The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-16

more men are COrWQeQ tnan INTO any Otner
human pursuit.
Address Before Pioneer Grange.
No. 435, Illinois.
Fellow Patrons, you are aware that va
rious causes led to the organization of the
Grange, and while our enemies have been
many and still are, all along we have met
with opposition, not outside the gates
alone, but we have met with it inside the
gates, and, | may say, within ourselves.
Having BEEN trained when young to bow
to despots, we have submitted to be gov
erned by the few, (custom is nearly a sec
ond nature) and in all countries where ig-
norance prevails people are held in sIavish
subsection. The cloulds which darkened
the minds of many have, to some extent,
been dispelled, and while we, as farmers,
have been cultivating the soil, we also
have been cultivating the mind, the i'm
mortal mind, the nohlest part of creation
In the past we have, by our actions, de
monstrated to the world that in was un-
necessary to cultivate our minds or those
of our children; that it was unnecessary
to spend much time or money in cultiva-
ting the minds of those-especially so If
they were to be farmers. Some have sup
posed that as there was no dignity to la
Dor, they could labor just as well, if not
better, then to possess a cultivated mind
What mistake! A high, good, practical
education spoils no workman, but by a
proper use fits him better for the duties of
life. Is the farmer an exception to this?
| answer, He is not.
1t has often been the case where boy
has attained fair education it has been
thought by many that he was too smart to
remain on the farm, that he must seek some
profession, some avocation in the city or
town, and he has been crowded into the
overcrowded professions or avocations of
the city. Why is it the wish, and why do
SO many of your young men leave the
farm for the citys Is it any wonder that
it is so? Have we not helped them to this
conclusion? Our very doings have de-
monstrated it, and by SO doing have es-
tablished caste between people of the
city and those of the country. Our young
people, as a general thing, are ambitious,
and they consider themselves, and rightly,
too, the equals of others.
Hence, the strife to exchange farm life
for the city, and more especially so when
they hear the farmers themselves COM
planning about their condition, their toll
and their drudgery, and still seeing them
do nothing to make their condition better,
never thinking of adding dignity to labor.
And as soon as the opportunity presents,
they go from the farm to the city. Have
we not often heard how foolish for ito
stay on the farm when he could do so
much better by going to the city? thus
teaching not only him but others, that
something else is better than farming.
Brethren and sisters, shall we not strive
to add dignity to labor? Shall we not en-
courage others to do so?
Let each change this state of things. I
was going to say and will, this deplorable
state of affairs let US, as Patrons of Hus-
bandry, strive with all the power we can
WELD to add dignity to labor by words and
actions, let us teach the young by example,
as well as precept that labor is dignfied by
the Creator from the beginning; let us, by
every means within our power, demon
strate to the young that there is dignity
in labor, that we are farmers from choice,
and not from necessity. Then, only then,
will the young look with pleasure, and not
aversion, on farm life.
Make of it what YOU will there is dignity
in labor. The mind is the brightest dis
play of the power and skill of the Infinite
Mind with which we are acquainted. 1t
was created by God and given to man,
and he placed into the world to be cultiva-
ted, so that he may be fitted for a higher
state of existence. l need not stop to show
the capabilities of the mind God has placed
within our reach, the means by which
every man may cultivate his own mind.
The means are foundations in our nature.
We have first, the faculty of turning the
mind upon itself; we can recall its past,
and watch its present workings; we also
may test capacities-what it can do, what
it can bear, the amount of enjoyment or
suffering; we may also learn in general
what our nature is. The mind is some
thing monopolized by no set of men, no
class of society. The Great Master above
has bestowed it alike or rich and poor,
high and low Mind is in all men, and
every man; the same active living, pro-
gressive principle; it is the man himself.
1t is the mind that makes the man.
would not, do not, undervalue opportuni-
ties, wealth, leisure and other advantages
held out, but they are less than is COM
monty supposed.
Those who have been most distinguish
ed for the improvement of their minds
have not enjoyed the best advantages.
would not detract from colleges, semi
naries, school books o. teachers, nor would
l have you infer that all men possess minds
of the same capacity in the same degree
Fellow Patrons, our duties and obligations
are various In our Declaration of Prin-
ciples we publish to the world the Object
of our union. One of the higher causes
was to advance education amongst our
selves, amongst our neighbors. Our or
ganization is a mutual school, it is a fel6
be cultivated; we are to be the cultiva
ors; we are to be the teachers; we ar