The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-25
INDIAN FREEMASONRY.
A Secret Society Exist ing In the
Cherokee Nation.
An Ancient Order That Has for It's Object
the Preservation of Tribal
Legends and Ira
ditions.

Not many persons are aware that
there exists among the Cherokees
secret society that is hundreds of years
old, as old, in fact, as the tribe itself,
and is today stronger than it ever was,
at least in numbers. This society is
called the Ketoowah, which, literally
translated, means elder brother. The
st. Louis Post-Dispatch says it is a sort
of Indian freenasonry and has its laws
and rules of order as well as its officers
and secret signs So well are its secrets
and its doinGs guarded that there are
hundreds of people living in the Chero-
kee nation, and who have lived there
for years, who are 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 invs-
sion of the palc-faced brother either by
squatter sovereignty or by squawmen
privileges. Only full-bloods are eligi-
BILE to membership, but SO jealousy Is
the Ketoowah watched that what else
is necessary for membership Is not
known outside Of the order. The
society now has a membership of
about thousand full-blooGs, each the
head of family, and thus the organi-
cation represents about five thousand
persons. Formerly the Ketoowah only
comprised the chiefs and some few of
the older men of the tribe. Then it
was all-powerful and exercised full
control over all tribal affairs; its
mandate once 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 the
past fifty wears. When the white
mans government was formed and the
affairs of the people were taken from
the hands Of the few and administered
by men elected by the people and the
Indians saw their power and their
birthr;ght steadily passing away, their
customs and language receding before
the march Of civilization, they realized
that unless something was done TO
counterfeit these influences the Chero-
kee would soon pass from the face Of
the earth. To prevent this became at
once the object of the Ketoowah, and
it was so enlarged as to include the
heads OF all full-blood families, so that
from privy council it became a power
full oath-bound organization.
No Cherokee whose blood has been
tainted can become a member, and it
is said that the penalty for disclosing
the simplest secret is death. The
chief aim of the Ketoowah at the pres
ent day is to perpetrate the legends,
customs and language of the Chero-
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 full
blood Cherokee does not both read and
write his own tongue fuently. They
all have a classical Cherokee educa-
ton. and as their language is not
taught in the public schools, and they |
have no schools of their own, when |
and where they learned TO write it was
a mystery. Every Ketoowah is bound |
TO teach it to his children, and there |
exists a pride among them so strong
that the full-blood who has not &C
quired these accomplishments is in !
continual disgrace and is made TO feel |
his ignorance most keenly and continu |
ally. Among its members are some of |
the ablest of the Cherokees, Indians |
who have acquired thorough English |
and who are lawyers, min |
listers and born leaders. 1t is natural |
TO suppose that these are the leaders, |
but this is not known. Certain 1t is, |
the society exerts powerful influence t
n the government by casting its en-
tire vote as man for or against GER
-ain measures. 1t is never heard of in |
politics, and yet it has often been no.
iced that at an election the full-bloods
Ire sure TO support the same ticket.
There is no way for candidate to APP
,roach the society TO secure its sup
BORT, for he does not know who its
are. They select their ticket
md vote for it and there are no but
Ons. The members have a sign Ian
-uage BIZ which they can converse in
among themselves wholly
and employ this means OF
when others are near.
"a per. one-hslf of which is printed in
'herokee and is sent free to all citizens
Who do not read English, the full blood
5 thoroughly posted upon all public
matters and in fact much more con-
-ersant with affairs of state than his
al h