Category: History and Trivia

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

May I Incite you? (Part two)

This month’s column is a bit of an “op-ed.” My October column challenged the use of the word “Incite” in the installing officer’s charge to the Steward during officer installation.

I also confessed to being a wordsmith. Lynn Van Note of Parkman Grange sent this reply.

While meandering through the recent State Grange Bulletin, I happened upon your “Exploring Traditions” column.

I think the word “incite” was used deliberately:

During the 1800s, the word was used with the same general meaning it has today. For example, in the 1828 edition of the American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster, “incite” is defined as:

• “To move the mind to action by persuasion or motives presented; to stir up; to rouse; to spur on”.
• “To move to action by impulse or influence.“
• “To animate; to encourage. “

A notable example of its use in that era is in the context of the “Slave Bible” from the 1800s, which omitted passages that might “incite rebellion” or inspire liberation among enslaved people. This demonstrates that the word carried the connotation of encouraging significant, sometimes negative or rebellious, action, which is consistent with modern usage. 

Although the word has tended to go negative more recently, I think it had a more rousing, encouraging aspect — to incite the mind to the point of action, whether good or bad.(But, of course, Thomas Paine’s writings certainly did “incite” those damn colonists to rebellion.)

In replying, I noted that we really didn’t disagree, but the discussion does raise an interesting question. When we talk about “updating” the language of the Ritual, what guidelines do we follow? For example, in defense of Lynn’s point, changing the word “incite” might significantly change the meaning (and appropriateness) of the Ritual itself. How say you? Do we want the steward inciting people? Sometimes the question is more important than the answer. Questions mean we’re thinking, not just parroting the words we’ve been given.

We can surely agree, the Ritual gives us much to think about. I don’t know the word count for the installation of officers, but we’re discussing just one word of it. It’s tempting to adopt that perspective and flip a coin, but do we really want to subscribe to Ritual that’s based on the flip of a coin?

I hope it’s obvious this is a friendly, civil discussion. And I can’t resist noting it’s proof that people really do read the Bulletin!

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

Words and Symbols

“Friends, the Grange is a great fraternity, and the lessons of its ritual are expressed by the use of symbols drawn from the field, the farm and the farm home.”

Overseer to Candidates at the beginning of the First Degree

I recently completed a “Words for Thirds” presentation at five schools, with nearly 250 third graders. The presentation includes “a little bit” about the Grange and a lot about words and dictionaries. It all ties together by the integration of farmers, their tools, and words that apply to the Grange. One of our objectives is to introduce the word “steward” and get the kids thinking about taking good care of their tools, including the dictionary they are receiving.

The staves or staffs we use in Grange Ritual are incorporated, and the spud and pruning hook are tools that help us “weed out” things that don’t belong. The shepherd’s crook is a reminder that anyone can be a leader. The owl with his big, round eyes reminds us to keep our eyes open both for things that shouldn’t be and for opportunities to be a leader.

It’s an interesting challenge to get the kids to transfer the purpose of the staffs into non-farming life. Since I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, I’m aware of changes. The transfer challenge seems to have increased. In the past, when I asked for examples of “weeds” (things we don’t want in our classrooms) it didn’t take long to get to things like “trash on the floor” and “meanness.” In one memorable group this year, it didn’t come easy. Even the teachers were rolling their eyes when the kids started answering “weeds” and “bugs.” Finally, one of the teachers raised her hand, and when I called on her, she answered “unkindness.” That got us on track, and additional answers were more to the point. Since I believe in shared management when it comes to learning, I’ve figured out that in the future, when I attempt the transition, I’ll give a sample answer.

Later, when we’re working with the dictionaries, I’ll find a kid who’s helping a classmate find the assigned word. “Look!” I’ll shout. I might even grab the shepherd’s hook. “There’s someone being a leader by being helpful to someone else. Anybody can be a leader!”

But the exercise does raise some interesting questions and consideration about the use of “symbols” and the lessons they can offer. Or maybe the questions are about our ability to find and adapt those lessons.

Occasionally, we get thank-you notes from the kids. (Another observed change—a few years ago I would have reported that we always get thank-you notes from the kids.) In kid form, the notes often include drawings. I’m always pleased and a bit surprised when the drawings accurately represent the four staffs. I wonder if the artist remembers what they represent.

So, Patron of Husbandry, what are the four staffs? More importantly, what is the purpose of each, and what does it remind us of? There’s often conversation about adapting the ritual and symbolism to today’s society. It just might be more important for “society” to adapt some of the symbolism to our daily lives.

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

Should Stewards do that?

“To these you will furnish every facility, by referring them to the library, to improve their minds, and incite them to use every effort to attain the highest rank in their calling. It is also your duty to keep safely and in proper order the property of the Grange.”

Installing officer’s charge to the Steward
during the installation of officers

As a bit of a wordsmith, I might have found an “error” in the Installation of Officers Ritual. Do you see it? Since I can rarely resist a back story, I’ll explain that while working on our Book Exchange Program, I developed some curiosity about the existence of Grange Libraries. A search of the Ritual found only one use of the term “library.” It’s used in the installation of the Steward and is quoted above. It answered my first question. While there is no formal position of Grange Librarian, the Steward is responsible for all property of the Grange and would, therefore, be responsible for a Grange’s library.

But do we really want the Steward to “incite (members) to use every effort to attain the highest range of their calling?” In contemporary thinking, “incite ” refers to provoking or encouraging someone to act in a violent or negative way, while “excite ” means to stir up strong emotions or feelings, often positive ones like happiness or enthusiasm.

Picture this. During an officer installation, the installing officer is charging the Steward, who is listening carefully and critically. When the installing officer pauses for breath, the Steward interrupts.

“Let me get this straight. You said that I should incite members to use every effort to maintain the highest rank of their calling. Does that mean I should start a riot or encourage them to do something illegal or negative? I’m not sure we want to do that!

If I were there, I’d be very interested in the installing officer’s response, wouldn’t you? In fairness to our forebears, the word has not always had a negative connotation. Its core meaning was about spurring or rousing others to action that was not necessarily negative. However, the more recent context has given the word a negative feeling. So, it might not be the wrong word, but there are far better synonyms, such as inspire or encourage.

Wordsmiths tend to be meticulous, and I am willing to be held to that standard. But thinking about the Ritual and what we’re agreeing to isn’t such a bad thing.

It’s common to hear the observation that the Degrees and Installation are too long. While I understand the objection, I often wonder if they are long enough. Maybe not so much in time, but in depth. We are always anxious to fill vacancies. “Haste makes waste,” Henry David Thoreau warns us. As a traditionalist, I value the Ritual. I love the Ritual. When I slow down and think about it, I love it even more. I have occasionally wondered if we might benefit from an annotated ritual in the form of a book that more deeply explains (notice I didn’t say “incites”) and excites us as new members and as new officers. The Rich Ritual is not so much about how we march or when to stand as it is about the Grange Way of Life we are agreeing to and, in the case of officer positions, what we are responsible for doing. Those are actions, and much more important than words

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

How intelligent is this?

I’ve departed from my usual format for this column. I asked ChatGPT (an artificial intelligence platform) to write my column, giving it the topic of “Grange Ritual.” We had a short “conversation” to help it come up with an angle. It offered several suggestions.) I kept my input minimal to see how it would do using what it found on the Internet. What you think of AI aside, do you give the result a thumbs up or a thumbs down? Online readers can use the “Leave a comment” link to the left.

The Grange Ritual is more than words spoken at a meeting. It is a journey through the seasons of the year and the stages of life, reminding us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.

In spring, we are called to see life as new and full of promise. Just as the farmer prepares the soil and plants seeds in hope, we too are urged to cultivate faith, optimism, and a willingness to grow.

Summer represents strength and labor. The heat of the sun and the work of the fields remind us that progress is born of effort. It is a season of energy, responsibility, and perseverance—a time to give our best to the tasks before us.

With autumn comes maturity and reflection. The harvest teaches gratitude: what we reap is not only the result of our own labor, but also of the Creator’s gifts, the earth’s abundance, and the fellowship of those who labor with us.

Finally, winter invites rest and renewal. Far from being an end, it symbolizes the promise of continuation—of seeds waiting quietly for another spring. It reminds us to value memory, wisdom, and the quiet strength that sustains community across generations.

Even the simplest tools of the farm carry meaning in the Ritual. The plow, the hoe, the spade—all speak of honesty, patience, and diligence. They remind us that no labor is too humble when done with integrity and purpose.

Above all, the Ritual teaches interdependence. Just as a farm thrives when soil, sun, rain, and labor work together, so does a community flourish when its members share in fellowship, equality, and mutual support.

The Grange Ritual is not a relic of the past, but a living reminder: every season has purpose, every tool has meaning, and every life has value. It encourages us to sow kindness, labor with faith, and harvest hope—trusting that even in winter, spring is always on the way.

By the way, I did not edit this, just copied and pasted it. What do you think?

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The Kindle Edition of  “Friend of the Farmer” is available from Amazon, currently priced at $2.99.

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

Let’s Take a Class

If you’ve been following this column, you know that I’ve been “sort of” reading Charles Gardeners book Friend of the Farmer 1867-1947. I confess that it probably doesn’t qualify as a page turner, but it is a fascinating read.

In the past, I’ve raised a question about how we describe the action of new members and the degrees. Most of the current common language is quite passive. I often hear that new members should “take,” “get,” or “receive” the degrees. Of course, as a writer, I find that it feels incomplete and maybe an opportunity. Could the reader form a mental picture of a new member being handed something labeled “degrees” and then wondering where to put it and what to do with it. Wouldn’t that make a great editorial cartoon for a Grange publication? It might also lead to questions like, “Can I get the degrees online?”

That could lead to yet another discussion around the question of how engaged the candidates should be while “getting” the degrees. Are they available in the Grange Store? I can order my groceries online and pick them up without even getting out of the car. Is that possible with the Grange Degrees?

A few years ago, I made a plea for us to consider celebrating the degrees. They are worthy of celebration. But it seems that the founders (as is often the case) had an even more straightforward and accurate approach. According to Gardner’s book, they referred to the degrees as “classes.”

We could certainly discuss whether the lessons offered in the degrees are taught effectively when we “do” the ritual. One of the reasons for these columns and my resulting book is to increase the effectiveness of the lessons of the degrees. Studying those lessons can be revealing and thought-provoking.

We can also consider the impact of the Grange Heirlooms. Created by the National Grange from the degree work and other sources, these snippets offer bits of wisdom that are no less applicable than they were 150+ years ago. In today’s vocabulary, these might be thought of as “micro learning.” I don’t think it would hurt us if the Grange became known as an organization based on learning and discovery.

It’s an interesting distinction. What would happen if we stopped telling new members, “You should get the degrees?” How about instead, “Just wait until you learn the degrees?”

Yes, there will be a test. Life gives it.

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The Kindle Edition of  “Friend of the Farmer” is available from Amazon, currently priced at $2.99.

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.