Year: 1876

Worthy Master, Sisters and Brother


Grangers We should each of US,


whenever occasion will permit, endea-


vor as far as is in our power to awaken


in each other an earnest desire for our


mutual advancement by presenting at
each meeting some advantages which


do or may accrue TO each Of US by being


members of an Order, the cardinal doc


trines of which tend to elevate each of
US socially, Intellectually, politically, fl


nancially and morally. This is the true


principle which should actuate each of
us, and when we can succeed in making
this principle, this earnest desire for our


mutual advancement the sole moving


feeling in our meetings, we shall not
only teach the members of the Grange,


but the outside world, that the financial


advantages We derive by being members
OF the Order, though classed as one of
its cardinal aims. become merely secon-
Diary TO its social education and moral
advantages. But too often does this
feeling remain dormant at our meetings:


too often do we each enter the Grange


Hall hoping another will do what we
should have been prepared to do; too
often do we leave to the Master the
sometimes arduous task of making our
meeting interesting; too many of us,
am afraid, in our eagerness for pecuni-
ary gains, have lost sight of those other
grand principles OF the Order; too many
OF us have joined the Grange in the full
expectation of great material blessings
waiting upon the simple act, have en-
tered il merely for its financial advan-
tages, and finding we cannot for a half
dollar buy dollars worth, are becom-
ing discouraged and even dissatisfied.
II there are any such here, open YOUR
eyes at once to the fact, that the simple
act Of being member Of the Grange
will not cause reduction in the price
of the different materials or articles
which you expect to purchase; yea, un-
derstand it at once, if YOU have Joined
the Order simply for its financial advan-
tanges, you will obtain not even these,
unless We act unitedly. for an indiv du-
al may obtain the same advantages any
society or Grange may obtain provided
only he can buy as largely or paw as
promptly. The Grange putting togeth-
er great many wants, becomes W hole
sale purchaser, and the advantages ac-
cruing to each individual member ofthe
Grange, necessarily are as wealthy men
with extensive wants, hence this or
ganization is blessing TO the poor man.
! am happy TO state, the State Execu-
tive Committee, of which our Worthy
Master is an honored member. has made
favorable arrangements with a number
Of mercantile houses to our great adv an
tage, without violating in any manner
any established rules of trade, and more,
II has given us an agent who will ever
keep our interest, the farmers interest,
first, last. always in view.


Financially speaking, there is an OBJ
ject the Grange has in view which, ii il
can accomplish. will be of great advan-
tage to'us. | am speaking of our en-
deavors to do away with the useless
drones in the business world, suckers. or
under whatsoever name you may please
toplace them. ltellyo sir. that strea am
which should flow calm and unrutfled
as Summers sea" between producer
and consumer. has been turned by idlers
crossing It into cesspool, over which
1t Is difficult TO pass without their assis-
tance. yet believe BY united action we
can again make its waters clear and
calm from head to terminus. Now
refer in no wise to Commission men or
Agent. or any such rs We necessarily
require IN our business relations with
the world, for the mission of the Grange
Is not TO overthrow and re-establish bus
mess on new basis, but we do wish
and do intend to prune the busine - tree
Of suckers, which through years Of neg
lect have become so numerous a. to
weaken its vitality, and indeed almost
to destroy il. mention this because
there are number of professional and
trading men, and indeed some OF our
own brethren. who seem to think that
the mission OF the Grange is to fight ev-
erything and everybody, but I tell YOU
never was there greater mistake. To
show you my feelings before and since
joined the Order, l will here state .
that one Of the cardinal doctrines seem.
ingly takes away q great source OF NV
pro6t (tor ] make more from nv profess a..
sion than do from the farm vet am