THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE. 



77 



finally took shape and led to the introduction of the order into 

 the Western States. 



President Macune was fortunate in the selections for vice- 

 presidents in the different States ; also in securing the services 

 of Brother E. B. Warren, who made a most excellent secretary. 

 But above all, for the prosecution of such a work, he had the 

 assistance and hearty co-operation of Brother Ben Terrell, as 

 national lecturer. Brother Terrell labored incessantly, going 

 anywhere and everywhere that the judgment of the president 

 deemed necessary. Under such management, and with such 

 coadjutors, failure was impossible. The work of organization 

 spread rapidly. Further negotiations were held with the 

 National Wheel, looking toward consolidation, with good suc- 

 cess ; and Brother Terrell was sent to attend their national 

 meeting at McKenzie, Tennessee. Mutual explanations were 

 made, and it was decided to hold a meeting at the same time 

 and place, and try to consolidate. Meridian, Mississippi, was 

 the place selected. 



It would fill a volume to detail the immense amount of labor 

 performed by President Macune and his corps of assistants, in the 

 propagation of the principles of the order. Brother Macune saw 

 clearly the benefits arising from active, effective, and successful 

 work in the line of organization, and bent his whole energy to 

 further that end. He seems to have been the guiding and deci- 

 sive power, with every one willing and ready to assist. New 

 States were organized, business agencies were established,' and 

 the progress of the Alliance was without a parallel in history. 



Under such conditions, the time for the third annual session 

 of the Alliance drew near. The meeting at Shreveport was a 

 sort of getting together of the scattered forces of the Alliance 

 into one compact organization, with mutual understandings 

 between those who, though belonging to the same order, were 

 comparative strangers. The meeting held at Meridian was an / 

 attempt to further extend the field of operation, by consolidating 

 with an organization similar in character, aims, and purposes, 

 but made up of almost entire strangers. Under these circum- 

 stances, the more timid were reluctant to run any chances of 

 making a mistake. President Macune had looked over the 

 ground thoroughly, and carefully considered the matter in all 



