Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-05-21
THE GRANGE
Is it a success

Away up in Sussex county they havi
oranges, and some Of the grangers Their,
know why they are grangers. As an evi
dence OF that we take from last Thurday's
New Jersey Herald, of Newton, practica
paper read before county grange meeting
in the Borough OF Sussex, recently, by Mrs
EYi yandfuff, Of Vantage Grange
This is a question which is often asked oil
members, when they solicit outside parties
to identify themselves with the order. Has
the Grange as an organization been of any
real benefit to the agricultural world? Has
it had the effect OF bringing about better
conditions among the farmers of the coun-
try, as was claimed for it by the founders
in years gone by?
In order to fully meet these inquiries, is
is necessary to know what the Grange at
an organization, has brought about There
are many Influences at work now among
the rural population in this country which
are not directly credited to the Grange, yet
are the effects OF its operation and work, and
none of which would have been felt by the
agricultural classes had not the order OF P.,.
irons of Husbandry been organized.
The Grange is the Oldest farm organiza-
tion in the United States. founded Deem
Der 4, 1867. II has for forty years success
fully withstood all the tests that time has
placed upon it, in that time many other
farm organizations have come into exist.
ence, prospered for time and passed out
But the Grange, The pioneer of farm or
CARNATIONS" has grown strong during this
time, and is to-day stronger than ever be-
fore. All agree that the farmer needs to
organize, aud without any hesitation we
say, the Grange is the best order. Its dec
laration of purposes is as fine document
as has eyer been written by man; it's ap.
plication to farm life and fine sentiment
cannot be surpassed.
The plan of the Grangefis right with the
needs Of the farmer having an organiza-
tion In the town, county, state or nation.
Scarcely a law has been passed for many
years in behalf of the farmer, that the
Grange was not foremost to champion it.
II the farmer hopes to keep pace with other
csllings IN the race of life he must travel
at the same rate OF speed. In order to do
this he must employ some of the same
agencies, and organization above all is the
one upon which he relies Every farmer
owes it to himself SO assist in securing hon.
est legislators, and just representatives
The farmer has submitted so long TO the
powers that be, that he has lost confidence
in his ability TO do anything; be needs cour-
age, in short he must be able to stand up
and defend his interests, to have confidence
in his fellow farmers, 30 work together.
The farmer has the power to rule the world
if he would only do it; he could starve
nation after nation. The American farmer
is as low to-day in the Eyes of the trusts as
the serfs Of Russia. the Grange has It's
ownalaw making body, it frames bills and
has Legislative committee in every state,
to see to the passing of our bills.
The Grange has done much in she way oil
furthering the cause of free rural mail de-
livery, good roads, pure food, parcels post;
entering into everything that concerns the
welfare of the people. The purpose of the
Grange is to better the conditions in which
we live; it brings to the people good enter
tainment, it increases sooiability and lends
itself to education in the broadcast sense. It
is the agency in the hand Of the farmer to
'senforce square deal.n There are already
mutterings that the Grange is over-stepping
its bounds, getting beyond its legitimate
AAASSAO13 HOp hCCRtuS G1uSC W DIG SOllt Ueu-
ding and mixing in the affairs of State
Our Grange officials are advised not to go
sailing off into politics. But, do not exist
ing conditions stir every independent self
respecting citizen and property holder to
look earnestly to his own interests? For
he has to contend with trusts, banks, rail-
roads with their watered stocks, graft and
greed, for the welfare of everybody but
themselves. The Grange that goes to work,
that learns to do by doing, is sure TO sue
coed, while the Grange whose members
fold their hands and say, 1--WE can't do this
or that, whatever it may be, either to fill
an office Or menlorize the ritual work, that
Grange is going back. Had that Grange
been at work holding regular meetings,
with lecture work at each meeting, buying
together comforting degrees with well
trained degree team, using the traYeling
library exchanging visits with neighbor-
ing Oranges, their work would have been
helpful to themselves, and helped the cause
in general.
As the Oranges are made up OF individ-
uals, we as members may feel assured that
on us depends the success Of our Grange.
There are three kinds of Changers, born
GraDgers, hand made Changers and the ma
ehine-made Grangers. The born Changers
include those who are anxious to help each
other and who are not wondering how
much it will ourtail their own enjoyment
TO do kindness TO some one else. The
hand made Changers are those who are il
duced to join the order by persuasion, and
who sometimes become good members
when they know how. The machine made
Changers are those who join because some
one else is joining. or because they see the
way Of saving few dollars on insurance,
or a few cents on pound of tea. They a {
valuable TO the extent of their initiation
fees, and after that are worth just 81 20 d
year TO the order. In closing, will give q
few reasons why farmers should join the
Grange: Because, it proposes to let the
world know that there is such man as
! the farmer. hnaaraa IL hos dnno chimes fos