STATE GRANGE OF ILLINOIS. 27 



receiving the permission of, the National Grange, your com- 

 mittee conceive that it would render both State and Subordinate 

 Granges entirely powerless to act for their own good^ and can- 

 not see any particular use for such branches except to contribute 

 to the support of the present stock, especially as no work is 

 actually required, except the payment of dues. Hence, the 

 committee very strongly urged the necessity of having that 

 part of the section stricken out. Also that the fee for dispensa- 

 tions be reduced to ten dollars. 



Abolish the clause requiring amendments to the Constitution 

 to be ratified by three-fourths of the State Granges; also that 

 provision be made for the organization of County Granges. 



These are the more important changes asked; the most of 

 theui were favorably received and granted by the National 

 Grange and acted upon favorably by more than three-fourths of 

 the State Granges, and are only mentioned in this place to show 

 that the experience of our Brothers in other States is similar to 

 our own. 



The Worthy Master returned from the last meeting of the 

 National Grange with the impression that the several State 

 Granges would hold special meetings to act upon the proposed 

 amendments to the Constitution of the Order, and as it seemed 

 to be important that the amendments providing for the organ- 

 ization of County Granges, the one making provision for a 

 representative body in this Grange, and the one providing for 

 the payment of dues to the Secretary instead of the Treasurer, 

 should be ratified and put in f(^rce as soon as possible. Your 

 committee requested the Master and Secretary to call a special 

 meeting of this Grange, to be held in the city of Bloomington 

 on the IJrth da}^ of April; to be composed of one delegate from 

 each county having Subordinate Granges, with authority to cast 

 one vote for every Grange in his county, said delegate to be 

 elected by the Masters of Granges in the several counties. This 

 plan, your committee were aware, was somewhat irregular, but 

 as the National Grange had, by a resolution passed at its last 

 meeting, conferred the authority, it was hoped that all would 

 cheerfully acquiesce; and such was the result as far as we know. 



Knowing that many subjects of vital importance to the 

 welfare of the Order would come before the National Grange, 

 and fearing that the Worth}^ Master's health might possibly 

 prevent him from attending some of the important sessions, 

 your committee requested Bro. D. W. Dame, your alternate 

 elect, to attend the meeting and assist the Master in the 

 discharge of his duties. 



By the adoption of the report of the committee upon pur- 

 chase of farm supplies, your committee were assigned the 

 responsible duty of appointing one or more Purchasing Agents 



