Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-01-31
Speech Of Ely s. PARKER, Ese.

Al the Masonic Blrguel given III Chi
cago, in September last, Ely 5. Parker,
Esq, 0. thlS city, was present, and made
Il speech which Is thus spoken of in an
article written for the Masonic Journal
by : gentleman Of Maine:
O4e speech ot the evening, a. also an
incident attending Il. deserves more par
ticu.ar mention. Il was that O Brother
SIR knight Parker, a grandson of Red
Jacket, and his successor as chief of the
Six Nations. lie is 4 full blood chief,
bui highly educated. and an eloquent
speaker. l shah not auampt even an OUT
llue of his speech, for, IF reproduced, il
should be with lis charms ot action and
uuerance, which very few white men
could equal. Iie spoke Of himself as a.
most lone remnant Of Wnat was once a
noble race; ot LIs Struggles IN coming
forward 10 manhood, auJ seeing his race
disappearing as The dew before the morn
Ing sun. rs he found his race thus wa
uing away, he asked himself, where
shall 20 when the last of my race shall
have gone forever? Where shall find
hon and sympathy when our last coun-
cl. fire is rx:ingu.shed2 2 | sad, | viii
knock al the door OF Masonry, and see If
the white race viii recognize me, as they
had ms ancestors, when we were strong
and the white in7n weak. knocked a.
the door Of the D.ue Lodge, and found
brotherhood around lis altar. knelt be-
fore the grt al light IN the chapter, and
found cOmpauonship beneath the royal
arch. | entered the encampment, and
found valiant sir knights willing to shield
me there without regard 10 race or na-
lion I went further. | knelt at the
cross of nv Saviour, AMI found Christian
bro.herhoOl, the crowning charity of the
Masonic tie ! sn iuost happy 10 meet
YOU in the grand councils of this gather
lug. ana SIT with Won al lhis festive hoard
to share these greetings and hospitaliiies.
feel assured that when my glass IS run
out, and shall follow the footsteps Of my
departed race, Masonic sympathlrs VII
cluster round nay coffin, and drop IN my
lonely gaze the evergreen acacia, sweet
enble,l OF & better IN aetng. IL my race
shall disappear from this continent, | have
lh- c0usollng hope that our memory Will
not perish Il the deeds Of my ancestors
shall not live in story. Their memories re-
main IN The names Of yoar lakes aui nv
I crS. your towns and cities, and will call
( up memories otherwise forgotten.
/ Few eyes could Bold their tears as he
/ poured fOr.h, in VorG- ike these, the u
ieraoces Of a lutI heart. Silence for
( i'm. prevailed after lie s.t down, when
( he arose and SAID: - ! have omitted one
+ thing which ! ough; ,o have said. have
in my possession q memento which |
/ highly prize-I wear it neCr MY heart,
K Il came from n4v ancestors 10 me, as their
Successor IN olIice. L was present
from Washington 10 ny grandfather, Red
Jacket, when your nalIon was III lis m
fancy foI will be glad TO see and
handle II, AMI | should DO wrong were /
not to give you an opportunity As ne
spoke lhus he removed the wauPuln from
h.s neck, and drew from his bosom
large massive medal, in oval form, some
seven inches by i~e. ana il passed from
hand to haad along the tables. On one
side Of this medal was engraved, IN full
length, the figure Of two chiefs; Red
+ jacket in costume. presenting the pipe of
I peace. and Washington, with right hand
extended. as if ia the act Of receiving IL
% the o:her side were the Masonic en-
Items, with the date 1892, If my memory
4 IS C1rTeCl.