The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-25
ORIGIN OF THE ORDER OF RED MEN.
Lecture by c. G. Conley, Chief of Records, to
Braves and Palefaces Last Night.

Charles C. Conley, of Philadelphia, Pa, Grand
Chief of Records of the United States, delivered
a lecture to the members of the several tribes or
this city, last evening in their hall in Grifiths
Block. The lecture was public, and in addition
to the members there were present many ladies
and a number Of "palefaces," as those outside
the pale of the order are called. The lecturer
was introduced by Past Sachem Simeon Coy, of
Red Cloud Tribe
Mr.. Conley said that the poets assertion that
Mans inhumanity to man makes countless
thousands mourn" was doubtless true, but the
claim that he would put forth was that mans
humanity to man has made countless thousands
rejoice from the days Of Christ to the present
time. He then proceeded to give to Odd
fellowship the credit of having established
the first systematized benevolence among secret
societies, and then showed that the Improved
Order of Red Men, which, in 1888 adopted the
benevolent feature now common to most secret
societies, was older than Odd-felloWship and
was the oldest institution in our land except Ma
sonry. Beside this, il was the only one of the
older secret orders that originated in America,
and was not brought from OYER the sea-
He said that in 1771, at the capital Of the then
colony of Maryland, Annapolis, number of
men banded together and under the call of
sachem and sycamore, convened for certain
purposes. chiefly to resist the Entertainments of
the mother country. So successful were their
patriotic efforts that the first battalion Of the
Maryland line that fought through the Revolu-
ton was composed Of a majority of these Red
Men who kindled their council fires in
da noSa Circle .r in Annapolis ape thai. That they
cannot be contradicted For number of years
during those days OF the country's peril societies
OF Red Men banded together from patriotic mo-
tives. In Boston a band of men disguised as
Indians went aboard the tea-ships and threw
their cargoes overheard, rather than use it and
pay the odious stamp tax. Charleston, thai city
of earthquakes, had Eaen calling themselves Red
Men, banded together to do duty in their coun-
try's struggle. and in various cities of Pennsyl-
vania were found these societies of true citizens
In 1912 a number of the old members of these
old societies marched from Philadelphia in May
and garrisoned Fort Miffiin, and while there
kindled the council fires Of the Society of Red
Men, From 1872 to 1888 these societies did not
exist continuously, but, like some regiments
they held occasional reunions. In 1888 the So
ciety of Red Men attached the name of Improved
Order of Red Men, and adopted the beneficial
feature from 1884
This order exacts less and does more in the
cause of suffering humanity than any institution
in the land The dues paid in are for the sick and
distressed OF the order and no money is lavished
In display, is the case in other orders in pur
poses not beneficial. The word charity, as 1t ap
plies to this order, Is misunderstood, said the
lecturer The Red Men do not give charity, but
give justice and dues which have been paid into
the treasury, and not the miserable pittance of
a few dollars. And when brother shall take
downward step they bid him pause and turn back
to the true path again, for charity teaches lem
iency to a fallen brother.
He explained the three words of the order
freedom, friendship ard charity-and also said
that it differed from other secret orders in not
having the Bible to figure in the initiation.
Following the lecture an exemplifcation of the
work was given to the visiting Red Men, "pale-
face candidate being adopted" by the tribe.