THE GRANGE 159 



and earnest woman as state master. Every 

 delegate to every State Grange is a dual delegate 

 man and wife. The state master and his 

 wife are delegates to the National Grange. 

 Women serve on all committees in these gather- 

 ings, and a woman's voice is frequently heard in 

 debates. And not only the wife, but, as pre- 

 viously stated, the children above fourteen years 

 of age may attain full membership. A large 

 proportion of every healthy Grange consists of 

 young people, who have their share in the active 

 work. Thus it will be seen that the order con- 

 serves the family life. It is doubtful if any other 

 social institution in rural communities, not ex- 

 cepting the church, so completely interests the 

 entire family. 



The organization is also a conservator of 

 morals. While sectarian discussions are as 

 foreign to its purposes as is partisan politics, and 

 while it does not even pretend to take the place 

 of the church, it is built on a truly religious 

 foundation. Its ritual is permeated, in word 

 and in sentiment, by the religious spirit. Every 

 meeting opens and closes with prayer. Moral 

 character is constantly eulogized and glorified in 

 Grange esoteric literature. The membership 

 comes almost exclusively from that large class of 



