128 THE GKOUNDSWELL. 



Among the gentlemen whose co-operation he sought, no 

 one enlisted more heartily than Mr. William Saunders, then 

 (as now) Superintendent of the gardens and grounds of the 

 Department of Agriculture at Washington. Other gentle 

 men who cordially co-operated with Mr. Kelley, were Mr. 

 William M. Ireland, chief clerk of the finance bureau of the 

 Post-Office Department (which position he still holds), Rev. 

 John Trimble, Jr., Eev. A. B. Grosh, so familiarly known 

 from his connection with Odd Fellowship, and Mr. J. R&amp;gt;. 

 Thompson. 



FORMING THE FIRST DEGREE OF THE ORDER. 



The above were all members, with high rank, of secret 

 social and benevolent orders, and therefore proficients in 

 ritualism ; and all are gentlemen of education and refinement. 

 They met from time to time, canvassing the grand work and 

 suggesting various means of promoting the organization. At 

 length, acting upon the suggestions offered at the different 

 meetings, Messrs. Kelley and Ireland, on the 5th of August, 

 1867, at their quarters at the United States Hotel, upon 

 Pennsylvania Avenue at Washington, together compiled and 

 worked out a draft of the First Degree of the Order. 



Immediately after this date, Mr. Saunders was directed 

 by the Commissioner of Agriculture to proceed to the West 

 and South, upon business connected with the Department. 

 Proceeding West, he wrote Mr. Kelley from Sandusky, 0., 

 on August 30th : &quot; I have mentioned your Order to a good 

 many, and all agree in considering the thing a grand idea.&quot; 

 Among other prominent farmers and horticulturists whose 

 attention Mr. Saunders called to the new Order, were, Mr. 

 Anson Bartlett, of Ohio, who was subsequently elected 

 Overseer of the National Grange, and Mr. Wm. Muir ; of 



