Year: 1874




Not long since call was made
through The DALLAS HERALD, / be-
lieve, for the Oranges In this county to
meet in council on Saturday, the 2lst
instant. The patrons of the different
oranges had been contemplating this
necessity, and were pleased to see and
respond to the call, hoping that much
good would result from it. But the
time fixed for the meeting, Saturday
afternoon, was unpropitious, as 1t did
not allow sufficient time for delibera-
tion. 1t served very well, however, for
an initial point and to extend the no
tice for another meeting.


There appears to be some difference
of opinion as to the organization and
authority of council, but, doubtless,
time and reflection will settle those,
AS council, in its proper sphere-fol-
lowing the idea that can only be the
true reflex of the word-it will certain
ly become the palladium of the grange
works, for the scriptures say, "When
no counsel is, the people fall; but in
the multitude of counsellors there is
safety" The definition of council by
Mr.. Webster is, "a body of men ap-
pointed, or convened, for consultation
and advice in important affairs"


In the organization of the patrons of
husbandry, there was no provision for
any department called or known as
council. The national grange, the
state oranges and the subordinate
oranges were all that were provided
for. The council is an assemblage of
members of the subordinate oranges of
any county of district, convened, ex
necesstate, for council and advice, that
different oranges, whose interests are
identical, may cooperate, act in concert
and labor with the lights of wise coun-
sci before them. Councils are common,
and have been from the birth of civili-
zation. The name, however, has sell
dom been applied to bodies having leg
islative or executive authority. They
are generally for, what the term inn
ports, consideration and advice. In
that capacity, the grandest results may
be achieved-many subjects of incalcu-
liable interest may be brought to the
notice of the oranges connected with
farming trading and legislating. 1t
may become an auxiliary of great i'm
portance to every department. of the
order, and that without exercising any
unwarrantable authority, or encroach-
ing upon the powers or jurisdiction of
either branch of the association.


1t seems to be the opinion of some
patrons that the council is legislative
body, not only from its inception, but
from its conception, as q matter of
course; that as delegates are sent up to
the council meeting, they are clothed
thereby with authority to enact laws
by which the oranges and the men,
bers of the oranges are bound. Such
was not the sense of the grange to
which | belong. We were under the
impression that the object of the meet
ing was only to organize q council,
consult about what its powers should
be, and submit to the oranges inter-
ested the result of the deliberations,
for their sanction or ratification.


Taken in the plain, true import of
the term, "council," but little ceremo-
ny or solemnity would be required in
its organization; but when it is to be
clothed with legislative and executive
authority, most assuredly, its organic
laws should define its powers, and
those laws should be approved by the
oranges they are intended to
effect. 1t is to be hoped that no light
view will be taken, by any one, of this
grand organization and its grander OBJ
jects; and that no hasty or inconside-
rate action will be INDUCED, that
might, by any possibility, bring dis
cord or danger of disruption to its por-
tai. For an organization of such re-
cent date, it is remarkably correct in
all its parts. The system is complete;
the adaptation to all demands perfect,
and why should we seek to enlarge its
sphere. Let us consult, of what it is;
of what it may accomplish; devise the
best means of securing its benefits,
and leave its powers and prerogatives
where they were placed by its found
ers. In the grange every act is valid
and binding and therefore effective,
because its powers were derived from
proper authority. If the functions of
the grange, or any part of them, were
assumed by the council, of what valid
ity would they be? If number of
oranges were to attempt to invest the
council with legislative powers, by
what authority would they do it, and
of what binding force would the acts
of the council be?


As council, under a due sense of
its importance, conducted i'm proper
spirit, the investigations would bring
to light a fund of intelligence of meal
culable value to the farmers of the
country, and present many new and
interesting facts in commerce not ac-
cessible to the masses of the people.


SPEED.