The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-06-18
For the Patron.
what Has the Grange Accom-
pliShed?

| Ry TsB. HARWELL, MASTER OF THE
TENNESSEE STATE GRANGE.
This enquiry is made by those who
have crossed the threshold OF the
| Order but have not entered into It's
spirit. by those who have contem-
/ plated it from a distance, and again
by those whom if antagonists IN the
prosecution of its aims.
It's, perhaps, difficult to answer
this question to the satisfaction OF
those who are unwilling to see good
in he movement or of those who
nave misconceived its character, but
| it os,lnt not to be difficult to under
stand that the fullest success can
only.follow the systematic and en-
ergetic employment of its methods.
Many who may honestly make the
nouiry, have undervalued the re-
suits Of imperfect organization, and
have ascribed to inherent detects IN
the Order itself the failure of their
expectations, whilst others, misap
pretending its character and aims,
have traced their disappointment to
the same source.
TIE grand object of the Grange is,
in sfereotyped phrase, the improve
me1t of the farmer. 1t does not con-
fneiitself to the improvement sim
ply3 of his farming and business
meHhods, but seeks as well to elevate
hinf. In the social order and to quail
ify 1dm for an enlight. ned discharge
of tie duties of good citizenship.
The methods by which these ends
re,to be attained are clearly defined
] and challenge the closest scrutiny.
Its progress NAV have been slow, but
where does the fault lie? The field
of It's operations is wide, the harvest
is ripe, and the instrumentality well
S adjusted: if the labor has not been
: performed and the results secured,
E it is the misfortune of those whose
interest it is to perform it, and does
not derogate from the excellence OF
/ the instrumentahty. The religion OF
n the Bible is not the less entitled tC
f our highest consideration because
, many reject it, yet this has not ar
rested those elevating processes by
> which it has been for ages SILENT,
n smoothing the rugged aspects of oul
d natures and purifying the emotions
q of our hearts, until to day it com
mands our respect, our reverence
our homage SO it is with the
II Grange, and whether it be asked in
q good faith or with a sneer, we reply
e that it has diffused amongst the far
, mers of the country an influence tina
is-gradually Grangerising and puri
flying their hearts, kindling highe
J aspirations, quickening thought anC
e observation, and is silently drawing
2 them together by the ties of com
! mon interest and destiny.
Because it has mot accomplished
its ends bv magic, affords no proc
II of its inefficiency a"y more than tina
/ the product Of a rich acre of lane
l. poorly TILED is a test Of its produc
:, tive capacity. Because the farmers
unaccustomed to the forms of organ
: zed bodies, to habits of thought anc
y self reliance, have not secured for
= an uneXampled prosperity, there i
e no proof that it will not one day b,
an instrumentalitv III their hands 70
securing their highest industrial
/ civic and political good. Its charac
l. FER and objects challenge the appro
l. bSal of every good citizen, and it will
Is I vel claim the higheet recognition
from those who look forward to tina
higher civilization to which we, a
Is people, should aspire.
re The Order is based upon princi
D, Piles that are indestructible, an,
8 whilst striving for the highest gooC
of those who are already engaged i,
the active duties of life, it contem
8 plates for the young, an early edu
lie cation and training that will fit then
Of for higher progress and more in
# tellight action than has been pcssi
hle with their fathers. The Order
then, is not the ephemeral outcrop
he ping of disconnected class, but
L. is grand movement which has bee,
te evolved in the fulness of time out o
the exigencies of the most importan
, industrial class in our countrv-th
- necessity for more just conception
ot of its rights and interests, for a wise
lie economy in farm management,
re- higher intelligence for performin;
- the functions of sovereignty, and il
preserving the equilibrium between
: the several classes in our social or
I'd der, that we may preserve our fire
" institutions and counteract the dan
,e gerous tendencies of too great con
= centration of power and wealth il
o. the hands of the few.
N tits an outgrowth of our advan cet
al civilization, and has illustrated in it
origin that law which has marke,
20 our progress from the beginning. |
was evolved out of the necessities t
o which we have referred. Just as tn
e application of mechanical principle
at in the various pursuits of life wa
t evolved out of the physical an,
&C commercial wants of mankind; a
! the rail road system, out of the ne
: cessity for cheap transportation an,
is rapid transit, and so on to the en-,
A. of the chapter.
of 1t seeks first to organize those e.;
is gagged in agriculture, that they ma,
/ cooperate Systematically and eff
. GENTLY in working out that highe
p civilization to which we have re
lie ferred. The attainment of this gran,
result must of necessity be a worl
of time and development. Too SLOW
J. to suit the impotence of those VIII
would possess the golden egg a
: once, and those whose faith ha
" Cd - I