Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-11-23

AT Masonic banquet given in Chicago,
Illinois, in September last, Ely S. Parker,
a chief of the Six Nations, and practicing
lawyer Of Galcna, Illinois, delivered speech
which is thus spoken of in an article pub
lished in the Masonic ,.jow7ai =" One
speech Of the evening, as also ap incident
attending it, deserves more particular at
tention. 1t was that Brother Sir Knight
Parker, grandson OF Red Jacket, and his
successor as chief of the Six Nations. He
is full 5looded chief, but highly educated
and an eloquem speaker. shall not even
attempt an outline Of his speech, for, if re-
produced, it should be with its charms of
action and utterance, which very few white
men equal. He spoke of himself almost q
lone remnant of what was ono noble race !;
of his struggles ip coming forward 10 man.
hood. and seeing his race disappearing as
the dew before the morning sun. As he
found his race thus waning away, he asked
himself Where shall go when the last
of my race shall have gone forever? Where
shall find home and sympathy when our
last .council7fre is extinguished p
I" said will knock at the door of Ma
sonry, and see if the white race will recog-
nize me, as they had my ancestors, when
we were strong and the white men weak
i knocked at the door of the Blue Lodge
and found brotherhood around It's alter.
knelt before the great light in the chapter
J and found companionship beneath the roya
arch / entered the encamlsnsesif and found
valient sir knights willing to shield me here
without regard to race or nation. | went
further. knclt at the cross of my Saw
iour, and found Christian brotherhood, the
crowning charity of the Masonic tie. am
most happy to meet you in the grand coun.
ellis of the gathering, and to sit with you al
this festive board to share these greetings
and hospitalities. i feel assured that when
my glass is run out, and shall follow the
footsteps OF my departed race, Masonic
sympstbies will cluster around my coffin
and drop in my lonely grave the evergreen
acacia, sweet emblem of better meeting
If my race shall disappear from the cont
nent ! have the consoling hope chat oul
memory will not perish. If the deeds o
my ancestors shall not live in story, thei
memories remain in the names of your lake,
and rivers, your towns and cities, and vii
call up memories otherwise forgotten.
Few eyes could hold their tears as b,
poured forth in words like these the utter
ance of full heart. Silence for tim,
prevailed after he sat down, when he aross
and said -" l have in my possession {
memento which ! highly prize; wear il
near my heart. 1t came from my ancestor
to me as their successor in office. IT wa
a present from Washington TO my grand
father, Red Jacket, when your nation wa
in its infancy. You will be glad to see ant
handle it, and l should do wrong were
not to give you the opportunity. !" AS h,
spoke thus he removed the wampum from
: his neck, and drew from his bosom q larc
massive medal, in oval form, some sevel
: inches by i've, and it passed from hand I,
hand alcng the tables. On one side of ihi
medal were engraved, in full length, tn,
figures of two chiefs; Red Jacket, in cos
tune, presenting the pipe of peace, an,
> Washington with right hand extended a
in the act af receiving it. On the 0the
side were the Masonic cmblems, with tn,
date of 1892, if my memory is correct. F"