STATE GRANGE OF ILLINOIS. 9 



not be just to condema the twelve on account of the sin and shame of one. 

 Human nature remains the same it ever has been. I expect to w^itness the 

 development of the spirit of Judas even among the brothers, but my faith 

 in the good and true still remains unshaken. Let us not charge upon the 

 many the sins of one. Look up, not down. The best way to acquire 

 charitable views of our brother is to labor for his good. We shall see 

 more of the good in the world as we make sacrifices for it. 



I commend the following words, taken from an address of the Master 

 of the State Grange of California. Tliey seem to be words of wisdom, 

 and sound advice on the subject to which they relate: 



" The wisdom and experience of all should be the joint fund from 

 which to draw our supplies, to help us forward in our work. In the 

 language of the National Grange, ' until perfect harmony is secured, not 

 only so far as regards the formality of our Ritual, but what is of even 

 more importance in tlie thorough and complete knowiedge and recogni- 

 tion of our principles of action, success in any undertaking as a united 

 Order can only be partial, not complete.' No Patron should set up a 

 standard of his own to which conformity is required, and take for granted 

 his wisdom, his experience, his practice, are the only right ones. The 

 general objects we have in view are so plain we need not err therein, but, 

 hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, we should keep step in our onward 

 march, and be true to ourselves and to each other. In order to accomplish 

 this, it is absolutely necessary that we must not onl}' be united in our 

 efibrts, but we must adhere to plans formed by those we have placed in 

 position for that purpose. If there are any who cannot do so, they are out 

 of place. They may be with us, but they are not of us; their presence, 

 their voices, their acts, are elements of weakness instead of strength, and 

 we should avail ourselves of the ample means which have been provided 

 by our laws to remove such from among us. 



"A due regard is not alwa3^s observed to our obligation to keep secret 

 the work of our Order: our business arrangements are often divulged 

 without any intention of wrong doing. Patrons give some friend, or per- 

 haps some member of their family-, information as to some of the advan- 

 tages we derive from our connection with the Order. This is wrong. 

 Each one should always remember that they are pledged to strict secrecy 

 in regard to all information of every kind the}' receive in the Grange. 



" No one has any right to divulge to an outsider what occurs within our 

 gates — not a word spoken or an act taken of any kind. The business 

 arrangements coufided to us are not our own. They belong to others, and 

 we have no right, either morally or legally, to use the jiroporty of others 

 in such a way that the owners thereof may be iujured by our act." 



I look to the influence of the Order to accomplish some social reforms 

 which all classes need alike. Money has come to exert, and probably 

 alwaj^s will exert, a powerful influence in establishing social grades in 

 the community. H>)nestly acquired, it is the proper reward of industry; 

 and the enjoyment of the luxuries it brings is to its possessor an undisputed 

 right. The attempt, through pride, to appear what we are not, indicates a 

 weakness of character, if it is not a positive sin. Fashion has gained sway 

 over us. For the sake of appearance we incur expense and make sacrifices 

 which our incomes do not warrant. All honest accumulations of property 

 come through abstinence. The man who spends his entire income from year 



