THE ORGANIZATION OF RURAL INTERESTS 553 



general objects, we hereby unanimously make this Declaration 

 of Purposes of the Patrons of Husbandry : 



GENERAL OBJECTS 



1. United by the strong and faithful tie of Agriculture, we 

 mutually resolve to labor for the good of our Order, our country 

 and mankind. 



2. We heartily endorse the motto "In essentials, unity; in 

 non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity." 



SPECIFIC OBJECTS 



3. We shall endeavor to advance our cause by laboring to 

 accomplish the following objects: 



To develop a better and higher manhood and womanhood 

 among ourselves; to enhance the comforts and attractions of 

 our homes, and strengthen our attachments to our pursuits ; to 

 foster mutual understanding and cooperation; to maintain in- 

 violate our laws, and to emulate each other in labor, to hasten 

 the good time coming; to reduce our expenses, both individual 

 and corporate ; to buy less and produce more, in order to make 

 our farms self-sustaining; to diversify our crops and crop no 

 more than we can cultivate; to condense the weight of our ex- 

 ports, selling less in the bushel and more on hoof and in fleece ; 

 less in lint, and more in warp and woof ; to systematize our work 

 and calculate intelligently on probabilities; to discountenance 

 the credit system, the mortgage system, the fashion system, and 

 every other system tending to prodigality and bankruptcy. 



We propose meeting together, talking together, working to- 

 gether, buying together, selling together, and, in general, act- 

 ing together for our mutual protection and advancement, as oc- 

 casion may require. We shall avoid litigation as much as pos- 

 sible by arbitration in the Grange. We shall constantly strive 

 to secure entire harmony, good will, vital brotherhood among 

 ourselves, and to make our Order perpetual. We shall earnestly 

 endeavor to suppress personal, local, sectional and national prej- 

 udices, all unhealthy rivalry, all solfish ambition. Faithful 

 adherence to these principles will, insure our mental, moral, so- 

 cial and material advancement. 



