Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-12-07

records, dates the beginning OF the orEanl2n-
ton at 1913. When the British fleet APP
peared III the Delaware river in 1Sl3 tho
Junior artillcrsts, formed Of young Phln-
delphians, volunteered to aid iii tho defense
Of their city They proceeded to Fort Mif
fin four miles below the city, and placed
themselves under the command of the senior
officer of the garrison. Among these young
men the society of Red Men came into exist
encc They bound themselves together for
social purposes TO relieve each other III case
of sickness and distress, and in the event of
battle soemnly pledged themselves Mt all
personal hazards firmly to adhere to each
other in defense Of our Country's cause"
Several years after the close of the war the
organization developed into a benevolent
society. under tho title Of the cred Men Of
Pennsylvania
The primitive inhabitants of the land, the
Indians. werc to the manor born" and
while they could suffer death they could not
he elsaved. Their inherent love Of liberty
placed them prominently in the foremost
rank of free mcn All Of these character
jstcs of the aborigine induced the young sol
dicrs TO style themselves the Society Of Red
Men.
Tine forms Of work, nomenclature and
parauhornalia were and are today strictly
title. In 1917 Francis Shallus, one Of tho
founders. Travelled under the euphonious
sobriquot Of Ycougheownnewogo which
translated means "Split Log" Another WAS
Ffeuucmmcu, or "Suiko Fire. Atchowot-
chec, or 'Black Hoof;" Turlatchee Mico, or
Bird Tail KlnG;" Watcheset or Sun Dali"
shinefutchoSee, Good Humor;" Manat-
cbcsa, jumping Surgeon Tookauhatchi-
worsee, Mad DOGS Son" and numerous
others.
The motto of tho society is expressed in the
little couplet which binds official documents.
1t is this
Freedoms motto
federation our aim,
Friendship orr watchword,
Red Men our name.
The order in the course of years spread
through the various states and took strong
hold upon the people, but, as now, the prin-
cipal strength was in the east. Subordinate
tribes sert past full degreed sachems as rep
resentatives to the state body and from
thence representatives were delegated to the
| great council of the United States, The head
of this latter body is known rs the great in
| cohonee, while the chief officer of a
| subordinate body is u sachem. The
| vice president is the great senior
sycamore, and the second the great
junior sycamore. The other officers arc the
great prophet the great keeper of wampum.
or treasurer; great tocaIon, or inside watch
man; great minerva, or outside Waterman,
while the remainder of the supreme body is
composed of great chiefs. Subordinate
bodies are differed in like manner, with the
omission of the prefix great"
Until 1865 the Jewish style, the year of the
world, was observed by Red Men in dating
their documents. In the year referred to tho
system was changed to the G. s. d., or Great
Sun of Discovery, being the year 1902, when
America was discovered. For convenience
1t was determined that the great sun should
commence on the first cold moon, so ms Ia
conform to the common era. The Red Men
calendar is otherwise peculiar. A minute is
"brcath:' an hour, rum day, a ''sun; y
seven suns, a week; month is termed n
''moon;n "Cold Moon signifies January
"Snow Moon" February; Warm Moon,
March; Plant Flower Hot, n"Buck, =
"SturCeon, Corn" "Travcling," Beaver
and Hunting Moons respectively the other
months.
The name of the order was changed il
later years TO the Improved Order of Red
Men, There are now about 5000 Rcd Mer
in the United States IN event Of the deatl
Of a full degree member $500 is paid to hi.
widow for funeral expenses, and the chief i,
buried with becoming dignity By his follow
warriors. His calumet, tomatawk and othei
paraphernalia are inferred with him Ii
case Of sickness a full degree member car
draw s. per week, another 50. There are
three degrees in the order. These are the dc
greeS Of hunters, warriors and chiefs.