Patrons of Husbandry
History of the order
The National Grange of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry was founded in Washington, DC on December 4, 1867, by Oliver Hudson Kelley, a Mason and a clerk with the Federal Bureau of Agriculture, and six other men. Known as "the Farmer's Masonry," the order uses a seven-degree ritual system, with signs, passwords, grips, and regalia. Both men and women are admitted, 14 years of age or older as equal members, since Kelley was persuaded by his niece, Caroline Hall, to admit women into the order when it was first founded. The first lodge was Fredonia Grange No. 1 in Fredonia, NY. It was instrumental in passing the "Granger Laws" which put an end to various abuses by the railroad industry in the late 1800’s.
Degrees of the order
First Degree - Preparation
Second Degree - Culture
Third Degree - Harvest
Fourth Degree - Home
Fifth Degree - Pomona
sixth Degree - Flora
Seventh Degree - Ceres
Second Degree - Culture
Third Degree - Harvest
Fourth Degree - Home
Fifth Degree - Pomona
sixth Degree - Flora
Seventh Degree - Ceres