Semi Centennial History of the Patrons of Husbandry

hey began to consider a real organization. Although there were but four of them in the city?Kelley, Ireland, Trimble and Saunders?who had been conferring about the Order, they considered that they could at least have the satisfaction of telling correspondents that the Order had been established. And, as Mr. Kelley said, "being a secret society, we could be excused for keeping our numbers to ourselves." The meetings are said to have been "decidedly informal" ; in fact, for some time seem to have been no more than the former gatherings for an evening smoke and chat over prospects and plans. From time to time they had mentioned their project to several others? among them J. R. Thompson, a clerk in the Treasury Department, said to be one of the first to whom Mr. Kelley mentioned his idea of the Order. (A. B. Grosh, "Mentor.") Mr. Thompson seems, however, to have had little active participation in the plans until the first formal session. The first meeting at which formal business was transacted was held at the office of William Saunders in the Gardener's Lodge, November 15, 1867, "for the purpose of organizing an Order of Agriculture in the United States." According to their previous plan Mr. Ireland was called to the chair, Mr. Kelley was chosen secretary, and Mr. Saunders appointed a committee toprepare a preamble setting forth the "objects for which" the Order was established." A formal report of the work done since August 5 was made by Mr. Kelley, and ...