Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/848

 828 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

sentiment by the religious spirit." The church has not been more helpful in conserving family life, for in the Grange the whole family is interested. Every girl and boy over fifteen years may attain full membership. Woman is placed on an equal with man. Every delegate to every state Grange is a dual delegate, man and wife. The spirit of sacrifice and altruism is emphasized in many ways. It has been truly said of the Michigan Grange : "It consists not solely in trying to achieve things for the mate- rial benefit of its members, but its greatest power lies in the serv- ice it can be to the people of the whole state." This is confirmed by the legislation which it has secured, which does not so much affect the producer as the consumer; by the fact that the Michi- gan Grange has for six years carried on systematic "fresh-air work," giving two-week vacations every summer to hundreds of poor mothers and children of the congested cities.

But if the Grange had not accomplished anything more than to teach the farmers of America the value of co-operation, it would justify its existence. In this it has been signally success- ful. The Grange, doubtless, will ever exist and prosper, because it is based on right principles. It successfully combats the prob- lem of isolation. It satisfies the sixfold interests of human life. It avoids the sectarian and political questions whic,h might rift its unity. It includes the entire family.

The "farmers' institute" is indirectly the product of the Grange. As the farmers of the different communities met together to discuss affairs of common interest, it became custom- ary to send to the state agricultural schools for speakers on spe- cial topics. So frequent became these summons that the state universities established bureaus for the management of lecture trips, or institutes. Finally the expansion became so great that it became necessary to ask the state legislature for direct appro- priations for the maintenance of the lecture bureaus. Wisconsin appropriates annually for this purpose $15,000. Thirteen states are now making appropriations, and in many more organized work is being done under the direction of the state school. Nearly every state in the Union is holding farmers' institutes today. In other words, a university- extension movement has