ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES 99 



than a dozen years. To the original founder 

 of this great federation is further due the in- 

 troduction and popularization in Belgium of 

 Raiffeisen agricultural credit banks, of which 

 there are close on 200, with about 10,000 mem- 

 bers, in direct connection with the Boerenbond 

 alone. 



Other of the leading federations, conducted 

 on similar lines, were started in an equally 

 unpretending fashion by parish priests, sup- 

 ported by the more influential residents in 

 " particular districts, two of the essential prin- 

 ciples of the whole movement being thus 

 succinctly laid down in a report presented by 

 M. l'Abbe Berger at a conference held at Nivelles 

 in 1899:— 



In the founding of agricultural associations it is 

 prudent to begin with parochial societies which will 

 federate with one another when there is a certain number 

 of them. 



It is wise to accord complete self-government to local 

 associations, which should find in the central organization 

 only a guide and counsellor, and not a tyrannical power 

 which will cripple them, and deprive them of all origi- 

 nality and initiative. 



As already indicated, the movement received 

 the earnest support and encouragement of the 

 Belgian Government, which had, in fact, already 

 laid some of the foundations. Coming into 



