The record-union., 1893-07-29
CHEROKEE SECRET SOCIETY.
Its Object the Preservation of Indial
Legends and Traditions.

Legends and Traditions.
Not many persons are aware that there
exists among the CherokeeS a secret So
ciety that is hundreds OF years old. as
old, in fact, as the tribe itself, and is to-
day stronger than it ever was, at least in
numbers. This society is called the ke-
toowah, which, literally translated, means
elder brother. The st. Louis PoSt-DiS-
patch says 1t is sort of Indian freema-
sonry and has its laws and rules of order
as we'll as its officers and secret signs.
So well are its secrets and its dolngS
guarded that there are hundreds of people
living in the Cherokee Nation, and who
have lived there for years, who are not
even aware Of the existence OF society
every member of which Is sworn to as
sist in the defense of their homes from
the invasion of the pale-taced brother
either by squatter sovereignty or by
squawmen privileges. Only full-bloods
are eligible TO mem bership, but so Jeal-
ously 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 LOCO
full bloods, each the head OF family.
and thus the organization represents
about 5000 persons.
Formerly the keetowah only COM
prised the chiefs and some OF the few
older men of the tribe. Then 1t was all
powerful and exercised full control over
all tribal affairs; its mandate once issued
was never questioned even by the most
powerful chief. 1t dictated treaties, pro-
claimed war or peace, settled disputes and
guided the welfare OF the tribe in all
matters, spiritual and temporal. Such
was the Keetowah until within the past
fifty years. When the white mans gov
ernment 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 birthright steadily pass
ing away, their customs and language re-
ceding before the march OF civilization,
they realized that unless something was
done TO counteract these influences the
Cherokee would soon pass from the
face of the earth. TO prevent this be-
came at once the object of the keetowah,
and il was so enlarged as to include the
heads of all full-blood families, so that
from a priyy council it became power
ful oath bound organization.
No Cherokee whose blood has been
tainted can become a member, and 1t is
said that the penalty for disclosing the
simplest secret is death. The chief aim
of the Ketoowah at the present day is TO
perpetuate the legends, customs and Ian
guage of the Cherokees. The existence
of this society accounts for something
that has often puzzled inquiring persons,
who have found that it is very rarely that
a full blood Cherokee does not both read
and write his own tongue fiuently. They
all have a classical Cherokee education,
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 chill
dren, and there exists a pride among
them so strong that the full-blood who
has not acquired these accomplishments
is in continual disgrace, and is made to
feel his ignorance most keenly and con-
unually.
Among its members are some of the
ablest of the Cherokees, Indians who
have acquired thorough English educa-
tions and who are lawyers, ministers and
born leaders. 1t is natural TO suppose
that these are the leaders, but this is not
known. Certain it is the society exerts a
powerful influence in the government by
casting its entire vote as man f-r or
against measure. 1t Is never heard of
in politics, and yet it has often been
noticed that at an election the -bloods
are sure to support the same ticket. There
is no way for candidate to approach the
society to secure its support, Tor he does
not know who its members are. They
select their ticket and vote for it, and
there are no buttons. The members have
a sign language, by which they can con-
verse intelligently among themselves
wholly unobserved, and employ this
means of communication when others are
near. Through the medium of their ma
tional paper, one-half of which is printed
in Cherokee and is sent free to all citi-
zens who do not read English. the full
blood is thoroughly posted upon all pub
lie matters, and, in fact, much more con-
versant with affairs of State than his half
blood brother.