Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-24
Masonic Speech of an Indian.

alta masonic banquet given in Chicago,
III, once, Ely 5. Parker, a chief of the
Sioux Nations, and practising lawyer
OF Galena, H., delivered speech, which
Is thus spoken of in an article published
IN the Masonic Journal:
One speech of the evening, as also
| an incident attending it, deserves more
particular attsRtion. It was that of
Brother Sir Knieht Parker, a grandson
OF Red Jacket and his successor as chief,
but highly educated, and an eloquent
speaker. | shall not attempt even an
outline of his speech; for ifreproduced, it
should be with its charms of action and
utterance, which very few white men
could equal. He spoke OF hiukelf as al
nUst lone remnant of which was once
a noble race, Of his struggle in coming
forward to manhood, and seeing his race
i 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 ofmy race shall
have gone forever? Where shall fnd
home and sympathy when our last coun.
cil-fire is extinguishedt"
said 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. knocked at the door of the Blue
Lodge, and found brotherhood around
its altar. Iknei. before the great light
in the chapter, and found companionship
beneath the royal arch. I entered the
encampment and found valiant sir
knights willing to shield me here, with
out regard to race or nation. Invent fur
ther. l knelt at the cross of my Savior,
s and found Christian brotherhood, the
crowning charity of the Masonic 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 hospitalities. feel assur-
ed that when my glass is run out, and
shall follow the footsteps of my departed
race, masonic symphathies will cluster
around my coffin, and droptin my lontay
grave the evergreen acacia, sweet emblem
of better meeting. If my race shall
disappear from the continent, I have the
consoling hope that our memory viii
not perish 1t the deeds of my ances,
tors tors shsllpOt live s IL haissg story, their memo
aud river Sour towns and cities
will call up memories otherwise forgo,
temp
" Few eyes could hold their tears. az b
poured fourth in words like these tn
utterance of full heart. Silence for
time prevailed after he sat down when h
arose and said: 81 have in nv posse
sion memento which highly prize
l wear it near my. heart. 1t came fror
my ancestors to me as their successor
office. 1t was present from Washing
ton to my grandfather, Red JACKIE
when your nation was in its infancy. Yo
will be glad to see and handle it, and
should do wrong were l not to give yo
the opportunity" AS he spoke thus
removed the wampum from his neck, an
drew from his bosom a large massi,
"a medal, in oval form some seven inches b
five, and it passad from hand to har
along the tables. On one side of tn
medal were engraved, in full length, I'll
figures of two chiefs Red Jacket,
costume, presenting the pipe of peac
, and Washington with right hand exten
, ed as in the act of receiving it. On Il
other side were the masonic emblem
, with the date 1892, if my memory
correct"