

62 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



country, was the organization of granges in Boston and New 

 York City composed almost entirely of grain-dealers and com- 

 mission men. The Boston Grange was organized by J. C. Abbot 

 of Iowa in August, 1873, and immediately drew forth a storm 

 of remonstrances from all parts of the country. Secretary 

 Kelley defended the organization at first, but Master Adams, 

 on request of the executive committee, decided to revoke the 

 dispensation because of the ineligibility of most of its members. 

 The Boston Grange took no notice of this action, and the Massa- 

 chusetts State Grange, which had just been organized, sustained 

 it in its position of insubordination. The matter was thoroughly 

 investigated by a committee at the seventh session of the 

 National Grange in February, 1874, the state grange was cen- 

 sured for its action, and the Boston Grange declared no longer 

 connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. 1 A year later the 

 charter of Manhattan Grange in New York City was similarly 

 revoked by the National Grange for ineligibility of members and 

 attempts to involve the order in partisan politics. 2 



By October 18, 1873, there were granges in every state in the 

 Union but five Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, 

 and Nevada and also in the territories of Dakota, Colorado, 

 and Washington. Before the end of the year, a grange was 

 organized in Maine and one in the territory of Montana, 

 making in all thirty-three states and four territories in which 

 the order had gained a foothold. At the beginning of the year 

 1873, 1362 granges had been established and at its close the 

 number had reached 10,029, being an increase of 8667 or over 

 six hundred per cent during the year. For the accomplishment 

 of this work of organization, in addition to the lecturer and 

 general deputies of the National Grange, 1294 state deputies 

 were supplied with outfits during the year. The number of 

 state granges was ten at the beginning of the year, but before 

 its close twenty-two additional state and territorial granges 



1 National Grange, Proceedings, vii. 20, 33, 73-76 (1874); Chicago Tribune, 

 August 29, 1873, p. i; August 22, 1873, p. 4; Cincinnati Semi-Weekly Gazette, 

 September 26, 1873, P- iJ Prairie Farmer, xliv. 339, 371 (October 25, November 

 22, 1873), x l v - 83 (March 14, 1874); Darrow, Patrons of Husbandry, 45. 



2 National Grange, Proceedings, viii. 104 (February, 1875). 



