Are you a Grange member? What is it like?

Assuming that farmers tend to be slightly more 'religious' it would than be obvious that those farmers would tend to be more interested in attending a Grange with them.

__________________
http://www.mofga.org/

http://www.mofga.org/Programs/FarmAp...2/Default.aspx

I have asked. The response I have gotten so far has mostly been vague myths.

She [Katherine] recounted that to join a person must be invited, to which I have instructed her that such is not the case. To join a person must ask, there is no invite. So far on three different conversations this same lady [Katherine] has brought it up, insisting that to join a masonic lodge a person must be invited, and each of those three times I have instructed her that such a myth is in error. There is no group of masons who goes around deciding who can or can not be masons, and inviting people to join. My Dw has also explained this to her as well.

The only other thing that Katherine has said specifically that she would not have any part of is prayer. It seems that she has sway over a few others in our town [who have been toying with the idea of re-forming our grange], as a group their biggest concern seems to be that they might be 'forced' to be in a room while someone recites a prayer. It would seem that such a 'ritual' would be very offensive to them.

__________________
http://www.mofga.org/

http://www.mofga.org/Programs/FarmAp...2/Default.aspx

I ment that farms in those olden days might have been put off by rituals more so than prayer. I myself wouldnt be purt off by prayer, but I dont think it would be needed at all if anyone number objected.

Speaking only for myself, I WOULD be put off by rituals of any kind, by ANY organization. But then I am not a joiner. Quit that after the service. I go to church, but thats the extent due to a religious bent I have. BUT, if the church I go to eventually closes, which it will du to only around a doz or so now go, all old nearly, I doubt if I go to another.

I thought someone else asked or was talking about grange members somewhere on this forum last year or the year before?

not that I remember, but then, Im near 64

I vaguely remember going to at least one Grange Hall in Wisconson. At that time it was mostly farmland (in particular dairy) once outside cities. It was a chance for kids to get to know kids they might not go to school with. Best I remember upstairs was a meeting hall, downstairs a largely open room with a kitchen at one end. In our area ploka (sp?) music was typically the norm. A bit of square dancing also. Local poliicians would be outside passing out cigars and nips from a bottle or two. A bit of horse/mule/cow trading might take place.

-When I was growing up, we were always going to Grange functions. The one thing I remember most as a kid was the donut fries. My Grandma, aunts, and other ladies of the Grange would fry donuts and sell them as fund raisers. That smell will always stay in my head. I remember cars would be lined up along the road and in the parking lot from people wanting to buy them. We went to the Nineveh Grange which was right between the village I grew up in and my Grandparent's farm. Unfortunately, probably about 6 years ago or so, the local Granges here dissolved. Up 'til that time, I was helping every year during fair week to serve breakfast at the Grange stand. At least it was taken over by the local 4H clubs. From what I remember, in our county there were probably at least 4 or 5 Grange halls. Here's where I went.



L8R,
Matt

Wow! Fascinating stuff! I have passed dozens of Grange halls in my lifetime and travels throughout the rural Midwest, but never knew what they were. Thanks all for sharing!

Hi,

I'm currently a Grange member. We are lucky in that the hall is right in town and was
part of an experimental "Community Grange" program. Because Granges were dying
all over the place, the state (or national?) Grange decided to experiment with a few
more "user friendly" Granges. In practice what that meant is they got rid of all the
ritual stuff. There still is a chaplain, and they do offer up a prayer at every business
meeting. It's pretty simple, and not insulting. And you can just stand there quietly if
you don't want to partake. They do have one little ritual they did keep. I can't remember
how it goes but it something to do with hearts doing good things, and hands helping out.

Our Grange has monthly pancake breakfasts, concerts, and "meet the candidates" nights.
They also let the 4H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and a local artists group meet at the
Grange. They occasionally have movie nights, and the hall, which was built in the
30s, is available for rentals. Lots of people have gotten married in the hall, they have
Eagle Court of Honors (Boy scouts), Quincineras (sp) and celebrations of life after
funerals.

Unfortunately, I believe that the state/national Grange decided that the program wasn't
successful, so no new community Granges are being started.

We consider ourselves lucky that the Grange hall is in town. Most of the Granges I've
seen are outside towns and almost all of them are shuttered.

-tonto