The Somerset reporter., 1902-07-17
For the RKPoRrKR.
Origin of the Grange
Byas kowhegan Ratron


The order OF the Patrons Of Husbandry
originated 10 the brain Of o. II. Kelley,
man Of New England birth. Il lsGf
/ Com'r Of Agriculture, Hon. Isaac New
ton, commissioned Mr.. Kelley to visit
the southern states for the obtaining Of
information In regard to their agricul.
tural condition. II was while travelling
In the south that he thought OF secret
society Of agriculturists, for the protec-
ton and advancement OF their interests,
first occurred to Mr.. Kelley. The idea
of giving women full membership in the
order originated with Miss Carrie A.
Hall of Boston, Mass.
In the formation of the order six other
men were directly associated with Mr.
Kelley; VIM. Saunders, Rev A. B. Grosh,
VIM. NJ. Ireland, Rev. John Trimble, j.
K. Thompson and F. NJ. Mcdowell, all
OF them born on the farm. These seven
men were the founders of the order aud
for nearly two years they labored with
great energy and with a faith and zeal
7
completed a well devised organization
based upon ritual Of four degrees,
which Is unsurpassed in the English
! language for originality Of thought and
! purity of sentiment.
These seven men on the fourth day of
/ Dee. 1867 met and constituted themselves
the National Grange of the p. of H.
Soon after this Subordinate Grange
/ In
school of instruction. This school con
sisted OF about 80 members. The first
dispensation granted by the Nationa
Grange was the fourth dav OF April, lS6S
but the first regular Subordinate Grange
to which a charter was issued was thC
sixteenth day of April 1865 at Frodons
n. Y.
The new order made slow progress VI
to 1872 only 257 oranges having beer
organized up to that time In the whole
country, but during 1872 1t grew very
fast, there being organized in u States
ll05 oranges In that year.
The first meeting of the Nationa
Grange as delegate body, was held a
Georgetown, d. &. the eighth day o
Jan. 1873, with six Of the founders O
the order and II delegates who wer
Masters of State Oranges. From tina
time on the order has made wonderfu
growth, nearly 10000 Charters to Sub
ordinate Oranges having been issued.
The membership OF the order consist
Of persons engaged In agricultural pur
suits. The membership Of the orde
includes both male and female, all mus
be at least IA years Of age. This consti
tutes secret society which is dividet
into Subordinate Oranges, State Grange
and a National Grange. The officers o
Subordinate Grange are thirteen II
number and elected annually. Four o
them must be women. The State Grang
consists OF the Masters and their wive
who are Matrons, and meets annually a
such time and place as 1t may vote. Tn
National Grange is composed Of IN
Masters and their wives who are Matron
of State Grange. Seven degrees are in
cluded In the organization for each o
which there Is beautiful and appropri
ate ritual.
The Subordinate Grange, is Empower
ed TO confer four degrees, the lst
"Lsborer" for men and when conferred
upon women it is the degree of "Maid''
The I'd is "Cultivator" for men AM
"Shepherdess" for women. The Sd de
gree is "Harvester"tor men and" Cleaner
for women. The 4:h degree that o
"Husbandmen" for men and "Matron
for women. The State\ Grange confer
the 5th degree Pomona, (Hope.) Tn
last two degrees are conferred by tn
National Grange. They are the 9Th de
gree "Flora", (Charity.) The 9TH degre
or that of Ceres, [Faitb) which is con
ferred upon any members who have take
the previous degrees.