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

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The following is an Essay read by Mrs
NJ. B. Quails before the Associate Grange
at Town Creek, and is published by re.
quest of the Grange:
Worthy Master: Since I have been re-
quested to contribute something toward
the entertainment of our friends and
members of our Order on this occasion
shall endeavor to do 80, though I could
wish the task ha been assigned to an.
other; not that am unwilling to con-
tribute any thing l can to promote the
interest of our Order, yet it 10 very EN-.
barrassing for me to appear before you
who are jealous workers when our
Grange has not had meeting for months.
Were we in good working order, as we
once were, then 1t would not be go diff.
cult task to find subject, and know
how to dispose of 1t.
Not long since l was In company with
a member of sister Grange, when he
said: II suppose you are appointed to
write an essay for the Associate Grange
have you collected q subject9" I replied
In the negative. "Then," says he, 'let
me suggest that you write the Grange's
obituary"
Another Granger told me he would not
waste his time if he were in my place,
"for," says he, ESSAYS are dull things Mt
best, and they are seldom, if ever, ap.
preciated." Thus encouraged, I come
before you thinking the social feature of
she Grange will be a suitable theme to
discuss.
We are created social creatures, and
should We not rather cultivate this dis.
position than school ourselves to live for
self alone9 Where is there place bet.
ter adapted to its cultivation than a
Grange In good working order2 1t is
there we should meet as one united fam.
ily, each one striving to contribute his or
her share to the interest, encouragement
and enjoyment of the other members of
the family. The Grange il 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 It's members? The
founders of this noble Order had praise.
worthy objects In view aside from pecu.
mary benefit. They wanted an organi,
cation that would make farmers more
united and better men. Does not the
teachings Of the Grange iustill In us a
spirit of forbearance, kindness and gen.
tleness one toward another2 1t does all
this, and goes atep fnrther It incul.
Gates spirit CT 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 acale of moral
beings and make us better qualified for
the positions we hold in life.
Every one would like to appear well in
society. The desire for the appreciation
or sympathy of our tellow.men is In.
stinctive and universal it is potent with
the veriest savage as we'll as tho most
highly cultivated members of society; il
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 ipjunc,ions
given US when we were initiated? Are
we not told to keep in remembrance the
pledge We have taken, and to le. our
conduct be regulated by the precepts Of
wisdom and virtueP also to strive TO
make our lives as harmoniously beautiful
as the works Of nature2 Ia this precept
not worthy to be remembered Should
not every true Granger keep this injunc.
ton in yiew7 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 no. the adyan.
tages Of those who live in towns and
cities for sociai culture and enjoyment.
That Is, we do not have the places, Of
amusement and instruction they have.
Therefore, should we not foster every
means and keep alive those forces that
are so we'll calculated to elevate us. both
materially and morally7 All other pro.
fessions have their societies aud uphold
them for their mutual benefit, and Why
should not the farmer7 Have we less
confidence in each other than tho rest of
mankind7 or should we be less au,bi.
tious than those engaged in other voca.
tions and calliugs TO make ourselves
known and respected7 In this age OF
improvement In agricultural implements
no man Is compelled to work as he once
did they save time as we'll 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. 's
The Grange, 1t is true, wes not intend.
ed for intellectual culture, yet there is
much to be learned from it in that sphere
which We could not so rest,ily learn in
any other way except in q yociety 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,
psid by spending one day in each month
In these our social gatherings? S3l3. I.
Wa are creatures of habit, and habit.
like everything else, is strengthened by
cultivation, and when long peIsisled Ii,
becomes part of our character. We
are also beings 90 constituted that we