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| HOME SCHEDULE OUR HISTORY GALLERY IN PRINT OFF THE FIELD | |
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WHAT IS A GRANGER? The Grange started in 1867 as a farmer's protest movement against powerful railroad companies that controlled everything from freight charges to schedules. The crusade roared across the country, gathering members and political clout. Within eight years of its founding there were 21,000 Granges across the United States with a total of 850,000 members. Among the organization's numerous accomplishments was the passage of state laws regulating railroad monopolies (known as Granger Laws) eventually leading to the Interstate Commerce act of 1887 and, three years later, the Sherman Antitrust Act. Oliver Kelley, a zealot for farmers' rights, founded the organization. While working as a government clerk for the Bureau of Agriculture, Kelley toured America and came away fueled by stories like that of the farmer whose only profit from his crop after freight charges was enough money to buy a pair of shoes. Kelley enlisted the help of a fellow employee and together they founded the Fraternal Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, the formal name for the organization that was to give farmers a united voice. The Grange fathers took their radical concept and embellished it with nostalgic romantic trappings popular at the period. For example, the organization is structured to symbolize old English farms known as granges. The Grange Hall represents the entire farm estate and the person who heads each chapter is known as the Worthy Master. Like the Masons, Grangers pursued a series of "degrees". There are seven Granger degrees, each involving a phase of moral instruction. Those who achieve them are able to participate in elaborate ceremonies. From a biblical standpoint, the Grange movement followed the book of Ruth the story of Ruth's fidelity to her widowed mother-in-law, and her humble gleaning of a wealthy man's fields expressed many of the ideals Grangers hold dear. Although bordering the anachronistic, the feminine touch is another reflection of the Grange's pioneering history the organization was one of the first in the country to admit women as full members. In fact, three positions in the Grange are for women only. These are named after figures from Roman mythology Flora, goddess of flowers; Pomona, goddess of fruits; and Ceres, goddess of agriculture. Women have played leading roles in Grange history, often using the organization to forward feminist causes. In Michigan, Mary Mayo, a state Grange leader in the 1870s pressed the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), to admit women. Another state Grange leader, Dora Stockman, launched her political career as a Granger. In 1938, while serving as a state representative, she helped draft the Michigan Hospital Service Bill to assure farm families, among others, medical coverage this program became Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan. The Rochester Grange, No. 257, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized with thirty-five members in March, 1874 with M.P. Newberry as its Master and Frank Thorpe, secretary. There were sixty members in 1877. For more information visit the website of the Michigan State Grange.
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