The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-15
/. o. R. NJ.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GREAT
COUNCIL OF THE UNITED
STATES.
ORIGIN OF TIE ORDER.
A LARGE DELEGATION PRESENT.
Address of Welcome and Response
Regular Business OF the Session.

The Improved Order Of Red Men is
| founded upon the customs, usages, and ira
ditions of the aborigines, and is, as Its name
indicates; purely American, dating its his
| tory prior to the early days of the reyolu-
tlon of 1776, and having its full birth amoHg
the patriotic soldiers of Fort Miffln, on the
Delaware river. It Is the oldest protective
and benevolent society Of American growth.
| It Is secret in the sense that secrecy is right
and proper In those things which concern the
sriyste Interests OF q common family. Its en-
blems are drawn from nature alone. and are
symbolized in every scene upon which the
eye may rest when contemplating the won.
drous works of the Great Spirit, whose
power and all perVading presence mast be
ack nowledged and confessed by all who
seek to penetrate the sacred mysteries OF the
Order. It's forms, ceremonies, and lectures
are attractive, interesting, and Instructive.
The su coordinate branches, or primary as-
semblies Of the Order, are denominated
Tribes, and the supreme body In State is
known BY the title of Great Council.
In the formation of Tribe, the first step
Is to secure to a petition the names of sufti.
oient number of men of good moral charac-
ter of the age of twenty-one and upward
who believe in the existence of Supreme
Being. l..... J..
A few minutes after A. NJ. yesterday the
Great Council Of the United States, lm.
proved Order of Red Men, assembled in the
wigwam Of Pocahontas Tribe, on the corner
OF Main and Eleventh streets.
DECORATIONS, ETC.
The hall had been handsomely decorated
with evergreens and presented very neat
and tasty appearance. A large number of
desks and chairs had been procured and were
| arranged for the body. and everything else
done by the Order in this city to accommo-
date their visitors in the very best manner.
The personnel of the members of the
Great Council is quite noticeable, and son e
of them are distinguished in the political
arena of their different States. A finer look.
ing set of gentlemen we have seldom seen
together.
At the
SOUND OF THE ToMARAWK
the assembly was called to order, but before
proceeding to business, Past Great Inco-
honee James 2. Riley, of Winchester, Va,
on the part Of the Great Council of the State
of Virginia, delivered in an admirable man
ner the following .-s--
ADDRESS OF WELCOME:
Great Chiefs and Representatives OF the
Great Council of the United States,-On be-
Half Of the Great Council of Virginia ten
| der you cordial welcome TO our hunting.
grounds. Your assembling in our midst is
an honor long anticipated, but never before
enjoyed by our Order In this jurisdiction.
Our own great representatives, in the dis
charge of their official duties, have year after
year been the recipients of high honors and
| innumerable courtesies at the hands of the
| several Jurisdictions which they have visited
and now we in turn desire to reciprocate in
some degree at least by extending to each
and all OF you heart ySwelcome and such
courtesies as are possible. l would that our
| wampum belt was as able to furnish, as our
hearts are to suggest, the means Of your en-.
| tertainment; we would then feel assured
that you would return TO your respective
| hunting. grounds with some true conception
| of Virginia hospitality"; but you must
| tuke the will for the deed.
We trust that your session may be harmo-
nious, and that its work muy rebound to the
credit of the Order at large. If you have
any wants not yet supplied please notify US
of them, and they shall be attended to. Aud
now, Great Incohonee, surrender this sumE
to you with the full assurance that when our
representatives return TO us they will do sc
with renewed confidence in the success o
our great work, and trust that when each
of you return to your respective hunting
grounds, in the quiet Of your own wigWams
you will feel renewed love towards the Red
Men OF Virginia and kindly remembrance
towards all our people.
THE RESPONSE.
At the conclusion of Past Great Incohonee
Riley's address, Great Incohonee Lindsay, oil
Mary land. assumed the stump, and replied
as follows:
Great Chiefs and Brothers of the Great
Council Of the State of Virginia,-I regret
| that it is not the lot of one better able than
my self to reply to the very warm reception
given us as mem bers Of the Great Council OIL
the United States but | do not think
fwould be worthy of the position which
now hold did not make an effort to return
the thanks OF the representatives to our bre'
thren of Virginia.
For many great suns has this Great Cou1.
| Gil of the United States been assembling In
the different hunting grounds to legislate for
| the welfare of our Order, and often have we
been welcomed By warm hearts and extend
| ed hands, but on this occasion the reception
given by this jurisdiction has been such that
that portion of our motto, Friendship
| has been fulfilled to the very letter.
And hope that our session 10 ibis city
may be of such character, and that our ell
| forts for the promotion of our good Work
may be such, as to give new life anu energy
| to our brethren OF Virginia. -.
! Sir, allow me TO return the thanks OF The
| Great Council Of the United States here as
| sembled for these warm manifestations on
! the part of the brethreA of Virginia.
| Tho q root Ippohonpp then called the Great
Council to order, and ..................
| THE COUNCIL FIRE WAS KINDLBD
in due form, with the following Great Chiefs
on their respective stumps:
G, l. George w. Lindsay, of Maryland ;
G. S. S. M. Fl. Gorham, of Pennsylvania
q. j. S. James P. Riley, pro tenn, of Win.
chester. Va. Great Prophet PaXson Coates,
| of Ohio; G. c. of r. Joshua Maris, of Del
aware: G. K. of W. Joseph Pyle. OF Della.
| ware G, Tocokon, John Dumbell; 6. M.
| Christian S!eble, of West Va. .
coMmlTTEE ON CREDENTIALS.
The Great Incohonee then appointed the
following Committee on Credentials John
Rehman. of PENNSYLVANIA; W. F. Metchum
Of Tennessee; B. f. Crobbs, Of Washing
ton, D. G.
when the following representatives and
mast great sachems were admitted, and re-
Eeeiyed the Great Council Degree:
is1@Dela ware: D. r. .Heisler. :,
Maryland W. F. Giles, Il. 4. Maxwell
P. Il. s. Y - M
North Caroline: W. P. Mellon, w. r
IWentzel. Fl. L. Clone.
New York j. r. Bentley, George Mill
" 49, =
New Hampshire: Benjamin Lakey.
illinois: a. G. Jansenn, j. +. Lacy, .. 4
Thcmis. ;,