174 SECOND ANNUAL MEETING. 



it effective. These parts, taken singly, are but weak and imperfect; 

 but when all are combined, they make a machine of wondrous power 

 and utility. When we become Patrons, we agree to relinquish many 

 individual rights we previously enjoyed, and bind ourselves to co 

 operate for certain purposes. These purposes are plainly prescribed, 

 and, to a great extent, the mode of accomplishing them is pointed 

 out. No Patron, no Grange, no Council under the arrangement 

 of our organic law has any right to adopt any plan for business 

 purposes, without first ascertaining whether such plan is in accord 

 with the general good of the Order. No one can be allowed to carry 

 out selfish views, and devise a system which, although advantageous 

 to themselves, may be injurious to other members or other parts of 

 the Order. Our strength lies in our united action, and in order to 

 carry out our objects there must be no jarring, no clash, no discord; 

 but all must work smoothly together, each must perform the duty 

 assigned to it. 



The general objects we have in view are so plain we need not 

 err therein, but, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, we should 

 keep step in our onward march, and be true to ourselves and to each 

 other. In order to accomplish this, it is absolutely necessary that 

 we must not only be united in our efforts, but we must adhere to 

 plans formed by those we have placed in position for that purpose. 

 If there are any who cannot do so, they are out of place. They may 

 be with us, but they are not of us; their presence, their voices, their 

 acts, are elements of weakness instead of strength, and we should 

 avail ourselves of the ample means which have been provided by our 

 laws to remove such from among us. 



A due regard is not always observed to our obligation to keep 

 secret the work of our Order; our business arrangements are often 

 divulged without any intention of wrong doing. Patrons give some 

 friend, or perhaps some member of their family, information as to 

 some of the advantages we derive from our connection with the 

 Order. This is wrong. Each one should always remember that they 

 are pledged to strict secrecy in regard to all information of every 

 kind they receive in the Grange. 



No one has any right to divulge to an outsider what occurs within 

 our gates not a word spoken or an act taken of any kind. The 

 business arrangements confided to us are not our own. They be 

 long to others, and we have no right, either morally or legally, to 

 use the property of others in such a way that the owners thereof may 

 be injured by our act. 



The Grangers Bank is an institution growing out of our necessities. 

 &quot;Without it we are destitute of an important auxiliary to carry out 

 the plans and purposes we have in contemplation in regard to stor 

 ing, shipping, and selling grain in the home and foreign markets, in 

 the arrangements contemplated for the future, for procuring direct 

 from manufacturers, on the most favorable terms, such articles as 

 were needed by Patrons. &quot;With it, we have financial facilities 

 afforded by which we can be assisted in the operation of our.agencies, 

 be aided in carrying our crops, and obtaining such money accom 

 modations as from time to time are almost indispensable, without 

 having to pay exorbitant rates of interest. Although a difference of 



