The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-17

ity The neglect OF uepi Coo
anv interest is an error and leads TO
misfortune, and the more important
the interest the greater the misior-
tune. while we as people nave
MANY interests that have importance.
and merits that we can not Wen
aff,rd to dispense with, or even al
low them to become depressed or
non prosperous. With US, Agricul-
ture is the greatest and most lmPor
tant interest, paramount to all 9TH
ers combined, for all others are de
pendent upon agriculture tor sup
port and prosperity. Then above
all others, it should receive as 1t is
entitled to, the greatest care and pro-
lection, to keep it ever prosperous
which would enable it to distribute
its blessings to all classes and inter
ests more abundantly; this then
would lead to the happiness OF the
whole people and make US nation.
ally prosperous. The necessity OF
a Grange education among the agri-
cultural classes is of the utmost i'm
uortance that should not longer be
neglected. We must, through some
means educate the outside farmer.
Being better Informed and more
thoroughly educated, we will be
better prepared to CO operate more
Systematically and efficiently in rails
ing ourselves to higher and nobler
manhood, and in giving skill and
true dignity to the farming class
The attainment of this grand result
must of necessity be work of time
and development. Two slow to
suit the impotence of those who
would possess the golden egg at
once, and those whose faith has
waned because it did not spring into
vigorous life directly from the
brains of the founders of our Order
like Minerva from the brain of u
piter). to shower its blessings upon
their devoted heads. Because the
Grange has not accomplished its
ends by lnagie, affords no proof OF
its ineficiency any more than the
product of rich acre of land, poorly
titled, is a test of its productive ca
pacity. Because the farmers unac
custoned to the form of organized
bodies, to habits of thought and self
reliance, have not secured for it an
uneXampled prosperity, there is no
proof that it will not one day be an
instumentality in their hands for
securing their highest industrial,
civil and political good.
Fellow Patrons, the social feature
Of our Order is of the highest i'm
portance aud consideration. If we
will only continue true to the cause,
this alone will be of greater value
to us than all its cost in time and
money. Meeting here as band Of
brothers and sisters having a com
mon cause afd common interest
at stake, all selfshness will be re
moved from our hearts and the ties
of brotherly love and friendship will
be strengthened until we entertain
a kind fraternal feeling of friendship
towards all mankind. The poet,
Upper, in his Proverbial Philos
ophy, has beautifully said:
"ThoSe hours are not lost,
Which are spent in 7menting affection,
Friends are more valuable than gold,
Precious as the stores of the mind
Ny friends, Just In proportion as
the ties Of fraternal friendship are
strengthened among the members
of our Order. the beneficial effects
of these feelings will be felt outside
of the Grange, like the waves of the
sea they will widen till they reach
the most distant limit They will
be met by like reciprocal feelings Of
friendship by others not member
of our Order. Human nature" it
has been said, ''is the same every
where, whether in the wigwam of
the savage, or in the tapestried halls
of power, it ever, like Memnon's
statue, murmurs responsive music
to the warm rays of affection and
answers back kindly influences by
reciprocal friendship"
In conclusion, brothers ard sis
tiers, permit me to say to you, if you
wish to have a clear conception and
a thorough knowledge of the great
beauties and the practical teachings
of our Order, let me entreat you to
read carefully and thoughtfully the
little Manual prepared by the
noble founders of the Grange and
the "Declaration of Purposes" as
set forth by the National Grange
In studying the precepts of our or,
ganization you will find there is no
calling more elevating to the mind
than agriculture. God in the be
ginning made it honorable, and it
is our duty to sustain it "a such.
describing the principles which
shut out women from a knowledge
of the myteries, we open wide the
door and bid her welcome. In so
doing, we claim a precedent, when
God said, cit is not good for man
to be alone" We ask none to Join
us who can not see good in their
fellow beings, but to all engaged in
the cultivation cf the soil, who have
generous hearts and open hands to
help the needy, raise the fallen, and
are willing to aid in making the
labors of this life cheerful, we say,