The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-10-27

In the transactions of its business in the
Grange room it aims to develop the
business capabilities of the farmer,
whereby he may be better enabled to
take his rightful part in the management
of public affairs.
/ From the foregoing, the Importance
ofhaying the farmers RIGHT AND UNITED
on all questions that underlie the sta
| bility of a Nation will be apparent to all.
These right and united, factions detri-
mental to Nations good may rise, and
swell, and even become tempestuous,
! like the waves of ocean, lashed and
driven by the storm; and, like them,
break and fall away on this impregnable
bulwark
THE RITUAL.
| Having thus briefly alluded in gem
eral way to the principles that underlie
the Order, principles that the founders
of the Grange had in view in the forma-
ton Of the Patrons of Husbandry, let
Ius glance at the Ritual, the chart by
which the members of the Order are
| guided.
1t was conceived and perfected by
men skilled in the mysteries of Masonry
and Odd Fellowship not only, but also
| by the clergy, and men high in position
in public life gave their time, their
means and their best thoughts to the
work We have in this setting forth
of the farmers noble calling in its init
mate connection with the laws of nature,
its dependence upon the Great Master
of the universe, and in its setting forth
of those nobler truths of the Word of
God. The Grange, by its Chaplain, is
opened with prayer. Music and song
are interspersed in its exercises. The
initiate, entering the Order as "La-
borer," is taught the importance of good
beginnings in lifes work, of attention to
detail, and of faithfulness in what he
undertakes. He is reminded that he
that will not plough by reason of the
cold, shall beg in harvest and have
nothing that by tilling his land he
shall have plenty of bread that the
diligent shall bear rule: but that he
that followeth after vain persons is void
of understanding" He is enjoined to
!" find wisdom and to get understanding"
to "drive the plowshare of thought
through the barren soil of ignorance"
The implements of his calling, whether
axe, pillow, harrow or spade, are lifted
from their ordinary use as implements
of mere drudgery and made symbols of
higher and nobler ends. To the do.
nestle animals committed to his care
by our benehcent Creator, he is taught
to practice kindness and affection, and
in no case to abuse them. As he adj
vances to the dignity Of "Cultivator r"
he is taught to increase in goodness,
and, as the growing tree, SO to aspire
after higher and broader knowledge
to remember his close companionship
with his great Creator; toguard against
selhshness; to feed his enemy to do
good without hope Of reward, and,
above all, to exercise charity, the bond
of perfectness, Of which Paul wrote
"Charity suffereth long and is kind ];
charity envieth not, charity vaunteth
not itself, is not pulled up, doth not be-
have itself unseemly, seeketh not her
own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no
evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but re-
joiceth in the truth beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things; charity never fail
eth" From the planting of the seed he
is taught, Whatsoever a man soweth
that shall he also reap" and from its
termination the doctrine of the immor-
tally of the soul As in natural SO in
spiritual sowing Therefore, ever sow
only good seed, in faith, hoping for
good harvest. AS flowers adorn, cheer
and make delightfully."- fragrant all their
surroundings, SO he is taught there is no
perfume on earth fraught with such fra
GRANGE as the flowers Of good works and
the sweet smelling SAVIOR Of that pity
that feels for the wants and relieves the
distresses of others. And here again
the hoe and the pruning knife, nipple
ments Of his calling, are made to teach
the importance Of so cultivating the
mind as to destroy error and promote
the growth of knowledge and wisdom
to prune away idle thoughts and sinful
suggestions, to keep the passions within
due bounds and to present his fancy
from leading him astray after the va
mites and vices of the world. AS in
his yearly work the reward of plough
ing, sowing and cultivating, he hopes to
gather in bounteous harvest, so, in
the Grange, as Harvester" he is
taught to reap for the mind as well as
for the body, to acquire knowledge and
to diffuse it, to exemplify the noble
principles Of Friendship, Truth and
Charity. The reward Of knowledge is
to instruct the ignorant; the reward Of
having, is giving. Few are satisfied,
however, until they become owners Of
the land they till and the products Of
their labor, and thus become "Hus-
bandmen." So in the order, as owner
Of home, he is taught to make it in
all respects attractive to his children !;
to tell them not only of the pleasures Of
rural life, but to avoid making their
daily duties tedious, irksome and la
borious by the seasonable introduction
of suitable recreation for body and
mind by making his grounds beautiful
and inviting by those natural attractions
which God has SO proflsely spread
around us, and, especially, to adorn the
family circle with the noble traits of a
/ IL. - r.