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CHAPTER XV.

LAWS AND BY-LAWS OF THE ORDER.

OFFICERS AND CONSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE.

The officers of the National Grange, at present, are as follows: Master-Dudley W. Adams, Waukon, Iowa; Overseer-Thomas Taylor, Columbia, S. C.; Lecturer-T. A. Thompson, Plainview, Wabasha Co., Minnesota; StewardA. J. Vaughan, Early Grove, Marshall Co., Mississippi; Assistant Steward-G. W. Thompson, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Chaplain-Rev. A. B. Grosh, Washington, D. C.; Treasurer-F. M. McDowell, Corning, New York; Secretary-O. H. Kelley, Washington, D. C.; Gate-Keeper -0. Dinwiddie, Orchard Grove, Lake Co., Indiana; Ceres -Mrs. D. W. Adams, Waukon, Iowa; Pomona-Mrs. O. H. Kelley, Washington, D. C.; Flora-Mrs. J. C. Abbott, Clarkesville, Butler Co., Iowa; Lady Assistant StewardMiss C. A. Hall, Washington, D. C.; Executive Committee - William Saunders, Washington, D. C.; D. Wyatt Aiken, Cokesbury, Abbeville Co., S. C.; E. R. Shankland, Dubuque, Iowa.

PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION.

Human happiness is the acme of earthly ambition. Individual happiness depends on general prosperity.

The prosperity of a nation is in proportion to the value of its productions.

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The soil is the source from whence we derive all that constitutes wealth; without it, we would have no agriculture, no manufactures, no commerce. Of all the material gifts of the Creator, the various productions of the vegetable world are of the first importance. The art of agriculture is the parent and precursor of all arts, and its products the foundation of all wealth.

The productions of the earth are subject to the influence of natural laws, invariable and indisputable; the amount produced will, consequently, be in proportion to the intelligence of the producer, and success will depend upon his knowledge of the action of these laws, and the proper application of their principles.

Hence, knowledge is the foundation of happiness.

The ultimate object of this organization is mutual instruction and protection, to lighten labor by diffusing a knowledge of its aims and purposes, to expand the mind by tracing the beautiful laws the Great Creator has established in the universe, and to enlarge our views of Creative wisdom and power.

To those who read aright, history proves that in all ages society is fragmentary, and successful results of general welfare can be secured only by general effort. Unity of action can not be acquired without discipline, and discipline can not be enforced without significant organization; hence, we have a ceremony of initiation, which binds us in mutual fraternity as with a band of iron; but although its influence is so powerful, its application is as gentle as that of the silken thread that binds a wreath of flowers.

The Patrons of Husbandry consist of the following:

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.-Officers.-Section 1. The officers of a Grange, either National, State, or Subordinate, consist of and rank as follows: Master, Overseer, Lecturer, Steward, Assistant Steward, Chaplain, Treas urer, Secretary, Gate-Keeper, Ceres, Pomona, Flora, and Lady Assistant Steward. It is their duty to see that the laws of the Order are carried out.

Sec. 2. How Chosen.-In the Subordinate Granges they shall be chosen annually; in the State Granges once in two years, and in the National Grange once in three years. All elections to be by ballot. Vacancies by death or resignation to be filled at a special election at the next regular meeting thereof-officers so chosen to serve until the annual meeting.

Sec. 3. The Master of the National Grange may appoint members of the Order as Deputies to organize Granges where no State Grange exists.

Sec. 4. There shall be an Executive Committee of the National Grange, consisting of three members, whose term of office shall be three years, and one of whom shall be elected each year.

Sec. 5. The officers of the respective Granges shall be addressed as "Worthy."

ARTICLE II-Meetings.-Section 1. Subordinate Granges shall meet once each month, and may hold intermediate meetings as may be deemed necessary for the good of the Order. All business meetings are confined to the fourth degree.

Sec. 2. State Granges shall meet annually, at such time and place as the Grange shall from year to year determine.

Sec. 3. The National Grange shall meet annually, on the first Wednesday in February, at such place as the Grange may from year to year determine. Should the National Grange adjourn without selecting the place of meeting, the Executive Committee shall appoint the place, and notify the Secretary of the National Grange and the Masters of State Granges, at least thirty days before the day appointed.

ARTICLE III.-Laws.-The National Grange, at its annual session, shall frame, amend, or repeal such laws as the good of the Order may require. All laws of State and Subordinate Granges must conform to this Constitution and the laws adopted by the National Grange.

ARTICLE IV. - Ritual. - The Ritual adopted by the National Grange shall be used in all Subordinate Granges, and any desired alteration in the same must be submitted to, and receive the sanction of, the National Grange.

ARTICLE V.-Membership.-Any person interested in agricultural pursuits, of the age of sixteen years (female), and eighteen years (male), duly proposed, elected, and complying with the rules and regulations of the Order, is entitled to membership and the benefit of the degrees taken. Every application must be accompanied by the fee of membership. If rejected, the money will be refunded. Applications must be certified by members, and balloted for at a subsequent meeting. It shall require three negative votes to reject an applicant.

ARTICLE VI.-Fees for Membership.-The minimum fee for membership in a Subordinate Grange shall be, for men five dollars, and for women two dollars, for the four degrees, except charter members, who shall pay-men three dollars and women fifty cents.

ARTICLE VII.-Dues.-Section 1. The minimum of regular monthly dues shall be ten cents from each member, and each Grange may otherwise regulate its own dues.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of each Subordinate Grange shall report quarterly to the Secretary of the State Grange the names of all persons initiated or passed to higher degrees.

Sec. 3. The Treasurer of each Subordinate Grange shall report quarterly, and pay to the Treasurer of his State Grange, the sum of

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one dollar for each man, and fifty cents for each woman, initiated during that quarter; also, a quarterly due of six cents for each member.

Sec. 4. The Secretary of each State Grange shall report quarterly to the Secretary of the National Grange the membership in his State, and the degrees conferred during the quarter.

Sec. 5. The Treasurer of each State Grange shall deposit, to the credit of the National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry, with some banking or trust company in New York (to be selected by the Executive Committee), in quarterly installments, the annual due of ten cents for each member of his State, and forward the receipts for the same to the Treasurer of the National Grange.

Sec. 6. All moneys deposited with said company shall be paid out only upon the drafts of the Treasurer, signed by the Master and countersigned by the Secretary.

Sec. 7. No State Grange shall be entitled to representation in the National Grange whose dues are unpaid for more than one quarter.

ARTICLE VIII.--Requirements.-Section 1. Reports from Subordinate Granges relative to crops, implements, stock, or any other matters called for by the National Grange, must be certified to by the Master and Secretary, and under seal of the Grange giving the

same.

Sec. 2. All printed matter, on whatever subject, and all information issued by the National or State to Subordinate Granges, shall be made known to the members without unnecessary delay.

Sec. 3. If any brothers or sisters of the Order are sick, it shall be the duty of the Patrons to visit them, and see that they are well provided with all things needful.

Sec. 4. Any member found guilty of wanton cruelty to animals shall be expelled from the Order.

Sec. 5. The officers of Subordinate Granges shall be on the alert in devising means by which the interests of the whole Order may be advanced; but no plan of work shall be adopted by State or Subordinate Granges without first submitting it to, and receiving the sanction of, the National Grange.

ARTICLE IX.-Charters and Dispensations.-Section 1. All charters and dispensations issue directly from the National Grange.

Sec. 2. Nine men and four women, having received the four subordinate degrees, may receive a dispensation to organize a Subordinate Grange.

Sec. 3. Applications for dispensations shall be made to the Secretary of the National Grange, and be signed by the persons applying for the same, and be accompanied by a fee of fifteen dollars.

Sec. 4. Charter members are those persons only whose names are upon the application, and whose fees were paid at the time of organization. Their number shall not be less than nine men and four women, nor more then twenty men and ten women.

Sec. 5. Fifteen Subordinate Granges, working in a State, can apply for authority to organize a State Grange.

Sec. 6. When State Granges are organized, dispensations will be replaced by charters, issued without further fee.

Sec. 7. All charters must pass through the State Granges for record, and receive the seal and official signatures of the same.

Sec. 8. No Grange shall confer more than one degree (either First, Second, Third, or Fourth) at the same meeting.

Sec. 9. After a State Grange is organized, all applications for charters must pass through the same, and be approved by the Master and Secretary.

ARTICLE X.-Duties of Offiers.-The duties of the officers of the National, State, and Subordinate Granges shall be prescribed by laws of the same.

ARTICLE XI.-Treasurers.-Section 1. The Treasurers of the National, State, and Subordinate Granges shall give bonds, to be approved by the respective Granges.

Sec. 2. In all Granges, bills must be approved by the Master and countersigned by the Secretary, before the Treasurer can pay the

same.

ARTICLE XII.-Restrictions.-Religious or political questions will not be tolerated as subjects of discussion in the work of the Order, and no political or religious tests for membership shall be applied.

ARTICLE XIII.—Amendments.-This Constitution can be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of the National Grange at any annual meeting, and when such alteration or amendment shall have been ratified by three-fourths of the State Granges, and the same reported to the Secretary of the National Grange, it shall be of full force.

BY-LAWS.

ARTICLE 1. The fourth day of December, the birthday of the Patrons of Husbandry, shall be celebrated as the anniversary of the Order.

ART. 2. Not less than the representation of ten States, present at any meeting of the National Grange, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ART. 3. At the annual meeting of each State Grange, it may elect a proxy to represent the State Grange in the National Grange, in case of the inability of the Master to attend, but such proxy shall not thereby be entitled to the Sixth degree.

ART. 4. Questions of administration and jurisprudence, arising in

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