HOMESTEAD LAW.

By act of Congress of May 20, 1862, any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years, or has performed service in the army or navy, and is a citizen of the United States, or shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, and has never borne arms against the Government of the United Sates, or given aid and comfort to its enemies, shall, from and after the 1st of January, 1863, be entitled to enter a quarter section (160 acres) of unappropriated public land, upon which he or she may have already filed a pre-emption claim, or which is subject to pre-emption, at $1.25 per acre; or 80 acres of unappropriated lands, at $2.50 per acre. In order to make his or her title good to such lands, however, such person must make affidavit that such application is made for his or her exclusive use and benefit, and that said entry is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation, and not, either directly or indirectly, for the use or benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever; and upon filing the affidavit, and paying the sum of ten dollars to the register or receiver, such person shall be allowed to enter the land specified; but no certificate or patent is issued for the land until five years from the date of such entry, and the land must, during that time, be improved and not alienated (it can not be taken for debt).

At any time within two years after the expiration of said five

years, the person making the entry, or, in case of his or her death, his widow or heirs, may, on proof by two witnesses that he or she has cultivated or improved said land, has not alienated any part of it, and has borne true allegiance to the United States, be entitled to a patent, if at that time a citizen of the United States. In case of the abandonment of the lands by the person making the entry, for a period of more than six months at one time, they revert to the United States.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

CONSTITUTION OF THE INDIANA STATE GRANGE.

ARTICLE I.

This Grange shall be known and distinguished as the "INDIANA STATE GRANGE OF THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY," and in all its acts shall be subject to the Constitution of the National Grange.

ARTICLE II.

The members of the State Grange shall be Masters and Past Masters of the Subordinate Granges of the State.

ARTICLE III.

This Grange shall hold regular annual meetings on the fourth Tuesday in November, at such place as the Grange may by vote decide. Special meetings may be called by the Master and Secretary, by giving written notice to each Subordinate Grange thirty days preceding, or by a vote of the Grange at a regular meeting.

ARTICLE IV.

Thirteen members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE V.

It shall be the duty of the Master to open and preside at all meetings of the Grange, and in conjunction with the Secretary, call special meetings of the Grange.

ARTICLE VI.

The duties of the Lecturer shall be such as usually devolve upon that officer in a Subordinate Grange.

ARTICLE VII.

It shall be the duty of the Overseer to assist the Master in preserving order, and he shall preside over the Grange in the absence of the Master. In case of a vacancy of the office of Master he shall fill the same until the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE VIII.

It shall be the duty of the Steward to have the charge of the inner gate, and to preside over the Grange in the absence of the Master and Overseer.

ARTICLE IX.

The Assistant Steward shall assist the Steward in the performance of his duties.

ARTICLE X.

The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all the proceedings of the Grange; make out all necessary returns to the National Grange; keep the accounts of the Subordinate Granges

with the State Grange; receive and pay over to the Treasurer all moneys, and take a receipt for the same.

ARTICLE XI.

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys from the hands of the Secretary, giving his receipt for the same; to keep an accurate account thereof and pay them out on the order of the Master, with the consent of the Grange; he shall render a full account of his office at each annual meeting, and deliver to his successor in office all moneys, books, and papers pertaining to his office, and he shall give bonds in a sufficient amount to secure the money that may be placed in his hands, subject to the approval of the State Grange.

ARTICLE XII.

It shall be the duty of the Gate Keeper to see that the gates are properly guarded.

ARTICLE XIII.

All elections shall be by ballot, and a majority vote elects.

ARTICLE XIV.

All Committees, unless otherwise ordered, shall consist of three members, and shall be appointed as follows: two members by the Master and one by the Overseer.

ARTICLE XV.

At the regular annual meeting a Committee on Finance shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to audit all accounts previous to their being paid. To them shall be referred the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer for examination.