The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-04-15
Work for All.


Essay Read by Mrs. NJ. L. Mcdonald
before Riley Springs Grange, 493, Hop
kns county, Texas, March is, 1882.
Since the decree went forth from
Onnipotence that man should earn
his bread by the sweat of his brow,
all men have been compelled to la
Dor to gain an honest living. To
this there are no exceptions. 1t is
the univeral lot of all, from the Door
widow fighting poverty with the
needle, to the sceptered monarch
vexed with the cares of kingdom.
1t is only difference in the kind
of labor, but no exception. 1t is
either by the sweat of his brow,
the brain, or the heart. And there
never has been time when mental
as well as physical labor was more
needed than it is to-day.
The noble founders of the Order
of Patrons of Husbandry who met
in Washington City, Dec. 4th, 1867,
and there laid the foundation, and
formed the constitution and bylaws
by which they were to be governed,
saw in the Grange the farmers only
hope for freedom from the CALLING
chains of slavery which they were
fast riveting around themselves.
And though at first it was thought
to be too insignificant to be noticed,
like the little brook that wanders
along, overhung by messy banks
and fairy flowers, it continues to
widen, till hundreds of miles from
its source it flows in imposing mag
nificence, carrying many precious
burdens on its foam crested waves.
Just so with the Grange. The
farmers having been aroused from
their torpid state, responded to the
noble call to fight for their rights;
and flowing in from the north, the
south, the east, and the west, they
form an army of might, before
which strong powers are trembling
and monopolies sinking to decay.
But the work does not end here
Riley Springs Grange was organ
lied July Ist, 1873, under the most
f1attering prospects, but it was
doomed to be weighed in the bal
ance, and has, several times, been
found almost wanting, but by the
energy of the faithful few, the dy-
ing sparks have been revived, and
to day we find it thoroughly aroused
and in seeming prosperity. Yet,
my brothers. unless you break the
silence into which you have fallen
by indifference or neglect this pros
perity cannot last, and the cause
will be to you a sad failure. Then
awake thou that sleepest' and
improve the opportunities that are
here given you. Although you
may not possess the wisdom of Solo
mon, and like Moses you may be
slew and stamering of speech, you
can by overcoming your timidity
and speaking your thoughts, or by
faithfully discharging your duty,
aid in pushing forward the needed
work. 1t may be but the dropping
of the pebble into the ocean, but
the broken circles may widen till
every shore will feel their throb.
This is your duty you owe it to the
past, the present and the future, and
to the founders of this noble order,
whose hopes and prayers are recor-
ded in Heaven, the echoes of which
still go around and through the
world. You owe it to yourselves,
your children and your childrens'
children. 1t is in your power to
aid in moving the fulcrum upon
which the lever of society rests, and
in inaugurating reform that will
lead to the exaltation of character.
the purifying of social circles, and
the advancement of the country's
prosperity. Then can you look back
and not feel a thrill of grateful
pleasure and thankfulness, that you
have been enabled to wade out of
the mire of slavery and oppression
into the beautiful walks in which
the Grange has placed your There
has already been great improve
ment in intellectual and agricultu-
raj pursuits, and the fu ture is full of
unborn ideas and work, the devel
nnroanf of which will la,I A.. In