The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-04
The Social Feature OF the Grange.

at Town Creek, and is published by re
quest of the Grange:
Worthy Master: Since I have been re
quested to contribute something towarc
the entertainment of our friends anl
members of our Order on this occasion
I shall endeavor to do so, though coult
wish the tssk had been assigned to an
other; not that I am unwilling to con
tribute any thing I can to promote the
interest of our Order, yet it is very en-
barrassing for me to appear before you
who are Jealous workers when oul
Grange has not had meeting for months
Were we in good working order, as We
once we're, then it would not be go diff
cult task to find subject, and know
how to dispose of it.
Not long since was in company with
a member of sister Grange, when he
said: II suppose you are appointed te
write an essay for the Associate Grange
have you selected subject?" replied
in the negative. "Then," says he, "leI
me suggest that you write the Grange:
obituary"
Another Granger told me be would moi
waste his time if he were in my place
"for," says lie, ESSAYS are dull things al
best, ane they are seldom, if ever, ap'
preciated." Thus encouraged, I come
before you thinking the social feature ot
the Grange will be suitable theme to
discuss.
We are created social creatures, and
should we not rather cultivate this dis.
position than school ourselves to live fol-
self alone? Where is there place bet.
ter adapted to it's cultivation than 8
Grange in good working order? 1t is
there we should meet as one united fam.
lily, each one striving to contribute his OF
her share to the interest, encouragement
and enjoyment of the other members oi
the family. The Grange is the only or.
ganization that those engaged in the cul.
tivation of the soil can call exclusively
their own. Should we not, if necessary
make sacrifices to uphold it, and feel
proud to be one of its members? The
founders of this noble Order had praise.
worthy objects in view aside from pecu.
mary benefit. They wanted an orgaui.
zation that would make farmers more
united and better men. Does not the
teachings of the Grange instill in us a
spirit Of forbearance, kindness and gen.
tleness one toward another? 1t does all
this, and goes step farther: it incul'
Gates a spirit Of patience and kindness
toward even the lower animals that
Providence has placed under our care,
all of which have direct influence over
our moral natures, and which is calcu.
lated to elevate US in the scale of moral
beings and make US better qualified fol
the positions we hold in life.
Every one would like to appear we'll in
society. The desire for the appreciation
or sympathy of our tellow.meu is in
stinctive and universal; it is potent with
the veriest savage as we'll as the most
highly cultivated members of society; it
dictates our every action, whether trivial
or important, and how can we gain the
approval of each other more quickly and
,lastingly than to follow the injunctions
given US when ne were initiated? Are
we not told to keep in remembrance the
pledge we have taken, and to let our
conduct be regulated by the precepts ol
wisdom and virtue? also to strive to
make our lives as harmouiously beautiful
as the works of nature? Is this precept
not worthy to be remembered? Should
not every true Granger keep this injunc.
tion in view? And while he makes pro.
gress in the cultivation of the soil, should
he not be equally Jealous in the improve.
ment of his mind, morals and manners
In the country we have not the advan-
taces of those who live in towns and
cities for social culture and enjoyment
That is, we do not have the places o1
amusement and instruction they have
Therefore, should we not foster every
means and keep alive those forces that
are 80 we'll calculated to elevate us both
materially aud morally? All other pro.
fessions have their societies and uphold
them for their mutual benefit, and why
should not the farmer? Have we less
confidence in each other than the rest Of
mankind7 or should We be less ambi'
tious than those engaged in other voca'
tions and callings to make ourselves
known and respected? In this age oi
Improvement in agricultural implements
no man is compelled to work rs he once
did; they save time as well as labor
which time should be used IN the i'm.
provement of the mind, for education
causes US to see things differently, and
gives US higher and nobler views OF
things at large.
Tie Grange, it is true, was not intend !,
ed for intellectual culture, yet there is
much to be learned from it in that sphere
which we could not so readily learn in
any other way except in society simi:
larly constituted. Besides, farmers need
rest and relaxation from their regular
routine of business. And what farmer
is there who would not be more than re.
paid by spending one day in each month
in these our social gatherings?
We are creatures of habit, and habit,
like everything else, is strengthened by
cultivation. and when long persisted in