Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1903-02-21


reer. the idea of the founders was to
make advancement through the diff
ferent degrees matter of study The
passing from one degree TO another
was to be something parallel with the
advancement from one grade to an
other in school. Several months might
perhaps be necessary to gain thor
ough knowledge of the studies of one
degree. But this idea did not obtain
In November Of this same year, 1867,
Bro. Kelly proposed the name of
League of Husbandry'' for the order
and oranges instead of s'lodges.''
The word grange" which means
farm" was taken from novel adj
vertised about that time. Arson Bart
lett proposed the name Of Patrons
of Industry" for the order, upon the
receipt of which proposal Mr.. Kelly
substituted '.husbandry" for indus
try thus evolving the terms Patrons
of Husbandry'' and Grange"
So far no organization had been
made, but work on the ritual, ceremo-
MES of installations and dedication of
halls was progressing, and it was not
until December 4, 1867, that the Ma
tional Grange was organized, with
W. III. Ireland as master On January
Z, 1868, special meeting of this Ma
tional Grange was called, to which the
master and two members responded.
Bro. Ireland was instructed to organ
ize subordinate grange, which was
to be school of instruction under the
direct supervision of the National
Grange. This grange was to be known
as Potomac grange, No. I, and every
member was expected to make himself
familiar with every part of the work,
SO that when called upon he could fill
any position.
On the evening of January 8, 1868,
the first meeting of this first subordi-
nate grange was held in room on
Ninth street, Washington, ID. c. Up
to this time the idea of the founders
of the order had been to have an or
der of three DEGREES, but this now was
sisting of seven degrees, as we now
hayeit The seventh degree Demeter)
was taken from an ancient association
which once flourish he'd in he east This
idea originated with Mr.. Mcdowell,
and lie was accordingly accepted its
supreme. head. With the title of High
Priest of Demeter.
In February Mr.. Kelly resigned his
position in the post office dc partment
and gave his ent ire time to the compile
tion of the work, ard during this month
and the next he was engaged in the
development of the ritual and to the
working up of his subordinate grange,
which by this time had increased so
there were 80 brothers and sisters
present on February 10, and it was at
this meeting that AR. Boardman re-
ceiyed the first two degrees, he being
the first person ever regularly init
ated in due form in this order.
Mr. Kelly continued in his work UNI
til April 3, when, feeling that his work
here was accomplished, he started out
on his work oforganizipg new oranges,
and after buying his ticket 20 Harris
burg, Pa, he had put $3.50 in his
pocket, intending to work his way by
organizing oranges from Washington
to Minnesota After two vain at
tempts the first regularly organized
grange which ever lived, breathed and
had a being, was instituted at Fredo-
mia, N. Y.
Mr.. Kelly continued his journey with
more or less success, reaching Chicago
April %. and continued, meeting his
first failure at Madison. Wis. He
reached home about the first of May,
and during that year continued in the
work Of organizing oranges in his own
state to supple ment his usual farm
work. The first person ever obligated
and instructed in the ritual in Mime
sofa was Mr.. kelly's eldest daughter,
Julia She also officiated as Pomona
in the state grange Of Minnesota the
first evening that the fifth degree was
ever conferred. During the same sea-
son, brother in St. Paul composed
two songs for the order and the Miss
Hall who was previously mentioned
composed OF hers from time to tim e I'M
til the first song book was issued.
Up to the present, the outlook for
the order had at times been very dark
but now encouraging letters began to
be received and six new oranges were
organized in January and February,
1869. On February % the state grange
of Minnesota was organized. April 13,
at two %. m.. the first annual session Of
the National Grange was called to or
der, but no important business was
transacted During the spring of 1869,
the fifth degree manual was completed
and the fifth degree conferred for the
first time at the Mines sofa state
grange that summer. Mr.. Kelly, aided
by few deputies whom he had APP
pointed, was pushing the work of es-
tablishing oranges throughout the
summer, with the result that August
/ found 25 subordinate oranges firm
" planted in the United states. but at