Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-04-28
Indian Traditions.


THE tradition of the first landing of In
dians in the New World has been repeat.
cd to chosen braves over end over from
one generation to another, and to this dav
the Osages have what is supposed to be
nearly the original language of their an.
cestors. They claim that their progeni.
tors came in an ark or boat, and while in
the vessel the Great Spirit came and rested
upon one OF their number and told him to
select six Others TO assist him in governing
his nation; hence the origin of the seven
original bands of the tribe. The Shirt.
while In conversation with this iaVOrite
Une, directed him to communicate what
ever Instructions he received for his peo
pie through his chosen assistants, and to
this day the name of one upon whom the
Spirit rested signifies one rh0 talks acih
God. His lodge is a sanctuary for anv
criminal who may flee from Justice or
vengeance, ana he ranks with the highest
chief in the tribe. Before they came in
contact with white people they lived in
the enjoyment of peace and happiness,
but they are now realizing that white
people are as numerous as "leaves in the
forest, and that they only constitute
remnant of this once powerful and war
ike tribe, and are at the mercy of the
k
ward step by step into the waters of the
ocean. Their religion tends to give them
gloomy and melancholy cast of charac-
ter, and among other things they believe
that the spirit of the departed hovers in
anguish around them until scalp is
taken TO accompany it to the Indians last
resting-place, the great hunting ground,
where the spirit of slain enemy serves
him IN the most servile offices throughout
eternity For this purpose, though much
has been said and written about The civil
lzatlon OF the Osages, they yet organize
mourning parties ana go upon the war
path when otherwise they are peaceable,
Though at first thought it may strike
the minds of our readers as almost incredi-
Bile, there are Masons among Osares
They were probably admitted to the
secrets, rites and privileges ofthis ancient
institution by the French in early days,
they being the first whites with whom
they met They retain part of the work
ings of the craft tO this day, Col. j. M.
Hiatt, a licensed trader for the tribe at
this agency, who is gentleman of culture
and large experience, and an honored
member of the Commandery, when alone
on one occasion with more than ordi-
narlly Intelligent Usage, found upon strict
trial, though the Indian could not speak a
word Of our language, that he was a
Master Mason who prided himself in the
mysteries of the order.
Their SC. called medicine work., A
simply the performance of a religious
ceremony in which is introduced an the
forms derived from Masonry, tradition
and other sources. There are grades in
rank, or degrees, as in Masonry, and
the ceremonies or introduction and adj.
vancement to the higher degrees are as
elaborate and impressive as any in die
world.-Indtaa Dosage Ageac0 Herqh.
-" Who in the mischief has ordered
such boots as lbat2" casually asked a
young man of his shoemaker, pointing 70 !
a col ossal pair If No. o mud -smashers,
with inch soles and toes rounded OF like |
The bow of a Brooklyn ferry boat. |
. Themg Oh, them's for ALF. -; he |
said as he expected TO do some heavy |
kicking in day or two, he had 'em !
made purpose" The young man |
turned pale as he recognized the name OF |
his dulcinea's father, who had peremptor-
Ily ordered him off the front stoop a few
nights before.-A Y. Commercial,