The patron of husbandry., 1882-03-04
Grange News.


Grange News.
The following address of the
Master of Pleasant Grove Grange
of Kentucky, at his installation, has
the true ring, and is worthy of con
sideration by every member of the
Order:
The work of our Order is noble
work. A vast field of usefulness is
spread out before us. We labor
not only for the good of our Order.
but for our country and mankind.
AS has been stated in the prean-
BILE to our constitution, individual
happiness depends on general pros
perity, and the prosperity of all
other industries upon that of agri
culture. Without agriculture there
would be no manufactures, no COM
merce.
The Importance of agriculture
and the relation it sustains to the
happiness and we'll being of man
kind ought to arouse the energy and
call forth the best efforts in behalf
of its prosperity of every true Pa
tron.
The day has passed when the
farmers of this country may expect
to prosper in an unorganized, iso-
lated condition.
For nearly three quarters of a
century, the sturdy yeomanrv of
this country, having thrown off the
yoke of British supremacy, misru c
and oppression, were under the be-
nign influence and protection of q
popular Government, permitted to
follow the peaceful avocation of
agriculture unmolested and to enjoy
the fruits of their toll; but durin 2
the last quarter of a century gigant c
corporations and monopolies have
grown up, of vast power and fabu-
lous wealth, who, taking advantage
of the farmers in their isolation, are
robbing them of the fruits of their
labor.
1t has therefore become a matter
of necessity that farmers. should or
ganize for self protection and self
preservation, to become disciplined,
to act in harmony and as a unit.
This, however, is no easy task. 1t
can hardly be expected that a class
OF men who, for generations past,
have been accustomed to act indie
pendent of each other, will at once
be brought into an organization.
\ ct, notwithstanding the misrepre
sentations of enemies and the mis-
apprehension and lack of apprecia-
ton of farmers, the growth of the
Order of Patrons OF Husbandry
goes steadily on, until, in some
States, it has already become
power recognized and respected;
and if we may Judge by the AVA
kened interest, the zeal, the devo-
ton to the cause manifested among
the mem bers, il is destined soon to
become one of the grandest organ
izations the world has ever known.
The Grange is not political or
ganization, yet by the principles she
inculcates, elevating her members
to higher sphere of thought and
action, fits them for the responsible
duties of citizenship. She has no
religious creed, yet acknowledging
the overruling providence of her
Divine Master, she invckes His
blessing upon all her labor, and in
culcates the precepts of piety by
teaching her members to study and
appreciate the beauties and the
wonders of nature, and to lift the
heart in humble alteration from ma
ture up to natures God.
She teaches us not only the cult
vation of the soil and how to en-.
hance the comforts and attractions
of our own homes, but also the cul-
tivation of those graces of mind and.
heart which adorn the character.
without which no home can be
made happy.
Whilst we realize that eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty, and
organize to protect ourselves from
the avaricious grasp of monopolies,
it is also necessary that we attain
the highest art of economic and
productive farming in order to
compete with the industry of the
teeming millions now pouring into
this country to cultivate the virgin
soil of the Western States.
As individuals, or as a Subordi-
nate Grange, we may expect to ac
complish but little goodbeyond our
home circle. Let let US not despisc
the day of small things; as each
blade of grass helps to clothe the
verdant fields, as each one of the
countless fountains helps to swell
the tide of the mighty river, flow
ing on in its grandeur, and bearing