Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-11

Jury ago, as mere social ORDER, anu was
transplanted to America, where, in about
1919, ittook ON its present beautiful and
noble form and principles, and now has
its lodge in every part of the continent.
But behind all these periods of time
behind even the date when Miriam
nursed with sisterly love the tender Moses.
founder and deliverer of Israel-the Red
Man had founded his tribe, appointed his
chief, numbered his hunters and trained
his warriors. His lodge room was the
forest, and his doing of good works was
unto all his tribe.
Founded then upon these ancient data,
built up in these noble principles, the
Improved Order of Red Men rest for
their creed, and have added to the pre-
cepts and teachings of his great proto-
type, all the noble maxims and morals
which improved aud developed humanity
has given to the world. We employ the
imagery, names, types and symbols, taken
from Indian life and history, to enforce,
adorn and impress the lofty lessons of
virtue we teach. 'EWe are confraternity
for the PRONUNCIATION of principles of true
benevoleuee and. charity, and for the es-
tablishment of friendly bonds among
men. -
lis name is chosen as expressive in the
highest degree of its origin, and as pecu-
culiarly appropriate to a society, which
has history, co equal with the history
of the Aboriginees of the American con-
tinent. We receive within our wigwams,
all who are privileged to associate with
US in daily life, and counts among its
membership the natives of many climes,
and men speaking many tongues. It's
emblems are drawn from nature alone,
and are symbolizsd in every scene upon
which the eye may rest, when contem-
plating the wondrous works of the Great
Spirit whose power, goodness, and all
pervading presence, must be accepted and
believed, by ali who seek to penetrate the
sacred mysteries of our order. Red Men
administer you no oaths binding you to
any political or religious creed. They
bind neither your hands nor your feet, as
you enter their wigwam, 80 you depart a
free man. The political faith and reli-
gious belief of every one, is left unques-
toned.
''To worship God, the father of all
men; to hope for life in heaven, the re-
ward of good accomplished on earth; to
love our fellow-men and to do for them
all that we desire for ourselves; to respect
all FERNS by which men are pleased to
worship God; TO contest errors not with
iron nor with fire, but with truth; to
love our country and to devote ourselves
to its welfare even TO the sacrifice of our
lives; to watch with tender care over the
happiness of our families and to educate
our children in the sentiments of love,
humanity and patriotism; to instruct the
ignorant, to clo5he the naked, to nurse
the sick, TO furnish work to the strong,
and always and everywhere to proclaim
fraternity of all, the equality of all and
liberty for all.
The origin is--aS the name clearly in
dicates-purely American, dating its his
tory prior to the early days Of the revo-
luton, and having its full birth about the
year 1872, among the patriotic soldiers of
Fort Miffiin, on the Delaware river. 1t
is by far the Oldest protective and benevo-
lent society of American birth and growth.
IL 10 6~OhCb O44lJ Al liz EOIEsS LAGt DCLlCNJ
is right and proper in these matters which
concern the private interests of COM
mon family. Our great mottO-wOrds are,
Freedom, Friendship and Charity"
(Rerowned Order, page 278
We might dwell longer on the hi story
of the order, as traced by record evidence,
from the foundation of our order, in
1912, but deem such details as unealled
for at this time. We are now organized
in nearly all the States of the Union, and
we hold Grand Council, on which all
the Tribes scattered throughout the United
States, attend by Representatives and
Ambassadors, to consult for the common
good.
Two days in the calender of our early
Red Men were held sacred-the I'D of
February, the birth day of Washington,
was celebrated in festival, ID honor of
that great chief, who by his wonderful
wisdom, and his undaunteG patriotism,
gave US these great hunting grounds as
our free inheritance, where we might
kindle without hindrance cur council
fires, and smoke the calumet-the peaceS
pipe.
Another festal day held sacred by early
Red Men, is the 12Lh of May, dedicated
to Tammany; or as he is called, st. Tam
many, the patron saint of America. 1t
was day devoted to Joy and festivity.
| He was the Chief of the Delewares, and
| lived, probably, in the middle of the 18th
century, and was celebrated for his wis
dom and his goodness. He was the chief
4 e 81 H.,
| friend of the white man, snd often
restrained his warriors from deeds
| of violence. His rule was always
discreet, and he taught the arts of
peace. The young and old re-
paired TO his wigwam to hear him dis
course of wisdom. When he became of
age, he moved from what is now Dela-
| ware, and settled on the banks of the
Ohio His great motto was: "Unite in
peace for happiness, aud in war for de-
fense.n
1t is meet we should now bring odr
long talk to q close. You have before
you the principles and objects of the I'M
proved Order of Red Men. If you would
know more, then seek by the appointed
methods 10 enter the Red Mans wigwam,
and there learn what is unwrittep, and in
reverence for the Great Spirit, and with
love for your brother, learn and practice
all these noble virtues and principles,
which make happiness in this life, and
| give promise of rest, in the glorious
hunting grounds of the hereafter Lei
the beautiful and thoughtful language OF
our Great Incohome, cit may yet be the
mission of this organization to represent
solely great people, of whom it shall be
said, they were and are not. History
fails to reveal their certain origin. 1t
discloses their career; but their departure
will be well nigh unobserved, like the dew
of the morning, which is not found ere
the MONDAY sun reaches the zenith of
his glory. Your lsborsincenturies hence,
may stand as monuments to their fame
and your own usefulness, an evidence to
controvert their almost mythical existence.
And to the inhabitants of this country,
at no very distant grand SUI,
the language, symbols and emblems OF
our prototypes will be rare, or almos;
unknown. Then it will be, more than
ever, that our organization will present to
the greatest advantage its attractive .fes-
lures and popularity. A great forest of
usefulness lies open before US. The game
is abundant. Through the Providence of