New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-06
The Rhetorical society

! He'd regular meeting on Tuesday evening AZ
| i.s Rooms In the Uuiversty--H0n. LuTKEa BRAoisH
| 10 the Chair
A paper va. read by Mr.. RURcIiAED, Of Oneida Co
upon the celebrated White Stone Of Oneida and the
History Of the Oreida Nation The Christian Oneidas
II sppesr, are nearly threeiOd more numerous than
their pagan foreahers their territory has never been
wres,ed rom them and they have never violated their
Trest!es with the Whites Their country has under
gone most wonderful changes and most Of them
migrated 70 Green Bay twenty thirty years since
The Missionaries have Introduced among them schools
religion and many tho advantages Of civilization.
There 10 lonely spot 10 the town Of stockbridge
continued Mr Z. near the eastern branch Of Oneida
Creek where the Dog Feast annually celebrated
Near II Is a rock Of white sienite which widely
celebrated being known 10 the Chippewss and some
other distant nations Csptves ssug Uttered there
and their bodies said devoured In savage tn
umph. space Of about was cleared around II
and maple grove afforded shade 10 the spectators who
witnessed the barbsrOus ceremonies The rock IL now
removed few feet from It's original spot and has been
built into a wall.
North Of this White stone on a BILL 10 one Of the
common boulders Of the region, which has BEEN fer
few years mistaken for the former Fragments Of the
two were exhibited On the hill at short distance
the distinct marks Of cornhed overero~n By for
tces at least two centuries old. There are sso
extensive psc's Of cemetery, containing great quaint
ties Of arrow heads as well as bones These accord
ipg 10 Indian traditions are the remains of the sns
Inhabitants Of the country extrpated by their snces
tors Near this spot large town Of the Oneidzs
which suddenly asssiled By the Alsonquins. and
saved from destruction only By the timely arrival
of their Mohawk allies.
The old Indian huts were long and narrow and
ally arranged four together in square in the middle
| Of which common hre. Many remains OF wes-
pOns found old sites of hAbstons, with surprs
ing numbers Of old French heads of iron Bones OF
the dead arc pOwed up IN great quantities ana cross
and other ornaments found in the possesslOn OF
| of the white people tnhaDit tlelr Ter
| rtOry.
A. the conclusion ofMr. BuRcHAADs paper, Mr. LosG
presented his promised Essay upon the Ancient Achi
lecture of America illustrated by some twenty LARGE
drawings. Mr.. Long stated that In the course Of HE
studies as an architect he had discovered evidences Of
origin which may lead 10 other important historical dis
coveries Having compared the different stages of ar
chtecurc TO the of rocksn the earth, he claimed
that the historic strata may be read with equal dis
tiDctoess and certainty and 10 the corresponding d.
visions Of primitive transition and secondary The
Nv ramd no considered the earliest architectural step
originating from grave by eDlarsng The structure
aud garded the monument as connecting In the MIND
this world and another-heoce tho pyramids became
places Of worship. or temples. Subsequently circum'
stances affected structure form and use OF tue pyra
mid which has become universal though under varied
forms and has been retained to the present day Tor Sc
| pulcbral aud religious purposes.
There Is no probability OF ancient mgfh'iohs from
the old 10 the Continent within the historic peri
| cd aud Mr. l.. assumed that America was peopled
during preceding tmes-that IS ia the early pyramdal
period With the aid of the designs, be- then present
ed the several forms of pyramids fouod in this Cont
| nent of which differ from any elsewhere. These
he attributed 10 the influence of homogeneous race,
| retaining the pyramid longer time. LOO years. be
asserted interviewed between the pyramids OF Gizsh
and the Theban Temple and 800 more to the cubicu-
lar structures of Phyl@ aud Elephsnta. The same
change 1. shown to have been taken up In America
though in different forms. The winged glOoe which
has been found 10 a muiated state over doorway IN
one American pyramid invented, he thinks by an
application Of the symbolic Ideas identical with those
| of Egypt and Nineveh
The cubiculsr colunnar feature In American archi-
destitute of the perfect and strict rules OF pro
portion which distinguish the Grecian, but sometimes
| approsohes IT, and In some instances very nearly
The latest form of American architecture that Of the
Teocal 10 the most perfect aud this Columbus assert
| cd to he unsurpassed by anything 10 spain.
Mr. Long closed with strong appeal In favor OF pros
ecutng investg atoms into the remains OF American
architecture and the expression OF hope that New
York may vet possess museum OF ancient monuments
The object Is worthy of scientific expedition under
the patronage of Historical Societies and the Gov
eminent of the Union.
ON motion the thanks of the Society were voted to
Messrs Burchard and Long and the meeting then ad
ourned