3Cr3 811 ILLINOIS STATE GMN< PROCEEDINGS 18 76 L IBURY OF THE UNIVERSITY Of 1LLI NOIS 365 I PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE GRANGE OF ILLINOIS AT THK FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION, HELD IX THB CITY OF DECATUR, December 12, 13, 14jand 15, 1876' OFFICERS OF THE rm\$t of $jllinai$. Master— A. P. FORSYTH, Isabel, Edgar County. Overseer— JOHN DOWNEN, Industry, McDouough Co. Lecturer— ALONZO QOLDER, Rock Falls, Whiteside Co. Steward— JOHN ODEL, Champaign, Champaign County. Assist. Steward — R. R. FIELD, Thompson, Carroll County. Chaplain — L. F. FARNHAM, Warren, JoDavicss County. Treasurer— J. 8. ARMSTRONG, Sheridan, LaSalle County. Secretary— J. M. CHAMBERS, Freeport, Stephenson Co. Gate-keeper— J. F. RANDOLPH, Canton, Fulton County. Ceres— Mrs. L. D. EDWARDS, Franklin Crossing, Rock Island County. Pomona— Mrs. B. J. VAN COURT, OFallon, St. Clair Co. Flora— Mrs. W. C. TROTT, Bloomington, McLean County. L. A. Steward — Mrs.P. L. MYERS, Assumption, Christian co EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 1877. Chairman— R. E. Logan, Morrison, Whiteside Co. Secretary— D. N. Foster, Sterling, Whiteside Co. A. J. Alexander, Gilman, Iroquois Co. E.A. Gil ler, White Hall, Green Co. A. P. Forsyth, Ex Officio, Isabel, Edgar Co. 3 v JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. r r • ♦ i FIRST DAY. MORNING SESSION. Decatur, Illinois, \ Tuesday, December 12th. J" The State Grange of Illinois met for its Fifth Annual ses- sion, in Good Templars' Hall, in the city of Decatur, and was opened in due form, in the fifth degree, at 10 o'clock A. M. Worthy Master A. P. Forsyth in the chair. cr^; OFFICERS PRESENT. Master, A P. FORSYTH. Overseer Pro Tem, E. A. GILLER. Lecturer, ALONZO GOLDER. Steward, JOHN ODELL. Asslst. Steward Pro Tem, R. C. STERRITT. Chaplain, L. F. FARNHAM. Treasurer, J. S. ARMSTRONG. Secretary, J. M. CHAMBERS. Gate Keeper Pro Tem,.... JAMES McGREW. Ceres, MRS. L. D. EDWARDS. Pomona Pro Tem, MRS. L. SNOAD. Flora Pro Tem, MRS. PARR. L. Asst. Steward, MRS. P. L. MYERS. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A. J. ALEXANDER, D. N ^CT^« G N AVDFRmiv Worthy Master declared the Grange open in the fourth, degree, wjien a large number of fourth degree members and visitors were admitted. Bro. Porter, of Warren County, moved that a committee of rive be appointed on Credentials, with instructions to report at once. The Worthy Master announced th«k following, as the. Committee on Credentials': Bro. Porter, of Warren County. Bro. Laws, of Clark County. Bro. Tunnel!, of Macoupin County. Bro. MeConnell, of Sangamon County. Bro. McLaughlin, of Scott County. Master declared recess of w-n minutes, to enable Com- mittee to work. Upon the fall of the Worthy Master's gavel, Bro. Porter, Chairman of Committee on Credentials, made the following' partial report : Worthy Master : Your Committee have examined the credentials, and find the following members entitled to vote in this body : Adam* county — R. C. Sterritt. Brown county — John Bui'gesser. Coles county— L. W. Lanman. Champaign county — W. F. Hardy. Christian county — W. L. Cohenour. Clark county — M mi) ford Laws. Clay count y — Samuel Enyart. Clinton county — H. M. Almy. Dewitt county — John Nearing. Efflnghajit county — Samuel Field. Edwards county— W. A. Shelby. Fayette county — William Bennett. Fulton county — L. H. Deihl. Fo&l eounty — Wales Barrett. Grteiw roxmty—E,. A. Giller. . » Hancock county — L. L. Wilcox. Iroquois county — 0. Leu therm an. Jackson county — C. VV. Easterly. Jasper county — J. Z. Winterowd. Jo Daviess county — Charles Boone. Johnson county — J. M. Ridenhower. Kankakee county— A. Mellen. Lake county — D. G. Smith . LaSaJh county — E. Rowland. Lawrence ccmnty—S. A. Fyfle. Livingston county— K. W. Pearson. Logan county— .). A. Critchfield. Macon county — P. F. Lehman. Madison county — Edward Bodge rs. Marion county — R. W. Fullerton. Menard wunty — G. VV. Quaintance. Mason county — Thomas Hu^croft. McLean county — J, D. Lewis. Mercer county— S. J. Frew. Moultrie county — G. W-. Vaughn. Montgomery county — James Kerr. Macoupin county — John Tunnell. Ogle county — A. Maltby. Peoria, county — Charles Mayo. Pike county — Parvin Shinn. Putnam county — Oliver Wilson. -Richland comity — J. Lee Monroe. Rock Inland county — L. D. Edward*. Saline county — VV. L. Mitchell. Sangamon county — E. F. McConnell. Schuyler county — M. W. Greer. Scott county — W. G . Mc La ugh 1 i n . Shelby cmmty — C. W. March. Stark county— E. P. Wright. Stephenson county — Ira GJrippeh. Vermillion county — J. Sharp. 6 Warren county — J. i). Porter. Washington county — H. G. Whittenberg. Wayne county — James McGrew. White county — Francis M. Charles. Whiteside county — R. E. Logan. WiU county— Charles Snoad and Sister Snoad. Williamson county — J. T. Hill. Winnebago county — Webster Osborne. Woodford county— Morris H. Wart. Committee. Motion made to adopt the report as read. Bro. Logan moved to amend by striking out name o f Sister Snoad from Will county. Amendment carried. Report, as amended, adopted. Worthy Master tnen delivered the following annual address, which was referred to a special committee of three: Brothers and Sisters : Time in its onward march brings us to the close of an- other year. And in accordance with the provisions of law, we have assembled in annual meeting to recount the labors of the past, and devise plans for the future. For the bless- ings which have crowned and enriched the year, let us be de- voutly thankful to the Giver of all good. The past year has "been a marked one in the history of our Order. Those who from design, or otherwise, have mistaken the object for which our Order was founded, conceiving it to be nothing more nor less than a mere political organization, supported and carried forward in the interest of designing men, prophesied its down- fall with the close of the exciting political contest through which the country has just passed. This, instead of resulting m the overthrow of our Order, has giving additional strength to it, Because it has demonstrated to every candid and fair- minded person that as an Order, we occupy a higher and no- bler plane than a mere partisan one. That its mission is not to degrade, but to elevate and enoble. Not to sink the indi- ▼idual to a mere partisan level, bat to elevate him to the position of a trae patriot and citizen. From this time forth it is to be hoped that our assemblies, instead of having at- tached to them political * significance, will be recognized in their proper light, indicating upon the part of the agricul- turists of the country an enhanced appreciation of the ad- vantages of a higher culture and an intelligent desire for that perfection in their calling that will enable them to successfully compete for that inestimable boon of earthly existence — human happiness. The causes which necessitated the Order of Patrons of Husbandry still exist and demand its perpetuity. The good we have alieady accomplished through organised effort is an earnest of the grand achiev- ments of the future made possible by an intelligent will and well directed effort. The noise and excitement incident to and connected with the first introduction of the Order among the people has subsided. To the casual observer, this is indicative of de- cline. But this does not necessarily follow as a result of thi3 teeming want of interest. It is true there is not so much en- thusiasm apparent among our members as at first. This has been succeeded by sober thought. Nor is the falling off in membership which has occurred during the past two years an evidence of a loss of strength. For the fact is evident to my mind that we still retain all the real strength we ever had. No true friend of his class or of the Order has gone away from us. Every Brother and Sister who has a true comprehension of the magnitude and importance ot the worK before them are found in the ranks of our Order to-day, with them there is no abatement of interest, no intention of giviag up the strife or of quietly submitting to further encroach- ments of the evils which have afBicted them for years. Asking no exclusive privileges for themselves, but de- manding equal and exact justice for all. With a firm reli- ance in the justness of their cause, laboring in hope of and in patience waiting for the good time coming when they shall be freed from the tyranny 'and oppression of wrong. The words of encouragement which, from year to year, has* greeted them from this chair shall suffer *©■ abatement at my bands. The future is full of promise, and no real cause for dis- couragement is appareut. On the contrary, there is much t# stimulate and encourage. Peace ami harmony prevail in the Order throughout the State, and I see no good reason why we may not enjoy a lime of general prosperity during the winter, eo that with augmented numbers aud increased facilities, we may attain to still greater achievements. The Executive committee believing that the best interests of the Order demanded that some one should visit through- out the State and lecture upon the work, objects and aims of the Grange, to the end that greater uniformity of work might fee secured, and a more thorough and perfect organization Drought about, the Master of the State Grange was requested by the committee to undertake this work, believing that the demand was imperative, that something must be. done to counteract the influences that were operating against the Or- der and affecting its power and usefulness, I consented to per- form this extra service — a work which was neither contem- plated or provided for by the State Grange. In pursuance of this plan, I have visited sixty three of the one hundred and two counties in the State, with an outlay to the State Grange of but fSO 00, the necessary travelling expenses being fully met by the counties visited — less the amount above stated. I was received by the Patrons of the several counties visited with marked respect and fraternal cordiality. In a majority of the counties two meetings were held — one in public and one inside the gates. These visits have afforded an opportunity for gaining an insight into the workings of the Order, unattainable by any other means. Irregularities have been corrected, defects dis- covered and pointed out, the advantages ot organization more fully explained and demonstrated, business facilities devel- oped, the bonds of fraternity which bind us together in one grand brotherhood strengthened, and our meiubers encour- aged to put forth still greater efforts to resist the arrogant demands of organized mono plies, and the ungodly exactions q! ■ ] vtpnn labor. Provision should.be made to have lie entire State visited: not only the County Granges but the Subordinate Granges also; and an appropriation should he made to defray at least one-half of the expense. I am per- suaded that it a part of the money paid by Subordinate Granges to the State Grange was expended for this purpose, that the order would not only be benefited thereby, but the resources of the State Grange would be increased. The details for carrying out these suggestions, if adopted, are left with you to provide. The agency established by the Executive committee at Chicago, pursuant to instruction of this body at its last ses- sion, and, notwithstanding the embarrassments under which it has labored, growing out of the lateness of the season when established, and a want of proper facilities for advertising it, together with the exceeding great stringency of the finan- ces of the country, it has attained a degree of success that to me is truly encouraging. This success indicates what may be accomplished if a wise and liberal policy prevail toward it. A full account of the business of the agency, together with the expense connected therewith, will be presented by the committee and the agent in their report. There is no subject of greater importance or of more vital interest to our members at large than that which relates to our business plans and operations. The prominent question, and one upon the correct solution of which depends our future success as an organization, as to how we can most successfully, and at the least expense, procure the necessaries and conveniences of home, and dispose of the surplus products of our farni9. Doubtless there are many who regard the social and intellec- tual features as paramount to the business; who deplore the fact that the Grange has ever been made a medium of pecun- iary gain, and who would adhere to, cherish and continue the Grange organization to a limited extent were the entire business features abolished, yet the vast majority of our members demano the pecuniary advantages, and unless they can have them, they will lose all interest in the Grange. To meet this demand a considerable number of co operative 'Btoves unon the Joint stock plan have been established, a ma- 10 jority of these, in a pecuniary point of view, have attained a fair measure of success. To make them what they should be, and to insure the greatest measure of success in providing for the pecuniary wants of members, they should be conducJ- ed upon a strictly co-operative plan I would therefore rec- ommend the appointment of a committee on co-operation to report a uniform plan of business to be adopted by our mem- bers so far as practicable, under the laws of our State. The question of pecuniary advantage is upon us ; we cannot afford to stop now; good common sense and business experience alone can carry us through; we have this in the Grange; we are able to cope with this question and accomplish grand re- sults if we but determine to do so. If tens of thousands of dollars have already been saved through an imperfect and incomplete business system, who can estimate the savings through a perfected one, and which the experience of the past demonstrates to be attainable. The question of co-operation in business is no new one. It has been prominently before the National Grange, more particu- larly at its last three sessions, and such care and thought has been given it in that body as its importance and intimate connection with the success of the order demanded. Your earnest and careful attention is invited to its action upon the subject, and to the rules and regulations adopted for the es- tablishment and government of co-operative stores. I am informed that measures have been taken towards establishing a co-operative wholesale and commission house in the city of Chicago. Such official recognition of the fact should be taken by this body as its importance to the order in the State demands. Since the law providing for the organ- ization of district and county granges has been in force, dis- pensations have been issued for eighty-three such Granges in the State. While there is no doubt of the utility of county Granges as a connecting link between the subordinate and State Grange, they have been greatly crippled in their usefulness for the want of proper legislation. No provisions having been made for support, they have become, in most in- stances, a burden and tax upon the members composing II them. Additional regulations were adopted by the National" Grange looking toward making them more efficient. Wheth- er this will have the desired effect time and experience alone will determine. Provision should be made to replace the dispensations issued to these Granges with charters under proper regulations. The Secretary placed in my hands a list containing quite a large number ot Subordinate Granges which have neither reported or paid dues to the State Grange for more than a year. A part of these I have already sus- pended, and have given them notice that unless all arrearage* are promptly paid their charters will be revoked. The re- mainder will be suspended as soon as notice ean be sent them. These Granges, in the aggregate, contain many good and true Patrons who are powerless to do anything. They being numerically in the minority aie unable to keep up the organ- ization. I would recommend that a plain, simple rule be adopted by which these members can affiliate with live, working Granges, thereby saving them to the Order. I have earnestly recommended, as did my worthy predecessor, that the weak Granges consolidate together, thus forming good and efficient organizations. I am sorry to say that this rec- ommendation has not been generally tollowed, as but com- paratively few consolidations have taken place during the year. If the County Granges would take more interest in looking after the weak and delinquent Granges within their jurisdiction, much could be accomplished, and in a short time no delinquents would be found upon our records. Your attention is called to the necessity of a careful and thorough revision of our By-Laws. In several important parts they are in direct conflict with the Constitution of the National Grange. This has been a proline source of annoyance, as well as of confusion and trouble, in the Subordinate Granges. Quite a considerable sum of money has been annually ex- pended in printing and distributing our By-Laws. Economy demands that this expenditure be stopped by the adoption of a code of By-Laws that will need no material revision ojt alteration for years. A special committee on revision of By- Laws should be appointed. I was greatly in hopes that a plan of lite insurance would have been instigated and pre- 15 senied at this meeting to be adopted by our members. But in this I am disappointed. Wherever a plan ot life insurance has been adopted by State Granges, as has been done by those of New York, Wisconsin and others, it has proven very satis- factory. Other orders similar to ours have their aid societies, winch has proven highly beneficent to their members patron- izing them. Why may we not profit by their example aud give our members something to take the place of the costly life insurance companies patronized by them at an outlay greatly in excess of what is necessary to insure the same ben- efits from an equitable plan such as have been adopted by other organizations. Also the advantages of home fire insur- ance companies for farm property cannot l>e too highjy rec- ommended. The general adoption of this plan would save thousands of dollars annually to the farmers of the State. A number of these home companies have been organized in the Htate, which have given the best satisfaction. These compa- nies can be made just as safe and reliable as the companies conducted upon the old plan, aud with less than one-half the outlay of money. Self-interest demands reform in the man- ner of insuring our property. There has been along-felt want among our members of a mere direct medium of communication between the execu- tive officers of the State Grange and the Subordinate Granges than any heretofore made. Efforts have been repeatedly made to supply this want. These efforts have only been par- tially successful, and not by any means satisfactory. With- out being committed to any particular plan, it appears to my mind that the most feasible and practicable one is that of issuing a monthly bulletin, as successfully practiced by num- bers of State Granges. This plan is attended with but little trouble and expense. In tact, these bulletins have been gen- erally self-supporting after the first two or three months. The demand of our members for information is imperative, and must be complied with, or great injury will result to the Or- der throughout the State. Our people need information. They have a right to expect it at our hands, and it is to be hoped that tlfe action of this State Grange in this matter willtbe such as will no longer disappoint them. As an addi 13 tioual means of strength and support,' I do most earnestly recommend that the Subordinate Granges? where they hare not already done so take immediate action toward pro- curing themselves a hall. It adds greatly to the stability and influence of a Grange to ewn a hall, to have a home. A num- ber of Granges have acted wisely in procuring comfortable and convenient halls. This example is worthy of being fol- lowed bv others who have no suitable place to hold their meetings. Also entirely too little importance has heretofore been given to the need of well selected Grange Libraries. One of the first moves a Grange should make should be to found a library. A portion of the funds should be sacredly set apart for this purpose. A large outlay of money is not nec- essary to begin with. A few well selected books at first to which others can br added as occasion requires. In this way a valuable collection of books may soon be made suited to the tastes and wants of all the members of the Grange. The present demand is not so much for learned men and women but educated ones. Without speaking disparagingly of our Agricultural schools and colleges, I am impressed with the belief that a well conducted Grange possessing a select li- brary of good books possesses advantages superior to them for obtaining a practical education adapted to the wants of every day life upon the farm. More brain work is needed to insure greater success in our calling. The farmer should be a student of books as well as of nature, should think, and observe the clouds less. He should depend more upon au intelligent application than of planting in the new or old of the moon. He should be obedient to the laws governing ani- mal and vegetable growth and production instead of the signs of the Zodiac. The American Agriculturists should not on- ly be the equals of members of other trades and professions in intelligence, but superior. The class whose pursuit forms the basis of the nation's prosperity should rank highest in in- telligence and in the possession of those attributes that con- stitute true manhood. I would further recommend that rules be adopted by the State Grange as follows : 1st to determine and fix the limit of demits ; 2nd to adopt a rule providing for the admission of demited members into subordinate 14 Granges ; 3rd to determine and fix the status of ancient Pa* trons, (that of those Patrons whose demit has expired by •limitation of law) and to provide for their admission into subordinate Granges ; 4th to provide a rule by which mem. bers of extinct Granges may affiliate with live ones. The {National Grange closed its tenth annual session the 28th of last month. While its action may not have been in accord ance with the wishes of some, much was done that will meet the approbation of the friends of the order whose de- sire is to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest num- ber, and not to foster and build up the plans of scheming and selfish individuals. Propositions in the form of amend- ments to the constitution were adopted providing for the opening of the higher degrees to all worthy members of the order, and making all fourth degree members eligible to all offices and position in either County, State, or National Grange. Also reducing the number of members of the Executive Committee of the National Grange from five to three mem- bers and providing for biennial sessions of that body. These amendments will severally come before you for your ratifica- tion or rejection. Whether these amendments will success- fully accomplish that for which they are designed is not for me to determine. And now brothers and sisters, in conclud- ing this my first address to you, I would counsel a strict ad- herence to the excellent precepts taught by our Order. Let ua not tor one moment lose sight of the "mark for the prize of our high calling." — the development of a better and high- er manhood and womanhood among ourselves. In our pro- gress towards this we may expect to encounter difficulties and obstructions in the way. If so, let us overcome them in the true spirit of our calling, remembering in the mean- while that great achievments are not the result of chance, but of patient labor. Bro. R. E. Logan, Bro. J. D. Lewis, and Bro. Edward Rodgers were duly elected by the Grange a committee on Appeals and Grievances. On motion of Bro. Logan, the Rules of Order of Busi- 15 ness used at the last session of the State Grange,, in Cham- paign, were adopted for this session, as follows: 1st. Opening of Grange. 2d. Reading Minutes of previous day's session. 3d. Report of Officers. 4th. Petitions from suh-bodies. 5th. Resolutions. 6th. Report of Standing Committees. 7th. Report of Special Committees. 8th. Unfinished business. 9th. New business. On motion, recess until 1:30 p. m, was taken. AFTERNOON SESSION. Grange called to order at 2 o'clock P. M. by Worthy Master. On motion of Bro. Losjan, the Secretary was authorized to employ two assistants at his desk during the session. The Master announced the appointment of the following Committees: Auditing Committee — Snoad, Will county; March, Shelby county; Easterly, Jackson county. On Finance — R. E. Logan, Whiteside county; Wilcox, jj Hancock county; Howland, LaSalle county; Bowdel, Piatt county; McGrew, Wayne county. On Master's Address — Frew, Mercer county; Enyart, Clay county; Smith, Lake county. Bro. Cohenour moved that a Committee of five be t appointed on Rivision of By-Laws. Motion carried. And the Master appointed as such Committee: Giller, Greene county; Sterritt, Adams county; Kerr, Montgomery county; Cohenour, Christian county; Edwards, Rock I ' Island county. Bro. Chambers called for the regular order of business. Committee on Credentials asked for the suspension of the rules, to make supplimentary report. w Rules suspended, and the following report made f ** Your Committee beg leave to report, that we find I following named members entitled to seats in this body Boone county — T.I. Hall. GarroU count}/ — B. Gillogly. Owm county — J. T. Black. Douglas county — Andrew Maun. Edgar county — K. Laufman. Kendall coutity — W. H. Shufelt. Piatt county — F. A. Bowdel. Ta&eweU county — T. E. Ripper. Wabash county — Will Shadle. Perry county — S. I. Davis. St. Clair county — J. C. Schaumleffie. In the contested case of Lee county, a majority of y< Committee report in favor of C. J. Roosbrock, and ! minority make a dissenting report. CoMMm'KE Motion made to adopt. Bro. Frew moved to amend, by striking out that p relating to Lee county, and that part be referred to I Committee on Appeals and Grievances. Amendrm carried. Report, as amended, adopted. Reports of officers called. Worthy Lecturer, Treasurer and Executive Commitl asked for further time. Request granted. The Secretary then presented and read his annual repc as follows: Worthy Master and Patron* : In presenting you my annual report for the year 1S7C do so feeling that some apologies are necessary. You a all aware that I was elected and installed at your last a nual meeting; but you are not all aware, perhaps, that was one month after my installation before the bool papers, etc., in the Secretary's office were in shape to turned over to mo by the committee appointed to set! 17 with the Past Secretary. During this time many reports and letters came to me, causing much annoyance and de- lay in sending proper receipts and answers. Another great source of trouble and delay was caused by the fact that more than half the Secretaries of Subordinate Granges continued to send their reports and dues to Bro. Fanning after my installation, thus causing considerable complaint about receipts, etc. Bro. F. seeing proper, and the fact that the post- office orders were made payable to him, making it necessary to open these communications, thus many notices of elections of Masters and Secretaries for 1S76 were lost or separated from the report they came with, thereby making them of no use to one not personally acquainted with the names they contained. These notes, in connection with their reports, were good, but separated they were of no use to me. and on this account, together with the fact that many Secreta- ries neglected to report who their Master and Secretary for 1876 were, or their proper post-office, it was impossi- ble to make up a correct mailing list, either for my own use or for the Worthy Master to send the Annual Pas3, it being necessary that the dues should be paid up to the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1S75, and that the Master's name and post-office for 1876 be reported by the Secretary before I could make up a correct list for mailing purposes; and no doubt some thought they were ignored or slighted, but, so far as I was able to learn who were Masters for 1876, copies of both National and State Grange proceedings were sent to them by mail; and, to try and reach all, packages were sent to County Grange Secretaries by ex- press for distribution to such Masters as had failed to receive any by mail. Nearly 3.000 copies were sent oat from my office in these two ways— to Masters and Secre- taries— my instructions being to furnish one cony to each Master; but many Secretaries, writing for them, were sup- plied while they lasted. •» IS BY-LAWS. An great source of trouble and annoyance w causi last session of the State Grarfge adopth and ordering printed a set of by-laws based on a lot of pr p >$< d amendments to the National Constitution, many which wen not ratified by enough States to make the the law, and noire of them vera] months aft< r last meeting. But many - - n the statem delegates lo the last session, and ipparently ignoring t3 fact that the proposed ne not in force, a] n t be used un til ratified by tl a-fourths of the States, fa < :"'.' ! noti .1 i i :h Se< r . ty, commenced world] ;. . Ian with what they supposed to Lie the laws, tin c -i..i>hig tno necessity for considerable extra i .. \ n ence during the first half of the year, many Granges a naitting members at reduced rates, and only paying du to the State Grange at the same rate. I desire to ce your attention to this subject, as a good many Grang have continued to forward only half the lawful initiatk ' s, while a sense of justice to all seems to require that should charge to their accounts the amount retained 1 them. .. account of the illegality of our By-Laws, I did n< s< ..d them out until the call for them became so great was necessary to do so; but notices were sent to ever Se : clary, also published in the Farm Journal, stating wh; parts were null and void. It is due to many Secretarii to state that they willingly complied with the law upc notice from my office. Still it is also true that sever have continued to act under what they claimed was tl action of the State Grange officers, and by them accept* in good faith: and, as thev had admitted members* reduced rates, the}' would only pay to the State Grang the same proportion, thus imposing on those willing t abide by the Constitution and By-Laws as they previous! cxi.-ted (and were the only laws we could work undt 19 kgally until the amendments were ratified) the burden of ntributing an undue proportion of the funds of our Stn treasury. NEW ORGANIZATIONS. There have been 'organized during the vear twenty-seven new Granges, as follows: Jefferson and Ferry counties; three each; Jersey, Scott, and Hamilton, two each; Jas- j -. Clay, Peoria, Franklin, Massac, Vermillion, Jackso Pulaski. V [ford, Pope, Greene, Shelby, Washington, S • line, and Cumberland, one each. Part of these Granges ' ve made no report to my office yet. Some of them have been rapidly increasing in membership, and bid lair t le some of our best and most active Granges. One of these — Craig, No, 1,606, of Perry county — has ini- tialed during the past two quarters 66 new members Many other Granges have taken in new members during the year, the total number of which I have not attempt- ed to enumerate. The total number of charters issued to our State is 1,619. Of this number fully one-half have ceased to be live, working Granges, and are classed as dor mant. From the best information I can get, the counties which have good, working County Granges are in the best condition. In October a list of over 600 Granges whose dues had not been paid since Sept. 30, 187-3, was presented to the Worthy Master for suspension. Some over 200 Granges have paid no dues since Dec. 31,, 1875, and will be reported to flie Master for suspension as soon as possi- ble after this meeting, unless the dues are paid up. Some time in the spring I received -notice thaf reports had not been made to National Grange for half of the year 1875, also calls for large amounts of back dues to that body. It being evident to your Secretary that the National Grange was charging us with too many members, I suggested to the Master, by letter, that we had better pay no more dues until this matter was settled up. When the Execu- tive Committee met in September, this matter was 20 brought up, and your Secretary and Treasurer ordered to pay no dues until a Special Committee could investigate the claims. For the result of this Special Committee's work, I refer you to the Executive Committee's report. My account of the receipts and expenditures during the fiscal year has been submitted to, and approved by, the Executive Committee quarterly; and I refer you tc- my cash accounts, as audited by them each quarter, for all information regarding the receipts and disbursements of my office, as well as for complete information concern- ing the standing of every Grange in the State, condensed exhibits of which are herewith submitted. 21 ft, EXHIBIT A. Skowing'the amount of fees and dues received from each county during the year 187G up to December 4th. OOUKTIES. Adams,... Bond, .. .. Boone,... Brown, .. Bureau,.. Calhoun,. Cook, Carroll,... Cass, No. Or? First quarter Champaign, . Christian, Clay, Clinton, Clark,.. Coles, Crawford, , Cumberland, DeKalb, , Dewitt, Douglas, , Edgar, Edward, Effingham,.... Fayette, Ford,.. Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock. Hamilton,.... Henderson,... Henry, Iroquois, , Jo Daviess,.... Jasper, , Jefferson. Johnson, o O 8 4 6 18 1 G o 9 o O 4 12 5 4 1 2) 5 $14 10 8| 22 61 29 18 20 46 7 98 180 100 7 37 10 36 28 96 16 67 168 1 10 29 09 72 63 40 55 1192 17 52 51 56 44 83 45 41 23 08 17 18 22 23 °\ 5 2 l! i| 4; 5' 9 9 1 1 10 20 9 3 8 5 12 12 7 08 16 94 46 53 132 2146 2 64 29 33 1 38 7 38 8 29 38 84 10 45 17 96 8 00 444 No. Second No. Third No. Grs quarter Grs ~5 quarter Grs 4 6 $12 42 $13 16 5 1128 5 14 85 9 4 2112 0 34 28 4 10 5192 6 33 77 3 4 1190 0 3 IS 1 1 160 1 170 1 9 — 4 50 1 100 1 7 27 09 5 19 06 1 4 10 06 0 0 6 24 0 16 64 44 9 47 58 8 11 22 99 4 6 26 0 0 3 13 02 0 9 55 1 3 8 96 1 180 1 10 27 55 9 2164 6 14 45 58 13 46 91 14 9 64 93 7 42-43 6 7 34 49 9 6 02 1 3 8 22 3 7 20 0 0 6 30 67 4 8 70 0 0 10 36 70 7 2164 4 19 70 34 13 3158 8 8 23 76 4 13 73 4 6 24 16 3 14 18 0 10 2195 4144 3 4 13 18 0 0 6 24 1 7 29 84 O 17 00 Q O 15 36 02 14 55 35 1 1 8 10 1 140 1 9 67 86 8 64 47 8 2 8 45 1 14 35 44 9 19 14 9 0 Am 1 4 89 1 86 1 9 15 83 3 10 32 2 3 60 11 44 20 12 28 47 8 6 15 34 6 17 35 4 4 14 12 3 19 72 * 1 5 80 4 20 06 1 5 18 02 5 13 60 2 Fourth quarter. 4$ 0 11 5 43 13 03 13 30 1 62 1 68 100 11 26 3 94 25 24 4 33 2 82 170 6! 23 98 48 63 25 84 2 16 6 81 8 58 12 90 29 46 7 02 24 79 1100 2 46 13 76 15 42 135 30 06 4 56 32 09 o «rt 14 43 7 18 1 56 6 01 oo _ - Continued. COUNTIES- Jers ey, .... Jackson, . Knox, ndall, .. >To. : First i . i - quarter !U' Kankakee, ... Lee, Lake, Logan, Livingston,... Lawrence, ... LaSaTle, jIcDonough,. Morgan, 4 3 2 1 12 5 IS: Montgomery, . Marion, Marshall, Mercer, McLean, Moultrie, Menard, Macoupin, Massac, McHenry. Madison, Macon, Mason, Ogle, Peoria, Lope, Putnam, Like Piatt, Lorry, , Randolph, Rock Island,.... Richland, , Stephenson, .... Stark, St. Clair, ^ Schuyler, Shelby, No. Grs 4j$ .9 15 4 1190 4 9 20 3] 8 40 14 801 3 30| 25 68 G30 oo ou 12 05 47 87: Q o •i 52 0 15 75 20 70 45 2 3 35 3 9 oo 9 23 02; 23 80 42 < 22 67 4 12 01 25 61 50, o 2 95 2 4 62 5 23 02; 12 o r o - OO GO .iii ill i 7 16 40 9 27 50 2 6 44 2 9 02 8 27 50 9 20 72 4 5 4 16 ■> o 11 15 0 80, 8 57: 10 86 39 12 14 24: oo 60 57 73 L j .Second j quarter ] $10 80 30 19 21 00 •> o XI ou 7 62 7 15 60! .> 16 56 1 23 91 10 14 65 4 -1- 6 51 No. Third ; Grs quarter > 3 $12 651 9 43 05- 4 8 60 4 18 72 0 i; on No.i Po ' GrE qua I 21 6 5 13 o ' o • > 6\ 10 22 11 26 o' O, .) 8 •j 8 10 12 1 8 26 78 9 9 14 * » 15 8 8 50 09 12 96 10 90 48 52 7 86 12 23 26 86 58 911 50 42 7 62' 75 3!' 6 85 3 74 36 58 14 47 24 14 22 87 06 82. 1 8S; 2 16 O C ||Ol oo 9o 57 32 8 24 9 07 25 00 34 28 32 17 s' " 1 O o-x 43 64 61 10 o 2 1 6 d 5 5 9 — 5 21 10 4 19 3 2 I 5 6 12 o 8 13 o 1 1 o 4. 34 25 81 13 53 18 06 185 14 24 3 05 32 52 15 14 16 5! I 26 21 o fro O t 6 6 78 8 04 54 47 30 08 14 81 oS 78 24 22 9 46 1142 30 98 16 15 13 17 oo 83 410 9 46 26 76 45 18 47 17 2 S33 10 36 10 9 35 58 19 3,9 5 10 54 L'-J /6 Z 2 _l / 1 2 1 4 o o 2 10 . > o 2 6 2 4 IS 7 3 . > o o 8 9 10 1 • ' I Q 2 * 6 32 46 • 2 10 5 60 5 00 6 70 10 7 25 11 02 2 95 24 83 7 49 4 79 23 59 11 5 35 5018 28 19 140 45 29 818 1 - 42 14 25 5 59 22 94 18 88 • ' - TO 1 40 12 32 22 62 24 18 46 12 7 45 9 85 6 : 24 49 2 70 101 1 6 10 29 6 45 ! 4 9 23 Continued. COUNTIES. INo. First Gra quarter No. [Second Grs quarter; N . l'nird [No. ■ . - raarter Grs Sangamon, 10 83-5 04 Scott, 6] 19 91 Saline, 51 9 60 Tazewell, 7 10 46 Union, 5 18 93 Vermillion 14 65 37 Winnebago, 10 25 34 Wi Ilia m son 8 4 10 White, ' 4 8 37 Warren, 9 1-3 26 Washington 2 3 82 Wayne 8 26 24 Woodford, 8 16 17 Wabash 10 24 64 Whiteside 5 12 91 Will 5 29 18 7 slS c 6 3 5 17 78 9 46 18 21 3 72 45 16 3-3 89 14 22 1 10 24 16 83 20 20 55 90 : 5 10 03 8 4147 11 1 10$31 2^ 7 23 13 41 IS 22 11 5 94 14 8 4 5 18 11 7 - > 12 11 4 o 33 22 1 .30 Q J 1 62 46 3147 11 20 10 50 -3 11 01 4 19 0S 13 -35 02 4 10 2-3 30 .< 6 4 26 1 3-3 — 6 quarter % 4 26 16 86 n : > - 29 06 1 1 54 6 17 16 / 18 20 3 9 43 2 5 46 o 15 ~>2 6 16 90 6 6 5 DO 21 61 11 12 RECAPITULATION it' • SECRETARY'S CASK ACCOUNT. I a:« nf nn.vt.i.- ^°- of Counties No. of Granges . . . , i\o. ol tyuarteis. ivT-ir-.r «aT7in« Amount r< First Quarter, Second Quarter,... Third Quarter, Fourth Quarter, ... 94 95 94 89 631 689 39S 81003 95 2367 31 1923 04 1291 83 Total amount received for fees and dues. $7549 03 Amount received from past Secretary, 72 65 Total amount received. $8121 08 Cr. By amounts turned over to J. S. Armstrong. Treas., $7334 68 By amount still due from Farming on reports, 242 72 By balance in Viands of Secretary, .344 28 88121 OS 24 EXHIBIT B. secretary's contingent account. Dr. February 9, 187G, to appropriation by Executive Committee, #500 00 February 9, 1876, to amount received from Secre- tary of National Grange, 47 84 March 10, 1876, to appropriation by Executive Committee, 300 00 June 7, 1876, to appropriation by Executive Com- mittee, 200 00 December 4, 1876, dispensations County Granges, 11 00 " 4, " blank account during the year, 3166 Total amount of contingent fund, $1000 00 Cr. By amount, printing proceedings of last session... $354 33 By amount, printing By-Laws of last session, 120 00 By expenses of Secretary's office during the year, per itemized account, examined by Executive Committee, 576 73 By balance in hands of Secretary, 38 94 S1090 00 EXHIBIT C. SHOWING SECRETARY'S ACCOUNT WITH PAST SECRETARY O. E. TANNING. Dr. January 12, to amount in his hands, as shown by settlement of Executive Committee, $1168 21 By amount due on Subordinate Grange reports, turned over to this office up to date, 1337 89 December 11, to error in Committee allowing salary for, 1874, 800 00 December 11, to office stove, left by Committee, 20 00 Total $3326 10 25 Or. By amount turned over to this office up to date,.. $1792 39 By balance due from ex-Secretary Fanning, 1583 71 $3320 10 EXHIBIT D. SHOWING THE RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE STATE GRANGE SINCE THE LAST SESSION, AND THE PRESENT RESOURCES. Amount in the treasury, per settle- ment with the Treasurer at last session, $7,G07 01 Amount in the hands of Secretary, per settlement, 1,108 21 Amount in the hands of Secretary, error in settlement, 800 00 Amount, pro rata donations, received from National Grange, 2,897 90 Amount received from Subordinate Granges, 7,549 03 Amount received from interest on bonds, 148 50 Amount received in adjustment of dues from National Grange for 1874, 839 52 Amount received for sale of blanks. etc 90 00 $21,100 17 Cr. Amount paid for mileage and per diem last session, $3,210 96 Salary of Master, $400 00 of Secretary, 500 00 " of Treasurer, 300 00 §1,200 00 26 PEB DIEM AND EXPENSES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A. J. Alexander, 1189 55 D.N. Foster, 368 o<> 11. M. Guy, 147 80 C N. Anderson, 127 55 *:-No 40 Contingent expenses in Secretary's office, $1,051 06 Contingent expenses in Master's office. 284 7o Contingent expenses in Treasurer- office,.... 26 90 Amount paid ex-Secretary for extra work, 25 00 Amount paid present Secretary for extra work, 4-"> 00 Amount of dues paid to the National Grange, 1,368 1)4 Amount of orders due at last session, but pai d during th is y ear, 2,1 07 J 5 LEAVING TOTAL PRESENT RESOURCES TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR AS FOLLOWS: Amount placed in the hands of the Executive Committee as business funds, |2,897S0 Amount now in Treasury, 5,891 93 Amount yet due from past Secretary,.. 1,533 71 Amount in hands of present Secretary. o44 12S Contingent fund in hands of Secretary, i 3 04 Contingent fund in hands of Master,... 44 25 $21,100 17 The following cases of appeals and charges have be ordered on the records by the Worthy Master, and notice sent the parties interested. All papers I have received in reference to each case are herewith submitted for your action: No. 1. — Appeal of J. W. Murdaugh vs. Damascus Grange No. 39. No. 2. — Charges of J. W. Murdaugh, of Grange No. 39, vs. Edmund Hathaway, Master Grange No. 30. 27 No. 3. — Appeal of T. J. Anderson vs. Grange No. 1,412. No. 4. — Charges of Bro. Edwin, Grange No. '375. vs. Samuel day. Past Master Grange No. 646. No. 5. — Appeal of Bro. C. A. Saltzraan vs. Grange No. 1,559. No. 6-. — Appeal of Geo. W. Meddler vs. Grange No. 896. In conclusion, I beg leave to suggest that some change be made in our By-Laws, either changing the time of our annual meeting, or the close of the fiscal year, it being impossible to make clear and correct reports under our present system of keeping the accounts open up to the time of our meetings. I also urge this body to strongly impress on the minds of Subordinate Secretaries the necessity of reporting to this office their Master and Secretary, with correct post- office address, as soon after they are elected as pos-ible, whether re-elected or new men, so we can make up cor- rect mailing lists early in the year. The present system of sending in dues whenever it suits the Secretaries, also is the source of much extra work in my office. Dues should be sent in promptly at the close of each quarter, so that my accounts can be made up for the Examining Committee at their quarterly meeting. My correspondence and work in the office has generally been pleasant; but, on account of the failure of supposed changes in the National Constitution, the labor has been more than double what your body at its last session supposed it would be, requiring the constant work of one clerk and fully half of my own lime: and I %, as desire onlv to call your attention to this fad, leaving it to vou to snv whether the present salaiy is sufficient for the amount of work done. Respectfully submitted, J. M. Chambki:s, Secretary. Referred to Committee on Finance. 2S Bro. Logan asked to be excused from serving on both committee on Finance and Appeals and Grievances. Bequest granted, and Bro. Boone substituted in Bro. Logan's place on committee of Appeals and Gri3vances Bro. Howland moved that a committee of Three on Good of the Order be appointed. Adopted. Bro. Davis moved a committee of Five on Resolutions. Adopted. Bro. Edwards moved a recess of ten minutes. Adopted. Grange called to order, and the following committees announced by the Worthy Master: Mileage and Per Diem — Bros. Vaughn, of Moultrie county; Laufman, of Edgar county; Hardy, of Champaign county; Burgesser, of Brown county; Schaumlerrle, of St. Clair. Good of the Order — Bros. Osborne, of Winnebago county; Shufelt, of Kendall county; Quaintance, of Menard county. On Resolutions — Bros. Davis, of Perry county; Fields, of Effingham county: Wart, of Woodford county; Dusch, of Pope county; Ridenhower, of Johnson county. Bro. Mayo moved a committee of Five on Co-operation. Adopted. Bro. Porter moved a committee of Five on Fire Insur- ance. Adopted. Bro. Giller moved that no member be allowed to speak more than once on a subject, and that time be limited to five minutes. Bro. Davis moved to amend by striking out "five," and inserting "ten," minutes. On vote, the motion to amend was lost, and Bro. Giller's motion adopted. Bro. Osborne moved that all motions and resolutions be put in writing, signed, and read from the Secretary's desk, and referred to appropriate committees without debate. Bro. Snoad moved to amend by striking out "motions and." Carried. Motion, as amended, adopted. 29 Bro. Edwards moved that Bros. Foster and Chambers be appointed a committee to prepare a synopsis of the proceedings for the press. Adopted. Bro. Greer moved that an appropriation be made by the State Grange to defray the expenses of certain lady members attending this meeting under the impression that they would be admitted as delegates to the same. Referred to committee on Finance. Bro. Porter moved the suspension of the rule? for the purpose of introducing resolutions. Adopted. Bro. Porter then offered the following: Resolved, That the Master of the State Grange be instructed to appoint a Lecturer in each Congressional District, and, when practical, in each county, whose duty it shall be to visit each Grange that has been suspended, or that is six months in arrears for dues to the State Grange, and endeavor to get the Granges revived or con- solidated with others. Rc-solced, That the Master be requested to consult with the County and District Granges in the appointment of such officers; and the}' shall report to the Master of the State Grange, and to the Master of the county in which they labor. They shall receive one dollar, per day and necessary traveling expenses, but their bills shall in no case exceed one-half the amount paid io the State Grange in dues, and must be endorsed by the Master of both Cuuntv and State Grange. (Signed), J. D. Poutkr. Referred to committee on Good of the Order Bro. Ripper offered the following: Whp:reas, The farmers and land-owners are the parties who pay most of the taxes, while capital goes untaxed; therefore, Resolved, That we, the County Grange of Tazewell assem- bled, petition our State Grange to use all fair means to have our State Legislature so change the law as to make taxation equal, and upon actual capital, no matter how invested. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Diehl. as follows: 30 Own to the immense loss of hog3 in this State from cholera and other diseases, which materially affect the commercial interest of the country; therefore, be it Resolved, Thai Fulton County Grange instruct her dele- ite to the State Grange, which convenes at Decatur, to I etition thai h >dy to lay a memorial before the next. Gen- * al \ — ■•!; ' !\ of Illinois, asking that honor-able body to make an appropriation for the purpos< of investigating the causes, and, if possible, di - ering a cause for thi diseases of hogs. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Almy, as follows: Resolved, by Pioneer Grange No. 1,554, Clinl m county, 111., Thai ! be for the good of the Order to have a Lecture appointed in each county to work up the inter- est of the Order. Referred to committee on Oooodv: There was in my hands at the settlement at the city of Champaign, December 14, 1875, seven thousand six hundred and seven dollars and one cent, and I have received in interest on U. B. bonds one hundred forty-eight dollars and fifty cents, and from all other sources eight thousand one hundred and seventy-four dollars and twenty cents, making a total of moneys for the year of fifteen thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine dollars and seventy-one cents. And have paid, out, as follows: At Champaign city, to delegates, for attending State Grange, on pay-roll, three thousand two hundred and ten dollars and ninety-six cents. To the National Grange for state dues, for quarter ending- March 31, 1876, $264.71; for quarter ending June 31, 1876, $264.71. And for dues for quarter ending Sept. 30, 1875, and December 30, 1875, $839.52, by settlement of back -dues for 1874. Paid for government bonds 5 20 6 per cent, gold, issue of 1865, $4,180.35, as directed by the Grange. and upon orders of Worthy Master and Secretary, $5,457.88, making a total of expenditures, as per vouchers, of $14,218.13, leaving in my hands a balance of currency of $1,711.58, and U. S. bonds 5-20 6 per cent, gold, issue of 1865, representing $4,180.35. Leaving total amount, subject to the order of the State Grange, of $5,891.03. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. S. Armstrong. Secretary reported charges of John Sonbarger vs. Oliver Hale. Referred to Committee on Appeals and Grievances. Grange took up the order of petitions from sub bodies. 33 Bro. Almy offered the following resolution from Pioneer Grange No. 1554, Clinton county: Resolved, That this Grange knows no reason why clogs should not be considered personal property, and taxed as such, and respectfully ask the State Grange to take such action as shall bring the subject before our State Legisla- ture. Referred to Committee on Resolutions. Bro. Almy offered the following from Pioneer Grange No. 1,554, Clinton county, 111.: Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Grange, the sur- plus money belonging to the State Grange would be of more benefit to the Order if applied in establishing and maintaining a Grange supply house located centrally in tho State. Referred to committee on Co-operation. Bro. Mellen offered the following: Resolved, That co-operation is the life and strength of our Order, and for this end we should endeavor to estab- lish one or more co-operative stores in every county. Referred to committee on Co-operation. Bro. Greer offered the following: Resolved, That the By-Laws of the State Grange be so amended as to provide for an Executive Committee of three members instead of five. Referred to committee on By-Laws. Bro. Crippen offered the following: Whereas, Our laws, as they now exist, prevent our offi- cers from making correct reports of the condition of our State Grange for each fiscal year, Resolved, That our By-Laws be so changed as to give more time between the election of delegates and our an- nual meeting. Resolved, That our fiscal year should commence on the 1st day of October and close on the 30th day of Septem- ber, or the annual meeting be held after close of the pre- sent fiscal year. Referred to committee on By-Laws. Bro. Maltby offered the following: Inasmuch as the committee on By-Laws call for sug- 34 gestions to aid them, I would respectfully offer the follow- ing alterations: Amend Article 2, Section 1, of By-Laws of State Orange by substituting the word ''may" in place of "shall" in the third line, and also by adding "or other fourth de- gree members" after the word '•matrons" in the fourth line; the officers of which shall consist of Master, Overseer, Lecturer, Steward, Assistant Steward, Chaplain, Treasurer, Secretary, Gate-keeper, Ceres, Flora, Pomona, and Lady As- sistant Steward, who shall be elected and installed at the annual meeting in December, and hold their respective offices for two years following their election. Also Article 8, Section 5, by striking out the word "four" in second line, and inserting "three;" also by striking out the word "two" after the word "four," in third line, and inserting "three;" also by striking out the word "two" after the word "four" and inserting "one." Referred to committee on By-Laws. Bro. Vaughn offered the following: Whereas, A great monopoly now exists in the school book system of our common schools; and Whereas, It is desirous that the people of Illinois should be relieved from such monopoly if possible; there- fore, Resolved, That we, the members of the State Grange of Illinois, in session assembled, demand that our Legisla- ture be and is hereby instructed to devise some means to relieve the people of the State from such monopoly by having published by the State of Illinois such books as may be decided upon by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and such other competent person as they may select. Referred to committee on Resolutions. Bro. Kerr: Whereas, Many of our Granges have had business transactions with the firm of Dolton Bros., of St. Louis; and Whereas, They have always sold us better goods for less 35 money than the present business agent of St. Lou:.-:; therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly request the State Grange i ) appoint the aforesaid firm of Dolton Bros, our State agents for the southern portion of this State. Referred to committee on Resolutions. Bro. Davis offered the following: Resolved, That we consider the Grange the most instruct- ive and beneficial organization now in existence, and that we. as well-wishers of the Order, should do everything in our power, in a kind, generous spirit, to correct its abuses, though unintentional, wherever found. 2. That we believe the patriarchal system of govern- ment, though of high authority, incompatible with our civilization, and therefore are in favor of the representa, tive plan. 8. Tha,t any worthy member of the Order should be eligible to all the degrees. 4. That the National Grange should aold but one ses- sion in four years, not to exceed t^n days in length, and . meet at the most central and convenient point in the United States. 5. That each Sta+ti should pay the expenses of its own, delegates. 6 Tnat ro more revenue should be collected by the National Grange than is necessary to defray contingent expenses. , v 7. That our numbei of delegates to the State and na- tional Grange be reduced at least one-half. 8. That we believe co-operative action practicable, and recommend its general adoption. 9. That we are in favor of popularizing the Order, and; rendering it what it was intended to be— the great nu!-. wark of agricultural industry— and believe that a reduc- tion of admittance fees to $2.50 would tend to accomplish this much-needed and greatly-desired object Referred to committee on Resolutions, Bro. Vaughn offered the following : Whereas, The law of the State of Illittois in regard to fanners7 pie and lightning insurance companies confines an oi-ganization to not exceed six townships; and Whereas, It is desirous on the part of the farmers of many counties in the State to organize such companies- therefore, ' 5 ** 36 Resolved, That we, as representatives of the farming community, in Grange assembled, demand that the law be so amended as that one or more counties may be organized into such companies by the farmers thereof. Referred to committee on Insurance. Bro. Mell en offered the following: Resolved, That the use of tobacco is a useless, filthy habit, injurious to health and the development of our intellectual faculties, and that we, as Brother Patrons, will join our Sisters in condemning its use. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Hamilton offered the following: Whereas, there is a great multiplicity of common school books, causing an outlay of a vast amount of money in this State, and that amount being forced from those who are least able to bear it. Therefore, Resolved, That we urge it upon our Representatives in our State Legislature, to enact a State law, establishing a uniform series of text books for common schools, having them selected by a competent Committee, revised, stereo- typed and established during a term of years, and let by contract to the lowest responsible publishing house. Referred to Committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Giller asked the suspension of the rules, and moved the adoption of the following resolution: Whereas. The question, as to whether the people of the State of Illinois have the right by law to control the rail- roads and other monopolies of the State, is yet in obeyance. no decision having been rendered by the Supreme Court of the United States on the questions brought before them by the Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners. There- fore, be it Resolved by the members of the State Grange of Illinois. at their annual meeting, held at Decatur, that we earnestly request and instruct our Senators and Representatives at Springfield assembled, to uphold and support the Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners in their efforts to defend the rights and privileges of the people of this great State. Resolved, That our Representatives be also requested, to perfect such legislation aswili compel the railroads of the v State to pay promptly their taxes due the different counties \SvOf the State, so long unjustly withheld. -~-"E. A. Giller, of Greene county. Rule suspended and resolution adopted. 37 Committee on Credentials made the following supple- mentary report: Eeporting Bro. James Manly, of McDon- ough county, entitled to a seat in this body. Report adopted. Committee on Appeals and Grievances made the follow- ing report: In the case of the Lee County Grange No. 53, referred to your Committee, your Committee report, that the credentials of Bro. C. J. Roosbrook appear to be correct, and recommend that he be received as delegate. Your Committee would report, that Bro. M. L. Arnold contests the validity of the election of Bro. C. J. Roosbrock, and would suggest that he be given an opportunity to make a statement of the case to the State Grange. We also suggest that inasmuch as Bro. M. L. Arnold is here in the interests of harmony and the good of the order in Lee county, that the State Grange take action to allow Bro. Arnold's traveling expenses. We would further recommend that the By-Laws be so amended as to establish, beyond doubt, the proper mode of electing delegates to the State Grange. Chas. Boone, Ed. Rodgees, J. D. Lewis. Bro. Mellen moved to divide the report and act on it bj' sections. Adopted. Section 1 read. Motion made to adopt. Bro. Logan offered the following substitute: Resolved, That the delegates from Lee county be allowed pay the same as one delegate, to be equally divided between them, and the}' be allowed seats as honorable members. And called the previous question. Call not sustained. Bro. Logan moved to recommit. Motion lost. Bro. Greer moved to lay on the table. Motion lost. Vote taken on the substitute, and lost. 38 Bro. Frew moved to amend by recognizing Bro. M. L. Arnold as the duly elected delegate, and that the traveling expenses of Bro. Itoosbrock be paid. Bro. Logan moved to amend by giving both delegates seats, with one-half vote to each, and one have pay one way and the other the other way. Amendment to the amendment lost. Amendment lost. Section, as read, adopted. Motion made to adopt Section 2. Bro. Foster moved to amend by referring to Committee en Finance. Motion, as amended, adopted. Section 3 referred to Committee on By-Laws. Bro. Osborne moved that a Committee of Five on Education be appointed. Recess until 2 o'clock P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. Grange called to order at 1:30 o'clock P. M. Worthy Master in the chair. Rule suspended for the introduction of new business. Master announced the appointment of the following committee: ON EDUCATION. Bro. Hall, Boone county. " Gillogly, Carroll county. " Mellon, Kankakee county. " Bennett, Fayette county. Sister Edwards, Rock Island county. Note.— The Worthy Assistant Steward, Bro. E. R. Field, and the orthy Gate-Keeper, Bro. Randolph, arrived near the close of the first Ow mid tilled their respective positions during the session.— Sect. 39 Bro. Wilcox offered the following: Whereas, Bro. S. J. Frew will be in attendance at the meeting of the Nebraska State Grange, on December 19, 1876. Resolved, That this Grange authorize him to bear our fraternal greetings to our fellow patrons of that State. Resolution adopted. Bro. Smith offered the following: Whereas, justice and right are yet perverted in the practice of the courts of lav,7 in this State, by the separa- tion of statute law from equity. Therefore, Resolved, That the State Grange urge the Legislature to prompt and earnest action in so constructing the law of our courts, that they shall be courts in equity and law. Referred to Committee on Resolutions. Regular order resumed. Committee on Appeals and Grievances reported as follows : In the case of Union Grange No. 1559 vs. Bro. C. A. Saltzman, your Committee report, that there is no evidence before the Committee that a quorum was present at the meeting which expelled him, or that a majority of the members wrere in favor of his expulsion. Your Commit- tee recommend, that the matter be referred back to Union Grange No. 1559, and that they grant Bro. C. A. Saltzman a new trial. Adopted. Committee on Good of the Order reported, asking to have a resolution on school books, in their hands, referred to Committee on Education. So referred. Also the following: Your Committee on Good of the Order, to whom was referred the resolution in regard to Hog cholera, recom- mend, that a certified copy of the following be sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives at Springfield, as soon as the first day of the coming session : ^\ RESOLUTION \\ To the House of Representatives and the Senate of the State of Illinois : The State Grange of the State of Illinois, convened at Decatur, do most respectfully and earnestly request your fc 40 honorable body to appoint a scientific commission, at as early a day as practicable, to investigate the disease called Hog Cholera, to the end that the cause of said disease may be known, and if possible, a remedy be suggested. And further request you to make an appropriation from the State treasury to pay said commission, and to publish nnd disseminate said report. Adopted. Worth}- Lecturer made a verbal report, and presented a claim for his salary, which was referred to Auditing Com- mittee. Sister Green offered the following: Knowing, there are to be a good many fourth degree members here, that are not entitled to the fifth degree, Resolved, That the special order for this afternoon be made the special order for to-morrow morning, and that suggestions for the Good of the Order be substituted this afternoon. Adopted. Bro. Vaughn offered the following: Whereas, by the present system of making reports to the State Grange of Illinois, in regard to dues from Subordinate Granges, they seem to be rather loosely made, Resolved, That the By-Laws of this Grange be so amended in such a manner, as that the Secretaries of such Granges be required to send duplicate reports of such Grange to the Treasurer of this Grange, at the same time returns are made to the Secretary of the State Grange. Referred to Committee on By-Laws. Bro. Charles offered the following: Whereas, by existing laws and decisions, the powers and duties of County Granges have become so abridged, as to render them almost an incumbrance to the Order. Therefore, Resolved, That the State Grange take such action as will place said County Granges in a condition to be of some benefit to the Order. Referred to Committee on By-Laws. Bro. Snoad offered the following resolutions from Will County Grange: Resolved, That we believe, that a large amount of the 41 expenses of the annual meeting of the State and National Granges should be cut off, and applied to bring about more profitable results. That we urge our Representative to use all honorable means in his power to restrict represen- tation in the State Grange to the lowest possible number deemed expedient for the welfare of the organization. Resolved, That we believe, that there is real necessity for economy and retrenchment in expenditures, both in our State and National Granges, and while we deprecate and oppose these annual appropriations, we favor fair and liberal salaries for the officers of these Granges, looking- for and demanding greater efficiency on their part, that the Local or Subordinate Granges may be benefited there- by. Resolved, That we believe the Grange to be the only medium through which the agricultural classes can expect relief from the oppressions of monopolists and unjust and unlawful effects of aggregated capital, and therefore urge the necessity for correct business principles and efficiency in every department. Resolved, That in our opinion the disintegration and failure of a large number of Subordinate Granges is at- tributable to a want of information in a reliable form, in reference to the workings and business transactions of the higher organizations. And that we urge the dissemination of knowledge, and distribution of such papers and docu- ments to Subordinate Granges as will tend to give an intelligent idea of the entire workings of these bodies. Resolved, That we pledge our united support, and will do all that lies in our power for the advancement of our noble order, and will endeavor to inculcate and follow correct principles, favoring the improvement and development of our resources financially, socially and intellectually. And we urge ujon our State Grange the necessity of a work of this character. Resolved, That we are in favor of an Equitable Grange -Life Insurance Company. Referred to Committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Vaughn, Chairman, offered the following: Your Committee on Mileage and Per Diem recom- mend that the State Grange pay mileage to Sister Farnham. Referred to Committee on Finance. Bro. Schaumleffle offered the following: 42 Inasmuch as sheep raising in Illinois has been greatly retarded by the ravages of useless dogs. Therefore, Resolved, That we, the members of the State Grange of Illinois, request of our Senators and Legislators, that they enact a law prohibiting dogs from running at large, under penalty of fine and imprisonment. And giving any person the right to kill any dog, unless said dog be under the immediate care of the owner. Referred to Committee on Resolutions. Bro. Colley offered the following: Whereas, class legislation is very objectionable and injurious to the wealth producers. Therefore, Resolved, That we ask the repeal of the law that com- pels a citizen to pay a tax on property in his possession, but not paid for, and exempts the money lender from being taxed upon the same principle. Motion made to adopt. Bro. March moved to lay the motion on the table. Motion adopted. Bro. Porter moved a Committee on Taxation. Adopted. Bro. Colley offered the following: Resolved, That the rate of interest on money be so re- duced, as to compare with profits on industry. Referred to Committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Davis moved that when we do adjourn, it be until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Adopted. Rule suspended, and Committee on Master's Address made the following report, which was adopted: To the Worthy Master and Members of the Stole Gimige of Illinois : Your Committee, to whom was referred the Worthy Master's address, would respectfully report, that we have carefully reviewed the address, and offer the following recommendations, viz. : 1st. That so much of the address, as relates to the creation of a fund for the support of County Granges, be referred to the Committee on Finance. 43 o 2d. That so much as relates to charters for County Granges, be referred to the Committee on By-La ws. 3d. That so much as relates to fixing the limit of demits, be referred to the Committee on By-Laws. 4th. That so much as relates to visiting County and Subordinate Granges, be referred to the Committee on Good of the Order. 5th. That so much as relates to Life Insurance, be re- ferred to the Committee on Fire Insurance. Gth. That so much as relates to the status of Ancient Patrons, be referred to the Committee on By-Law?. 7th. That so much as relates to admission of demitted members into Subordinate Granges, be referred to the Committee on By-Laws. 8th. That so much as relates to admission of members of extinct Granges into live ones, be referred to Committee on Good of the Order. 9th. That so much as relates to the establishing of a Co-operative Wholesale and Commission House in Chicago, be referred to the Committee on Good of the Order. 10th. That so much as relates to the publication of a Monthly Bulletin as a means of official communication, be referred to the Committee on Good of the Order. 11th. That the address be adopted as read. All of which is fraternally submitted. S. J. Frew, Chairman of Committee. Master gave notice that he would present the amend- ments to the National Constitution for consideration at close of special order in the morning. Bro. Frew asked permission for Bro, Davis to read a paper on Good of the Order. Made special order for this evening at 8 o'clock. Grange took a recess until 7 o'clock P. M. 44 EVENING SESSION. Grange called to order. Master in the chair. Special order called. Bro. Boone delivered an address on Usury and Finance; Bro. Davis, on The Grange: Its Past, Present and Future. On motion of Bro. Osborne, a vote of thanks was tend- ered Bros. Boone and Davis. Bro. Osborne moved a reconsideration of the vote, fixing the time of adjournment. Vote reconsidered. Bro. Porter moved to amend, by making it 8 instead of 10 o'clock A. M. Adopted. Grange closed in due form. THIRD DAY. MORNING SESSION. Thursday, Dec. 14, 1870. Grange opened in due form at 8 a. m., Past Master G older in the chair. The Secretary found the following communication on his desk, with the request, "Secretary, please read:" Worthy Master : We are happy to note the ushering in of this beautiful Thursday morning with its bright prospects. We also note our very pleasing prospects at the St. Nicholas House. It is christened "Alonzo Golder, Jr." The worthy Past Master was called on to rise and ex> plain, which was done satisfactorily. The rules were suspended, and the State Agent, Bro. Hendricks, read his report," which was referred to com- mittee on Co-operation. *Note— The Agent's report, beingvery lenghty, was finally placed in the hands ef the Executive Committee, with instructions to publish such portions as they deem of special interest, and will appear in the Appen- dix, not being ready for insertion here. — Secy. 45 Bro.Howland moved that no new business or claims shall be acted upon during this session that are not presented before the close of to-day's session. Adopted. Bro. Logan offered the following: Resolved, That we, the members of this State Grange, recommend the Subordinate Granges of each county to form County Granges in their respective counties where- ever such do not now exist. Adopted. Bro. Ripper offered the following: Inasmuch as the Worthy Secretary of the State Grange of Illinois has had much trouble and spent a good deal of his time as well as employing a clerk during the year; therefore, Resolved, That this Grange deem $500 not sufficient remuneration for his services during the past year, and that $200 be appropriated in addition to his salary; and, further, Resolved, That Bro. Foster be allowed 810 for services in assisting the Secretary during this session. Referred to committee on Finance. Regular order resumed. Bro. Porter moved to omit reading that portion of the minutes which was referred to committees. .Motion adopted. Minutes read and approved. Special order called for conferring of the fifth degree. The obligation and instructions of the fifth degree were conferred on all the delegates entitled to receive them by the "Worthy Master. Regular order resumed, and reports of officers called. The Master made. the following: To the State Grange of Illinois, P. of H. : At your last session, in the matter of the appeal of Sam- uel Taylor from the action of Paradise Grange 640, expell- him from the Order, it was ordered that said Paradise Grange grant the appellant a new trial within thirty days after receiving notice thereof. Whereas said Paradise Grange refused to obey the order of this State Grange, the 4*3 Master thereof suspended said Grange until the meeting of the State Grange at this session. The sentence of sus- pension having expired, the matter is referred to your body for further action. On motion, the Master was instructed to have the char- ter of said Grange revoked. Bro. Easterly offered the following: Resolved, That intoxication is a crime, and the By-Laws of the Subordinate Granges should be so amended as to punish it accordingly. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Ridenhower offered the following: Resolved, That no person should be eligible to member- ship in the Grange who refuses to pay his debts. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Also — Resolved, That Patrons of Husbandry should patronize such papers and journals as are in sympathy with their interests. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Hamilton offered the following: Whereas, Some of the grievances pertaining to the ag- ricultural interest can be redressed only by enactments of the Legislature; therefore, Rf£olv€il, That we believe it will be for the good of the Order, and* for the interests of the masses, for us to have a committee of at least one, and that one be appointed by the Worthy Master of die State Grange, to go fresh from the people and demand, in behalf of the people-, such legislation as we agree upon in the State Grange. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Beadles offered the following: Resolved, That the State Grange recommend that the very able address of Bro. Boone be published and read in each Subordinate Grange in the State. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Maltby offered the following: Inasmuch as there is considerable dissatisfaction among the Subordinate Granges throughout the State in relation 47 to the form of initiation as laid down in our manual; therefore, Resolved, That measures be taken at this session of the State Grange that may result in the exclusion of all un- necessary forms and ceremonies in initiating candidates, both in the Subordinate, State, and National Granges. Referred to committee on Good of the Order. Bro. Lehman offered the following: Whereas, The business arm of the Order needs strengthening during the present crisis; therefore, be it Resolved, That we recommend that a part or the whole of the money now invested in bonds in the hands of the State Treasurer be loaned to the several joint stock asso- ciations that have been organized by the Patrons of Hus- bandry in the State, said loans drawing 4 per cent, per an- num, and being protected by approved security. Referred to committee on Finance. Bro. March moved to take the resolution on taxes from the table and refer to committee on Taxation. Motion adopted. Rule suspended, and commitee on Credentials reported Bro. J. L. Hart, of Randolph county, entitled to a seat. Report adopted. Reports of officers called. The Executive Committee presented the following report: REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE — 1870. Worthy Master and Patrons : Your Executive Committee would beg leave to make the following report of their acts during the year just closed. The By-Laws of this Grange, adopted at the last session, make it the duty of this committee to hold quar- terly sessions at the Secretary's office; to examine the books and vouchers of the Secretary and Treasurer; also to have a general supervision of the affairs of the Order during the recess of this Grange; to advise the Secretary in relation to printing; also to place at his disposal a con- tingent fund sufficient to pay the necessary expenses of his office. It will be seen that no provision ia made for 48 special meetings; but the duties imposed upon this Com- mittee are of such a nature as to require special meet- ings, and, believing-this Grange intended to confer power- sufficient to enable them to discharge the duties of their office promptly and efficiently, they called a special meet- ing, to be held in the city of Chicago on the 27th day of January. This was necessary from the fact that the principal amount of printing had to be done about this time, and if they were to advise the Secretary in the mat- ter, it must be done at this time, and provision made for the payment of the same. Again, the address of S. M. Smith, delivered at the last session of this Grange, was submitted to this Committee to select such portions for publication as they might deem best. This duty the Com- mittee intrusted to its Secretary. The result of his work is found in the printed proceedings. Remembering that the Committee were required to cause to be printed in the form of a bulletin, or some- other form, such portions of their proceedings as were proper for publication, and send a copy to each Grange, the Committee gave this subject very careful considera- tion. They received propositions from the Prairie Farmer Company and the proprietors of the Western Farm Jour- rial to print such matter as might be famished them for the good of the Order. That of the Western Farm Jour- nal, being regarded as the more desirable, was accepted for the term of six months. In this arrangement, the publishers were to send one copy to such officer in each Grange as should be designated by the Committee. The only expense of this arrangement to the State Grange, or Patrons, was simply the postage on the papers sent. Something over fifteen hundred copies have been sent to officers of Subordinate Granges under this arrangement. By the adoption of the report of the committee on Co- operation at the last session of this Grange, the Commit- tee were instructed to establish an agency in the city of Chicago. After obtaining all the information possible 4D from similar agencies in other States, we resolved to employ an agent upon a salary, and open an office. Bro. W. A. Hendricks, coming very highly recommended, was employed upon a salary of $1,500 per year. At thia meeting we received a proposition from certain parties claiming to represent a large number of manufacturers who were dealing directly with Patrons to open a supply depot in the city of Chicago, and furnish our agent with a suitable office room free of expense to the State Grange, only requiring that he should fill his orders from said supply depot, where it could be done on as favorable terms as they could be filled elsewhere. This proposition was accepted, with a proviso for its termination. It soon became apparent that this arrangement was not working to the interest of the Order, and that our agent was not furnished with suitable office room in which to transact his business, and the arrangement was terminated. An office was rented, and our agent moved into it. The report of the agent, which has been submitted to you, will show the amount of business done and the cost of doing the same; when it will be in the province of this body to determine whether this agency shall be continued as at present con- ducted, changed, or abolished entirely. We are quite confident that for the coming year it may be made self- sustaining if properly conducted. If it should need a small outlay of funds, we think it would be as profitable an investment as will be likely to be made of the funds of this Grange. At this meeting we received an invitation from the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Missouri State Grange, inviting this Committee to send representatives to a meeting of the Executive Committees of the States of the Mississippi Valley, to be held in the city of St. Louis on the i2d day of February. This invitation was accepted, and the Com- mittee attended said meeting/which was called to consider the business interests of the Order. Arrangements were made at that meeting for a mutual use of agencies in th* 4 \ 50 veral commerci Litres, and to prevent the appoint- ment of rival agents in I me places. This subject was further considered at a sul ent meeting, held in the ty of Chii luring the s< 31 ion of the National Grange, at which this Committee was represented by its Chairman. At thi meeting a memorial, embodying this principle with othei drawn and pre* I to the National Grange for its adoption. Whai action that Grange took wehav yet been able to learn. Ana; 500 was made to the contingent funds in the h of the £ ary. and $200 to apply upon expense account of Master's 1 The Committee decided to h first quarterly meet- ing at the Secretary's office on the 8th of March; and as there appeared to be only clerical work to be clone at this meeting, a sub-committee, consisting of Bros. ] h and ►ster, was appointed to meet at the Secretary's md examine the hooks and voucher in that office for the Committee. This was done in order to save the 1 ole Committee meeting, when it was thought a smaller number could do the necessary business quite as expeditiously. The reports received from Subordinate Granges were examined and compared with the books, when it was found that the Secretary had received the sum of $2,115.95, and had turned over to the Treasurer, as per vouchers exhibited, the sum of $1,173.08, leaving a balance in his hand of $942.87. The Secretary's account, with contingent fund, was also examined, and a balance of $10.94 was found to be unex- pended, and an additional appropriation of £300 was made to said fund. The second quarterly session was held at the office of the Secretary, in Preeport, on June 6th, and the accounts of the Secretary examined. The amount of receipts during this quarter was $2,367.21 from Subordinate Granges; from Fast Secretary Fanning, $191.25; $1,608.53 had been paid to Treasurer, leaving a balance in hands of the Secretary of $1,660.50. An addi- K 1 fcional appropriation of $200 was made to the contingent fund. A resolution was passed requesting the Master and Sec- retary to enforce the law in relation to delinquent Granges. Your Committee are of the opinion that if this law had been strictly enforced from its passage, it would have resulted beneficially not only to this Grange, but to the Subordinate Granges and the Order generally. We would advise an expression of the Grange upon this im- portant subject. At the last session of this Grange thii Committee were instructed to have that part of the Ex utive Committee's report relating to Life Insurance print- ed in pamphlet form, and a copy sent to each Grange in the State This the Committee caused to be done, with a request to consider the subject and report to Secretary Chambers their approval or disapproval of the project. We were informed that about fifty Granges had reported, favoring the movement. The Committee resolved to take measures to effect an incorporation embracing this principle, and appointed Bro. R. M. Guy a committee of one to draw up the necessary papers and attend to their execution. He has failed to make any report of his ac- tion to this committee. We would most earnestly recom- mend a careful consideration of this subject, believil this to be a very safe and economical plan for effecting a limited amount of life insurance, and thus add another bond of union to our Fraternity. We would advise that the subject be assigned to a Special Committee, with instructions to report at as early an hour in the session as practicable what action it is advisable for this Grange to take in the matter. The Worthy Master was requested to visit as many counties or County Granges in the interest of the Order as possible during the year, and his traveling expenses were guaranteed him. We are pleased to be able to say that this work has been very faithfully done at an expense of only thirty dollars to the State Grange. \ 52 The bonds of Messrs. Hall, Jevne & Slack have been canceled and returned, and the Subordinate Granges noti- fied of the fact. In accordance with the instructions of this Grange, a Commission Agent has been appointed in the city of Peoria and bonded in the sum of ten thousand dollars for the faithful discharge of his duties. The only agents we now have are: W. A. Hendricks and Hall, Patterson & Co., in Chicago; C. N. Walker, in Peoria; A. Houston & Co., in the city of St. Louis. In accordance with a ruling of the National Executive Committee, the State Grange had been charged dues upon all its delinquent members since the year 1873; lience quite a large claim had accrued against this Grange. That for the year 1874 had been deducted from the amount of our donation: that for the year 187o and one-half the year 1876 was still unsettled; and, as its adjustment was necessary before this Grange could be represented in the National Grange, your Committee appointed Bro. Foster a committee of one, with instructions to act in connec- tion with the SecretanT, and to make a thorough examin- ation of our books to ascertain the amount of dues the National Grange were justly entitled to, and adjust and settle the same with the authorities of the National Grange. This committee reported as follows: To th-e Executive GommiUeeof 'State Grange: Your Committee, to whom was assigned the duty of ascertaining the amount of dues from the State Grange to the National Grange, and the adjustment of accounts be- tween said Granges, would beg leave to report they have carefully examined the books in the Secretary's office, also the reports made by Past Secretary Fanning for the years 1874-75. It became evident to your Committee, that the National Grange was justly entitled to dues from a membership somewhat in excess of the number that had been reported; but not to the amount claimed by the officers of said Grange. We presented our ease to the Executive Com- mittee of the National Grange, who informed us, that they were ready to consider any claims we might have for ex- cessive dues paid for the year 1874, but for those of 1875 and 1876 we must settle with the Secretary and Treasurer. We were requested to separate our claims, and present that only for the yen r 1874, taking the reports as a basis of computation. This we very willingly complied with, and presented a claim of eight hundred and thirty-nine dollars and fifty-two cents, which was very generously allowed, and the same placed to our credit on the books of the Treasurer. We had not anticipated the allowance of this claim, as it had been partially acknowledged and previously paid from the amount of our loan, which was subsequently made a donation. In the settlement of our dues for the years 1875 and 76 a difference of opinion arose between your Committee and the Secretary and Treasurer of the National Grange in relation to the con- struction of the law relating to making reports and the payment of dues, passed at the last previous session, which could not be reconciled, and we wjre obliged to defer the settlement, and ask the National Grange to con- strue the law. In due course of time this was done, and the views of your Committee sustained. The Grange subsequently reconsidered its action and added a provisos that this construction shoud not take effect until the com- mencement of the present fiscal year (October 1, 1876). This we claimed the Grange had no right to do. That we were not responsible for the errors of others, and that we were entitled to all the benefits of a proper construction of the law. That the law could not mean one thing one year and another the next year, and refused to settle under the old construction of the law, Unless they would accept an estimated report, which was finally done. We believe this basis was just and equitablo. The amount deducted from the claim of the National Grange for the year 1875 and half of 1870 was$1 ,584.78, making a total deduction of 54 $2,424.30 allowed, the Sta'e Grange leaving a small balance in our favor September 30, 1876. Respectfully submitted, Signed. D.N.Foster, } ^ J.M. Ch ^Committee. The receipts in the Seer tary's office during the third quarter were $1,904 65. Balance on hand at last settlement $1,727.63. Amount turned over to Treasurer since last settlement, $1,932.18, lea1 bis hands the sum of $1,681.65 to be accounted for. The chairman, Bro. A. J. Alexander, submitted the following report of moneys placed in his hands by a former Committee: To flu : \tive Committee: I beg leave to submit the following report in relation to funds placed at the disposal of this Committee by the State Grange, at its last session, to be used for business pur] : Dr. To amount of draft received. ,897 0 Cr. bruary 4, 1876, by amount remitted J. S. Armstrong, urer, as per receipt...... $1,000 00 February 21, 1876, by amount remit1 W. A. Hendricks, as per his receipt 100 00 March 21, 1876, by amount remitted him , as per receipt, 200 00 March 24, 1876, by amount remitted him, as per receipt, 00 00 $1,700 00 Leaving a balance of eleven hundred and ninetv-seven dollars and ninety cents ($1,197.90), exclusive of interest, which I cannot now accurately state, having left my memorandum book, from which to compute the same, in the hurry of leaving home in time to reach the train. Respectfully submitted , A. J. Alexander, Chairman. 00 Your Committee have exercised the duties of an Audit- ing Committee, in relation to the contingent fund and their own expenses. This we presumed was the intenti of this Grange, as expressed in its By-Laws. It would : well if the law was more explicit on this as well as many other points. Invitations from the Brothers in Champaign, Stephen- eon and Macon counties were received, very cordially in- viting 'Ids Grange to hold its annual session s pective county seats. The central location of the ci Decatur, togethei the very generon positions of Brothers in that county, determined your Committee in the selection of tl y. The very con ;le quarters in which thi ly now finds itself, will induce the Grange L>rove our action in this matter. The books and accounts of the Secretary have been examined for the fourth quarter. We find he has received from Subordinate Granges since last s= tent, the sum of 81,201.83; from 3 cretary Fanning $164.27. Bal- ance on hand at last settlement $3 3. Making a total of $3,187.75. Thrst he has paid to Treasurer, as per vouchers examined, - .47. Leaving a balance in i hands of $544.23 December 11, 2-; . Your Committee desire to make the following exhibi the business and expenses of the business agency in the city of Chicago. Bro. W. A. Hendricks arrived in the city on the 14th day of February, 1876, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. Thi exhibit, made April 4th, showed the amount of Sales, $2,156.1 Cost of same, 2,118. Expenses, 31- Bebates, 42.4- Second exhibit. May 1. Sales, "....'. o,G7S.2:; Costs 5,526.94 Rebates, 151.29 Expenses. 426.15 56 Third exhibit, made June 1, Hales, 8,074.08 Costs, 7,820.19 Rebates, 253.89 Expenses, 536.14 Fourth and final exhibit, made December 1, embracing the transaction since February 14th : Sales. Groceries, $39,527.45 Dry Goods, 20,063.72 Lumber, 13,971.87 Boots and shoes, 5,985.93 Oils, paints, etc., 5,929.11 Sundries, 9,822.35 Grain, merchandise, etc., 51,242.06 $170,858.69 Increase since June 1st, $153,950.09 Expense account, $1,421.61 Salary for ten months, 1,250.00 $ 2,671.61 Rebate and commission, $ 1,045.59 Cash received from Executive Committee, 1,200.00 $2,245.59 Leaving a balance of $ 426.00 Rebate and commission since rend- ering above, about, 250.00 Balance, $176.00 And the rebates will, without doubt, ere the end of the year, more that pay off this balance. "We think this exhibit will be highly gratifying to all who have an interest in the business feature of our Order. The agency is now an assured success, being on a paying basis. We sincerely trust it will be so managed by those to whom 57 it mav be entrusted, as to merit and receive increased confidence and support from the Brotherhood. Herewith we submit the report of the Worthy Master, in relation to the use of the appropriations made for the contingent expenses of his office. As the expenses of this Committee have been reported to you by the Secretary they are omitted from this report. We have thus reported to you the more important subjects that have claimed our attention, and our action thereon. While it is not prac- ticable to report all the details connected with these sub- jects, yet their consideration requires careful and deliber- ate consideration, requiring a very considerable portion of the time of your committee, which cannot be presented in a report of this nature. Hence, our report should be regarded as only a very brief synopsis of the work of the Committee. Signed, A. J. Alexander, C. N. Anderson. A. P. Forsyth, D. N. Foster. Bro. Porter moved to refer the parts of their report, referring to the business fund and the State agency to the Committee on Finance. Adopted. Bro. Porter moved to adopt the rest of the report. Motion earned. By request the rules were suspended, to allow Committee on Mileage and Per Diem to call their roll, to ascertain the number of days of attendance of members, so as to com- plete their report. After which Grange took recess until 1:30 P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. Grange called to order. Worthy Master in the chair. Committee on Resolutions presented the following re- port, which, after being read, was on motion of Bro. I Porter, laid on the table. 58 We, the undersigned Committee on Resolutions, pectfully ask leave to report the following resolutions, ai recommend their adoption: Resolved, That we consider the Grange the most instruct- ive and beneficial organization now in existence, and that we, as well-wishers of the Order, should do everything in our power, in a kind, generous spirit, to correct its abuses. though unintentional, wherever found. Resolved, That we believe the patriarchal system of gos i mentj though of high authority, incompatible with o civilization, and thei efore are in favor of the representa- tive plan. Resolved, That any worthy member of the Order sho be eligible to all the degrees. Resolved, That the National Grange should hold but ■ session in four years, not to exceed ten days in length, ai meet at the most central and convenient point in the United States. Resolved, That each State should pay the expenses of its own delegates. Resolved, That no more revenue should be collect; \i by National Grange than is necessary to defray contingent expenses. Resolved, That we believe co-operative action practical and recommend its general adoption. Resolved, That we are in favor of popularizing the Order, and rendering it what it was intended to be — the great ! wark of agricultural industry — and believe that a reduc- tion of admittance fees to $3.00 would tend to accompli this much-needed and greatty-desired object. S. I. Davis, Chairman. The Committee on Fire Insurance reported as folic State Grange, December 14, 187 We, the Committee on Fire Insurance, would res}:;.- t- fully submit the following report: Whereas, the statistics of this State show that eighty per cent, of the money paid by farmers to joint .-tuck and the usual mutual fire insurance companies, is lost to the people. And, Whereas, after an experience of over twenty years, it lias been demonstrated that by insuring in local farmers' 50 lire and lightning insurance companies, this money, amounting annually to millions of dollars, can be saved. And, Whereas, the present law confining the territory of these companies to six townships, makes their establish- ment more difficult. Therefore, be it Resolved, That we ask our Legislature to so amend the law, that such companies may include at least whole^ counties. Your Committee further earnestly recommend our farmers to immediately organize Farmers' Fire and Light- ning In urance Companies throughout the State, under the present laws, and that they confine their risks exclu- sively to farm property. In regard to life insurance, to which our attention has been called by the action of the Committee on Master's Address we would report, that recent records show a still greater waste of the people's money than that of the fire insurance companies. We would advise our members against making investments in the companies that have shown themselves so ready to swindle the people out of the money confided to their care. Signed, J. D. Pouter, ) J. L. Monroe, Ira Crippen, [ Committee. John Bearing, | T. HuscROFr, J On motion the report was adopted, Committee on Appeals and Grievances reported as follows : That in the case of appeal of J. P. Anderson from Grange No. 1412, your Committee are of the opinion that his expulsion was unconstitutional, and recommend that his Grange be instructed to reinstate him as a member. In the appeal of Mrs. McCann against Grange No. 1606, your Committee recommend that the action of the Grange be sustained. In the case of Bros. Edwin and Gray from Eureka 60 Grange No. G75, your Committee find that the difficulty lias been amicably settled, and report accordingly. In the appeal of Bro. Geo. W. Meddler against Grange No. 89G, your Committee have not enough information and documents to warrant a consideration of the case. In the case of John Sonbarger vs. Oliver Hale, that the case does not come within the jurisdiction of your Com- mittee; and we respectfully return to your body the pa- pers for your action. Signed, Charles Boone, } Edward Rodgers, > Committee. J. D. Lewis, } Report as read adopted. Committee on By-Laws made the following report: Your Committee on By-Laws would beg leave to sub- mit the following amendments to the By-Laws: Amend Article 2, Section 2, by striking out said sec- tion and inserting the following: Sec. 2. Each county shall be entitled to one delegate, who may be either a Brother or Sister. Any county hav- ing a paid-up merab ership of one thousand shall be entit- led to a second delegate; but in no instance shall mileage and per diem be paid to more than one delegate from the same county, unless entitled to the same by reason of said membership. Amend Article 2, Section 3, by striking out all before the word "provided," in the fourth line of the printed copy, and inserting the following: Sec. 3. The first Tuesday in December of each year the County Grange, together with the Masters, Past Masters, and their wives who are Matrons, of Subordinate Granges in the county, and not belonging to the County Grange, shall assemble at the usual place of meeting of the County Grange, and elect their delegates on the above basis. Amend Article 3 by striking out all down to the word "at," in the second line, and inserting the following: 61 Art. 3. This Grange shall hold its next regular meeting on the third Tuesday in January, 1878, and annually there- after. Amend Article 5, Section 6, by inserting after the word •■Treasurer/' in the fifth line, the words "every thirty days." Amend Article 8, Section 5, by striking out the first two sentences down to the word "the," in the fifth line, and inserting the following: Sec. 5. The Executive Committee shall consist of three members, to be elected by ballot, and to hold their office for three years, one of whom shall be elected at this ses- sion, and two at the next annual session — one for one year, and one for three years, and one at each annual meeting thereafter. The Master shall be an ex-officio member and Chairman of said Committee. Amend Article 12 by inserting the following section, to be designated Section 0: Sec. 0. Any member in good standing, who is clear on the books, shall be entitled to a demit, or withdrawal card, upon application therefor, which demit shall be good for one year. Granges admitting members on demits shall charge regular monthly dues for all time in excess of six months. Persons who have been members of ex- tinct Granges, or those whose demits have expired by lim- itation, may become members of Subordinate Granges by the usual ballot, as on first application, and by the pay- ment of one dollar for males and fifty cents for females. Amend Article 12, Section 1, by inserting the word "majority" before the word "vote," in the fourth line. Amend Article 12, Section 4, by striking out the word "'three," in the second line, and inserting the word "'five;" and by striking out the words "fifty cents," in the third line, and inserting the words "two dollars." Amend Article 12, Section 5, by striking out all after the word "each," in the second line, lo the word "mem- ber," in the third line. 62 Amend Article 12, Section 6, by striking out all after the words "State Grange," where they occur in the seventh line, and substitute therefor the following: One dollar for each male and fifty cent 3 for each female initiated during the quarter. Also a quarterly due of six cents for each member. Said report to be approved and forwarded at tl I meeting of the Grange in each quar- ter. Amend Article 17, Sec. 2, by striking out all after the word "determine," in the seventh line. Amend Article 18, by striking out Sec. 1, and substitut- ing the- following: Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of eacb District or County Grange to recommend io the Worthy Master of the State Grange the name of some suitable member of the Order, to be appointed Deputy for the district or county, whose duty it shall be to visit, under the direction of the District or County Grange, the Subordinate Granges of the disti . or county, and to lecture them on the work, aims and objects of the Order. Who shall receive one dollar per day and traveling expenses, to be paid by the State Treasurer out of the funds in his hands, on the presenta- tion of an order for the same, certified to by the Execu- tive Committee of and countersigned by the Secretary of the District or County Grange in which the work has been performed.; and signed by the Master and countersigned by the Secretary of the State Grange. Provided, that said amount does not exceed one-fourth of the membership dues received b}^ the State Grange from the Subordinate Granges in said districts or counties. District or County Granges may increase such compensation out of their own funds, if they think the same necessary. E. A. Giller, CI i air man. Bro. moved to act on the report by sections. Adopted. First amendment read and adopted. 63 cond amendment read, and on motion of Bro. Porter the words "Past Masters" were stricken out. Bro. Rodgers moved to amend as follows: It shall be the duty of the Masters and their wives to meet at their respective county seats, and elect their dele- gates. Bro. Logan moved to suspend action on this section and pass to the next. Carried. Amendment No. 8 read and adopted. Amendment No. 4 read and ad< i Amendment No. 5 read and on motion was passed, and ,6 taken up and adopted. Amendment No. 7 wa . ad and motion made to adopt. >n last. Amendment No. 8 read and adopted. Amendment No. 9 read and adopted. Amendment No. 10 read and adopted, ndment No. 11 read and adopted. Amendment No. 12 was read and motion made to adopt. Bro. Porter moved to amend by striking out the words ne-fourth," and inserting the words "one-half." Bro. Mayo moved to amend by striking out all after the words " one dollar.'' Amendment to the amendment lost. Amendment lost, and section as read adopted by arising te. Bro. Logan moved bo recommit the report, with instruc- tions bo perfect amendments passed over. Adopted. Committee on Education reported back Bro. Hamilton's resolution on school hooks with their report, as follows, which was adopted: Whereas, there is a great multiplicity of common school books, causing an outlay of a vast amount of money in this State, and that amount being forced from those who are least able to bear it. Therefore, Resolved, That we urge it upon our Representatives in our State Legislature, to enact a State law, establishing a uniform series of text hooks for common schools, having 64 them selected by a competent Committee, revised, stereo- typed and established during a term of years, and let by contract to the lowest responsible publishing house. Submitted to Committee on Good of the Order. W. D. Hamilton, Macon county. To the Worthy Master and Members of the State Grange: Your Committee would respectfully report that while we distinctly recognize the magnitude of the evils referred to in the resolution, still they cannot concur in it since the solution of this problem has baffled the wisdom of our State Superintendents for a generation, and we do not feel capable of devising a remedy with so little time for prepa- ration. We would therefore recommend that this subject be thoroughly discussed in our Subordinate Granges, that we may be prepared to act upon this question at the next meeting of the State Grange with the wisdom its import- ance demands. Let us educate ourselves before we un- dertake to instinct our Legislature. F. I. Hall, Chairman. The Treasurer and Secretary asked leave to refer bills to the Auditing Committee. Request granted. Bro. Wilson moved that the members of Paradise Grange be granted demits in accordance with the rules of the Order. Bro. Foster moved to lay on the table. Motion carried. Bro. Farnham offered the following: State Grange, 111. Whereas, It does appear, and is an assured fact, that those of our Fraternity, as well as the farmers in general, having sheep, are more or less preyed upon by dogs in the killing of their sheep, increasing the loss to each and nearly every farmer to the sum of from five to one hun- dred dollars the past year to my own personal knowledge, seldom a flock of sheep escaping the ravages of dogs; and believing, as we do, therefore, Resohed, That it is the opinion of this State Grange that dogs in the State of Illinois ought to l>e tajted to pay losses as expressed in the above preamble. Referred to Committee on Resolution*, which resolu- 65 tion, if adopted, then to be referred by the Secretary to a live business Brother of our Fraternity holding a po- sition as State Senator in and for the State of Illinois, requesting said member to prepare and present a bill to our State Legislature with a view to its immediate pass- age by said body. Referred to Committee on Resolutions. The Master submitted the following proposed amend- ments to the Constitution of the National Grange, which were considered separately and ratified: NATIONAL GRANGE, P. OF H. — TENTH ANNUAL SESSION — AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION. No. 1. — To amend Article 1, Section 2, by inserting after the word ''ballot" the following words: '"any fourth degree member, in good standing, shall be eligible to office, or to receive the degrees, in the County, District, State or Na- tional Grange, within whose jurisdiction such member may reside, but shall not be entitled to vote." No. 2. — To amend Article 1, Section 4, so as to read as follows: Sec 4. There shall be an Executive Committee of the National Grange consisting of three members, whose term of office shall be two years. The Master of the Na- tional Grange shall be, ex officii-, a member of the Execu- tive Committee, but shall not be entitled to vote except in case of a tie. Xo. 3. — To amend Article 2, Section 3, by striking out the word "annual lv," and inserting in place thereof the won! "biennially," and by striking out the words "from year to year," in said section; by striding out the word "annual," in Article 3, and inserting the word 'biennial iii place thereof; and by striking out the word "annual in Article 13, and inserting the word "biennial" in place thereof. This amendment shall take effect after the ;< n- n ml session of the National Grange, to be hell in the* vear 1S77. 66 aend the preamble under the head of Or- ganizati Late Grange, Section 1, by inserting after the ,,. in the third line, the words, "provided that when the Master of a Subordinate Grange cannot tl :,. tl i meeting of the State Grange, the. Subordinate . may elect ;■ substitute from those who are duly qualified — and Br . - toad offered the following: Thai the business agents in all departments shall .lie a full and itemized report of nil purchases and sales made by them as far as practicable naming the persons firms purchased ?r<^. and to whom sold, the pri paid and the price received for the same, the amount of eel tes, etc., and such other it< ms as will of inter; - the members cf the Grange, at least once during each quarter, and place the same on file in the ice' of the S< cretary of the State Grange. Referred to Committee on Good of the Order. The following was sent to the Secretary's desk, read, and referred to Committee on Good oftheOrder: That the State Grange become the foster pa- rent of a journal of agriculture, under some title to be designated by the above body, to be in eight-]. age quarto form: Provided, The same shall net cost to exceed live cents per copy, a sample of which shall be presented to the Co-operative Committee, the whole to be conducted and paid for on the co-operative plan. H. SCHHEBLY. Bro. P< >rter moved a recess until 7 o'clock. Motion lost. On motion, the Grange adjourned to 8 a. m., Friday. 6 /7 FOURTH DAI? T MORNING SESSION. Friday, Dec. 15, 1870. Grange opened in clue form. Worthy Master in the chair. Members and visitors of previous days nearly all present, Minutes of previous clay read and approved. When the Worthy Master announced the following Committee ON LIFE INSURANCE: Bro. Tunnell, of Macoupin county. " Ripper, of Tazewell county. " Fyffe, of Lawrence countv. Regular order taken up and passed to reports of special Committee. Committee on Finance reported as follows: Decatub, December 15. 1870. Worthy Master and Patrons of Husbandry of Illinois St I irange: Your Committee on Finance beg leave to submit following report: 1st. We have careful]}' examined the report of the Secretary and Treasurer, and compared the same with their books and vouchers, and find the same correct as audited by the Executive Committee, and would recom- mend the adoption of their reports. 2d. Your Committee find, that in September, 1875, Alonzo Golder paid A. J. Alexander, chairman of the Executive Committee of the State Grange, funds donated he State Grange, amount lug to $2,89790. Of that amount we find $1,000 placed in the hands of our Treasurer. $500 of which was loaned jointly to R. M. Guy and H. L.Phillips, for which oiu Treasurer holds their note for the same, payable June 16, 1877, drawing ten per cent, interest, Also 1500 paid to the State purchasing 68 agent, W. A. Hendricks, October 21st, per order of the Executive Committee. Further, that the Executive Com- mittee paid State purchasing agent $700, leaving in hands of A. J. Alexander, chairman of the Executive Committee, $1,197.90. We would recommend the Executive Com- mittee to deposit the above funds in the hands of our Worthy Treasurer and take his receipt for the same. 3d. Your Committee further find, that at the last meeting of the State Grange the Executive Committee was instructed to make a final settlement with our Fast Secretary, O. E. Fanning, which has not been as yet ad- justed, there appearing to be as yet from twelve to six- teen hundred dollars in his hands. We would recommend that they proceed immediately to adjust the above account and deposit the proceeds in the hands of our Treasurer, and take his receipt for the same. 4th. The report of the Worthy Master we have also examined, and respectfully recommend the same be re- ferred to the Auditing Committee. •5th. The resolution referred to your Committee, asking for an appropriation of two hundred dollars in addition to the present salary of the Worthy Secretary, does not meet the approval of your Committee. That portion of the resolution asking an allowance of ten dollars to Bro. Foster, we would respectfully ask its adoption. 6th. The resolution asking the Grange to loan money to the joint stock associations of the State, we would report adversely thereon. 7th. Further, we would recommend that mileage and per diem be allowed Bro. M. L. .Arnold, of Lee county, an recommended by Committee on Appeals and Grievances. 8th. The resolutions submitted in the case of Sisters Pari', Snoad and Farnham. On examination, we find that they are not, by a strict construction of the law, entitled to mileage and per diem, but would recommend their petition to the favorable consideration of the Grange. 9th. Your Committee would further report that alter 69 due deliberation upon all the information and facts that have come before them, we would urgently recommend that additional safe-guards and security be thrown around the finances of the Grange. All of which your Committee would respectfully submit for your consideration. R. E. Logan, j E. Howland, F. A. Bowdel, |- Committee. L. L. Wilcox, | James McGrew, J Motion made to adopt the report. Bro. Crippen moved to amend by acting on each rec- ommendation separately. Amendment lost. Motion to adopt carried. Motion made that Sisters Snoad, Farnham and Pan- receive mileage and per diem. Adopted. Motion made that Sister Armstrong be paid mileage and per diem. Adopted. Committee on Appeals and Grievances reported as fol- lows, which was adopted: Worth}/ Master and Patrons : In the case of Bro. J. W. Murdaugh against Damascus Grange Xo. 39, your Committee are of the opinion that the action of the Grange in the suspension of Bro. Mur- daugh was irregular, if not illegal, and recommend that the Grange be instructed to revoke its action. With respect to the charges preferred by Bro. Murdaugh against Bro. Edmund Hathaway, Master of said Grange, and which appear to have grown out of the above difficulty, your Committee are of the opinion that they are not en- t itled to further consideration by the State Grange. Chas. Boone, i Ed. Rogers, ^ Committee. J. D. Lewis, ) The Auditing Committee reported back the bills in their possession, as follows: 70 Worthy Master : Your Committee have examined the following bills, and recommend that they be allowed: November 25, 1876. State Grange, Dr. In account with J. S. Armstrong for board at Chi- cago from Nov. 18th to the 24th, inclusive. eleven days, at two dollars per day 822 00 Railroad fare 4 70 Total 2G 70 J. S. Armstrong. Rock Falls, III., December 12, 1870. Illinois State Grange to A. Golder, Dr. 1876. For services as Lecturer. February 22, Science Ridge Grange, one day, $ 2.50 February 26, John's Corner, one day, 2.50 June 16, Morrison, by request, one day, 2.50 Storm prevented my being called for, paid ex- penses,.. 1.80 Visiting Dixon Grange, 2.50 August 2, McLean county, five days, 12.50 August 13, Macon county, four days, 10.00 August 25, Fulton county, four days, 10.CM '< 844.30 Illinois State Grange to Secretary, Dr. December 14, 1874, to rent of office one year,... $60.00 December 14, to fuel and lights, 40.00 $100.00 No provision having been made for any office, and as you must be aware it takes a good sized room in my house, to contain desks, question was answer* 1 by several Brothers, elicit- ing high encomiums on the Sist< rs. Bro. Logan moved that Sisters Pair. Green and Bro. Giller be appointed a Committee to draw up resolutions of thanks for courtesies received from members in this county and citizens of this city during the session. Carre d. Committee on By-Laws presented the following supple- mentary report : That should the pending amendment to the National Constitution, relating to Section 4 of Article 12 be ratified, then the Master of the State Grange shall issue his proclamation to the Subordinate Grang is, author- izing them, if in their judgment they think il for the best to so reduce their fees for admission as to make it rend three dollars for males and one dollar for females. Recommended by Committee on By-Law . E. A. Giller, Chairman. On motion the report was adopted. Auditing Committee reported as follows: Patrons and Memb rs We have examined the contingent account of the Wor- thy Master, referred to us, and find it correct, i • follows: Illinois State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry in account with A. P. Forsyth. December 18. 1875, attending State Grange at Champaign, $ 8.00 December 29, 1875. 500 letter-heads,.... 3.00 20 postage stamps, GO ;: 24 stamped envel- opes, 35 January 8, 1876, package of envelopes, 20 •' S, " postage stamps, 2-5 " 15, " 500 stamped envel- ues, 16.40 January 27, 1870, telegraphing from Chicago to Mattoon,.. 1.00 Ci 79 Amount brought forward, $29.80 February 16, 1876, expenses to Deca- tur and return, 10.00 bruary 25, 1876, expenses to St. Louis and return , 22 .85 Mar 7, 1876, expenses to Freeport and Chicago, 35.80 Mar. 9, 1876, seal for Master's office,... 8.00 Mar. 9, 1876. desks for Master's office and freight, 13.50 Mar. 27, 1876, 500 letter-heads, 3.25 •' " '•' six quires of note paper, 90 " " lf ink and pen-rack,. 75 April 13, " 500 stamped envelopes... 16.40 June 6, c: expenses, attending Exe- cutive Committee.. 16.30 July 10, 1876, expenses, visiting coun- ties. , 15.00 August 20, 1876, 500 letter-heads, 3.25 ■'' '• 500 stamped envel- opes, 16.40 ; ptember 21, 1876. expenses, meeting Executive Committee 14.00 October 10, 1876, expenses, visiting counties, 7.00 >ctober 24, 1876, expenses to Freeport 23.00 " ink, 75 80. :; expressage on blank from Secretary's office, 40 November 29, 1876, 500 stamped envel- opes, 16.40 December 7, 1876, visiting counties,... 7.00 8255.75 Balance on hand 44.25 Cr. 8300.00 80 January 25, 1876, to appropriation by Dr. Executive Committee, $200.00 June S, 1870, to second appropriation, 100.00 1300.00 Your Committee also offer the following, and recom- mend its adoption: Worthy Master and Patrons: Recognizing the fact that the Master of the State Grange has devoted a considerable portion of his time during the past year, to the number of 130 days, in traveling and lecturing for the good of the Order; it is understood by vour Committee that this work does not belong to the ordinary duties devolving upon the Master by virtue of his office; that this important work has cost the State Grange but $30; that the salary of the Master is $400 per annum. In view of the fact that it has been an actual expense to the Master, and of great proilt to our Order. and especially to the State, County and Subordinate Granges. And in view of many other facts which we deem it unnecessary to mention, we respectfully request your honorable body to appropriate a sum of one hundred dollars for the payment of the extra service rendered. Respectfully submitted. Chas. Snoad, i /-. • , C. W. March, { Committee. Bio. Smith moved to amend by making the amount two hundred instead of one hundred. Amendment !.-»;. On motion the report was adopted. Committee on Good of the Order presented their report: To the State Grange: Your Committee on the Good of the Order beg leave ' make the following report: We have given attention to the matters that have been presented to us at this session of the Stnte Grange hs weli as the limited time at our disposal would permit : and, while much regretting that time and talent prevent us 81 from entering more deeply into this important subject, we present the following recommendations as being of im- portance to the welfare of the Order: 1. We recommend that the Master of the State Grange be kept in the field as a Lecturer during the coming year, and that we request him to spend as much time as the circumstances of the case may seem to demand; and we recommend that an increase of salary be made to him in the sum of $300; and we guarantee his necessary travel- ing expenses when not procurable from other sources. 2. We recommend that the Secretary of the State Grange have published a monthly bulletin as an official medium of communication between the Executive office of the State Grange and the Subordinate Granges of the State, one copy of which shall be sent, free of charge, to the Master of each County and Subordinate Grange of the State, and that said copy shall be considered as the property of said Grange, to be kept on file among the pa- pers of the Secretary, and the official matter contained therein to be read in open Grange. It shall be furnished to members of the Order at forty cents per copy — the ex- pense of publication to not exceed fifty dollars per month, to be paid out of the treasury of the State Grange. We believe that if this measure be judiciously carried out, it will be soon self-supporting, and, if thought nec- essary, can be made a source of revenue to the State treasurv. In view of the extra labor thrown upon the Secretary, we think that some extra compensation should be given — the amount we leave to be determined by you. 3. We do most earnestly urge upon the various county organizations that they avail themselves of the provision made in our By-Laws, at this session, for the appointment and compensation of County or District Lecturers. Let there be more earnest work in this direction, and we can but believe that good, both to the State and Subordinate Granges, will result. 4. We ask our Master to use all honorable meana to 82 bring about the change in our National Constitution allow- ing each State to regulate its own dues of members so long as it does not interfere with the claims of the Na- tional Grange, and ask him to suggest such changes in our ceremony of initiation and simplification of the de- grees as he may deem for the best interest of the Order. 5. We recommend that the address' of Bro. Boone be published in the Western Farm Journal and circulated to the Subordinate Granges b}r this means. G. No legislation having been asked for or agreed upon by this Grange, no action need be taken on the resolution of Bro. Hamilton. 7. In the matter of taxation, as presented from Taze- well county, we recommend that some competent mem- ber of our Order be appointed at this meeting of the State Grange to thoroughly investigate the workings of our Revenue law, and to report at the next meeting of the State Grange. 8. We recommend that the resolution asking for an itemized report from our purchasing agents be not adopt- ed, as, in the opinion of your Committee, the information gained would not pay the cost of making said report. We believe reporting in the aggregate sales, commissions, rebates, etc., and the price lists and circulars sent from our business agents, to be the more practicable means of gaining information. 9. Your Committee on the Good of the Order are aware that there are some vital questions connected with our Order that should be attended to, and among these is the question — How shall the Subordinate Granges be made more efficient in their work? Howr shall those that are drooping and failing be sustained? Whatever can be done by the State or County Granges is but auxiliary. The main source of strength must be developed at home, and by ourselves. To this end your Committee recom- mend that where one or more Granges have become re- duced in numbers and working strength, they be advised 8Q & by the Master to consolidate their strength on the princi- ple that it is always better that the ground should be oc- cupied by one strong and vigorous plant than by tAYo weak ones. Let us see to it that the principles of our Or- der are carried out, outside as well as inside the gates. In short, let us practice what we preach; let us not lose sight of the fact that there is an intellectual and social side to our nature as well as a financial, and that in order that these may be properly developed , the}* must be properly nurtured and sustained. In order to do this, try to have your meetings a feast intellectually, at least. Discuss some practical question at each meeting of the Grange, the question to be made known at the meeting of the Grange previous' Let essays be read by suitable mem- bers of the Order; and, above all, do not neglect to inter- est the lady members of the Order. At proper times have open mee-ings, and invite in your friends and neighbors. Procure, as soon as possible, a Grange library, and endeavor to get each head of a family at least to take one or more agricultural papers that are friendly to our Order. Do not expect that some great tidal wave, to be set in motion by the State or National Grange, is coming along to carry you over your season of depression, but put your own shoulder to the wheel with a determination to achieve success. Respectfully submitted, W. Osborne, ) W. H. Shufelt, I Committee . G. W. QUAINTANCE, ) Bro. Colley moved to adopt. Bro. Kerr moved to amend by acting on it by sections. Amendment lost. Bro. Kerr moved to lay on the table. Motion lost. Motion made to reconsider the vote by which amend- ment was lost. Carried. And amendment to consider b}T sections adopted. 84 Section 1 read. Bro. Edwards moved to lay on the table. Lost. Bro. Logan moved to strike out that part referring to increase of salary. Amendment carried. Section as amended adopted. Section 2 read, and on motion of Bro. J. D. Lewis adopted. Section 3 read and adopted. Section 4 read and adopted. Section 5 read and motion made to adopt. Bro. Logan moved to amend by adding: "Provided, it is done without cost to the State Grange. Carried. Section as amended adopted. Section 6 read and adopted. Section 7 read and adopted. Section 8 read and adopted. Bro. Cohenour offered the following: Resolved, That the Executive Committee have two thous- and copies of the proceedings of this session of the State Grange printed and distributed among the officers and members of this Grange and the Subordinate Granges of the State. Bro. Beatty moved to amend by striking out the words "'Executive Committee" and inserting the "Secretary." Amendment carried. Resolution as amended adopted. Committee on Mileage and Per Diem presented their report, which was read, and on motion recommitted for corrections. Bro. Giller of Special Committee on Resolutions of Thanks presented the following report, which was adopted: Worthy Master: Your Committee would beg leave to report the following resolution and ask its adoption: Resolved, That the members of the State Grange of Illi- nois return thanks to the citizens of Decatur for their kind hospitality; to the proprietors of the Good Templar's Hall 85 for the use of their beautiful room; to the members of Mason County Grange for the brotherly and sisterly affec- tions the}7 have manifested in their reception of the dele- gates and visiting members to this their beautiful city. Mks. S. E. Parr, Chairman. On motion, recess until 7:30 was taken. 86 EVENING SESSION. Worthy Master in the chair. Committee on Mileage and Per Diem made the follow- ing report of mileage and per diem of the officers and members: NAMES OF DELEGATES. R. C. Sterritt F. I. Hall,.... John Bnrgesser, Robert Gillogly, J. F. Black, W. F. Hardy, Wm. L. Cohenour, M. Laws, Samuel Enyart, K. M. Almy, L. W. Lanman, Preston Condrey,... John Nearing, Andrew Mn nn, K. Laufman, W. A. Shelby, Samuel Field, William Bennett,... Wales Barrett, L. K. Diehl, E. A. Giller, L. L. Wilcox, Cyrus Leatherman, C. W. Easterly, J. Z. Winterowd,... John R. Beatty, Charles Boone, J. M. Ridenhonr,... Alphonso Mellen,... W. H. Shufelt D.S.Smith, Ezekiel Howland,... J. A. Fyffe, C. J. Rosbrock, E. W, Pearson. No. of Amount Per Diein. Miles. of Mileage. $12 00 300 $12 00 460 18 40 12 00 240 9 60 12 00 470 18 80 12 00 144 5 76 10 00 130 5 20 8 00 58 2 32 10 00 150 6 00 12 00 240 9 60 12 00 190 7 60 12 00 142 4 96 12 00 300 12 00 12 00 50 2 00 10 00 120 4 80 10 00 172 6 88 12 00 322 12 88 12 00 184 7 36 12 00 132 5 28 12 00 162 6 48 12 00 296 1184 12 00 260 10 40 12 00 330 13 20 12 00 234 9 36 12 00 320 12 80 12 00 270 10 80 12 00 214 8 56 10 00 414 16 56 12 00 496 19 84 12 00 240 9 60 12 00 308 12 32 12 00 450 18 00 12 00 260 10 40 12 00 306 12 24 12 00 322 12 88 12 001 180 7 20 12 001 Total Amount. $24 00 30 40 2160 30 80 15 76 13 20 12 32 18 00 21 60 19 60 16 96 24 00 12 00 14 80 18 88 24 88 19 36 17 28 18 48 23 84 22 40 25 20 2136 24 80 22 80 18 56 28 56 3184 21 60 24 32 30 00 22 40 24 24 24 88 19 20 87 Continued. XAMES OF DELEGATES* No. Of Miles Amount of Mileage. P. F. Lehman, John Tunnell, Ed. Rodgers, R. W. Fullerton, Thomas Huscroft, James Mauley, J. B. Colley, J. D. Lewis, G. W. Quaintance S. J. Frew, '. Jam es M. Kerr, R. L. Wyatt, G. W.Vaughn, A. Maltby, Charles Mayo, S. I. Davis, F. A. Bowdle, Perin Shinn, John Dusch, Oliver Wilson, John L. Hart, J. Lee Monroe, L. D . Edwards, W. L. Mitchell, jun.,... E. F. McConnell, M. W. Greer, W. G. McLaughlin,.... C. W. March, E. P. Wright, I J. C. Schaumlefiel, | Ira Crippen, ! P. E. Ripper, ' J. J. Sharp, i W. H. Sheadle, J. D. Porter, H. G. W. Whittenberg, James Magrew. Francis M. Charles, j R. E. Logan, \ Charles Snoad, [ 16 184 224 210 206 820 450 148 216! 486 i 94i 176; 60; 1401 296i 40, 212 570 194 300 320 370 360 104 224 220 32j 280 260 360 154! 128: 400! 336! 206; 240! 390! 358| 2S0! I 64| 7 36 8 96 8 40 8 24 12 80 18 00 O oZi\ 8 64 17 44! 3 76 7 041 2 40 13 60 5 60 1184! 1601 8 48 22 80! 7 76! 12 001 12 80! 14 80 14 40 4 VS 8 96 8 80 128 1 1 20 10 40 14 40 6 16 5 12 16 00 13 44 8 24 9 60 15 60 14 32i 1120, Per Diem. $ 8 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 8 00 12 00 8 00 12 00; 12 00| 12 00 12 00 10 00; 10 00; 12 00! 10 00 10 oo! 12 00! 12 00 12 00! 12(30' 12 00] 12 00; 10 00; sou' 12 00 12 00! 10 00 10 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 Total Amount. $ 8 04 19 36 20 96 20 40 20 24 22 80 30 00 17 92 20 64 25 44 15 76 15 04 14 40 25 60 17 60 23 84 1160 18 4S 34 80 17 76 22 00 24 80 26 80 26 40 16 16 20 96 20 80 11 28 19 2'.' 22 40 26 40 16 16 15 12 28 00 25 44 20 24 2160 27 60 26 32 23 2< ) 88 Continued. KAMES OF DELEGATES. No. of Miles. Am oii nt of Mileage. J. T. Hill, Webster Osborne, Morris H. Wart,.., 350] 420! 152i $14 00 16 80 G08 Per Diem. $12 00 12 ooi 12 OOl Total Amount. $20 00 28 80 18 08 OFFICERS OF THE STATE GRANGE PRESENT AT DECATUR, DECEMBER, 1876. NAMKS OF OFFICERS. A. P. Forsyth John Downen, A. Golder, John Odell, R. R Field, L. F. Farnham, , J. S. Armstrong, , J. M. Chambers, J. F. Randolph, , L. D. Edwards, B. J. Van court. W. C.Trott,....', No. of ; Amount of Miles. Mileage. 1 32 28 Mrs Mrs Mrs Mrs. P. L. Meyers,. 324 1301 484j 414! 250: 360 1 280! 370! 12 96 5 20 19 36 16 56 10 00 14 64 1120 14 SO 48 192 Per Diem, 14 00 Total Amount. 19 28 12 00! 12 00! 12 00; 12 00| 16 00 16 00 12 00! 12 00! 24 96 17 20 31 36 28 56 26 00 30 64 23 20 26 80 10 00! ii 92 The Committee on Mileage and Per Diem certify the foregoing to be as near correct as it is possible to ascertain. G. W. Vaughn, Chairman. K. Laufman, Secretary. j. c. schaumleffel, John Buroesser, W. F. Hardy. On motion the report was adopted. Worthy Master presented a communication from Bro. Jones, of Binghampton. Bro. Chambers presented one from Durand Grange, of Winnebago county, calling the attention of the State 89 Grange to the importance of starting a Patrons' Life In- surance Association. Communications were read and commented on by dif- ferent members. Worthy Master asked for information in relation to seals of dead Granges. Bro. Porter moved that the Master be instructed to take measures to collect the seals and manuals of such Granges. Adopted. Bro. Edwards moved that the Worthy Secretary be au- thorized to procure implements and regalia for the State Grange before the next session. Bro. Logan moved to amend that he be instructed to inform each delegate to bring his regalia. Carried. Motion, as amended, adopted. Bro. Manley moved that no more business be transacted at this session. Carried. Minutes read, corrected and adopted. An hour and a half was then taken up in a general Grange Love Feast, or Experience Meeting, consisting of minute speeches, recitations, and songs, which closed one of the happiest, and, we think, the best, Annual Session our State Grange has yet held. Respectfully presented as a correct copy of the Minutes of the Fifth Session, bv J. M. Chameees, Secretary. 90 APPENDIX. (Report (Delivered by W. A. Hendricks, State Agent. Worthy Master and Patrons : Your State Agent, in presenting at this time, to this body, a report of the operations of his office during the year, feels that, though seemingly unsatisfactory, viewed in a business light, the work accomplished in his depart- ment of the Order is one which has repaid the Patrons more than a hundred fold in accruing benefits derived from valuable information; for if, in many cases, for want either of confidence or business foresight on the part of the membership at large, we have been unable to do the direct business of the Patron, we are satisfied we directed him how to acquaint himself with the "tricks of the trade," and enabled him to avoid the useless employ- ment of those who live upon the labors of others exclu- sively. On the 14th day of February last, we assumed, in the city of Chicago, the position assigned us by your Execu- tive Committee, and, full of confidence in the justice and the right of our cause, we heartily entered upon the ardu- ous labors of the office, and made our first attempt for recognition at the hands of the commercial world in our official capacity. Those acquainted with the laws regu- lating trade and commerce will not be surprised when ap- prised of the fact that our efforts in that direction were a most signal failure. It is the law of monetary affairs to 91 settle into somewhat stationary and fixed channels, adapt- ed to the necessities or convenience of those interested. Our business relations proved no exception to this rule, and, as a consequence, steps had to be taken to transact busi- ness on the principles and basis adopted by the commercial world, or retire from the field. As your official represen- tative, those requisites could hardly be found, for, with no funds on hand, no trade established, no future wants known at the time, it were really impracticable to pledge a business of any amount or consequence whatever to any wholesale or jobbing establishment. However, as a man in the business world, as a broker, we obtained the attention of a number of firms with whom we have done a very satisfactory business, and whose goods as well as prices have given to our Patrons, as far as our knowledge and observation go, the most unbounded satisfaction. Our business, like that of every new firm, required more attention, care and expense during its infancy than it now does, with returns much less satisfactorv that at present. This, being the natural and reasonable way of business. presents nothing strange, but demonstrates the fact that the trade of the Agency, even as it is supposed to be the creation of the State Grange, with ample bonds and secu- rity, has to be built in exactly the same manner, and through the same processes usually adopted in the ordi- nary way of trade. Thus figures show that the amount of expense during the first three months nearly approached double the gross income; and while the difference grew somewhat less during the period of the second quarter, it still remained very large. And further figures show that from Sept. 1st to Dec. 1st there is an actual balance of income over expenses. Price List No. 1, presenting a full line of plows, organs, sewing-machines, reapers and mowers, and a partial list of dry goods, groceries, clothing, and boots and shoes. was issued during the month of March; and when better established and known to the trade, our facilities having 92 increased in proportion to our efforts, we issued, in June, Price List No. 2, which includes a very complete assort- ment of almost anything needed on the farm and in the household. The operations of the office from February 14, 1876, to December 1. are as follows: SALES. Groceries $39,527 45 Dry goods 23,716 20 Hardware and implements 20,663 72 Lumber 13,971 87 Boots and shoes 5 ,985 93 Oils and paints 5,929 11 Sundries 9,822 35 Commission sales 51,242 06 Making a total of $170,858 69 The expenses of the office, including printing, rents, fuel, help, etc., amount to $1,421 61 Salary of State Agent for ten months 1,250 00 Total S2,671 61 From which sum is to be deducted the amount received from rebate and commis- sions 1,045 59 Leaving for net cost of the Agency $1,626 02 From the above it will be seen that the revenue derived from the business done amounts to ten-seventeenth per cent., while the total cost, including the Agent's salary, is ahout one and nine-seventeenth per cent. On the actual business done the small average commis- sion of 2 per cent, would have covered every expense con- nected with the conduct of the business, and leave for a business fund the amount of rebate, as above. The busi- ness having been conducted this year, under the direction of your Executive Committee, more in the light of an ex- 93 periment than a source of revenue, we return the figures and observations above as a basis for future calculations. A more precise idea of the actual status of the business can better be gained from a comparison of the expense and income at different periods throughout the year. The figures are. as nearly as possible, correct, and show the progress as well as the condition of affairs now existing: From Feb. 14 to May 20, the expenses were $522.59, while during the same period the amount of rebate and commissions was only $233.43, or expenses more than double the income. From May 20 to Sept. 1. expenses were $486.60, and rebate and commission, $314.85, or ex- penses a little more than one-third over the total income. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, the expenses amount to 8412.12, and the income from rebate and commission is $497.31, showing a balance of income during those three last months of $85.19, — certainly a decided gain and a decided snow of progress. The figures here given, it will be un- derstood, are exclusive of the State Agent's salary. As we progress there appears a consequent reduction of expenditures and an increased amount of income, which in due time will bring the business of the Agency to a self-sustaining, and, it might be said, paying, point. However, to obtain such a result, sacrifices of many sorts are still demanded, and the good will of all Patrons and perfect harmony and co-operation with the State Grange is necessary. In this connection, we cannot too strongly impress upon your honorable body the import- ance of placing practical men at the helm for the direc- tion of your affairs, for it is now an established fact, that wherever there has been practical men in the Grange to direct its business features, it has shown itself ecmal to the task. But wherever all business transactions that have grown out of the organization have been entrusted to im- practical men, the cause has been injured, the Grange has sickened, and in many instances has died bevond resur- rection. 94 The cordial support, kind words and encouragement we have received at the hands of the many Patrons of this and other Stales, -with whom we have been in communi- cation, are certainly flattering, and though at times we may have felt there were in many quarters more luke- warmness than could prove of advantage to the best in- terests of the Order, our spirits have been revived and our courage sustained by those faithful and true Brothers who have always been ready to maintain by words and deeds the principle we advocate. At this period of our business history we stand with many tried experiments; some satisfactory and others unsatisfactory; some which have been tested to the fullest extent; some which were confided to inexperienced hands, and failed through the fault of the men and not of the sys- tem; some in which the system proved defective, while the men were earnest and active. In fact, attempts towards the desired end with honest purposes and objects in view have been made under ail kinds of conditions and circumstances, and before we present to you an elabora- tion of our views in this matter, we beg your indulgence and attention for the introduction of the experience of some who were and some who are still in the field, trust- ing that the record thus made will prove of inestimable value for the guidance of the action of this State Grange. * ■& * * * * ■* If time would permit an examination into the details of the business of our Grange stores or co-operative stock companies might well conn1 in place; but detailed state- ments would only occupy your time and tire your atten- tion. It seems only necessary to state that to the best of our knowledge and information every co-operative joint stock association now in operation in the State, and con- ducted on strict business principles, is doing a respectable and paying business. This success is mainly attributed to the correct application, in a small way, of the general principles of co-operation, which properly applied, place 95 business in a business shape, on a business platform, and invites the attention of manufacturers and jobbers, secur- ing at the same time the best margins. For the furtherance of our business interests in the Northwest, a meeting of the managers of Western Co-op- erative Associations was called to meet at the Sherman House, in the city of Chicago, on the 22d day of Novem- ber last. The proceedings of the session, at which seven States were represented, are herewith appended to this report, and as the action of the convention left the care of presenting the subject to the consideration of this State Grange into much abler hands than mine, we shall leave to Bro. Foster the presentation of the plan expressing the wishes and desires of that business body. Co-operation however, being the theme and subject of discussion throughout the land among our membership, a few words on what has already been accomplished in that direction by men of experience, may not come amiss. Co-opera- tion is the action of a number of persons working together in a mutual and uniform way toward the accomplishment of a special end, a special object. Co-operation begets uniformity of purposes and means, and without unifor- mity in the plans followed, cannot be complete, or work to the best advantage of all parties concerned. In the Grange, hereafter co-operat:on and education should be our watchwords. The possibilities of co-opera- tion are apparently inexhaustible. When a uniform business sj-stem shall be adopted by over 25,000 Subordinate Granges, the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry will become a unit as it were, and will move irresistibly forward to the accomplishment of such enterprises as may be deemed of the highest importance for the perpetuity and welfare of the Order. Our Order has inaugurated a revolution as peaceful as it is powerful, and it remains to be seen what honest work and wisely invested capital will accomplish towards liber- ating our country from the immediate dangers which 96 threaten it. Corruption and fraud are holding high carni- val, and the money-changers must be made to feel that the righteous indignation of nearly two millions of farmers and their wives, sons and daughters, is not to be looked upon with scorn, and that, further, they have rights which must be respected. There is a universal demand by the Patrons of Hus- bandry, laboring men and mechanics, that means may be procured to check and stop in an effective manner the adulteration of food, short weights, short measures, and so much disnonesty in business transactions. They see but one road out of the difficulty and that, as set forth in our declaration of purposes, is by and through co-opera- tion. The adoption of the Rochdale system by the Sub- ordinate Granges will imply something more than the sale of farm products, and the purchase and distribution of supplies on an equitable basis. By the adoption of the Rochdale business plan, agricul- turists may have their co-operative stores, their dairy farms, and their beef factories, &c, &c, in all of which the purchaser's interest can be considered, and general prosperity will result from it because of the more equitable distribution of wealth. At all events, whatever difference of opinion there may be as to the value of co-operation as applied to production, all agree that co-operation in distribution of the ordinary necessities of life can, if properly restrained by a careful code of By-Laws, result only in benefit to those who in good faith adopt and carry out the equitable provisions of the Rochdale system of co-operation. A point which should be kept in mind and impressed on every occasion upon our members, is that every one of our transactions are for cash, and cash only, and the sys- tem we advocate and the only one practicable is pay as you go. There is no better maxim for a man to live by than this. The credit system eats the life out of more 97 men's business than anything else we know of. The man who gives credit, suffers often times beyond recovery; and the man who accepts credit, suffers quite as much. Any man's money is better than an account against him, especially if the account be a small one; and whoever asks and obtains long credit has to pay dearly for the accommodation and risk. The argument that many men use, "I will buy the thing I want to-day, and pay for it when money is easier," ruins lots of men. The "easier times" never come, and if they do, when he settles the bill, he has to pay interest enough to make it burdensome. He has also to pay the bills of many who do not pay at all. Let it then be the rule, and that without exception, to send us money with every order, it will save time, trouble and delay. One of the most potent arguments we have against the practice of sending orders not accompanied with the money, is the increase of labor it renders necessary. It adds materially to our correspondence, which is already a burdensome and arduous duty. The number of letters written from the agency during the ten months past, is 6,812; that of letters received, 5,409, and the circulars mailed, reach the figure of 11.731. Before closing this report, permit me to present an article from the pen of Bro. D. Wyatt Aiken, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Grange, which presents in a most forcible manner, sound, common sense views of our business matters, and in every way applicable north as well as south, east as well as west: ''We have seen," says he, "that the very germ of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry was self-hdp — ro create a mutual obligation amongst farmers, so that each, being fraternally disposed to assist his neighbor, would of neces- sity acquire the habit of benefiting himself, not at the expense of others, but simply because of that active habit acquired of aiding his fellows. "We know that in this material age the masses, who, 7 9S theii poverty and trials, are struggling for a sub- , care but little for the social or intellectual advan- tag< resulting^rom Grange co-operation. They say, . his is all very well, but it does not pay my debits or help •it my family.' They want something re practi- cal— a something that will replenish the empty purse, and ^ -' l)le them to hide nakedness and prevent hunger, as 11 as increase sociality or improve their morals. "And this i- the great obstacle in the way of a more thorough and permanent organization of the Order throughout the South. The straightened condition of most of our fanners has prevented their enjoying the ad- vantages afforded by co-operation; and those who are not members, learning that the anticipated results are not realized, are prone to question the benetits arising from meml ip. Many farmers, too, eager to acquire, and impressed that 'through the Grange' is the highway to fortune, with none other than mercenary motives, join a Grange, and subsequently discovering that individual as well as combined effort is required 'before success is se- cured, become discouraged, because they are not pos- sessed of the means necessary to effect the anticipated result, and are ready to deny that the Grange organiza- tion is that great and potential agency its friends claim it to be. That the Grange does not gratify such, men is evidence of its worth. •Tint that very great pecuniary advantages must result from practically developing the precepts of the Order, cannot be doubted, and can easily be proven by simple illustration. "In the first place the Grange recognizes no such system - credit. 'Pay as you go,' is the motto of the Grange, and the benefits of such a policy are immensely greater than we are aware. To illustrate: A few days since we asked a merchant, what are you selling bacon for? He replied, 'dry salt, at fourteen cents cash.' We encmired, what difference between your cash and credit prices ? He '1 prefer selling for cash, and to prevent the credit system if possible. I ask twenty cents per pound/ Th was a difference of about forty-five per cent, from May till October, when the account had to be settled. This percentage for six months is at the rate of ninety per cent, per annum. Now against any such disastrous procedure the Grange battles with all its power, and rather than sub- mit to this self-imposed burthen, the Grange inculcat the practice of habitual self-denial, even to absolute want. And one of the immediate and direct benefits of the habitual practice of this self-denial will be, and has been, in thousands of instances, the acquiring of habits of prac- tical economy. This becomes a part of the teachings of the Grange. "Farmers heretofore have had but few wants, and seldom lacked the ability to more than supply those wants, and so frequently supplied them without apparent exertion. that they were greatly and unneccessarily multiplied. Now-a-days greater effort is demanded, and our means are cr.rtailed, and hence our wants are carefully consider. and every surplus expenditure, as far as practicable, pre- vented by those habits of economy, we have said, arc- learned in the Grange. "But this is a negative view of the matter, and there are two sides to every question. The Grange not only ignores credit, and alone recognizes the cash system, but its prin- ciples teach the wide margin that exists between retail and wholesale trafickmg. As a retail customer the farmer is at the mercy of every sharper, who, having learned the tricks of trade, is competent to impose upon him by adu- lation, by hypocrisy, or misrepresentation. The suavity of the tradesman, the attractiveness of the merchandize, the innate disposition to buy, the imaginary want, and the fashion of the times, will victimize any farmer that habitually supplies himself and family by retail purchases. But most, if not all, of these temptations are absent when, in co-operation with his friends, he bulks his orders to 100 supply his wants, and we need not discuss the question whether prices are reduced when wholesale purchases are made, for it is self-evident that the less frequently products are handled, whether in the shape of merchandize or otherwise, the lower is their price, and the greater the number of intermediate agencies, the more enhanced the price. "Hence by association in the Grange the individual mem- bers learn to unite their purses, and make at a single pur- chase such a bill that the advantages of wholesale dealing are enjoyed. Need we illustrate ? The grocer who asks fourteen cents for his bacon has calculated the cost of original purchase, freight, drayage, current expenses of his business, handling and waste, and decides that a single side can be profitably sold at fourteen cents. But if a hogshead is wanted by the purchaser, the trouble, time and cost of selling that amount is no more than the cost of selling a single side, and frequently less, for there is Je^s handling and often no drayage. Then, of course, if a side of fifty pounds nets him but a cent a pound, or fifty cents, the thousand pounds in the hogshead would net him ten dollars in the same time. Well then might he afford t.o sell for half a cent per pound less, for even in that case he would be realizing upon the sale ten times as much as he would upon the sale of a single side. And so it runs through every department of trade. The merchant has so systematized his business that he can tell the net profit of every individual sale, and as his purpose is to turn over his capital as rapidly and frequently as possible that he may multiply his earnings, of course short profits and quick exchanges are preferable to the reverse system. The precepts of the Grange teach the farmer to endeavor always to comply with this system of exchange, and wher- ever Patrons are unable to appropriate its advantages, it is their misfortune, and no fault of the Order of the Pat- rons of Husbandry. "But it may be urged that if farmers become wholesale 101 buyers, the retail trade will be injured. There is a limit- to which all such trading can be pushed, and beyond this profitable inducement cannot be offered to the purchaser. If a farmer wanted a hat, it is not probable there would be eeonomy in attempting to induce the entire Grange to join in and buy a hat each to save a few cents on the pur- chase. And just so with innumerable other purchases that each and every farmer has to make during the year. These will always be sufficient to warrant a sufficiency of retail trade to meet the demands of any community; but beyond this there is no necessity for retail establishments; and to-day there is in existence one-half more 'stores' throughout the land than the legitimate mercantile wants of the country demand, and if the half of them were closed up by the general adoption of the principles of the Grange, the country would be greatly benefited. "The purpose of our Order is to do the greatest good, not only to the greatest number, but to all the people, and when properly understood it will be clearly seen that the Grange wages a warfare against no interests, but is equally the support and help to the poor and the friend and co- laborer of the rich." In conclusion, Worthy Master, Brothers and Sisters, re- ceive my heartfelt thanks for the kind attention you have given me, also for the fraternal zeal and spirit manifested in the interests of the Order at large; and let us hope your deliberations at this session will bring us a step for- ward toward the bright beacon-light of Progress, gleam- ing in the distance. Respectfully submitted, W. A. Hendricks. 102 MEETING OF BUSINESS MANAGERS. FIliST DAY. MORNING SESSION. The following is the report of the Business Managers of the co-operative stores in the Northwest, who met in the club rooms of the Sherman House, Chicago, at 10 o'clock A. M., Wednesday, Nov. 22, 1876: The meeting was called to order by W. A. Hendricks, Business Agent of the Illinois State Grange. On motion, A. S. Proctor, of Peoria, was chcsen Chairman, and J. F. House- man, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Secretary. The following named persons were present: W. A. Hendricks, Chicago. A. S. Proctor, Peoria, Illinois. / 0 J. F. Houseman, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. J. H. Willey, Adad, Michigan. J. E. Tedrick, Tentopolis, Illinois. A. J. Sweezey, Rockford, Illinois. Samuel Langdon, Grand Rapids, Michigan. C. F. Smith, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. J. S. Williams, Secretary Southwestern Association, Arkansas. J. W. Billingsly, Indianapolis, Indiana. R. E. James, Kalamazoo, Michigan. E. S. Watterbury, Polo County, Illinois. J. M. Whitehead, Laporte, Indiana. R. H. Riggle, Cameron, Illinois. F. E. Willoby, Winnebago County, Illinois. 103 E. P. Wright, Stark County, Illinois. Wm. R. Eow, Buchanan, Michigan. H, A. Aldrich, Neota, Illinois. W. F. Hardy, Champaign, Illinois. W. F. Maxwell, Humboldt, Tennessee. On motion a Committee was appointed by the b business, as follows: W. F. Hardy, of Illinois. W. Maxwell, of Tennessee. J. A. Gardner, of Michigan. Henry Aldrich. of Illinois. Cyrus Smith, of Michigan. J. M. Chambers, of Freeport. Asa Patch, of Roseviller M. H. Hubbard of Keokuk, Iowa. With instructions to report business at the afternoon meeting. Mr. Hendricks stated the object of the meeting was chiefly to devise ways and means by which the several co-operative stores in the Northwest could co-operate in the purchase of goods beyond the jobbers. Bro. Maxwell, of Tennessee, spoke at length, urging and explaining the Rochdale plan of co-operation in Great Britain; how it had proved successful in the highest degree and recommending it to the convention as probably the best plan that could be adopted, etc. ; also urging the establishment of a co-operative agency in the center of trade — Chicago. Bros. Gardner, Smith, Sweezey and others spoke in favor of the plan, also giving their experience in the organizing and conducting of the several co-operative stores which they represented. A request was handed in from Bro. Shankland, of the National Grange, asking the meeting to convene in the Palmer House, which was declined, previous arrange- ments having been made for the room now occupied. On motion the convention adjourned till 3 o'clock P, M 104 AFTERNOON SESSION. Convention called to order by the Chairman. The report of the business committee being first in order, was presented and read by Bro. Maxwell, of Ten- nessee, as follows: 1st. Can the local co-operative stores within reach of Chicago so concentrate and co-operate as to serve the best interests of the association? 2d. Then, if so, upon what plan can that object be effected ? In this connection we would present at least one plan that has proved a success in the experience of the co-operatives of Great Britain, viz: the Rochdale plan. 3d. ' That your convention appoint a commission of five persons or more who shall take the proper steps necessary to open books for the solicitation of stock and obtaining the charter for said association. 4th. That said commission shall fix the time and place for such action, and that they be instructed to issue a cir- cular to the different co-operative stores and Subordinate Granges, with subscription papers for such stores and Granges to circulate among their members for the sub- scription of said stock and to take such other steps there- after as may seem necessary for the furtherance of the object desired. 5th. That we now fix the amount of capital stock neces- sary for such business. On motion, the report was accepted and the committee discharged. The question upon the adoption of the report coming before the meeting, on motion the entire report was adopted by proposition severally. On motion it was agreed that the capital stock of this association shall be not less than one hundred thousand dollars. On motion a committee of three was appointed, con« sisting of the following persons: W. A. Hendricks, J, H. Widley and A. J. Sweezey, with instructions to appoint a 105 commission of five or more persons to incorporate said association, and report at the meeting Thursday morning. On motion the convention adjourned to Thursday, 10 o'clock A. M. SECOND DAY. MORNING SESSION. Sherman House, Nov. 23, 1876. Convention of business managers met at 10 o'clock A. M., and was called to order by the Chairman, Mr. Sweezey. Minutes read and approved. The report of the committee to appoint commissioners being first in order was presented. The report recom- mended the following named persons to act as commis- sioners: W. A. Hendricks, Chicago. A. S. Proctor, Peoria, 111. H. A. Aldrich, Neota, 111. W. F. Stewart, Chicago. J. F. Houseman, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. I. M. Whitehead, Laporte, Ind. K. E. James, Kalamazoo, Mich. On motion the report was received and placed on file. On motion the resolution which was passed on Wednes- day, fixing minimum amount of capital stock at $100,000, was reconsidered. It was moved to amend the motion by fixing the mini- mum amount at $50,000, which was spiritedly discussed by several members of the convention. Carried. On motion the Committee on Commissioners was amended so as to allow the Commissioners to select their own Chairman. On motion the report was adopted. On motion of J. M. Chambers, the following resolution was adopted: 106 Resolved, That the shares of the Association shall lie $10 each, and that fifty per cent, of the stock be made payable as soon after the Association is organized as the law will allow, and the balance in not less than six months from the date of the first call. On motion it was resolved that the organization shall be called "The Northwestern Co-operative Association." Resolved, That the subscription of stock be confined to members of the Order of P. of H., and that the maximum amount of stock subscribed be limited to fifty shares for each person subscribing. On motion it was resolved that the Association be char- tered for 99 years. On motion the Commissioners were instructed to ascer- tain the legal rights of co-operative stores to take stock in the association. Adjourned till half-past three. AFTERNOON SESSION. Meeting called to order by the Chairman. It was moved that a committee of one from each State represented be appointed to lay the matter under con- sideration by this convention before their several State Granges, each State to make its own selection. The mo- tion was adopted and the following committee selected: D. N. Foster, Illinois. J. J. Billingsly, Indiana. E. N. Gates, Iowa. R. E. James, Michigan. Dr. Maxwell, Tennessee. Dr. Williams, Arkansas. Gen. Jones, New York. The resignation of Mr. Houseman as a member of the Board of Commissioners was presented to the convention and accepted. On motion, O. H. P. Buchanan was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy. It was moved and carried that the commissioners be instructed to furnish the several members of the committee 107 charged with presenting the plan* to the several State Granges with a copy of the articles of incorporatio] together with such facts of the minutes of the proceedings of this meeting, including that containing the P. 0. ad- dress of each member of this convention, as may enable said committee to present the matter in as complete a manner as possible. On motion a committee of three was appointed to report to the National Grange committee on Co-operation, now in session, the action of this convention for their approval. The following committee was appointed: Bros. Foster, Chambers and Williams. On motion the minutes were read and approved, after which the convention adjourned sine die. J. F. Houseman, Secretary. / 106 Extract from the Report of the Com- mittee on Co-operation. (Presented .November 24, 18 j 6, by T. (R. ALLEJJ, Chairman. Worthy Master, and Members of the National Grange: Your Committee on Co-operation instruct me to make a partial report as follows: Co-operation, in its broad sense, means helping each other. The tendency of this is to add to our physical com- fort, and to develop, educate and elevate us morally, socially, and intellectually. Competition means self-in- terest. And this has exactly the opposite tendency to that of co-operation, to-wit: physical unrest, the develop- ment of intense and morbid selfishness, which leads to misrepresentation, trickery, deception and fraud, frequent bankruptcy, ruin, and general demoralization. Or. to give a definition of an experienced English Co-operation- ist, Mr. Holyoake: "Co-operation is an industrial scheme for delivering the public from the conspiracy of capitalists, traders and manufacturers, to make the laborer work for the least, and the consumer pay the utmost for whatever he needs of money, machines, or merchandise. Co-oper- ation effects this deliverance by taking the workmen and public into partnership in every form of business it de- vises." Or, as he defines it in another place, to-wit: "Co- operation is a scheme of industry in which the results are obtained by concert, the profits divided by consent, and the public made a partner with capital and labor, instead 109 of the victim of the needs of both, as occurs under com- petition." The world has never before seen an organization fraught with such grand possibilities of carrying out a scheme so laudable and noble in itself as is involved in this principle of co-operation, as taught in the Grange. Indeed, this principle is the very foundation, the chief corner stone of the whole structure. Take this away, and what have we left? We call the attention of our members to the fact, that all the progress we have made up to this time is at- tributable to our observance of this principle; and that our progress has not been greater, is because of a neglect of its observance. Every intelligent Patron who has thought on this subject at all, must admit this. The greatest obstacle that we have had to contend with has been, that our people have not yet been able to see clearly the power and value to them of the principle, and not being in pos- session of a clear and well denned plan of its application. The plan adopted by the ninth session of the National Grange was an important step in advance. Our people hailed it with delight, and many eagerly sought to utilize it. But in the absence of definite in- structions, and blank forms and account books adapted to the system, in many instances different constructions were placed in those rules, which has sometimes lead to delay or trouble. This is not to be wondered at, nor is it a cause of discouragement. The want of business know- ledge and experience among so many of our people, cause most of these differences. To enable them to adopt the system, it must be made very plain, and all possible instructions should be given. Another difficulty presents itself in some of our States, in the corporate laws therein. With a little further exper- ience we may be able to overcome these. Your Committee would recommend that the National Grange have prepared a set of account books and all necessary blank forms adapted to co-operative stores 110 on these rules in sufficient number to supply all . and to furnish them to the same at cost, on plication in form prescribed by this National Grange. This form to be so prepared as to make it convenient for a registry to he kept at Secretary's office of the National Grange of ah stores organized on this system. a! that the National Grange further provide, as far as - hie. from time to tim< . practical information and instructions for properly conducting inted lets, or otherwise as in its judgment ma i st. As a rule we do not think it ad Gran.. such, either Subordinate, County, State or National to take shares. Granges have nothing to sell, and need to buy but little. It is the individual members that have pro- duets to sell, and have to purchase supplies. Then let individual members take shares of stock, as their inclina- tion or ability will permit, and incorporate a business ssociation — elect their own directors, officers and busim managers, and adopt their own rules and regulations as nearly as possible in accordance with the rules adopted by the National Grange. Xh( same principles, rules and regulations that arc necessary to govern a local association, may apply to a county, district, state, or inter-state association, with slight modifications. In any great business centre, the incor- poration should provide for a commission and wholesale business. In these, individuals, local, district, state, and inter-state associations should all be encouraged to take shares of stock. To the end that the business wants of our order be met, let the true principles of co-operation, as recommended by the ninth session of the National Grange, be now fully disseminated and persistently taught. The principle of conforming to the customs of trade has insured it an acceptance in the commercial world. Its principle of pro-rating dividends arising from the business, after defraying expenses of conducting the same, Ill meets the objects had in view by the membership — that of securing distribution at a reasonable rate. The necessary agents or employes to be selected, and their salaries fixed by those who are^o be served, thus doing away with unnecessary and expensive distributors. Our people now only want the necessary information to enable them to do this, and how7 to do it. and then to be left free to do it in their own way. But this national head of our Order recommend and fully endorse this general plan for business cc-operatioii throughout our entire jurisdiction, and give it all the moral support that it has power to give, as the head of a great fraternal organization; give aid and comfort in the way of advice and counsel, as occasion may seem proper, but be- yond this, and the requiring of statistical reports, (that they may be the better prepared to foster, encourage, and aid) such as may hereafter be provided for, let neither this body nor any other subordinate body attempt to exer- e ony business control over these, business associations. The business interests of our members is but an individual interest in aggregated form. It is custom, not money, that sustains business. Or, in other words, an economical exchange of products. True co-operation does not contemplate individual gain at the expense of the many. It is to the interest of all to patronize a true system of co-operation, because a division of profits are alike to all. It is most emphattcally pro- viding for the greatest good to the greatest number. The more free and untrammeled you can have these business "associations of individuals, or of concurrent associations, the better; keeping in view that important principle of our Order, "in essentials, unity; in non-essen- tials, liberty; in all things, charity." Now, Therefore, Your Committee recommend, 1st: That members of your Order, throughout our jurisdiction, pro- ceed with the least possible delay, to organize themselves into co-ooerative associations, on the principles set forth 112 in the rules for co-operative stores, at the ninth annual session of the National Grange,$s nearly as they can, under the laws of their respective States. 2nd. That we understand the folding to be leading and essential points, that ought to be strictly adhered to, and therefore recommend: 1. The cash system of business. 2. Sell for a fair marginal profit. 3. A fixed interest on share capital. 4. Quarterly settlements. 5. Division of profits among purchasers. 6. Full dividends to share-holders on purchases. 7. Half dividends to non-share holders, and non-patron customers. 8. That as far as practical, under the laws of the State, that each member have but one vote, without regard to the number of shares he may own. 9. That those Patron's joint-stock associations, where all profits are now divided among the share-holders, are requested to change them into co-operative associations as soon as they can make it convenient to do so. 10. Your committee further recommend, that as soon as the necessary steps are taken to organize, in any of our trade centers, commissian and wholesale houses, on the co-operative plan, as hereinbefore set forth, that all local and district co-operative associations in convenient reach of such business centre, or whose business centre it is, be requested to take shares of stock in the same. We recommend as important trade centres, where com- mission and wholesale co-operative stores should be es- tablished by members of our Order at as early a day as possible, to-wit: New York. Cincinnati. Memphis. Boston. Louisville. New Orleans. Philadelphia. St. Louis. Galve3ton. Baltimore. Chicago. Savannah. Kichmond. Indianapolis. Charleston. Wilmington, and at any others where the Patrons may so desire