184 BuKEAu OF Farmkrs' Institutes. 



thing we shall ever find as the result of the influence and efforts 

 of any organization, is the results that it is designed and is by 

 nature fitted to produce. 



Being entertained a few weeks since at the home of a granger 

 in a neighboring town, the conversation turned on the work of his 

 grange. Among the questions which had been discussed there 

 was this — "Resolved: That the Grange is doing more for the 

 moral elevation of society than the Church." Some reliance had 

 been placed upon one who himself never attended church, and 

 was not a religious man, to support the affirmative. To the sur- 

 prise of many he had very little to say and that little expressed 

 his aversion to that class of questions. He said there could be 

 no doubt in his mind, which had done the most for the good of 

 mankind, — it w^as the church. More than that, he asserted that 

 the church was the mother of the grange. If there had never 

 been a church there would never have been a grange. It would 

 do for him to say that. Being a minister, I should not wish to 

 say it (although I might believe it), especially before a gathering 

 of farmers. But is not such a comparison unnecessary and in- 

 vidious? It engenders antagonism where there should be mutual 

 good will and co-operation. There is no natural animosity be- 

 tween the church and the grange. The success of one in its own 

 legitimate line of effort^ only renders easier and more promising, 

 the work of the other. If the daughter can outstrip the mother 

 in any honorable undertaking, well and good. But let her be 

 careful how, in the self-complacency of youth, she disdains that 

 mother and seeks to get along without her. The field is wide 

 enough. Hand in hand we should move forward each in his 

 place with* charity and good will to fulfill our mission. Much 

 we have in common. Many objects of endeavor enlist alike the 

 grange and the church. The great problems of our times appeal 

 to us both as grangers and church members. The saloon, one 

 of the blackest spots on our civilization, awaits our united action 

 to banish its legalized temptations from our boys and young men. 

 The congestion of population in the crowded cities presents prob- 

 lems which are of vital interest to us both. The growing power 



