COUNTRY LIFE ORGANIZATIONS 229 



become leaders in country life organizations when they go 

 out to live the life of good citizens of the open country. 



The Grange. One of the oldest and best rural life or- 

 ganizations in this country is the Grange, or the Order of 

 Patrons of Husbandry. The idea and plan of this organiza- 

 tion originated in the mind of Olfver H. Kelley, a Minnesota 

 farmer, in 1867, while on a trip through the southern states, 

 lie had been sent by President Johnson to see what might 

 be done to rebuild the devastated agriculture of that region. 

 On his return to Washington, the organization was formed, 

 and from that day to this the Patrons of Husbandry have 

 extended their organization and good service to rural life 

 into almost every state in the Union, having a membership 

 at present of nearly a million men, women and young people. 



The purpose of the organization is to promote the inter- 

 ests of agriculture in every legitimate and possible way, 

 educationally, legislatively, cooperatively, and socially, with 

 a view to developing a better manhood and womanhood on 

 American farms. 



The Grange has been an important factor in the estab- 

 lishment of agricultural colleges, high schools, and instruc- 

 tion in agriculture in elementary schools. Kural mail deliv- 

 ery, the parcel post, the patent-free sewing machine, the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission, the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, pure food laws, better tax laws, and 

 scores of other measures of state and national value to agri- 

 culture and country life, are the products of active Grange 

 advocacy. 



It is a secret organization, and has its national, state and 



