Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-07-03
sorIlIf.
Reei;ni>s-rn n-rs Of a daughter Of Eer
Samari tu>f.n Worcester y. D.

CHER0KEE E'TEsPERANCE SOCIETY.
"Reminiscences Of a daughter Of Fer.
Samaei tHsi.n Worcester R.D.
IfIrcmemberc9rrecilv he ''C her
ukee Temperance Society" WAS or
gan;zed in 1872, and il lived and
worked until the war came on,
causing all such good works TO
cease for the time, and driving the
Missionaries from the Nation.
Auxiliary societies were formed in
nearly, or quite all the different
Districts in the Nation, and meet
inss were held at least twice a year.
The annual meeting of the Ma
tional Society, was always held at
Talequah during the session Of the
Cherokee Council. CAS- was also,
the annual meeting Of the Cherokee
Bible Society," Meetings lhe sum-
mer Of every year were great occa-
sions. Bdrbecued meats we're pre-
pared on the grounds, stacks oi
bread and pies, were made ready
with any other good things that
could be carried, Long tables were
arranged under the trees, and the
whole crowd, often hundreds OF
people. were invited to dinner.
The best speakers were engaged
and music, the best 10 be obtained
At the different times, from fiddle
to brass band, the best in the ar
my those days, which the comman-
der OF this post was 50 kind as to
lend for I number of our temper
ance meetings, and singing from a
little boy eight or ten years Of age,
CDR. Worcester's son, who sang 4
solo with his own violin accOmpa-
niment, to the songs which were
sung by a choir Of nineteen soldiers,
made the old Riley Chapel ring
and echo again. SurelyGoso who
heard, and had any love for music,
could never forget the beautiful
harmony Of those well trained
voices. Often The scraphinc Was
packed IN lis box, which screwed
on 10 the pecan-wOOd springs Of
q two-wheeled rough and ready, "
served Is = seat where our father
took his place with one child by
his side. Then with two or three
Of his children on horseback, he
rould start to hold temperance
meetings IN other districts. Meet
ings of several hundred people
went on different occasions.
I remember enc meeting at Beat
ties Prairie, where over 200 signed
the pledge atone time We had al
so the Cherokee Cold Mater Army
of children under sixteen. Wag-
ons would 60 around and gather
up the children, sometimes with
a team of four mules. twenty-five
children in the wagon with banners
aying.singing and Shouting: ~COme
Join Our Temperance Army" Or
If We could not get the mules, the
old oxen must take US, when VIC
would start before daylight so as
to get to the place Of meeting in
time. On the 4th. Of July 1856,
(as the dear OLD Cherokee almanac
says 125 children marched in pro-
cession with their banners. In ad-
ditiOn to the larger banners before
used, were the new and beautiful
bannerets promised last year, and
now furnished to every child in
tie procession. The principle de-
vice on the banner is 4 boy and girl
stamping 4 rattlcsnake 10 death
with the motto: LET the monster
diei" The rattlesnakc is Of course
understood TO represent alcohol
(which biteth Ike Z serpent, and
stingeth Ike an adder" Three
years later, July 4th, 1853, 163 Int
tie soldiers Of the Cherokee Cold
Water Army marched together al
their meeting. But klasl it wa:
the last meeting. The Cherokee
Cold Water Army died then, and
has never been brought TO life, but
with the procession at that lasr
meeting, was seen the president o.
this Woman's Christian Temper.
anee Union.
The chances are that $1,000 cat
tie will be shipped from Springel
this season for the northern coum
try.-COlfar Co. (N. NJ .Stockman