Daily national Democrat., 1860-05-05
1aiIg Yatlonal 1rurotrat.
Masonic Speech of an Indian.

At a Masonic banquet given in Chicago,
Illinois. in September last, Ely S. Parker, a
.rief of the Six Nations, and practising
LAWYER of Galena, delivered a speech which
:. ,6us spoken of in an article published in
,be Masonic Journal;
nOne speech Of the evening, as also an in
.;3ent attending it, deserves more particular
''ontiop. 1t was that of Brother Sir Knight
Parker. Ia grandson Of Red Jacket, and his
',ocessor as Chief Of the Six Nations. lie is
fnl blood chief but highly educated, and
On eloouent speaker. | shall not attempt
"~en m outline of his speech, for, if repro
Jncpd it should be with its charms of action
ond utterance, which very few white men
Gould equal. lie spoke of himself as almost
lane remnant of what was once a noble
roce of his struggles in coming forward to
manhood, and seeing his race disappearing
as the dew before the morning sun. AS he
Gund his race thus waning away, he asked
himself "Where shall | go when the last of
nv race shall have gone forever? Where
sGall find bone and sympathy when our
lo.+ council fire is eXtinguishedI l said L
sr;Il knock at the door of Masonry, and see
# the whites will recognize me, as they had
nv ancestors, when we were strong and the
white men weak. Knocked at the door of
,ha Blue Lodge and found brotherhood around
;ts altar. | knelt before the great light in
the chapter, and found companionship be-
Meath the royal arch. l entered the encamp-
ment and found valent sir knights willing TO
ahield me here without regard to race or ma
tion. | went further. knelt at the cross
Of my Savior, and found christian brother
hood the crowning charity Of the Masonic
tie. | am most happy to meet you in the
grapd council of this gathering, and sit with
You at this festive board to share these greet
ings and hospitalities. | feel assured that
when nv glass is run out, and | shall follow
the footsteps of my departed race Masonic
sympathies will cluster around my coffin, and
drop in my lonely grave the evergreen acca-
cia. sweet emblem of better meeting. If
nv race shall disappear from this continent,
| have the consong hope that our memory
will not perish If the deeds of my ancestors
shall not live in story, their memories remain
in the names of your lakes and rivers, your
towns and cities, and will call memories 9TH
erwise forgotten.
Few eyes could hold their tears as he
poured forth in words like these the utteran-
ces of full heart. Silence for a time pre-
vailed after he sat down, when he arose and
said al have in my possession memento
which highly prize-I wear it near my
heart 1t came from my ancestors to me, as
their successor in office. 1t was n present
from Washington to my grandfather, Red
Jacket, when your nation was in its infancy.
You will be glad to see and handle it, and |
would do wrong were l not to give you the
opportunity" AS he spoke thus, he removed
the wanpum from his neck, and drew from
bis bosom large massive medal, in oval
form, some seven inches by five, and it pass
ed from hand to hand along the tables. On
one side of this medal were engraved, in full
length the figures of two chiefs; Red Jacket
in costume, presenting the pipe of peace, and
Washington, with right hand extended, as
in the act of receiving it. On the other side
were the Masonic emblems, with the date,
1892, if my memory serves me CORRECTLY"