The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-06-16
ORDER OF P. And H.
Early History of the Grange and
Its Development.

With Many Other Particulars and
Much Other Information For Farm
ers and othors Who Are Not Men,
bers.
| the objects Of the grange, what relation
| do the national, state and subordinate
| oranges bear to each other how many
degrees are conferred in the grange, what
disposition Is mado of the dues and fees
| and any other particulars that would be
OF interest to nonmember?
The above questions, or similar ones,
were so we'll answered in a recent
number of the Ohio Farmer that we
give the reply in substance here, with
some corrected and added information:
Only those interested in agriculture and
| rural life are entitled to membership. The
grange is almost half century old. for
| It was organized Dec. 4 1867. The primary
purpose In the mind of the founder, o. H.
| Kelley. and his associates was the re-
heartening of southern farmers who were
| suffering from wars effect, but northern
| farmers took hold of the idea most read
| lily. The first subordinate grange was or
| ganized by Mr.. Kelley at Fredonia, Chau-
tauqua county, N. Y. It's life has been
continuous, and 1t Is now big and thriv-
ing grange Of about 400 members. New
York is now the strongest grange state
in the Union, having about sc. 900 members
In over $50 oranges. Father" Kelley, as
he is latterly known, now In This eighties.
is yet living In Washington, where as
clerk In the agricultural department he
organized the first national grange and ar
ranged the details Of management which
have remained the basic government of
the Order to this day. The national grange
pays Mr.. Kelley 81. 200 annually as appre-
citation of his services to the Order.
Father Kelley's idea and that Of his
niece, Miss Caroline Hall, who collabo-
rated with him In planning the Order,
was that the Order should constitute an
organization of neighborhood clubs in
which farmers and their wives should be
fraternally associated for educational and
social as well as financial benefits, and
these have always been the ruling charac-
teristics OF the grange. The real name Of
the Order is Patrons of Husbandry. The
term grange was intended to be used only
as the term lodge is applied to tho meet
tngs Of other orders, but many soon got
to calling the Order "the grange" and
Patrons "grangers," so the custom has
been accepted. and the Order Is now gen.
orally called the grange.
The subordinate grange is the unit. One
can be organized with thirteen persons |
TIC Tor OrncerS. III
these four must be women. The other
nine may include both mea and women. |
The next division above the subordinate l
grange Is the county grange, usually call |
ed the Pomona grange, because this is /
the name of the degree given at this stage
OF membership. Next comes the state
grange and finally the national grange
The officers Of every grange. whether SUBJ
ordinate, county, state or national num-
irta L
lecturer. secretary, treasurer, chaplain,
steward, assistant steward lady assistant
steward, gatekeeper, Ceres, Pomona and
Flora.
The initiatory work Is very impressive
and beautiful when well directed and is
especially appropriate for farm life This
work is divided into seven degrees, the
first four given by the subordinate
the fifth by the county, sixth by |
the state and seventh by the national
grange.
The subordinate and county oranges
provide fine opportunities for the social,
and financial cooperation.
Many important community reforms and
enterprises have been instituted and ex-
ecuted by these local grangeSA also most
Of the important legislation&aAnd larger
for agricultural and general
welfare have been effected by the united
appeals of farmers of the local oranges.
The whole organization. from the nation
al grange to the subordinate grange, Is
close and well calculated for energetic,
effort. There are now forty
grange states In the Union with a total
of not far from 100000
Salaries of the Officers.
Subordinate and county grange officers
are paid no salaries, except where some
elect to pay their secretaries a
nominal sum for his or her services. In
the state oranges the master, lecturer, |
secretary and treasurer are the only Of |
flcers who receive salaries. and these vary
In different states. They are fixed at the
annual meetings of the state gauges.
New York, being the largest grange
state and requiring most work from it's
pays them best. The master re- |
ceives $1,000 a year and expenses, the
secretary $1,000 and expenses, the treas
urer $780, Executive committeeman re-
ceive 50 per diem and expenses when in
the service of the grange, and grange
speakers have the same pay. In the ma
tional grange the master receives $500, ex-
penses and 81 per day for travelling duty;
lecturer $780, expenses and 50 per day for
duty; secretary. 81 200 and ex-
penses: treasurer, $500 and expenses; ex-
ecutive committee. So per day and ex-
penses while on duty; other officers and
Young members expenses Wnlle on uuty. |
Fees and Dues.
The minimum initiation fees permitted |
by the national grange bylaws are 81 for |
men and so cents for women, and In most |
states these are the prevailing fees. The |
minimum dues allowed are s1.20 per year,
and these are the prevailing dues In near
ly every grange state. Each subgrange
pays to the state grange % cents of each
fee and cents per quarter on
each member. The state grange pays
cents per member annually to the national
The initiation fee for the Pomona |
grange degree is usually so cents and the |
dues whatever the Pomona grange deter
mines. Usually these are very low. Po-
mona oranges pay no dues or fees to the
state grange. Sixth or state grange initi-
alton fee is 81 and the same for the sew
enth or national grange degree.
The moneys of the local oranges are
used for the benefit of the local branches
as the members choose. AS each grange
keeps for itself 90 cents out of each $40
received annually from each member this
In good sized oranges is usually ample for
current expenses. Added to this Is the
amount from initiation fees. Many sub
oranges which have a surplus each year
have invested the accommodations prof
ltably.
Juvenile oranges are provided for chill
dren too young to be taken into the reg
ular subgranges.