Milford chronicle., 1883-03-30
TIE GRANGE.
IT'S ORIGIN. FROGEEss AND EDUCATIONAL PUR-
POSES.

IT'S ORIGIN. PROGRESS AND EDUCATIONAL PUR-
POSES.
This subject was presented few weeks HncI
in long aud interesting address read BY Hon
D. Wyatt Aiken Of South Carolina. before IN,
Convention Of Agricultnnsts called by Genera
Loring, United States Commissioner Of Agricul
ture at Washington.
From January 1866 until April 1867 Mr.. o. n
Kelley. clerk in the Agricultural Department
was sent by Mr.. Newton, the then Commission
er Of Agriculture, on q mission Of some sori
through the South.
Impressed with the disorganzaiiou Of that Pc.
cularly agricultural section, and gueved at the
utter decentralization Of its people, whom be
found intelligent and trustworthy beyond his an
ticipaiions, Kelly conceived the idea that for the
Tesuseitation Of the country and the recuperaton
Of itS farmers, whose wealth and resources had
been swept away by the cruel hand Of war, or.
ganization was a necessity. This. however, was
but transient thought as applied to the farmers
Of the South, for a moments reflection convinced
him that there was vital need of organization
among the farmers OF the Union, North as well
as South, and 10 effect such an end became the
thought Of his life. He reasoned that agncultu-
raj clubs were neither permanent nor effective !;
theywsTe ephemera, and seldom it ever controlled
BY farmers. State and county fairs we're not for
farmers alone, but open to the competition Of
the world. In his sOllloquy he querisd, why
should not farmers join in 3 league peculiar to
themselves, in which others should not be ad.
mitied to membership Such an union would
be partisan and il partisan it must be secret, and
II secret it must have ritual to make it effective
and attractive. This process OF reasoning rapid
ly brought him TO a conclusion, and forthwith he
undertook to execute the Iitualistic framework
Of such an organization. The task wac. however
beyond the capacity. and he soon found himself
sounding in deep water. But Kelly was a man
not easily bafled so with ardor unabated he re.
sorted to the exPedent OF advising with counsel.
ors.
Mr.. J. R. Thompson, then as now an officer in |
the Treasury Department. and Nr. William n. |
Ire and the chief clerk in the france division Of
the Post Office Department, to which bureau |
Kelly had beed transferred in the fall Of 1885,
we're two congenial companions whose acquaint-
ance he had made alter his return from the South.
They we're both schoOled in the mysteries Of
masonry, and the former was proficient in the
composition Of rituslistc work. Kelley had no
hastancy in approaching these two friends. They
heard his story. and Endorsed his efforts, and Ihe
trio had repeated consultations upon the subject.
Before making visible progress, however, the
necessity arose for the counsel of practical ag.
deultuFist.
By common consent, Mr.. william Saunders,
then as now skilled and efficient superintendent
Of the garden and grounds Of this Department,
was invited TO JOIN them, which he did with some
however, because Of the eompreben-
yvenesS Of the work as he appreciated it.
This quanette, unwilling to pass judgement
upon the work of their own minds. invited the
Rev. John Thimhle, then an officer in the Traas.
lry Department, TO exercise the privilege Of crit.
eising their laboTs as they progressed.
Alter season, the Rev. A. B. Grosh, then
,lOrk in the Agricultural Department, and Z
IN Odd Fellow Of high repute, and Mr. F. N. !
Mcdowell, then as now = vineyardin Of Wayne, d
'. Y, and friend Of NF. Saunders, were induced
o labor with the FIVE, and these seven constituted
he immortal founders OF the Order Of the Pa. v
rons Of HuSbandry, though several mutual I
Try times consulted, and suggested much that q
vas valued, but vast deal more that was 70.
scted. il
For nearly two years these seven men wrought q
nth an energy unaecountable, and with a faith 81
mounting almost to inspiration. until they com. al
leted 4 well devised scheme Of organization, D
ased upon ritual OF four degrees for men and y
nd four for women,
Having framed > constitution, adapted to this pI
tual, 10 govern them, these men met on the 9Th g
~ Of December, 1857, in the little brown build. AZ
g now standing embOwsred IN the trees on the VI
,mer Of FOur-and,a halt street and Missouri 81
renue in Washington which was at that time the
ice Of NJ, Saunders, and then and there consti. de
ted themselves the National Grange Of the Pa. m
onS Of HusbandTy, with saundsra as master, Se'
thompson as lecturer, ireland as irealusr, and o.
ely a. secretary; the remaining Offices lsft va III
nt Nv
During the four YeaFg next sRseesding, their
al was nothing abatsd, Their time, their ls. no
z, and their sean,y cash were all chesFfully mi
rem TO scatter the seeds Of promise FAR and vide Or
sr the Union. for they fsrvently believed they mol
,re casing their bread upon the waters, As Gu
evidence Of their faith and enthusiasm Kelly in
igned bis clerkship and embarked upon Pill. fail
mage among unknown farmers in the North. Pll'
ss taking with him neither script nor money, eir'
be had neither, and bis comrades had none old
dvance him. The only letter ofcredlt furnished ?
! was q sort Of "to all whom il may coucernn tina
1tle, which peFchance might be Of service 10 the
II he met an acquaintance or friend Of either thir
he seven. They buoysd him, however, upon thei
eve Of bis departure with q fraternal "God mel
IS you and your efforts, Kelly" clsr
urns these four years this septuary brother. the
d mst frequently, and formally once in each the
T a. the Natioual Grange. There 10 no 70 NOR
led evidence that quorum WAS always pres. ane'
even oitheir annual meetings; indeed quite p
contrary Is easily proven for at the third an bool
session Of the National Grange, Worthy Libr
Ter Saunders with market dignity delivered To
inaugural ia the presence Of secretary Kelly, Gran
entire auditory, and when be concluded. ches
d leave to print IN the next mornings daily igibl
Re. that the two might buy few extra cop dssTi
sch. and ihuf b enabled to circulate their impl'
Dedinak Ofcourps Ieaye was granted. The provi