Category: Grange Principle and Practice

Report of Grange Services

Have you ever been to a Grange meeting where the Master/President didn’t skip the agenda item “Grange Services?” I can’t recall one. Once in a great while, someone gets curious as to what it’s supposed to include. So, after a little research, I have an answer!

As you might well expect, there’s a little history involved. A comparison of old manuals suggests it was at one time a “Report of Insurance or Business Agent.” A 1908 manual that was assigned to my great uncle list it as such. Since over the years, the Grange did provide services to farmers, one might rightfully conclude this is the place where the status of the services would be reported. By the way, my uncle often shared his displeasure with the Grange Insurance Program when one of his cows was killed by lightning. They didn’t pay the claim because it was an act of God. His argument that “God isn’t in the business of killing cows” did not prevail.

In my research, I’m told that there are still a few states that offer a form of Grange Insurance. (State insurance regulations often have created issues for these, but some remain out west. Here in Maine, Halcyon Grange has a silo and, I believe, participates in cooperative grain buying, Those Granges have something to report on.

But what about the rest of us? Are our community Granges not providing services?

Perhaps not in the historical sense but when we truly think about it, the Grange is all about service. Now it probably happens that many of those services are reported elsewhere during the meeting.

But before we drop this agenda item or tap the gavel and skip over it, let’s think about some of the services the Grange offers its members. Just change the word “services” to “benefits.” Perhaps during the Grange Services portion of the meeting, there could be a review of one member benefit offered at the national level. There is an entire section on the National Grange Website devoted to member benefits ranging from health-related to travel-related to shopping. Your membership chairperson could select one or two and review them briefly as a “report of Grange services.”

The Heirloom Program also qualifies as a Grange service. Every month we have the opportunity to be reminded of an important practice or principle of our Order.

Yet another opportunity exists in what might be called the “soft” benefits of being a member. I remember some years ago conducting a survey that asked people what they enjoyed most about the Grange. The answers were certainly rewarding. Some spoke of meeting new friends. Others enjoyed the opportunity to learn new skills such as leadership and public speaking. One person wrote that her parents met at the Grange and married as a result. She was thankful for the Grange because, without it, she wouldn’t be here!

Maybe it’s time to do that again—if not officially, at least locally. We could report how our Granges have served us. Who will step up and accept responsibility for a “Report of Grange Services?” I’m not sure it matters who it is, but this seems to fall naturally to a membership chair. It wouldn’t hurt us to devote some time thinking about the services/benefits we receive from being a member. And it definitely wouldn’t hurt for other people to start hearing about those services and benefits.

Once again, we prove the value of tradition and ritual. Let’s make this one work for us! When the master calls “Reports of Grange Services” and raises the gavel, who’ll jump up and respond, “I have something to report, Worthy Master!

(Special thanks to Phil Vonada, Amanda Brozana Rio, Steve Verrill, and Vicki Huff for their thoughts and contributions that will help us refocus on Grange Services.)

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 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.

Nature’s Lessons Are There for the Taking

“Brothers and Sisters, my tribute is the seed corn. Have FAITH. Faith in the spring of the year and the springtime of life. Even as little children have faith in their parents, so should we have faith in the Great Provider. We prepare our fields and plant the seed having faith in its resurrection.” (Ceres’ charge to the candidates in the Fourth Degree.)

“I need not prompt you to nurture HOPE. Hope is the heavenly light that gilds our labors. Were we deprived of that source of consolation, life would indeed be dreary. When you see the blossoms open in the early summer, hope is there for the luscious fruit. The labors of the Husbandman and Matron encourage hope at every turn. Let the fruit blossoms be to you an emblem of hope.” (Pomona’s charge to the candidates in the Fourth Degree.)

“Let the flowers be to you an emblem of CHARITY. In kind words and deeds dispense charity, as freely as flowers do their perfume, and as generously as they cover all God’s footstool. Beautiful and adorn your homes with flowers. The home that is thus made fragrant and cheerful is prepared to be the abode of sweeter affections and more radiant virtues.” (Flora’s charge to the candidates in the Fourth Degree.)

As spring of 2022 unfolds, these three charges seem to have a special meaning and application for “Husbandmen and Matrons.” Or, perhaps more accurately, for everyone. As I pondered these three chargers, I found myself thinking it would be interesting to have the words on signs or painted rocks placed in our yards.

Even if we do not plant them ourselves, we have faith that seeds will become plants. Faith is not far removed from hope. Spring is perhaps the season of hope. Seeds become plants. Many of those plants develop buds that become flowers. And many of those flowers become fruit. How many times does this simple miracle take place each spring? We’ve come to depend on those miracles. We should also appreciate them.

”Resurrection” is an interesting word that I suspect Ceres chose quite intentionally. It means “rising from the dead” or “restoring to life.” I suppose we could debate whether or not a seed is “alive,” but we plant them in the sure hope that life will result. How amazing it is that all of the instructions and fundamental parts necessary are contained in that little seed.

If a tiny seed can create such life, how much can we create and accomplish?

We can certainly dispense charity. Flora’s suggestion recognizes the miracles we can be if we dispense charity as “freely as flowers do their perfume.” When we make our homes more fragrant and cheerful, we also make the world more fragrant and cheerful—not only with flowers but with the charity evidenced by our kind words and deeds.

“A good Patron places faith in God, nurtures hope, dispenses charity, and is noted for fidelity.” This salutation is included in the Master’s charge to the candidates and drives home previous lessons.

“Let the agate be to you an emblem of FIDELITY. May your principles… be as firmly impressed as the lasting colors in the stone, and may our friendship be as firm as the stone itself.”

Whether you are working in the garden or simply gazing out the window, nature’s lessons are there for the taking. Have faith, nurture hope, dispense charity, and be noted for fidelity. A tiny seed contributes much to our world. You can do the same.

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 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.

Barn Raising

Most would probably agree that the “Grange Way of Life” includes a healthy dose of “helpfulness.” Historically, the Grange served as a way for farmers to help each other achieve things both politically and practically. Of course, we are no longer limited to farmers and, in a sense, the emphasis on community is ultimately evidence of the Granger’s desire to be helpful.

Indeed, one of the challenges we face as an organization is the change in the definition of community. In the earliest days of the Grange, the farmers often were the community. Our communities are often defined differently in today’s world.

An oft-cited example of “community” is Amish barn-raisings. Amish friends and neighbors come together to help build a barn. A very practical need is fulfilled in a manner that brings the Amish community together. The work combines socializing with a practical goal. The goal is often accomplished efficiently—often a significant portion of a large barn is built in a single day.

Recently, however, a barn-raising resulted in a near tragedy. In the typical post and beam construction, the walls of the barn are built on the ground and then pushed into place manually by all of the builders using various length poles. You can perhaps well imagine the amount of precision involved in achieving this raising of the massive and heavy walls into place. During one such raising, a momentary distraction by some caused a loss of momentum and the wall came crashing down. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The idea of a barn-raising is certainly a wonderful example of people coming together to help each other and the amazing possibilities created by a strong sense of community. But this accident is also an example of how easily and quickly it is possible to lose that unity and sense of purpose. I have no idea how many Amish it takes to raise a wall into place. But if some become distracted, lose sight of the goal, and stop contributing, there is a danger of failure instead of success.

I don’t know of any Granges that have raised barns. (But I’m willing to bet many Grange Halls were built by the members.) But we do take on projects that are about helping each other and are similar we combine socializing with getting the work done. Certainly, those projects involve planning and require leadership. (Most barn-raisings are planned and led by one or two Amish “engineers.”) When we are undertaking projects, we should be demonstrating the Grange Way of Life. When it’s time to “raise the walls,” we need to keep looking up and pushing.

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 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.

Grange Heirlooms

National Grange is kicking off a program called “Grange Heirlooms.” I recently realized I’d been referring to it as “Grange Heritage.” Since words interest me and I think they’re important, I couldn’t resist wondering about the mistake. For those interested, several dictionary definitions suggest an heirloom is a “thing,” handed down from previous generations. There are several connotations, including the idea that an heirloom stays within the same family for generations.

Anyone interested in farming and gardening is probably aware of a revived interest in heirloom seeds and plants. An heirloom variety or cultivar often exhibits distinctive characteristics such as superior flavor or color.

So the name of the program is wisely chosen. It’s an ambitious five-year program that will make it possible for every Grange to take just a few quick moments at one meeting each month to introduce a key lesson and reflect upon it – thereby passing on part of our heritage. (Maybe that’s why I got confused!) The words were written more than a century and a half ago, but they have much application and meaning to daily life today.

Words like “heirloom, heritage, tradition, and ritual” have more importance every day. Not only is the naming of this program on target, so is the timing. We need more than ever to become aware of the things in our life that do not change but offer us assurance and stability. Without that awareness, we can easily become the victims of the future instead of creating and contributing to it.

I remember a conversation a few years ago with a Granger who insisted her Grange was “not doing any ritual.” I assured her that was not true. My proof went something like this, “You may not be ‘doing’ THE ritual but I’ll bet many of you are parking in the same place every time and probably sitting in the same seats. The same person probably makes the coffee every time…”

We could, of course, explore the difference between ritual and habit. Habits have value with the obvious downside being we stop thinking. (We don’t have to decide where to park–unless someone “took our spot.” That can be very disconcerting to some. Humans like predictability.)

The Grange Heirloom Program will be an opportunity to create some predictability by tapping into our heritage and looking at some heirlooms. At least once a month we can revisit principles that have remained with us through generations of time. We won’t do it out of habit because we’ll think and reflect on one. How many times have you said, “A patron places faith in God, nurtures hope, dispenses charity, and is noted for fidelity.”

Most will realize that we say it twice during a Grange Meeting that is opened and closed “in form.” We accompany it with hand motions that help us remember. (See if you can do it sitting down without the motions.) While we’re thinking and reflecting on this “heirloom,” consider this question: “How many of those four things have you done today?” We are not just Grangers during a meeting, right?

Fifteen words make us think about what it means to be a Granger. Fifteen words that we could recite every morning. We have a lot of heirlooms in the Grange. It may be past time to explore them. The heirlooms haven’t disappeared, but we may have stopped looking at them and thinking about them.

In describing the Grange Heirloom Program, Amanda Brozana Rio said, “[The heirloom lessons of the Grange] are easily overshadowed by the business of the Grange and hampered when spoken by short attention spans and language that is beautiful but uncommon. New members often wait years to see or hear all of these words of wisdom. More seasoned members may recall the words but have not taken the time to think about them and apply them to daily life for some time.”

It’s time.

The first heirloom will be revealed in March. Are you ready?

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Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 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.

Climb into the Time Machine

Sometimes the idea of traveling back in time seems like a great idea, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t it be fun to travel back 106 years to attend the Installation Ceremonies held at Ocean View Grange? Before you say “Yes,” when Larry Bailey, current Master of Ocean View Grange, sent this photo, he commented, “It must have been very cold in January 1916.  These folks had stamina as there was little heat and no running water but in those days the indoor ‘outhouses’ we had were still functioning.”

Since Valley Grange had one of those until just a few years ago, I remembered a January meeting when one of our “old-time” members returned from a trip to the indoor outhouse rubbing her arms to get warm and saying, “Well, that was a trip down memory lane.” Maybe a trip isn’t such a bad idea.

Before we leave for another time, what was life like for our Grange Brothers and Sisters in 1916? For starters, only 8% of them had telephones, so they didn’t call each other to find out who was going. As Larry points out, there was no running water and probably not much heat. They probably had some hot coffee–it only cost $0.15 per pound–but they most likely pumped the water by hand and heated it on the woodstove.

It’s interesting to note that the scheduled start time was 8:00 pm, a bit late by today’s standards. A reasonable guess is that this was done to accommodate completing chores on the farm. There’s no mention of refreshments; people truly came for the installation and not the food.

They probably hadn’t watched the second-ever Rose Bowl on January 1st, but they may have talked about it before and after the ceremony. (Washington State beat Brown University 14-0.) According to at least one major newspaper, the biggest threats to America in 1916 were the number of unmarried men and women (17 million), an increase in divorces, a declining birth rate due to “birth restriction” by parents, an excessive infant life waste (due to illness and disease), a large number of “defectives” in schools and “increasing idiocy and insanity.” The next problem on the list was “Enormous number of drug and alcohol victims.” Are we really describing life 100 years ago?

We can guess it was a “younger crowd” making its way to the Grange Hall on that day than it might be today. The average life expectancy for men was 49 and for women 54. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know the average age of Grangers then versus now?

So after completing the farm chores, harnessing the horses or cranking their Model Ts, these Patrons arrived at the hall hoping someone got there early enough to start the wood stoves and put the coffee on. Our time machine has allowed us to join them. We arrived during a light snowfall and parked between the buggies and Model Ts unnoticed.

We feel a bit like guests and remain in the background even though we are, by definition, fraternal brothers and sisters. Conversation ceases as we find our seats in the upstairs hall. Then we hear the words, “We have met on this occasion to install the officers of this Grange; let us first invoke the blessing of God.” We are not startled by the three raps calling us to stand; we expected that. We notice it’s a bit difficult because we are still wearing our heavy winter coats as we listen to the Chaplain’s invocation. The installing master starts things in earnest with the familiar words, “Since God placed man on earth, agriculture has existed. There is no occupation that proceeds it, no order or association that can rank with the tillers of the soil….”

We notice that many in attendance are nodding their heads in agreement. They know that truth first hand. They are part of it, and it is part of them. We can hear the children downstairs playing. Some of those who have joined us upstairs pretend to smoke because they can see their breath until the hall warms up.

We are in is a strange time and yet not. We find comfort in hearing familiar words. “The Order of Patrons of Husbandry is the only association whose teachings accompany its members in their daily pursuits…” They are more than words. Our attention drifts to look around the room and consider how true that is for our brothers and sisters over 100 years ago. The tired looks and calloused hands offer us an explanation. The faint “earthy” smell is not objectionable. They brought the earth with them in much the same way the teachings accompany them as they work the earth.

Caught up in another time, we realize how well it all fits. We might just as easily have visited their farms and homes to experience the meaning of the Grange. Yet after a long day of work, they left the comfort of those homes and farms. The first to arrive saw a cold and dark Grange Hall. But they came not out of obligation. They came for a reason. They knew the hall would light up and warm not only from the crackling wood stoves and kerosene lamps but also from the Grange Ritual and teaching and the bond it creates.

Hopefully, on the return trip, we’ll consider how true it is for us 100 years later. Some of us want to stay in this time, perhaps because life seems simpler. How long would we need to stay before we realize that it is not simpler; it’s just different? Will our halls not be brighter and warmer thanks to the comforts we now have? What have we gained, and what have we lost?

Some of us are anxious to return to the present time where things are familiar and more comfortable.  We are grateful to our ancestors and our visit in time for the reality we experienced and shared with them. And we are more deeply committed to the Grange way of life with its teachings that accompany us not only through time but also, if we choose, to wherever and whenever we travel.

“The Order of Patrons of Husbandry is the only association whose teachings accompany its members in their daily pursuits…”

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Some resources used for this post:
https://dailygenius.com/facts-about-the-year-1916/
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/america-1916-what-happening-100-years
https://mashable.com/article/american-perils-1916 is the source of the biggest threats to America in 1916. It does an interesting comparison to 2016, one hundred years later

Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 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.