families where there are children, many times above the yearly sub-
scription, either as a guide to the purchase of gift. books or for
Grange libraries. We need s eams of just such literature as is
named there and in the Farm ome Reading Course to keep fresh
and pure and strong the sources of our national life; for though we
pride ourselves that the majority of great men and women come from
farm homes, it will not be long so if the current newspapers crowd
the classics of the English language from our tables and book shelves.
The daily paper, brought to our doors by a free rural mail delivery
will not be an unmixed good. The Grange can do mi;ch. very much,
to equip its homes and ‘schools beforehand against its harm and fit
them to better use its good.
THE GRANGE As AN EDUCATOR.

When we weigh what we have accomplished in the year we find so
much of unnoticed sacrifice on the part of true-hearted members,
all over the State, so much of quiet effort, willingly given, so much
of unspoken influence radiating from the Visitor, in short, we find
Grange principles and teachings permeating individual lives and
famil(iies. and communities, with a power neither to be measured or
sta e .

We look back on the past, with its large outward accomplishments,
in conquering prejudice and contending against oppressions in busi-
ness, and realize that new associations demand new duties.

The phase of Grange work has largely changed. We are concerning
ourselves more with the efiort to shape popular sentiment than to
merely oppose it. In nothing is this so evident as in educational
lines. lt must, of necessity, become more so for, if it is anything,
the Grange is an educational institution. It has come to be expected
that almost every report of our State Grange will prove some sort of
a homily on some one or more features of education. Nor is it all a
mere fashion or rut we have fallen into. To educate, to draw out that
which lies possible within each of its members is the mission of the
Grange. “To develop a better and higher manhood and womanhood,”
this is our avowed purpose. To this end we have debated and dis-
cussed questions of every character together, using the little gift of
thought, or voice, or pen, that we might acquire more, and so we must
continue to do.

“We are beaten back in many a fray,
But newer strength we borrow;
And where the vanguard rests today.
The rear shall camp tomorrow."

“ ‘Tie weary watching wave on wave,
And yet the tide heaves onward:
We build, like corals, grave on grave,
But pave a pathway sunward.

Respectfully submitted, '
JENNIE BUELL.

Sister Mary S. Hinds reported as Chairman of Woman’s
VVork Committee:

To THE WOR'1‘HY MASTER AND Maiiini-ms or THE MicHioAN STATE
GRANGE-—The year just drawing to a close has been an eventful one.
One-half of the year by the calendar and the whole of the temperate
and fruitful part of the year, the great Columbian Exposition was
running almost within hailing distance of our Michigan sisters’
doors. It was the event of a generation. yes, of a lifetime. The
child is probably not yet born that will see its duplicate. The mem-
bers of our Order in Michigan, be it said to their credit, availed them-
selves of the benefit of a visit to this great exhibition in greater
numbers, judged by the records of the National Grange headquar-
ters, than did the Grangers of any sister jurisdiction.

A season of general business depression. the agriculturalist was
made to feel the necessity of foregoing anything in the line of attend-
ance on occasions of simple diversion. The VVorld’s Fair, however,
was so absolutely a part of the educational opportunities of the iiine-
teenth century that the people of Michigan, and particularly the
agricultural classes, pooled all their resources and made this the
acme of their efforts for the season. We may therefore not be sur-
prised when we look over the home field devoted to woman’s work if
we find some less accomplished than we had hoped for one year ago.

Through a combination of rather unanticipated circumstances it
became the lot of the writer to temporarily domicile within the envir-
onments of Jackson Park for the entire season. Therefore, the work
of the chairman of the committee on Woman’s work of this State
Grange is less fruitful of results than any of us could have antici-
pated at our meeting of last year. IQ.-""";':’—"~:-""-_

I may say, however, that woman's work still goes forward and the
mission of woman in elevating and educating the rural classes has
 begun. I prophesy that the work of the sisters of our
elevating the character and grade of our common country

-" ‘will in a few years he as apparent as were the benefits of the

and National Grange a few years ago in breaking down plaster
 slide gate and drive well patents and in securing the enact-
nflrtafinter-state commerce laws and in elevating the bureau of
agriculture to the department of agriculture. (I will not pause now
however to compliment the present Secretary of Agriculture.)

Immediately upon the adjournment of the State Grange of a year
ago, your committee on Woman’s work met with a committee from
the faculty of the Agricultural College and a committee from the
State Grange. and organized a Farm Home Reading Circle of Michi-
gan. The effects of the association are just beginning to be felt and
its final benefits will be far reaching as time rolls along. I mailed
to the Granges circulars calling attention to this course of home read-
ing and study.

Knowing the reputation of our Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion for calling to his aid any allies likely to improve the grade and
grade our rural schools, I invited him to issue a form of blanks that
might be placed in the hands of our subordinate Grange committees
on Woman’s work to enable them to visit frequently all the schools
within the jurisdiction of their Grange and carefully note and make
report of their findings, and suggestions with reference thereto.
That officer kindly and promptly furnished the desired blanks. I
have placed them in the hands of every active Grange in this juris-
diction. A few only have thus far taken up the work and reported

thereon. From the character of the reports it is clearly evident that

this field is ripe for thorough cultivation. The theme is an interest-
ing one and the desire to take hold of it with some vigor I hope and
expect will become contagious, and when it does, great good in
the improvement of the character of our common schools is bound
to occur.

In the nature of things, my participation in the work of the com-
mittee last year has consisted of a voluminous amount of oflice work.
I have mailed more than 2,000 letters and circulars to members of
the Order and called attention to and submitted plans for the organ-
ization of juvenile granges, and have sent programs and schemes for
entertainments for raising funds for the erection of the temple to
Ceres in addition to the educational matters previously referred to.
From the nature of many replies I am constrained to believe that
many have put off the principal part of these commendable works
until a more favorable season, owing to the absorbing interest in and
the efforts many were making to attend the Columbian Exposition.

To my sisters associated with me on this committee has fallen the
active field work of the year. Both are competent, conscientious
and eminently successful, as the reports of their work already show.
One of them, Sister Mayo, has not been permitted to utilize her
entire energies in the Grange work in this State for the year. Her
reputation extends far beyond our borders and she has been called
to other jurisdictions within the year. She has, however, as a mile
stone or monument to wind up the symposium. called around her an
array of women and brought out the last copy of the Grange Visitor,
nominally under the hands of this committee, but, as a matter of
fact, an article of her own creation, which Wlll compare favorably, if
I as a woman do say it. with any previous issue of that paper devised
by man.

My other associate, Sister Carpenter, has carried on a large amount
of correspondence and delivered some lectures as a result of which
we have evidence that the membership of the Order has been
increased.

NIARY SHERWOOD HINDS,

Chairman Committee Woman’s Work, Michigan Slate Grange.

Mary A. Mayo read a supplementary report on W'oman’s
VVork:

WORTHY MASTER AND PATaoivs—-In making a supplementary
report, there is a feeling of sadness at the fact that your State Com-
mittee is orphaned. In the demise of our National Committee, we
have lost the parent that gave us our existence; the strong, wise
head is gone, and we must perforce take up the work that they have
laid down and go on alone. We shall sorely miss their council and

.advice, but, like the child that has been mindful and obedient, we
must remember their virtues and profit from the beautiful lessons
they have given us in the past. We must gather up the threads that
their hands have left and weave on and in the threads of noble
purposes and wise endeavor.

We well know our work of the past year has not been what it
should. That the year has been filled with wonderful lessons from
other sources is true, and in spite of the great attractions the work
has not languished.

A report, dated March 3, bears the following:

“The suggestions in your letter of January 23 were read with

much interest, and acting upon the spirit of the same, a Washington
Day Meeting was called.

" The day arriving, while others were engaged in social chat, we
proceeded to arrange our program, and were agreeably surprised to
find we had more than was really needed; the best men and women
in our county gladly aiding us. After dinner We repaired to the pub-
lic hall, where more than five hundred were gathered to enjoy the
day. many going away for want of standing room. Our program was
replete with elevating and refining themes. Receipts for the Temple
fund, $4.00. Many Granges seem interested in learning more of
Woman’s Work, so I trust you will keep me fully posted.”

Who can measure the real good of this one meeting to five hundred
eager listeners‘: It was “ a feast of fat things, with wine on the lees”

If it is a fact of psychology that not a thought comes to the human
mind but that it makes an impression for good or ill upon the world,
the result of this one Woman’s Committee in that one day’s work
could not help but be replete with good for the Order in the advance-
ment of the principles of true patriotism and loyalty.

Another committee reports a new carpet for our hall; another a
new set of dishes; another replating our silver-ware, new towels.
pans and other articles necessary to 3. well ordered Grange home.
Another, all our efforts in the line of Woman’s Work has been directed
to the enlarging of our library.

Through the influence of one County Committee, a Farmer’s Room
was furnished in a Charity Hospital, at an expense of $50. so that
any sick poor among us can be sure of the comforts of a well
furnished room and good care.

One of the best, if not the best feature of the work of the past
year has been the issuing of the school report blank. The only
trouble we found was that there were more demands than blanks.
We would suggest that the Woman’s Committee for the coming year,
acting in conjunction with the Educational Committee (which we
think should be a standing committee), again prepare suitable blanks
with a list of questions that shall have for their object the raising of
the standard of our common schools; the same to be printed at the
Statc’s expense and issued from the office of our Superintendent of
Public Instrution. Our common schools, which are the bed-rock of
our civilization, cannot receive too much care and attention from the
Grange. Let teacher and pupil feel that they have our hearty sup-
port in all that is for the school’s best interest and the effect must
be most salutary.

Need we urge the continuance of this committee?

To our successor we will ever endeavor to give all aid possible, and
we bespeak for the Committee, this next year, a wider field and a
better harvest. MARY A. MAYO.

J. W. Hutchins, Chairman Special Committee on Edu-
cation, reported:

WORTHY MASTER AND MEMBERS on THE STATE GRANGE—The
undersigned appointed at the last State Grange as a special commit-
tee on education to continue through the year, and to whom were
referred the introduction of the Reading Course and the considera-
tion of other matters pertaining to agricultural education, with
authority to confer with the Board of Agriculture and the Faculty
of the college upon these subjects, would respectfully submit the fol-
lowing report:

On the day following the adjournment of the last State Grange
this committee met a committee from the Agricultural College, con-
sisting of Pres. Clute and Professors Harwood and Taft for consulta-
tion in regard to the course of reading in agriculture and kindred
topics, which had by action of the State Grange been recommended.
The joint committee organized by the election of Pres. Clute as
chairman and Mr. L. C. Clinton as secretary. The plan, as previously
reported to the State Grange, was, without material change, adopted
under the name of the Farm Home Reading Circle of Michigan, and
the secretary was appointed the executive head of the circle. A cir-
cular was prepared explaining the plans and objects of the circle, and
inviting correspondence. Owing to difficulty in obtaining terms from
publishers upon the text-books chosen, the publication of this circu-
lar was considerably delayed, so much so that many who had
intended taking up the work cincluded to wait until a more favor-
able time for beginning the re." ding.

But notwithstanding the lateness of the opening of the circle there
were numerous orders for books, and an encouraging amount of
interest manifested in its plans. Just how many had actually com-
menced the reading could not llia known as no system of registration
had at that time been adopted’: The members of the committtee, as
opportunity offered, brought this reading course to the notice of the
Granges and the “Grange Vie?‘ "” emphasized the value of the new
project, and airgcd it upon t-h tie-_e-of the people.

Later. the resignation of Fees. Clute, Prof. Harwood and Mr.
Clinton from the joint committee in charge of the reading circle left
that body without an executive. The chairman of your committee
therefore came to Lansing on Aug. 7 and invited Mr. K. L. Butter-
field, editor of the “Grange Visitor” to act with him upon the com-
mittee in place of Mr. Clinton, which appointment was afterward
confirmed by the Worthy Master.

Meanwhile the F. H. R. C. had not been without friends. The bill
passed by the last legislature providing for the expenses of farmers’
institutes for the coming two years also made provision for the
appropriation of such an amount as should in the judgment of the
board of agriculture be necessary for that purpose. Your committee
therefore, in a communication to the board presented the needs of
the circle and asked that in accordance with the provisions of the
law, it should be taken in charge by the board of agriculture and an
appropriation made for carrying on the work already begun. Action
was accordingly taken by the board and the Farm Home Reading
Circle became a part of the agricultural department of the college
and was placed in charge of Prof. F. B. Mumford as secretary.

We congratulate the Grange that the plans outlined at its last
meeting have taken such permanent form and that the work of
carrying them on to completion is in the hands of one not only well
qualified for the work, but who is also in hearty sympathy with the
farmer and his needs.

But, though the circle has been incorporated with the college, the
Grange should not feel less responsibility for its support. Born of a
demand coming through the Grange, the Grange should now meas-
ure up to its opportunity.

We need the inspiration, the quickened thought, the better
methods on the farm, the higher motives in the home. the broader
views and nobler aspirations as citizens which are embodied as pos-
sibilities in such a course of reading.

Growth, development, is life; without progress there is no real life.

We can but briefly notice other lines of educational work, to which
we would gladly call your attention more fully.

The establishment of a short winter course in agriculture was also
favored by the last State Grange. This has been in part realized by
tcheushort course in dairy husbandry now offered by the Agricultural

o ege.

We gladly note the increased appropriation for farmers’ institutes
in this state. No line of educational work has been more popular or
yielded better results to the farmers. But we would call the atten-
tion of the Grange to the fact that though Michigan was among the
first to establish this system of instruction it has hardly held its
place at the front. several states surpassing us both as to the num-
ber of institutes and the amount appropriated therefor, Ohio holding
150 at public expense last winter, while Michigan held but 20.

Plans for the still further enlargement of the scope and influence
of this department of our educational work have been considered by
this committee, the further study of which we leave for our
successors.

The work of visiting and reporting upon the condition and needs
of our public schools has been taken in charge by the committee on
woman's work, with their usual enthusiasm and tact; and gratifying
results have already been reached. We would earnestly recommend
that this department of work be continued and the recommendations
of the committee be concurred in.

We would also call the attention of the Grange to the pupil’s
graded course in reading prepared by D. E. McClure, Commissioner
of Schools for Oceana county, and already adopted in some parts of
the State, as a step in the direction of good literature and the culti-
vation of pure tastes and noble aspirations for our youth and as a
possible aid to the F. H. R. C.

We believe the Grange will take no back step along these lines
Let us stand firm for all that tends to lift up our fellow men and
especially those by whose side we stand in the struggle of life, lend-
ing our influence in support of all that elevates, that broadens the
view, or quickens the intellectual life, and with faith in the future of
the farmer, go forward. .

In conclusion we would recommend that a permanent committee
on education to consist of three members, one of whom shall be a
member of the Woman’s work committee, be appointed by the
Worthy Master, who shall continue and enlarge upon the work
already begun, and that hereafter one member be appointed upon
said committee each year, that all efforts in the direction of agricult-
ural education may be more perfectly systematized and the greatest
good be accomplished for the greatest number.

Respectfully,

J. WnsToN Huzronms, Chairman.

5


F. VV. Redfern read the report.

WORTHY MASTER. BROTHER AND SISTER PATitoi<s---At the con-
vening of the last Legislature our Worthy State Master informed me
that I. in conjunction with Bro. D. D. Buell of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and Bro. Kenyon L. Butterfield, editor of The Grange
Visitor. were by him appointed to take charge of and give especial
attention to all matters of legislation affecting the interests of
husbandry.

We entered upon our task with feelings of our own insufficiency,
but with the firm determination to do all in our power “ To advance
the interests, elevate the character and increase the influence of The
Patrons of Husbandry.”

At the close of the time for the presentation of bills, Bro. Butter-
field (our worthy Secretary) made a careful examination of all bills
affecting, injuriously or otherwise, the interests of agriculturists.

Your committee decided that whenever any of these measures came
,up for consideration efforts should be made (where the will of the
' Grange was not already known) to acquaint leading members of the
Order, all over the State, with the bill under consideration and ask
for advice.

Many personal letters were written. Hundreds of circulars were
printed and sent out to leading farmers and Patrons. with the request
that answers be promptly returned, in order that we might act in
harmony with the wishes and interests of our agriculturisfs. We
were under the impression (doubtless from hearing so much said in
our Subordinate and State Grangcs) that there was no class of people
whose interests, from a Legislative standpoint, were so sadly neg-
lected as were those of the farmer. '1‘o redress some of these griev-
ances was to be our aim. and in order to do it your committee through
the personal letters and printed circulars aforementioned urged, in
no uncertain language, the desirability, the necessity even, of those
to whom these letters and circulars were sent, writing personal letters
to their Senators and Representatives calling their attention to our
wants and urging due consideration of our rights in the enactment
of just laws for our relief.

Your committee were firm in the faith, that whatsoever our Subor-
dinate and State Granges resolved ought to be done would be backed
up by the earnest effort of individual members.

To the hundreds of personal letters and printed circulars sent out
less than a score of answers were received; and in answer to the
appeal for personal letters to Senators and Representatives, less than
half a dozen came to the knowledge of your committee.

It is not pleasant, Worthy Master and Patrons, to tell you these
things; but facts are not always repressible.

We are seekers after truth, earnestly desiring certain reforms. If we
ever get them it will be by our own effort. If we do not make the effort
we ought not and probably will not receive them. Your committee
trusts, however. that in the future, should any Senator or Represen-
tative arise in his place and tell the Legislature of Michigan that the
farmers are asking for certain reforms, he may be able to substan-
tiate his words by the presentation of petitions and letters and not
be obliged to take his seat in niortification at their lack.

The State Grange, at its last session. demanded of the Legislature-
certain reforms, among which was a pure food bill. In accordance
with this demand, such a bill was presented and after a hard strug-
gle enacted into a law. It may have. and probably has, like the late
mortgage tax law, its imperfections. Let us not clamor for its
repeal if it does not at once meet and overcome the evils intended;
let us rather ask to have it amended. Boards of trade and gambling
in futures also came in for their share of condemnation, but Congress
has not yet seen fit to set its seal of condemnation upon them. As
you all know. if is a matter over which our Legislature has no
control.

There are probably no people in the State more largely inter-
ested in our public school system than are we. To the cause of
education your committee devoted a share of their attention, hoping
to assist in perfecting that system and to encourage, in our professors
and teachers, from the highest to the lowest, reverence for all the
virtues and an intense love of country and for the flag that represents
our liberties a sacred place in every heart. Our common schools are
the storehouses of all that stands for good citizenship. As long as
they are free liberty is safe.

If there is one principle more firmly established than another in
our Order, it is the equality of woman. Recognizing this fact, your
committee devoted their attention to the passage of the woman's
suffrage bill. In the struggle for the passage of that bill, we simply
said to the thousands of noble, self-sacrificing, pure hearted women
of our State, "Come and stand beside us in our effort to extend the
right and crush the Wrong;” and the women answered: " We 3119

Master and Patrons, it is one of the laws that is coming. “ \Vhen'

the might with the right and the truth,” embodied in the woman-
hood of Michigan shall step to the front, then every sentry along the
battlements of freedom may shout, “ All‘s well.”

The last State Grange also demanded an inheritance law, and such
a law was enacted by the last Legislature. This law. and the pure
food law, were two of the especial measures for whose passage your
committee worked, and we believe we are not exaggerating in the
least when We claim that but for the efforts thus put forth neither
bill would have become a law. We speak of this to show how much
a committee can do, simply because it is on the ground and keeps
pushing. And we also want to inquire how much more could be
done if the committee could be properly supported by the Grange at
large?

There is one thing further your committee have had called forcibly
to their attention: The lack of enforcement of existing laws. All
legislation is useless unless there is back of it a moral sentiment that
will cause their enforcement. A law unenforced is worse than no
law at all, for it creates a disregard for all law; it leads to all kinds
of excesses and is subversive of good government. As good citizens,
it is our duty to protest against this as against other evils.

As Patrons of Husbandry. may we be ever found advocating those
measures which lift us and our fellows out of the ruts of apathy and
discontent and up into the sunshine of perseverance and prosperity.

Your committee recognized the fact that a large share of the. time
of the Legislature was taken up in the consideration of municipaf
bills, which were of no interest particularly to the great _mass of our
people, but added very largely to the expense of the session and neo-
essarily increased taxation. We accordingly exerted ourselves to
secure the passage of a law allowing municipalities to make their
own laws, so far as those laws did not conflict with the constitution
of the State. We are glad to be able to state that a commission of
learned men now have the matter under advisement, and if they
succeed in drafting a bill that shall meet the requirements, there
is little doubt of its enactment into a law.

As to general legislation, so called, we endeavored to so work and
vote that the greatest good should result to the greatest number. not
forgetting that when the interests involved were between individ-
uals and the State that only one test was necessary. The simple
question, which is right, settled the matter.

In conclusion, your committee would recommend that this State
Grange decide upon two or three measures for whose passage, in our
next Legislature, special work shall be done from now till they
become laws. And they would further recommend that a standing
Legislative Committee, either a special committee or a sub-commit-
tee of the Executive Committee, be appointed. whose duty it shall
be to agitate among the Granges and farmers the questions selected
as above described, and who shall urge upon and work with the
Legislature for their passage. , .

Your committee received, I am happy to state, nothing but kindness
from the members of the Legislature and State officers, and for’
whatever measure of success attended their efforts they are truly
thankful to all those who aided them, and will ever bear them in.
kindly remembrance.

All of which is respectfully submitted.
F. W. RJZDFERN, Chairman.

James A. Martin, Assistant Steward, read his annual
report:

WORTHY MASTER, SISTERS AND Bnormzas-—We meet again in this
Michigan State Grange to renew our friendships with those we have
met before and to form new acquaintances. We also meet to better
our conditions socially, intellectually and financially, laboring
together for the good of our noble Order, the only organization that
has stood by the farmer first, last and all the time.

The Columbian Exposition and political interests have attracted
the attention of the people to a large extent, yet I think Grange
work and Grange sentiment has made some advancement; in my
own Grange and those I have visited the members are active and
aggressive in the work, and I think I can truthfully say that the
Order in our part of the State is stronger in the minds of the farm-
ers and others today than ever before. It is receiving strength
largely from the Patrons of Industry and quite notably in some sec-
tions from young people. Let us as an order and as individuals con-
constantly strive to develop a higher degree of manhood and woman-
hood and may this be an interesting and profitable session and result
in great good to the Order. Whatever we attempt to do let us strive
to do well. J. H. MARTIN.

corning.” The law has been declared unconstitutional. But,Worthy 3-