The Church and the Gkange. 185 



of consolidated wealth threatens the progress of Christian effort 

 in our churches, as well as the success of the principles and ob- 

 jects which the grange seeks to attain. On these and many other 

 kindred subjects, the grange and the church are in touch and in 

 sympathy. Let us foster such a spirit of mutual respect and fra- 

 ternal feeling towards each other, that as one by one these ques- 

 tions come before us for solution, the influence of our powerful 

 organizations may be thrown unitedly upon the right side. 



In their religious views the members of the order of the Patrons 

 of Husbandry are probably widely divided. There are, I suppose, 

 among your members, representatives of most religious sects and 

 many of no sect and no positive religious belief. But on all 

 great moral questions, those touching the sanctity of the home, 

 the purity of the ballot, and freedom of conscience, you are, I 

 take it, practically agreed. The church looks to you grangers with 

 desire and expectancy touching these questions. It has a right 

 to hope that on all issues calling for true moral discernment and 

 decision, those whose occupation brings them so near to nature's 

 heart will be allies of the church in seeking the purity, integrity 

 and justice enjoined by nature's God. Manhood is the great need 

 of the age. A manhood which rises above sect, and party, and 

 selfish greed. A manhood which scorns the man, the unchari- 

 table, the petty and the vile; that seeks not a life of ease 

 through public preferment, but chooses a strenuous life of noble 

 toil and sacrifice looking to the advancement of truth, justice and 

 liberty for its richest reward. Where shall we look for the 

 nurture of such manhood if not among those who, in the inde- 

 pendent life of the farm, far from the temptations and vain show 

 of the crowded metropolis, spend the early years of life. The boys 

 of the farm, to-day, are those who will determine whether, in the 

 new era of world-wide influence upon which our nation is enter- 

 ing, she will be true to the principles of fraternity and freedom 

 that have made her great. The ranks «f the legislators, judges, 

 diplomats and millionaires are in every generation recruited from 

 the farm. It is through the life blood of honesty, simplicity, fru- 

 gality and industry, which has flowed from the rural districts in 



