Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-04-28
MASONIC sPEECH OF AN INDIAN.

At n Masonic banquent given in Chicago,
His, in September last, Ely S. Parker. chief
of the Six Nations, and practicing lawyer Of
Galcnn, Ills, delivered speech which is thus
spoken Of in an article published in the Ma
sonic J0uTnnL:
"One speech Of the evening, as,also an in
cident attending it, deserves more particular
mention. 1t was that of Brother Sir Knight
Parker, a grandson Of Red Jacket and his sue.
cessor as chief Of the Six Nations lie is a
full-blood chief. but highly educated, and an
eloquent speaker. ! shall not attempt even an
outline Of his speech, for, if reproduced, it
should he with its charms of action and utter
ance, which very few white men could equal.
He spoke Of himself as almost lone remnant
of what was once noble races of his struggles
in coming forward to manhood, and seeing his
race disappearing as the dew before the morn
ing sun. As he found his race thus waning
away, he asked himself, where shall go
when the last Of my race shall have gone for
ever? Where shall find home and sympathy
when our last council fire is cxtingushcd?
said. will knock at the door of Masonry, and
see if the white race vii! recognize me, as they
had my ancestors, when we were strong and
the white men weak. knocked mt the door
of the Blue Lodge. and found brotherhood
around its altar. knelt before the grca, light
in the chapter, and found companionShip he
meath the royal arch. entered the cncamp-
mcnt, and found valiant sir knights willing to
shield me here without regard to race or ma.
ton. | went further. knelt at the cross of
my Savior, and found Christian brotherhood,
the crowning charity of the Masonic tie.
am most happy to meet you in the grand coun-
ellis Of this gathering, and sit with you Mt this
festive board to share these greetings and hos
pitaities. | feel assured that when my glass
is run out, and shall follow the footsteps OF
my departed race, Masonic sympathics will
cluster round my coffin, and drop in my lonely
grave the evergreen accaciA, sweet emblem Of
better meeting. If my race shall disappear
from this continent, have the consoling 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, yonr towns and cities, and i'll call
up memories otherwise forgotten
"Fcw eyes could hold their tears as he pour.
ed forth, in words like these, the uttcrancc OF
full heart. Silence for time prevailed after
he sat down, when he arose and said: Il have
in my possession a memento which | highly
prizc-l wear it near my heart. 1t came from
my ancestors to me, rs their successor in Of
flee. 1t was 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 | should do wrong were
not to give you the opportunity As he spoke
thus, he removed the wampum from his neck,
and drew from his bosom large massive med
al, in oval iorm some seven inches by five
and it passed from hand to hand along the ta.
bcs. On one side of this medal were engrav.
cd, in full length, the figures of two chiefs
Red Jacket, in costume, presenting the pipe OF
peace, and Washington, with right hand ex.
tended, as in the act Of receiving it. On tht
other side were the Masonic emblems, with the
date 1892, if my memory is correct"