342 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



It has been the aim of the policy of State Grange to follow this rapid 

 organization with the setting up in each new Grange of as strong systems 

 of cooperative and lecture work as possible. By this means the perma- 

 nence and real use of the Order is best gained and maintained. 



The lines of special educational work being followed in Grange circles 

 in Michigan are clearly set forth in the following extracts from reports 

 of officers at the last state session. From State Master Geo. B. Horton's 

 annual address: — 



"The ke}^ to Michigan success in Grange work is definite lines of policy 

 systematized, continued from year to year, and then given the amount of 

 labor to win success. It is said by good business men that a poor article 

 in the hands of a good working salesman will -meet with better results 

 than an acknowledged good article if left to take care of itself. This 

 being true, how great must be the rewards of labor given to promoting 

 the interests of an organization like the Grange which possesses a high 

 standard of merit. After all it is work thoroughly directed which wins. 

 In this connection your attention is called to our conferences for winter 

 and our rallies for summer work, and which are calculated to pay a good 

 share of our debt to Subordinate Granges for their support and their 

 perpetuity. On the basis that our Subordinate Granges are the stones 

 that form the great foundation wall to the whole Grange structure, it 

 is reasonable to conclude that they must be well laid and supported else 

 a mass of ruins soon follows. To make Subordinate Granges strong 

 and x)erpetual, two things are necessary. First, all members must have 

 a thorough understanding of the governing laws of the Order and a full 

 knowledge and appreciation of charter and obligation duties and privi- 

 leges. Each must personally know of all benefits attainable through 

 membership. Second, the principles and purposes of the Order must be 

 kept continually before all farmers of the state to the end that gradually 

 from year to year the ranks of each Grange may be reinforced with new 

 energy and new life. 



To accomplish the first the winter conferences are planned. They are 

 intended to fill the needs of inspection service, schools of instruction, 

 and in presentation of such methods of the every day home life of a Grange 

 as will lead to greatest success. The conference is a right down heart 

 to heart dealing with the common things essential to the life and success 

 of a Grange. Taking the conference as a correct basis the detail methods 

 of procedure and program can be changed and improved from year to 

 year as the best help to Grange maintenance may suggest. 



To accomplish the second necessity to Grange perpetuity, the system 

 of summer or August rallies are planned and encouraged. This being 

 the season of picnics, farmers give liberal attendance at all such public 

 gatherings and thus our Grange speakers are given a good hearing. The 

 conference deals with the inner life of the Grange while the rally appeals 

 to the public. 



To the conference the State Grange sends a conductor and referee and 

 pays all expenses except for meeting place and entertainment of attend- 

 ants. To each rally the State Grange sends the chief speaker and pays 

 his or her expenses and per diem, except a specified amount. Dates of 

 both rallies and conferences together with the routing of speakers is 

 conducted by the State Grange. 



These lines of work are growing in popular favor with Granges as 

 proven by the greatly increased number of meetings held under the 



