The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-23
FROM TENNESSEE.
letter from Worthy Master Har-
we'll

Il ItH' V|E' l. IlSIC 10 Ac
Grange subject OF deeper interest
to us at this time than the condition
of the Order in our own State. We
are daily receiving letters from diff
ferent parts of it, enquiring either
for the methods of reorganizing dor
mant Oranges, or for the A. W. for
those which have resumed work.
This is very encouraging and proves
what we have everywhere found to
be true, that there is in the hearts
of even dormant Changers, deep
seated conviction of the great value
of the Order to the farmers of the
country and an earnest wish for its
success. This sentiment is every
where in active sympathy with the
movement, and ready, as oppor
tunity offers, to aid in its rehabili-
tation. 1t is, indeed, in its effect
upon the public mind, preparing
the way for the triumph of Grange
principles ano practices.
There were at one time eleven
hundred Oranges in the State, and
though many of them are now dor
mant they have left their impress
in the minds and hearts of the peo-
pie, and there is a broader intelli
gence, more general information in
regard to questions Of public inter,
ests, kinolier feeling towards our
neighbors, and juster conception
Of our duties as citizens. All of
which attest the benefits which have
resulted from that spirit of enquiry
which Grange methods have every
where awakened. We may we'll
believe that more enlightened con-
ception of its objects, and the agen
cies through which it works would
lead the farmers now to hail the re-
vival of the Order in the State with
a more intelligent interest than that
which greeted its introduction
few years ago when the public
mind was filled with apprehensions
of financial disasters, which, like
coming events, cast their shadows
before them, and when SO many
fed into the Grange fold as refuge
from those evils, which brought al
most the whole country to the brink
of ruin and so many to the verge of
bankruptcy.
Our County Grange is doing a
littl EXCELLENT missionary work, by
holding its monthly meetings at the
halls of dormant Oranges. On the
Sth inst. it held its meeting, by in
vitation at Buford Grange, with, we
think, most encouraging results. At
its next meeting, May II, it will
meet at Cedar Grove, where we are
assured we shall find many former
members who are anxious to re-
sumo their connection with the
Grange.
To these meetings the public are
invited, and the object is not only
to re-enlist dormant members, but
to awaken an interest in the public
mind in the operations of the Order;
for there is nothing which SO retards
its growth and development as the
want of a just comprehension OF
its purposes. But Notwithstanding
the torpor which exists in some
parts of the State, there is a grow
ing conviction that the Grange IS
an established institution, and that
it is, even in high places, exerting
a power and an influence which en-
titles it to the highest consideration
tits beginning to be well understood
that TO its influeace we may ascribe
the fact that Congress has before 1t
bills to regulate inter-Stste com
merce, to remedy the inequalities OF
taxation, to prevent impositions by
fraudulent patent vendors, and to
secure for the great agricultural IN
terests of the country their proper
recognition and support by the gen
eral government. 1t has pointed out
the dangers of consolidation by
those corporations whose aggre-
gated capital places in their hands a
bower dangerous to our republican
form of government, and the equal
itv and reciprocal interests OF the
several classes in our social Order.
Our Order stands. indeed, as a
sentinel TO guard our interests
against the Vaccinations of political
parties. the greed of rapacious cor
porations. and the dangers of isola-
tion and Independent action on our
nart As It's character becomes bet
ter understood, it is natural that
tbere should be disposition
throughout the Order to reorganize,
that CO operation may be efectual
in CARRYING out the aims OF the Or
der The result of all this is seen,