THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ORDER. 141 



whence, a year later, lie removed his office to Georgetown, 

 D. C., and here the headquarters of the National Grange 

 have since remained. Since this date, the principal difficul 

 ties which originally embarrassed the movement have been 

 overcome, and many conscientious men and women, who 

 formerly opposed the Order from principle, have learned to 

 view the matter in a different light, since they have found 

 that the secret feature of the organization could not, by the 

 rules of the Order itself, be used for evil. Thus it has come 

 about that many heretofore bitterly opposed to the system 

 are now its staunchest friends, and labor heartily in their 

 new field of usefulness. 



THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ORDER. 



As we have just mentioned, the Order has its headquar 

 ters at Georgetown, D. C. Here its vast business is carried 

 on ; the accounts are kept and compared, circulars, tracts, and 

 pamphlets issued, correspondence conducted, dispensations 

 granted, etc. Ten clerks are unremittingly engaged, find 

 ing it difficult to keep pace with the constantly increasing 

 business of the office. 



In 1872, more than five hundred thousand publications 

 of various kinds were sent out. The number largely increased 

 in 1873, corresponding with the growth of the Order. Franks 

 have never been used, under any circumstances. In 1872, 

 about two thousand five hundred dollars worth of postage 

 stamps were used, while the express charges aggregated 

 about one hundred dollars per month. 



Notwithstanding the great drain on its treasury, the Na 

 tional Grange&quot; is in excellent financial condition. So much 

 have its circumstances changed since the period of its early 

 struggles, when &quot; the forlorn hope &quot; traveled westward, that it 



