Year: 1875

In an Order like this great farm
RS combination of ours, the regu-
arity with which the members at
end its stated meetings attest the
degree of their warmth in the
cause. There is no surer sign of
decay, than that the members are
found absent from their duties night
after night, leaving to Others the
task of performing what should be
considered a great pleasure as well
as an imperative duty, on their own
part. Besides the injury sustained
personally by the derelict member,
the Grange in its corporate ca
pacity, is wounded and crippled.
Such is the influence of the want of


personal interest upon the part of


member, and when this member Is
of Importance, by reason of his in


telligence, wealth or influence, the


injury is multiplied in like proper


ton. Now, in this brief paper we


intend to give few reasons why the


attendance should be regular and in


stead of being forced, why il should


be considered pleasing duty.


The Importance of the Order to


the agricultural classes is to-day


well understood, and if the pur-
poses and intent are fully carried


out, it must prove of inestimable


value when considered in the light


of mere dollars and cents. If we


have business going on at night


by which few dollars are added to


our store, how regular our attend


ance upon it becomes. Now, here at


our monthly Grange meetings, we


are carrying on a business which not


only adds to our own store of this


worlds goods, but which extends


its benefits abroad to our neighbors


and friends, as well as to society at


large, in all of its varied and multi
piled interests. What an incentive


is this to regularity in our attend


ance upon the Grange meetings.


Then, too, we must consider the
great advantage our monthly meet


ings are, when considered with ref


erence to the social and moral vir-
tues SO surely developed by them
No good, pure citizen or Christian
but places the value of the Grang,
influence above price in dollars an'


cents, and the value of regular at
: tendance upon the meetings of tn
t Order,is to him of vast importance
l while he would labor by all legit
, mate means for pecuniary SUI
G cess for himself and his neigl
i bors, he dare not disregard tn
n grand interests of morality, charit'
q purity and Christian love, whic
y are so well served, by regular a
e tendance upon the Grange.


T. In new country like Texas, e
'e pecially do these consideration
II commend themselves with irrisist
Is BILE force to the thoughtful patri'
}, and thinking Christian. Here it
b necessary for the religious and Il
o moral of our people to III
e, every legitimate means possib
sr for the spread of the benil
'e principles of morality, benevolen
o and Christianity. The Grange
'e all these respects, is simp
e, a grand engine for their furthe
Ie ance, and while its influence
h. surely builds up these interests,
,t deals with the other and mo
r. worldly matters, which claim
Ig large a portion Of the attention


earth workers.


Then with all these consideratio


before us, let us urge upon the +
4 irons of Husbandry the utmost vi


lance and regularity,not only in d
er mere attendance upon the Gran,
D. meetings, but upon all the gre
: - lessons taught by the Order