The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-20

Masonic SPEECH Of AN INDIAN.-At Ma
sonic banquet given in Chicago, ILL.,, in Sep
TENDER last, Ely S. Parker, chief of Six Ma
tons, and a. practEing- Law yer of Galen, Ill,
delivered speech which ts thus sPOhen VI ial
an article published in the Masonic Review
Zone speech Of the evening was also an in
cident attaining it, deserves more particular
attention. 1t was that OF Brother Sir Knight
Parker, algrandson of Red Jacket, and his sue
cessor as chef Of the Six Nations. He is full
blooded chief, but highly educated, and an
eloquent speaker. ] shall not attempt even
an outline Of his speech, for, If reproduced, it
should be with its charms Of action and ut
terance which very few white men could
equal. He spoke Of himself as almost lone
remnant Of what was once noble race of his
struggles in coming forward to manhood, 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 1 find home and sym
pathy when our last council fire is extin-
guished
al said will knock at the door of Mason
ry, and see if the white race will recognize
me, as they had no ancestors when we were
strong and white men weak knocked at the
door of the blue Lodge and found brotherhood
| around its altar. | knelt before the great
light in the chapter, and found companionship
beneath the royal arch. l entered the en-
campment, and found valiant Sir Knights
wiling to shield me here without regard to
race or nation. | went further, l knelt at the
cross of my Saviour, and found Christian
brotherhood the crowning charity of the Ma
sonic tie. am most happy to meet you in
the grand councils of the gathering and sit
with you at this festive board to share these
greetings and inequalities. feel assured that
when my glass is run out and shall follow
the footsteps of my departed race Mosonic
sympathies will cluster round my coffin, and
drop in my lonely grave the evergreen acacia,
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, your towns
and cities, and will call up memories other
wise forgotten
Few eyes could hold their tears as he
poured forth in words like these the utterance
of a full heart. Silence for time prevailed
after be sat down. when he arose and said; - l
have in my possession memento which l
highly prize-wear it near my heart. N
came from my ancestors to me, as their sue
cessor in office. 1t was present from WASH
ington to my grandfather Red Jacket, when
your nation was in its infancy. You will be
clad TO see and handle it, and should do
wrong were not to give you the opportuni-
ty." As he spoke thus, he removed the
wampum from his neck, and drew from his
bosom large massive medal, in oval form,
some seven inches by five, and it passed FINN
hand to hand along the tables. On the side
of this medal were engraved, in full length,
the figures of two chiefs !; Red Jacket, in cos
tune, presenting the pipe of peace and Wash
ington, with right hand extended, as in the
act of receiving it. On the other side were
the Masonic emblems, with the date 1892, if
memory is correct"