COLLAPSE OF THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 73 



Into lives thus circumscribed the Grange came as 

 a liberalizing and uplifting influence. Its admis- 

 sion of women into the order on the same terms 

 as men made it a real community servant and gave 

 both women and men a new sense of the dignity of 

 woman. More important perhaps than any change 

 in theories concerning womankind, it afforded an 

 opportunity for men and women to work and play 

 together, apparently much to the satisfaction and 

 enjoyment of both sexes. Not only in Grange 

 meetings, which came at least once a month and 

 often more frequently, but also in Grange picnics 

 and festivals the farmers and their wives and chil- 

 dren came together for joyous human intercourse. 

 Such frequent meetings were bound to work a 

 change of heart. Much of man's self-respect arises 

 from the esteem of others, and the desire to keep 

 that esteem is certainly a powerful agent in social 

 welfare. It was reported that in many communi- 

 ties the advent of the Grange created a marked im- 

 provement in the dress and manners of the mem- 

 bers. Crabbed men came out of their shells and 

 grew genial; disheartened women became cheerful; 

 repressed children delighted in the chance to play 

 with other boys and girls of their own age. 



The ritual of the Grange, inculcating lessons of 



