The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-11-12
THE MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE
Its Wonderful Growth i'm Nearly Ev-
cry County. Its Influence on
Daily Life in Agricultural
Communities
Communities.

Daily Life in Agricultural
Communities.
Although the Michigan Grange
has been holding conventions for 81
years the state convention which
will be held at Traverse City from
December IA to IS next will be now
ell in several respects >,
This convention will be the first
time that any other than George B..
Horton has occupied the masters
chair, N. P. Hull, of Dimondale,
elected last year, making his initial
bow in that capacity. Then again,
the decorations of the hall wherein
500 delegates will meet will con-
sist entirely of grains and grasses
raised in the northern counties of
the state, committees having been
working for months to secure those
of suitable kind.
At this convention there will also
be a display of fruits, flowers, pota-
toes and other field and garden pro-
ducts of northwestern Michigan.
Arrangements have been made
whereby part of the big exhibit Of
the western Michigan Development
bureau which will be shown at the
national land and irrigation con-
gress in Chicago in December will
be brought there on December Is
and kept until the convention closes.
Supplementary to this, the north
ern Michigan Changers are prepar-
ing exhibits of their own and the
choicest of the choice farm products
are being carefully laid away for
THAT purpose. The fact that the
coming convention of the Grange
will be the first ever held in any 9TH
err locality than the central part of
the state also lends distinction.
The Michigan State Grange is a
body that must not be lightly con-
sidered. In practically every coun-
ty in the state there are subordinate
Oranges, ranging in number from
one to 20. The State Grange is not
exactly a pauper, either, as it has
about $4,000 invested in safe Sc
curities and at the same time 1t has
an income that pays all the running
expenses of the state body. Nor are
these expenses light, as the railroad
fare of the delegates and the cost
of their accommodations while in
attendance at the state convention
are all cared for out of the general
fund, 80 cents night being allowed
for lodging and 25 cents apiece for
meals.
The 900 delegates will not con-
stitute the total attendance, as there
will be more than 1000 visitors.
Northern Michigan is in the '1heart
of the Grange country" and all the
neighboring Oranges are preparing
to send big delegations. In Charlie
voix, for months the Changers have
been singing, 900 for Traverse
City in December" and not to be
outdone, Kalkaska county will send
500 more. When the Changers set
out to do a thing, they generally
accomplish it.
To become a Granger, something
more than owing farm, living on q
farm, working on farm or being
interested in farming, is necessary.
| The Grange is open to men and wo-
men alike and they must all take the
same journey. Everybody begins
with the subordinate Grange, which
is limited affair, having the rierlt
| to confer but four degrees. Then
comes the district or county Grange,
which alone mas the right to confer
| the fifth decree, known as Pomona.
| The State Grange is next in order
! and WITH this body rests the regpon-
sibility of comforting the sixth de-
gree.
| If the Granger is eager to pene-
trate still further into the mysteries
he becomes a member of the Nation
| al Grange and receives the seventh
| degree. This is the 33rd degree of
| Grangerism and no man or woman
can go higher. A large part of the
- sessions of the State Grange
| here will he occupied in comforting
this sixth degree, just as great
| portion of the National Grange,
which meets this year for 10 days in
| the Des Moines, will be given over
| TO the seventh degree.
1t is generally known among
| Changers that the first Grange was
| organized in Washington. ID. c.. De-
cember 4, 1867, this Grange being
the basis Of the present National
Grange This Grange was composed
Of the seven founders Of the order
and on the evening Of January 1.
1868. IL was decided by them to or
ganize a subordinate Grange under
| the superylsion of the national AS n