Many of us we'll remem-
Der the advances made by our Order in
breaking those rings and fighting monop-
olies so successfully as to get legislation in
Iowa in favor of the farmers, regulating
railroad freights, and reducing prices for
all farm implements and machinery. But
to-day where are many of our then very
Jealous brethren? Sorry to say it, but
truth compels it-outside the gates of the
noblest Order in America, the Patrons of
| Husbandry.
Why the noblest? Because it seeks to
| elevate the great mass of the tillers of the
| soil and laborers to the highest pinnacle
| of intelligence, morality and usefulness.
You may talk to those, our former breth-
/ ren, now outside, and ask, "How is your
! Grange moving along" "Gone down."
"Whv, gone down." "Well, politics was
introduced in our Grange, and you know
that will kill any Grange" Or, 1.-The
Master of our Grange would not
permit the discussion of any subject
of politica! nature" says another; or
says another, Il fail to see much benefit
to me in the Grange" or says another,
brother or sister "the members of my
Grange, many of them, always opposed
nearly everything 1 advocated in the
Grange, hence l stepped down and out;
l concluded not to stay with such contrary
creatures. Grange gone down" "Well,
! what have you to say against the princi-
pies of our Order" 80, WELL nothing to
say against the principles; they are all
right; l am as much of Granger as l
ever was; l like its principles" ."
Well, may | ask, how much of Gran
ger are you? What are you doing, my
good brother, to build up your dormant
Grange? Are you willing to spend your
talent, time and money, if need be, to
build up an Order that holds the princi-
Piles you so dearly love? If so, show your
faith by your works: If not, / must con-
clude that while you are as much of
| Granger as you ever were, you never was
much of Granger in the true sense, as
see it. 1t is easy for us, generally, to go
with popular opinion, when running in
any certain direction, especially for self
| interest, but when the current changes it
reqnires farmers to stand up and be count
ed 1t takes an effort on our part to lay
aside our selfskness and work earnestly
for the good of our fellows.
l am led to impure:
I. Are the principles held by our Order
goods
2. Is there a necessity for continu-
ance of the Grange organizationS
g. Is there any other organization that
| has come to light that has, is, or can do
so much for the tillers of the soil, as the
Grange?
l answer yes to the Two first; and no to
the last
How can the true Granger, who was in
side, but now out, be got back?
| How can those VINO nave never OtcH
members be brought in?
These questions are easier asked than
answered. 1 will suggest, however: -
| l. Publication of our Declaration OF
| principles in the Visitor.
Invite all who love the Order because
of the principles taught. who have been
members, to come back to the fold again.
a. Show the necessity for the continue
ton of the Grange organization to those
who never have been within the gates.
a. Invite and bring into the Order the
young people in each neighborhood where
a Grange is located.
(. Circulate Grange papers among your
neighbors.
6. Let each County Deputy take copy
of our Declaration of Principles to the
editor of his county paper and ask its pub
lication; also other Grange matter.
7. Stand up like men for the Or5er.
s. Don't blush when you are dubbed
Granger; do not apologize to mortal man
because you belong to the Grange.
O. Let each one, in his or her sphere, do
what they can in quiet way to build up,
harmonize. and crystalize the Order.
10. Teach the Grange has come to stay.
Act and live for it.
II. Cooperate as members of the Or
der as much as possible in all that co ope-
ration means.
II. Don't teach that the Grange has no
higher object in view than dollars and
cents; but the development of manhood
and womanhood to that standard that God
intended us to attain to. ]. w. MURPHY.
Vancleve, Iowa, June 23.