Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-06-28
INDIAN FREEMAsONRY..
A Secret Society Existing I'm the,
Cherokee Nation.

and is today stronger than it ever was,
at least in numbers. This society is
called the Kctoowah, which, literally
translated, means elder brother. The,
st. Louis Post Dispatch says 1t is n sort.
of Indian frccmasonry and has it's laws;
and rules of order aD we'll as its officers
and secret signs. So we'll arc it's secrets
and It's doings guarded that there are
hundreds of people living in the Chero-
llcc nation, and who have lived there
for.ycars, who arc not even aware of
the existence of society every mem
Der of which is sworn to assist in the,
defense Of their homes from the inva-
sion of the pale-faced brother either by
squatter sovereignty or by squawmcn
privileges. Only" full-bloods- arc cligi-
bic to membership, but so jealousy is
the Kctoowah watched that what else
is necessary for membership Is not
known outside of the order. The
society now has membership of
about a thousand full-bloods, each the
head of family, and thus the organi-
zation represents about five thousand.
persons Formerly the Ketoowah only
comprised the chiefs and some few Of
the older mem of the tribe. Then it
was all-powerfnl and exercised full
control over. all tribal affairs; it's
mandatetonce issued was never ques-
toned even by the most powerful
chief. 1t dictated treaties, proclaimed
war or peace, settled disputes and
guided the welfare of the tribe in all
matters, spiritual and temporal. Such
was the Kctoowah until within tho,
past fifty years. When the white.
mans government was formed and the.
affairs of the people were taken from
the hands OF tho few and administered
by men elected by the people end the
Indians saw their power and their
birthright stcndily passing away, their
customs and language reccding before
the march of civilization, they realized
that unless something was done to
counteract these Influences the Chcro-
llen would soon pass frSm the face of.
tho earth. TO prevent this became at
once the object of tho Ketoowah, and
it was so enlarged as to include the
heads of all full-blood families, SO that
from Il privy council it became q power
full oath-bound organization.
No Cherokee whose blood has been
tainted can become q member, and it
is said that tho penalty for disclosing
the simplest secret is death. The
chief aim CT the Kctoowah ut the pros
cnt day is to pcrpctuate the legends,
customs and language of the Chcro-
KEGS. The existence of this society ac-
counts for something that has often
puzzled inquiring persons who have
found that it Is very rarely that n full
blood Cherokee docs not both road and
write his own tongue flucntly- They
all have classical Cherokee educa-.
ton, and rs their language is not
taught in the public schools, and they
have no schools Of their own, when
and where they learned to write 1t was
n mystery. Every Ketoowah is bound
to teachit to his children, and there
exists a pride among them so strong
that tho full-blood who has not DC
quircd these, accomplishments IS in
continual disgrace and is made to feel
his ignorancemostl Ieenly and continu-
ully. Among its members are some OF
the ablest of the Cherolhees, Indians
who have acquired thorough English
cduca lions and who are lawyers, min
listers and born leaders. It is natural
to suppose that these are the leaders,
but this Is not known. Certain it is,
the society cXertsa powerful influence
in the government by casting its en-
tire vote as man for or against Ger
tain measures. It Is never heard of in
politics, and yet it has often been no
ticed that at an election the full-bloods
arc sure to support tho same ticket.
There is no way for n candidate to ap~
proach the society to secure it's sup
port, for he does not know who it's
uiomberS arc. They select their ticket
and vote for it and there are no but
tons. The members have q sign Ian.
guage by which they can converse In
tefIigently among themselves wholly
unobserved and employ this means Of
communication when others are near
Through the Medium OF their tiationaT
eaperT one-huif of which IS printed inf
, S,lSerofseo and is sent free to ali citizens-