THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 409 



various suggestions were offered by them respecting 

 the proposed organization. At length, Messrs. Kelley 

 and Ireland set to work to embody the results of these 

 deliberations, and on the evening of the 5th of August, 

 1867, compiled the first degree of the Order of Patrons 

 of Husbandry. 



On the 12th of August, Mr. Saunders left Washing- 

 ton for the West, on business for the Department of 

 Agriculture. He took with him the first degree of the 

 Order, and upon reaching St. Louis began his efforts to 

 establish it in the West. He was entirely successful, 

 and on the evening of December 4th, 1867, the National 

 Grange was established at Washington, at the residence 

 of Mr. Saunders. The following officers were elected : 



Master. WILLIAM SATJNDERS, of District of Columbia. 

 Lecturer. J. R. THOMPSON, of Vermont. 

 Overseer. ANSON BARTLETT, of Ohio. 

 Steward. WILLIAM MURI, of Pennsylvania. 

 Assistant Steward. A. S. Moss, of New York. 

 Chaplain. REV. A. B. GROSH, of Pennsylvania. 

 Treasurer. WILLIAM M. IRELAND, of Pennsylvania. 

 Secretary. O. H. KELLEY, of Minnesota. 

 Gate Keeper. EDWARD P. F ARRIS, of Illinois. 



Soon after this, a subordinate Grange was established 

 in Washington, together with a school of instruction 

 to test the efficiency of the ritual. This Grange num- 

 bered about sixty members. 



The first dispensation granted by the National 

 Grange was issued to a subordinate lodge at Harris- 

 burg, Pennsylvania ; the second was to a Grange at 

 Fredonia, New York ; the third to a Grange at Colum- 

 bus, Ohio ; and the fourth to a Grange at Chicago. 



In April, 1868, Mr. Kelley left Washington for the 

 purpose of establishing subordinate Granges throughout 



