Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1876 — THE NATIONAL GRANGE. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL GRANGE.

The following extracts are taken from the address of Worthy Harter John T. Jones, of Arkansas, to the National Grange at its recent session in Chicago: Atlhe last session of thia body severs! im portent amendments to the Constitution were proposed and subsequentiy ratified bj the 8OW«' Granges, of which proclamation was duly made. As a part of the system and plan of the on our purpose to adopt, these rules, with sonw slight changes, will be moot valuable, but taken dome they are a disjointed link in a ehain, the perfection of which by our British friends has been the work of their educated, thinking, practical «nea, for the last thtrty-dve years. The fraction which we have given our Order has been utilised to an ■extent which we can only conjecture. Hundreds, end it may be thonssnds, of co-oper-ative stores hava been established in the various States and Territories of the Union. With Various amounts of share capital, and perhaps aa various In other features and in their fortunes. They are without a head or -connectinglink, "‘like so many islands in the are, without even a boat plying from one to the other"—without that principle of unity which la the life of co-operations and the guiding star of humanity. M iih the perfection of our system of organisation, is the necessity of educating our memlicrs In the true principles of co-opera-tton. Lot ua follow the example of our Engiish friends in this also. Through their courtesy I have received a large number of tracts, with the proceedings of their co-oper-ative Congress from 1868 to the present time, making a most valuable collection of cooperative literature. We have to reach the minds of many who are ignorant, and to stimulate in them athirst for knowledge. The latter, Which is the first requisite, is better accomplished by living missionaries. If we could send out wise of the friends of cooperation (Who could be named) to act aa pioneers in this work, we would soon see a large demand for co-operative intelligence. Itmay be thought by posse who take a solely sentimental new of our organisation, that 1 am giving an undue prominence to its material objects. If so, I cannot think they have studied the deep philosophy, pure morality, lofty virtue, and genuine religion, that underlies oMjwntim lift. Rightly understood, it is the practical realisation of Christian ethics. Tno silent virtues of temperance, forethought, just dealing, and fel. towshipln work, will do more to correct the moral disorders which darken our land, and have tainted our Government, as well as trade and commerce, than all the penal statutes that have been or can be devised. The material, moral, social and intellectual influences are in near connection with each other. The most material things have great influence on mental subjects, a sentiment that ages ago the poet Homer gave vent to, in saying that “ when num becomes slcroe he Joses half his virtue."

At the last session of this Grange muck interest was expressed in the action which had iK’en taken by the co-operative societies of Great Britain to inaugurate a system of exchange between them and the agricultural producers in this country, and in their friendly messages to our Order, through their special deputation, and subsequent Correspondence with our Executive Committee, which I was directed, by a resolution of this body, to continue, as I did, until a point was reached when, in my judgment, with the approval of the Executive Committee, it became expedient to send a special commissiuuer to confer with the authorities in those societies upon this subject, and to represent our ideas and interest in this connection. Brother J. W. A. Wright was appointed to this office, and it affords me sincere pleasure to bear testimony to the ability, dignity and grace with which he discharged its important duties. Complications of a very serious character had arisen through the misrepresentations of unfriendly parlies, the character and extent of which were unknown to us until ascertained by our Commissioner, after his arrival tn England. These matters were fully discussed in the Co-operative Congress which met at Glasgow in April last, the courtesy of opening and dosing the discus-ion having been extended to our Commissioner. The result was a reassurance of that body of the earn•eatneas and .integrity of our Order in these menotiatiens, and their reference to Mr. Neale and our Commissioner, by whom important modifications and changes of the original ar I idea were agreed upon, submitted to the Executive Comini ttee of the Company on the other side, an d assented to by that Committee. The plan of organising the American seotfonofthis Association, which I submit, ■MW be improved by your joint wisdom an d wnaVd intelligence of the extended field for white it is designed. By some it may be regarded as yielding much of the authority and fostering care, which our Constitution wisely provides the National Grange shall exerefse, directly and through subordinate Granges, over the business interests of our Order, in only becoming an “ advisory body." On ihe other hand it might be objected that the National Grange is not elected by those who maybe stockholders In the enterprise alone, but by the representatives of all we members, and therefore should not exercise supervision over their interests. Of these opposite opinions the last would lead to consequences, I think, fatal to our Order, and our cherished hopes. The purposes of our Order are so blended, each so in harmony with the others, and so dependent upon one another, the separation of one, and especially that one which is the life-blood of toe whole, would paralyse the system. It is not to the share capital in these enterprises that our members will look for greatest benefits, but in the facilities they will afford for the sale of our products aud the purchase of our supplies. The member that holds but a single share will be entitled to the same benefits, and have an -equal voice with the member holding the maximum. Some of our members may not be able to take a singi- share, yet such may contribute to the profits, by their custom, more than others holding the maximum of •bares. Shall such members have no repre•euution in a purely Patron’s enterprise, to the support of which they contribute perhaps toe largest share? A Co-operative Congress, elected by stock: holdem, could not be more responsible, or represent the interest of their constituents more intelligently or faithfully, thau a body •chosen from the Order, as is this National Grange. That we hare opposition to our plans, powerful, aud energetic, we know, but the source from which it comes should nerve us to put forth whatever effort may beneces«ri*y to secure to the toiling farmer the rightful profit of his industry, as a prerequisite to the proper development of what are called ** the higher objects of our order.” Do we ■otaee an educational power of the highest hind underlying this cooperative movement for the great masses of our people? The further we have gone the fiirer and wider the prospect before us. Do we mean to goon.' Have we faith enough in the principles of our Association to follow them wherever they may tend? I trust we have, .and that we shall take our forward steps in 4fce reorganization of labor, and therefore •ft society, carefully and steadily, but resolutely, and with a perfect indifference to the abuse and opposition which we must of coune look for, until manhood shall cease to pay tribute to money; conscious as our limited education in these principles has -made us, in some dim way, of that highest Wstery of our human life, which can only beadequat hr described in words with which I hope all of ns are familiar, “ That we are .members one of another, so that if one iSMmber suffers all suffer, and if one memI cannot too strongly' urge the importance Of meh action at the present session u will iffx permanently she headquarters, and secure A ruitable building for the National Grange. Wiradrice to the State and Subordinate

The money in our Treasury, which might be used for this purpose, la rapidly diminishing by donations. While we have anv considerable sum on hand urgent appeals will be made for donations in the interest of our membership in Slates having suffered from insects and drought No amount that can be appropriated from our National Grange Treasury would afford an appreciable relief, so divided. This should be the work of our Subordinate Granges and members blessed with abundance, and I rejoice to say they have not been unmindful of such Obligations. THE WORTHY LECTURER'S REPORT. The following is the report of the Worthy Lecturer, Mr. Smedley, of Iowa: Wostht Mabtbs: In oompllance _w>th the instructions of the Worthy Master of the National Grange and the Executive Committee, based on calls from Masters of State Granges, I have devoted nearly all the time since our last session to the work of my office. In answering these calls, I have labored in fourteen States, and am gratified to report that the condition of the Order in nearly all of these States is most encouraging. The principles underlying our org. nlxatlon seem to have taken deep hbld of the hearts of its members, and, as the work of organisation is nearly finished, they are turning their attention In those practical directions where real success is to be found. It has seemed to have been expected of me in many localities, to exemplify the unwritten work, and give opinion on law and usage. I have, however, been of the opinion that this did not come within the scope of the National Lecturer’s duty. This might have been, and undoubtedly was, a necessity in the early days of our work. But I think now this should be left entirely to the Masters of the State Granges, whose duty and prerogative it is to settle these questions. I have regarded it more in the province and duty of the National Lecturer to strengthen the authority, confidence, and influence of the officers of the National Grange and subordinate Granges, to encourage the brothers and sisters to renewed activity, to point out and urge the necessity for such an organization as thia, and to suggest in a general way those practical methods by which the desired results may be obtained. In doing this I have earnestly sought to impress the Importance of the Individual responsibility of members in the work in which we are engaged. This point seems to me to be the key to our success. When we have become convinced that on each individual member of the Order, brother and sister, rests a responsibility that each does his or her part in the work su essential to the general good, success is insured. 1 nave been everywhere received in the kindest and most fraternal spirit—a spirit which left the /egret that I could only meet a small portion of the urgent calls for my services. I had never before realized the Importance of this branch of our work. The very fact of an officer of the National Grange visiting our members seems to encourage ana strengthen the cause and incite to renewed efforts. It is of the highest importance that the bond of fraternity between the constituted authorities and the Sub-Granges should be made as dose as possible. I cannot refrain from expressing my obligations to the Masters and officers of the State Granges where it has been my lot to labor. They have done everything in their power to make a work (which at best is a laborious one) as easv and pleasant as possible. From officers of National and State Granges I have received constant encouragement and sympathy. And the interest and fraternal kindness manifested in every community where I have been has strengthened my faith, and more than ever taught me that it only needs that we as an Order should be faithful to the trust given to us to make this Order, under the providence of God, what it is designed to be, the instrument which Is to elevate, strengthen, and educate the producing classes of our Nation.