ACTION OF THE IOWA STATE GRANGE. 559 



benefits. In the Grange room we learn how to compare methods ; 

 we teach each other the best way of arriving at results. Measures 

 of both private and public interest receive that full and careful at 

 tention which is so much needed. Under the old system, each indi 

 vidual drew his knowledge and conclusions from his limited sphere 

 of thought and observation. Here a fund of thought and study is 

 brought into the common store, and ALL, according to their capacity, 

 receive the full measure of benefit. As one instance of the good 

 coming to us in this connection, it is estimated that among members 

 of the Order in our State, nine out of every ten cases of dispute 

 which, under the old system, would be litigated in the courts, are 

 settled in subordinate Grange by friendly and fraternal arbitration. 

 I do not suppose our friends of the legal profession will consider this 

 a creditable feature, but, on the whole, I think we shall be able to 

 stand it. 



There is no computing the amount of knowledge which this edu 

 cational feature of our work has brought to our members. The re 

 mark is made by business men outside the gate, &quot; How much more 

 the farmers know of business than they did two years ago.&quot; 



Questions of a public nature receive their full share of attention, 

 and our relations to each other, and to the government, are day by 

 day becoming better and more clearly understood. To women, these 

 two first phases of our work already have, and are destined to bring 

 rich blessings. Nowhere else does woman meet her brothers on 

 terms of absolute equality. Here her field of thought and action is 

 only limited by the measure of her capacity. She may enter into 

 the consideration of every question, and by her quick and fine intui 

 tive reasoning, stimulate and help forward her slower and more plod 

 ding brother. I have at times been deeply touched at the expres 

 sions of thankfulness coming from a full heart from women, who 

 fully appreciate the good which is coming to them through their 

 connection with the Order ; and I feel thankful to our founders, who 

 were wise enough to incorporate this feature in our fundamental 

 law. 



Finally, we come to the material, or business phase of our work. 

 One mistake sometimes made, is in supposing that the saving of 

 money in buying and selling is the chief aim of the order. Persons 

 who take this view of the objects and purposes of the Patrons, 

 utterly fail to comprehend the scope and genius of the institution. 



