The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-04-08
Masonic speech by an Indian.

At Masonic banquet given in Chicago
u ILL.,, In September last, Ely s. Parker, chic
! of the Six Nations, and practicing lawye
OF Galena, H., delivered speech which il
j thus spoken of in an article published in tn,
Masonic Journal.
I "'One speech of the evening, as also an in
cideut attending it, deserves more particular
attention 1t was that of Brother Sir Knigh
Parker, grand son of Red Jacket, and his
successor of the Six Nations. He is a full
beeded chief, but highly educated, and an
eloquent speaker. shall not attempt even
an outline of his speech, for, if re- produced
! it should be with its charms of action and
utterance, which very few white men could
| equal. He spoke of himself as almost lone
remnant of what was once a noble race: OF
| his struggles in coming forward to mamie cd,
and seeing his race disappear as the dew be-
fore the morning sun. AS he found his race
I thus waning away, he asked himself, "Where
shall find home and sympathy when our
last counci-fre is extinguished 2"
!" said l will knock at the door of Ma
sorry and see if the white race will recog-
nize me, as they had cay ancestors, when we
were strong and the white men weak. /
knocked at the door of the Blue Lodge, and
l.
before the great light in the Chapter, and
found companionship beneath the royal arch
Ientered the encampment and found valient
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 brotherhood, the browning charity
of the Masonic tie. am most happy to
meet you in the grand councils of the gath
ering, and set 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 de-
parted race, Masonic sympathies will cluster
round my coffin and drop in nay lonely grave
the evergreen acacia, sweet emblem of
better meeting. If my race shall disappear
from the 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 otherwise forgotten"
Few eyes could bold their tears as he
poured forth in words like these the utterance
of full heart. Silence for time prevailed
after he sat down, when be arose and said
g / have in my possession memento which
highly prize; wear it next my heart. It
came from my ancestors to me as their sue
cessor in Office. It 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 oppor-
tunity." AS he spoke thus he removed the
wampum from his neck, and drew from his
bosom massive medal, in oval form, some
seven inches by five, audit passed from hand
to hand along the tables. On one side of
this medal were engraved, in full length, the
figures of two chiefs-Red Jacket, in costume,
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
is correct