The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-08-20
Women and Youuypeon,
Grange hths

Grange. the
1t is peculiarly of the a.,
Patrons of Husbandry that i 4 Of
its doors not only to far, !. opens
also to. their wives ana uieis, but
The wife, and her children C MI
of suitable age, are made VINO are
conc as the husband and vel
and their presence and their l a,llr
to entertainment and impro, Saalns
are contemplated in the pro o'n
ceremonies and exercises , nre
'Grange.AT This is feature u ~ the
Order which arrests the att =, our
of every intelligent inquire enuOo
gives it a distinction above and
other voluntary organizatioee every
purely human origin. Of
= The founders of none Of tbo
societies which have become s, s5eat
established among the ciyiEzsS lucy
tons embodied this feature VII "a
forming their associations Rv "a a
omission they rejected a gre:, WIS
portunity for usefulness; and Up Up
room for many questionings S .
suspicious concerning their a r
purposes, and the character Of go
proceedings within their closag
doors. No reasonable man WIZ :.
members that both sexes and u
sit together in the Grange, can g..
"a moment believe that its purno. :"
and methods are, to even the ls,.,
degree, tainted with immoraIi,a'
The fact that many of the bs,,
wives, sisters and daughters in or,
rural neigh borhoods regularly mar
ticipate in Grange meetings, plscs,
beyond a doubt the purity Of ~
scenes they witness and the lesson,
they there learn. Is not this poirt
too often overlooked by Patron,
when defending the Order fromtbs
attacks of opponents?
The scope of the organization be-
ing thus very wide, do we lind
when we examine individual Gran
ges that their membership embraces
all the grades of persons who are
eligible? Has every Subordinate
Grange a fair proportion of women
young menand girlsi From pretty
wide observation we can say that
those are the most prosperous and
efficient which most fully exhibit
this distinguishing characteristic Of
our Order. In such cases there Is
growth, on the part of the indiyd.
ual members and of the association
as whole. The exercises are varied
and interesting, and attendance and
participation are secured without
difficulty
But we have known instances ia
which the men so largely outnum.
bered the women, and Others IN
which there were so few, if any.
young people that this feature Of a
well organized Grange was hardy
visible. AS was to be expected we
have found in such cases that the
time was almost wholly devoted to
questions of dollars and cents; the
social purposes of the Order were
lost sight of, and literary exercises
were not even mentioned. We are
tempted to say that such Grange
reminds as Of an old strawberry bed
made up almost entirely OF male
plants, which accomplishes no good
even if it continues to live, and
which deserves to be speedily plow.
ed under.
The officers of every Grange
should remember that an important
part of their mission is to the wives
and the young people of their neigh
borhoods. The favor and fellow
ship of these should be eagerly
sought. Having brought them into
the Grange their presence must moi
be forgotten, but their necessities
must be provided for and their Pc
culiar tastes generously treated. !,
must not be forgotten that they feel
but little interest in some subjects
which men discuss eagerly and
profitably; such questions must no.
be too frequently presented. Due
prominence should be given to top
les which they can not only discuss
but in the consideration of whlcf
they believe they will be benefited
Vocal and instrumental music, tnt
presentation of original and selected
literary productions, and other eN
ercises should be discreetly employ
ed; as they are by wise parents II
every large family.
Its evident that the leaders il
some Oranges forget that once thel
were only boys, and pretty soon
their places as leaders, IT hIlea a
all, must be BY some who are boys
now. What are they doing to pro
vide worthy successors for them
selves. Wisdom demands that they
shall seek out and duly train Som'
who may worthily succeed them
Having brought such into tn'
Grange justice requires that they OT
so treated as to secure for them LUZ
development and the highest aoliY
for future usefulness.-Far0i3
E1~fp11l b. .E