Category: Grange Principle and Practice

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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Where do I find a Manual?

By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

Recently, there have been some questions regarding sources of information for meetings and rituals. The fundamental source is the Subordinate Grange Manual (SGM). So where do we find one of those?

First, a few words about the SGM. Technically, “Grange Manuals are sold only to Grange units themselves and are never sold to individuals. They must remain the property of the Grange and, as such, should always be accounted for by the Worthy Steward of said Grange.” While that’s true in principle, it is not so much so in practice. If you don’t tell anyone, I’ll share that one of my treasured possessions is an SGM published in 1908 that belonged to a relative. His name is written in the front, and many handwritten notes throughout the book. I guess the rules haven’t been strictly enforced for some time. I occasionally see them offered for sale on eBay.

The SGM contains much of the “ritual” used throughout the Grange: procedures for opening and closing a Grange Meeting, conferring the First Four Degrees, and installing officers. There’s even a Grange Burial Service. I recently had the distinct honor of conducting one!

We can think of the SGM as a procedure manual—the “how to” book focused on the ritualistic aspect of Grange meetings and events. There were some significant changes and additions made to the paperback SGM published it 2013. A few language updates were made, and a number of  “alternate” procedures and ceremonies were added. For example, this edition includes the Welcoming and Obligation Ceremony—streamlined paths to membership approved by National Grange. (Conferral of the Four Degrees is still highly recommended but not required for a new member to become “official” with voting rights, etc.)

Another SGM reality is that copies (pre-2013)can often be found lying around Grange Halls. These older copies remain useful because procedures have not altered significantly. Sometimes, the older editions are useful for their additional detail. For example, when I conducted that burial service, I used an older manual for its rich language and some additional information.

A Grange seeking copies of these older editions can try contacting:

• Neighboring Granges. Many will have more copies than they need, particularly if they’ve accumulated manuals from closed Granges.
• The local Grange Deputy. The deputy has contact with those neighboring Granges and is charged with assisting.
• A State Officer. The State Master/President would be a good place to start.

It might also be possible to find one on eBay or in a used bookstore, but looking “in-house” will likely be most efficient.

The most recent (2013) SGM will be a bit more challenging. Normally, it can be purchased from the National Grange Store, but as of this writing, it shows as “out of stock.” Hopefully, it’ll be available again soon!

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.

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

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Tradition — Resources or Restraint?

By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

Warning: I am joining a Sister Granger in her Facebook Rant. As a guest columnist, I think it’s permitted.

We have several Granges here in Maine that are shining examples of what the Grange can be. Ironically, they receive a fair amount of criticism. Accusations include statements like, “They are trying to change the Grange.” (Saying it like it’s a bad thing!) and “They are not ‘doing’ the Ritual and following proper Grange procedure..” I could go on. But, as my sister notes, she is “sick of hearing this [sort of comment] with no action behind it.” The expression that comes to mind is that we must walk the talk.

The Grange is replete with rich traditions. We need to stop using them as a restraint and figure out how to make them the resource they should be. If we took the time to understand Grange tradition fully, we might realize that creating excitement with new programs that benefits our communities and members is not “changing” the Grange. It is returning the Grange to its original passion and contributions to society. If we studied the early history of the Grange, we would discover that during its first few decades of explosive growth, it made several major changes to policy and practice.

Instead, we’re like a bunch of old hippies, trying to decide whether to “hang on to the old or grab on to the new.” No, that’s not right. We’re like a bunch of old Grangers, trying desperately to hang on to the old. In so doing, we’re actually rejecting what’s great about the Grange.

Another way of thinking about it is to ask ourselves if we are embracing the important traditions and keeping our priorities straight. I have often said and written that I don’t think our forefathers created the Grange so they could create Ritual and Degree Work. I think they created the Grange to cause positive change in rural communities and members. We need to see the irony of the resistance to change—and lack of support for it—in an organization that was meant to create it.

I think I smell tar heating and see feathers being gathered. Let me assure everyone that I deeply appreciate the Grange Tradition. I think the teachings of the Grange in the Ritual and Degree Work are amazing. Just yesterday, while I was weeding and replacing some “drowned” plants, I was reminded not to fight nature but to work with her.

How appropriate! Instead of fighting change, we need to at least work with it. We might be best served by embracing it, but for some, that’s apparently too much to ask.

I have two questions we should be asking and one suggestion for you. Whenever we encounter someone from another Grange we ought to ask:

1. What’s the most exciting thing your Grange has done recently?
2. Who is the most exciting person in your Grange?

It hopefully goes without saying that we should listen carefully to the answers. I suggest we visit or talk to some of the more exciting Granges—and maybe some other local organizations with a positive story to tell. Then we need to start writing our own story.

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.

When you don’t know what to say…

By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

“Give us patience and wisdom in our counsels as a body, that our work may be good and acceptable in Your sight, and that our labors may be blessed with a liberal harvest.”

(The Chaplain’s Prayer while opening a meeting..)

While preparing for our Grange’s Community Celebration, I found myself distracted more than once by the words used in the recommended “Open Meeting” format, also referred to as the “Subordinate/Community Grange Alternate Opening and Closing.” I found myself occasionally thinking of different words than the ones I was seeing. Given my interest in words, I wondered how precise we ought to be in the Ritual. Is there a noteworthy difference between “declaring” and “proclaiming?” We could have an interesting discussion about that. It is my understanding that the latest (2013) manual made some efforts at “updating” the language. Did they succeed?

I also found myself paying closer attention to the words of the Ritual. One of the downsides to any ritual is how easy it becomes to “perform” it somewhat automatically. That may be doubly true when we have memorized the words. I occasionally listen to a Granger speed through the language and am sorely tempted to interrupt. “What did you just say?”

For reasons I can’t fully explain, I paid closer attention to the Chaplain’s opening prayer than usual. In the included snippet, there are several interesting thoughts or questions.

“Give us patience…” I chuckled a bit because I found myself thinking we are sometimes too patient. Where’s the line between patience and apathy? Of course, that’s not exactly what the Chaplain is asking for and talking about. The key is found in the word “counsels,” which refers to advice. (Think of “legal counsel.”) So we need divine assistance with each other as we work together (“as a body”) as we develop advocacy. I suspect our forebears spent time in friendly, positive debate before formally writing resolutions—or considering whether or not to support them.

Notice also how often the word “labor” is used in both the opening and closing. The Master/President begins, “The hour of labor has arrived, and the work of another day demands our attention…”

Wait. Grange Meetings are work?! I think they’re supposed to be. Come back to the Chaplain’s Prayer. “… that our labors may be blessed with a liberal harvest.” So as we think about the words of the Ritual in general and specifically the Chaplain’s Prayer, there’s an important question to ask ourselves. “What’s this liberal harvest we’re supposed to gather?” We keep referring to the work and the harvest. What is it that we are trying to harvest?

“Give us patience and wisdom” as we consider the answer. We only need to open a copy of the “Declaration of Purposes,” the first general objective. “United by the strong and faithful tie of an agricultural fraternity, yet welcoming all of good moral character to membership, we mutually resolve to labor for the good of our Order, our country, and mankind.” And we get further guidance in the two specific objectives.

When filling the officer of Overseer, I am occasionally tempted to have a little fun. The Master asks, “Worthy Overseer, are the labors of the day complete?” I sometimes want to say, “Can we talk about that?” See, we didn’t gather together for fellowship and fun. We gathered together because “the work of another day” demanded our attention. Did we complete it? What can we expect to “harvest” as a result of this meeting?

Imagine walking to the garden along the same path and sitting there on a regular basis. Sing a song or two. Recite some poetry. If that’s all you do, what will you harvest in the fall? We are still an agricultural organization. We should know how this works.

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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.