Year: 1874




mestic science, and all the arts which
adorn the home, be taught in their
courses of study.


"Fnth-We emphatieally and sin.
cerely assert the oft repeated truth,
taught in our organic law, that the
Grange, National, State or subordin-
ate, is not political or party organ
ization. No Grange, if true to its
obligation, can discuss political or re-
hgious questions, nor call political
conventions, nornominate candidates,
nor even discuss their merits IN its
meetings Yet the principles we
teach underlie all true politics, all
true craftsmanship, and if properly
carried out will tend to purify the
whole political atmosphere of our
country, for we seek the greatest
good to the greatest number, but we
must always bear in mind, that no
one by becoming a Grange member
gives up that inalienable right and
duty which belongs to every Ameri-
can citizen, to take proper interest
in the politics of his country. On
the contrary, it is right for every
member to do all in his power legiti-
mately to influence for good the ac-
ton of any political party to which
he belongs. It is his duty to do all
he can in his own party to put down
bribery, corruption and trickery; to
see that none but competent, faithful
and honest men, who will unhinching-
ly stand by our industrial interests,
are nominated to all positions of
trust, and to have carried out the
principles which should always char
aeterize every Grange member; that
the office should seek the man, and
not the man the Office We acknowl
edge the broad principle that differ
ence of opinion is no crime, and hold
that progress toward truth is made
by differences of opinion, while the
fault lies in bitterness of controversy.
We desire a proper equality, equity
and fairness, protection for the
weak, restraint upon the strong; in
short, Justly distributed burdens and
Justly distributed power. These are
American ideas, the very essence Of
American independence, and to adj
vocate the contrary is unworthy of
the sons and daughters of an Ameri-
can Republic. We cherish the belief
that sectionalism is, and of right
should be, dead and buried with the
past. Our work is for the present
and the future. In our Agricultural
Brotherhood and its purposes we
shall recognize no North, no South,
no East, no West. It is reserved by
every Patron as his right as a free
man, to affiliate with any party that
will best carry out his principles.


"Sixth-Ours being peculiarly a
farmers institution, we can not ad-
NIT all to our ranks. Many are ex-
cluded by the nature of our organi-
zation, not because they are profes-
sional men, or artisans, or laborers,
but because they have not sufficient
direct interest in tilling or pasturing
the soil, or may have some interest
in conflict with our purposes; but We
appeal to all good citizens for their
hearty cooperation to assist in our
efforts toward reform, that we may
eventually remove from our midst the
last vestige of tyranny and corrup-
ton. We hail the general desire for
fraternal harmony, equitable COM
promise and earnest cooperation, as
an omen of our future success.


''Seventh-It shall be an abiding
principle with us to relieve any of
our oppressed and suffering brother
hood by any means at our command


'Last, but not least, we proclaim
it among our purposes to inculcate
proper appreciation of the abilities
and sphere of woman, as is indicated
by admitting her to membership and
position in our order.


"Imploring the continued assist
ance of our Divine Master 10 guide
us in our work, we here pledge our
selves to faithful and harmonious
labor for all future time to return, by
our united efforts, to the wisdom,
justice, fraternity, and political puri,
ty of our forefathers."