, 1863-01-24

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At Masonic banquet given in Chicago Ill, in
September last, Ely S. Parkert chief of the Six
Nations, and practising lawyer of Gaena, H.,
delivered speech which is thus spoken of in an
article published in the Masonic Journal. Zone
speech of the evening, as also incident attend
ing it, deserves more particular attention. Itwas
that of Brother Sir Knight Parker, grandson Of
Red Jacket, ard his successor of the Six Nations.
He is a full-beeded chief, but highly educated,
and an eloquent speaker. I shall not attempt
even an outline of his speech, for if Reproduced,
it should be without t charmes Of action IN utter
ance which very few white men could equal: He
spoke of himself as almost a lone remnant of
what was once noble race; of his struggles in
coming forward to manhood, and seeing his race
disappear as the dew before the morning sum-
As he found his race thus waning away, he asked
himself, "Where shall find home and sympathy
when our last council-fre is extingushed.'
az said I will knock at the door of Masonry
and see if the white race will recognize 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 its
altar. kEelt before the great light in the Chap.
ter, and found companionship beneath the royal
arch. entered the encampment and found val
liant sir knights willing to shield me here without
regard to race or nation. went further. knelt
at the cross of my Savior and found Christian
brothood, the growing charity of the Masonic tie
am most happy to meet you in the grand coun-
ellis of the gathering and sit with you at his sestiye
board to share these greetings and hospitali'es
feel assured that when my glass is run out, and
shall follow the footsteps of my departed race,
Masonic sympathies will cluster round my coffin
and drop in my lonely grave the evergreen acca-
cia, sweet emblem of better meeting If my
race shall disappear from the continent, have
the consolng hope that our memory will not per-
ish. 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 otherwise forgotten
Few eyes could hold their tears as he poured
forth in words like these the utterance of full
heart. Silence for a time prevailed after he sat
down, wi en- he arose and said II have in my
possession a memento which l highly prize, wear
next my heart 1t came from my ancestors to me
as their successor in office. 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 we're
not TO give you the opportunity" As be spoke
thus he removed the wampum from his neck, and
drew from his bosom large, massive medal, in
oval form, some seveInches By Ave, and itpassed
from hand to hand along the tables. On one
side of this medal were engraved in full length,
the figures of two chels-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 is correct.