ORGANIZATION 43 



immediately suggested changes which resulted in a complete 

 reorganization of the upper frame-work of the order. 



The arrangement then adopted, which has remained sub- 

 stantially in force ever since, embraced seven degrees, four to 

 be conferred by the subordinate grange, one by the state grange, 

 and the two highest by the National Grange. The four sub- 

 ordinate degrees for men were entitled; Laborer, Cultivator, 

 Harvester, and Husbandman; and the corresponding degrees 

 for women were; Maid, Shepherdess, Gleaner, and Matron. 

 The state grange was to confer the fifth degree, Pomona (Hope), 

 on masters and past-masters of subordinate granges, and their 

 wives if Matrons. The National Grange would confer the sixth 

 degree, Flora (Charity), on masters and past-masters of state 

 granges and their wives who had taken the fifth degree. Mem- 

 bers of the sixth degree would constitute the National Council 

 and after serving one year therein might take the seventh degree 

 and become members of the Senate, which body had control 

 of the secret work of the order. This degree, Demeter or Ceres 

 (Faith), embraced a number of new features introduced by 

 McDowell and was put forward as " a continuation of an ancient 

 Association once so flourishing in the East." 1 McDowell 

 accepted the position of supreme head of this degree with the 

 title of High Priest. Although there was considerable agitation 

 for the abolition of the higher degrees among the rank and file 

 of the Grangers when the organization was at the height of its 

 prosperity in the seventies, 2 all that was accomplished was a 

 series of changes which rendered these degrees accessible to all 

 Patrons in regular order; while the control of the order was 

 kept in the hands of representative delegate bodies. 



Immediately after the establishment of the National Grange, 

 the founders proceeded to organize a subordinate grange (Poto- 

 mac No. i) in Washington as a school of instruction. Its 

 membership was made up mainly of clerks in the post-office 

 department and their wives, but it served as a test of the ritual 



1 Kelley, Patrons of Husbandry, 64. 



2 Wisconsin State Grange, Bulletin, June, 1875; California Patron, November 

 15, 1876, p. 4. 



