Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-07-17
A BIT OF HISTORY
A Glance Into the Past When
There Was No Grange.
A Fraternal Organization Formed by
Men Who Were Masons-lts Present
Needs and Its Future Possibilities.
CO. operation Necessary.
By AMASA J. PARKER.


Cooperation Necessary.
By AMASA J. PARKER.
During the chaos following the close
of the civil war and while the United
States government was striving to re-
construct the government in the SOUTH
prn states which had been rent asun-
der and overturned by the war some
of the government officials at Washing
ton began to seriously consider the IN
stitution Of a fraternal society design
cd TO bind together the farmers of the
north and south-to teach them to meet
in friendly intercourse and to aid them
In their financial affairs as farmers.
Among those men was o. II. Kelley,
who afterward became the backbone
and sinew of the grange. Those peo-
ple realized that there was lacking
from our fraternal societies a society
which made provision for the initia-
ton of both men and women, when
took in the home and which should be
nlso largely intended to organize and
/
try. Those men associated themselves
together. and after great labors they
made the plan. rules and regulations
of our first grange.
The very first grange that was insti-
/ tuted was at Fredonia, III our own
state The history Of Mr.. Kelley as
he left Washington with hut $50 in
his pocket. relying upon his undaunted
faith in the goodness of the order and
Of his ability to make them plain to
the people of the country. is almost
pathetic.
The grange has grown until We can
scarcely realize that but few short
years ago there was no grange, that
but few understood the great posi-
bilities of its organization. that peo-
pie doubted, hesitated and turned
away and that only few reluctantly
gave their assent to become members
1t is history we'll worth reading by
all the Patrons in the land. 1t would
render to them dearer the privileges
which they now enjoy and make them
feel that they should use their utmost
endoavor> in perfecting the organza-
ton and the good il can do and render
Ing it more durable and lasting.
But. Notwithstanding this slow be
ginning ana the difficulties of Undue
ing people to become members. Mr..
Kelley and his associates proceeded
with indOmitahle resolution. and grad
ually oranges began to he formed in
one place and in another The prog
resS. though at first slow soon became
} rapid. and then as is very frequently
the case among bodies who feel their
, strength. the Patrons began to inter
, est themselves in politics ana sue
a ceeded, though but for a short time in
some places. in overturning the old
political parties and electing members
of their own order to office But this
was Il fatal mistake and should never
be repeated. The grange was formed
, by men who We're Masons. To some
5 extent the Masons' work was drawn
t from in forming our rituals. one of
/ the principles of the Masonic order is
! that politics must not enter into ii. 1t
is the experience of ages that when
politics is allowed to enter into an
order dissensions follow. The country
IS and always will be divided between
two large political parties The eX-
perience of the Masonic order, which
u has existed for ages, has demonstrate
, ed, if anything can. that the grange
e should eschew politics. that while we
n may occasionally and should proba'
S bly, aid this or that candidate because
r he represents the best interests of the
+ country and policies which will best
subserve the interests of the grange
we should not allow ourselves to be
come led away by the desire for pub
i lie office or in any general manner be
J, come interested in n contest between
d ourselves and the political parties OF
e the day.
:; At the present time the grange II
IS fourishing. We have hundreds OF
thousands of members in the United
States, we have thousands of member
- W every state. We are banded togeth
r. by fraternal ties which unite thu
~ oranges as common home for its va
rious members. We meet there, ia
theirs. mothers and children, upon ;
common plane we enjoy the delights
y Of the social visit and the entertain
T. ment that is provided by our lecturers
Al md we. to some extent. among tn
lie moro progressive oranges, reap tn
W benefits of cooperation. But unles
IT some scheme is devised by which NOR
q, benefit can he derived the grange o
er the future will he, as it has been il
l., the past. subject TO its ups and downs
g to its periods of prosperity and larg
=. membership its periods of retrogres
zion and decline.
= Auburn, y. Y.
VI Fraternity.
or ha fnun(