648 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



things is not recorded. However, he did not give up the work, 

 and later he became Worthy Master of the National Grange. 

 The order kept growing. At the sixth annual session, held at 

 Georgetown in January, 1873, there were delegates from eleven 

 states, and four women were present; 1074 Granges had been 

 organized during the year. The founders now gave up their offices, 

 not even reserving the right to vote, and delivered over the 

 results of six years' labor to their successors. For the first time, 

 the greatest of farmers' societies was in the hands of farmers ! 



The next two years were years of astounding growth a 

 growth almost unparalleled in the history of secret organizations, 

 and resembling that of the Know-Nothings twenty years before. 

 At the end of 1872 about 1300 Granges had been organized. 

 In the year 1873, 8668 more were added; and in 1874, 11,941, 

 making a total of almost 22,000, with an average membership of 

 40. Some idea of the magnitude of these figures may be gained 

 from the fact that the whole number of lodges of Masons and 

 Odd Fellows in the world is estimated at about 20,000, with an 

 average membership of 40. The Order was represented in every 

 state except Rhode Island (which has never found room for it). 

 It had been established in the Indian Territory, whence it ap- 

 pealed for help to the National Grange because the governor 

 of the Chickasaw nation looked on it with suspicion, and had 

 ordered all Grangers out of the Chickasaw country. It had 

 taken root in Canada, where, a few years later, there were 860 

 subordinate Granges. One deputy introduced it into England ; 

 others were laboring in France and Germany ; and inquiries and 

 invitations were coming even from Australia and Tasmania. 



Grange treasuries were overflowing. In 1873 and 1874 the 

 dues to the National Grange alone, according to the official state- 

 ment, amounted to $348,532.20. The press was discussing the 

 new order with alarm. Legislative committees were scurrying 

 about the country to see what could be done for the farmer. In 

 the words of the New York Nation, ' ' the farmer was the spoiled 

 child of our politics." The House of Representatives at Wash- 

 ington was overawed at the new power that was apparently rising 

 in politics, and those who claimed, for the most part falsely, to 



