Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-13
ADDRESS TO RED MEN,
By Past Sachsm VIM. Smith on Raising Of
Chiefs Of Cushnoc Tribe.

ChteIt 81 CuSuh0c lrl0e.
Following is the address of Past Sachem
VIM. Smith Of Cushnoc Tribe No. IL, 1. 0.
r. NJ, at the public raising of their chiefs
at their wigwam On the 10Th Sleep, Coll
Moon. grand sun discovery 1902:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Pale Faces and
Brother Red Men:
As one of the speaking voices of Cushnoc
Tribe No. -, l. o. r. Men, and in its be-
half, lid you welcome to our wigwam.
Permit me to say, we are glad that you are
with us on this sleep, and we trust that your
visit will not only be profitable, hut when
you take your respective trails to your pr
va,e wigwams, you will repeat with US that
it was good you were with US.
1t is a great pleasure, l assure you,
mingled with the one regret that should be
selected for the pleasing duty, when there
are in our tribe, so many talented brothers
who could have been much more appro-
priately selected to address you, though
somewhat briefly, upon the history, prin-
ciples and objects of our order.
When Columbus knelt on the soil of the
newly discovered land and returned thanks
to the God of his faith for safe deliverance,
and the successful issue of his voyage, he
was met ana welcomed by strange and
hitherto unknown race, peaceful, and in
their way, industrious, contented and hap
py. They owned and controlled this great
American continent. the "Original People
of our land. Upon the manners, traditions
and customs of that race, which will soon
be known only in tradition and history, our
order has been founded.
The first reliable information that we
possess of the existence of secTet-society,
which adopted and practised the forms and
ceremonies, and wore the costumes of the
Children of the Forest" is derived from
the early history of the colony of Maryland.
The people of the colonies prior to the
war of independence had suffered many
indignities and wrongs at the bands of their
rulers under the British government.
History shows US that the presence of the
English in any number or settlement in
America dates from the reign of James LIST
OF England At first the settlers were priv
ileged companies with royal letters-patent,
but in reality independent. and as they were
dissenters, seeking a place of refuge from
what they considered their grievance, not
only of government but church, they took
care not to convey the grievance with them.
This course was benefcent one for their
grow tn upon foreign soil. Although it is
true, that the colonies grew and strength
ened financially, territorially, and in free
dom of thought; they grew FESTIVE under
this restraining influence. and disposed if
possible to escape from it.
Possibly the freedom of the red man was
an incentive to this feeling. The colonists
strongly resented having laws made for them
and taxes levied upon them, in which they
had no vol, e, for instance, the navigation act,
which was passed in 1860; the stamp act of
165, and about the same time was passed,
the quartering act. A standing army was
ordered for the colonies, and the people
were required to provide the troops with
quarters, bedding, irewood, drinks, soap
and candles later on the tea tax.
Although, opposition bad not as yet take n
the form of open hostility, still in secret
men brooded over thelc wrongs, and when
it could be done, with safety, counselled
and consulted with each other, as to the
means of freeing themselves from the OBJ.
nox;ous rule of the mother country. Grad
ually these secret councils took the form of
regularly organized NEE tings, which IN turn,
resolved themselves into a secret society,
and styled themse Ives The Sons of Liberty.
The precise date of this society carnot
now be traced, bnt that it had
an existence at least ten years previous to
the Declaration of Independence is proven.
The present society is an offspring of the
Sons of Liberty, formed in Mass, 1865,
,rb, ban in fbN Rost n
party ten years later, and was subsequently,
merged in the Order of Tamania, which
tourished from III to 1913, when the So
ciety of Red Men was formed at Fort M fin
on the Delaware river, on the same general
principles, and taking into its membership
what then remained of the other two So
cieties 1t is on record that in 1873, that a
band of patriotic men disguised as Indians,
belonging to one of these societies, went on
board o. three English ships, and cast over
board 342 chests of tea, and thus resen,ing
that infamous duty that was placed upon
tea, by the English government, which re-
suited in America gaming her independence.
So that the |. o. r. Men can justly lay
claim. to have had hand and part,
in laying the foundation Of this country.
The time will come when the order will
be the link that binds the past with the flu
ture 10 perpetuating the race upon whose
customs it is founded. In 1884, our order
was reorganized on account of its increased
growth and was named the |. 0. of X. Men.
which is our present grand and noble organ
ization.
The I. o. r. Men as a secret fraternal
organ ization, is in the advance, pushing
with giant strides to the front rank with all
kindred orders il the great cause of hu.
mainly 1t has not increased as rapidly
with mushroom growth as some institutions
may have done but like the sturdy oak from
the little acorns grow, it hiss quietly
crept upward until its benefcent powers
extends from the Orient TO the Occident,
and the msgic of our totem's protecting in
fluence is felt throughout the land.
Nov, perhaps few words in regard to
what the membership and financial condi-
ton of our noble orgariz alton was at the
last report, which WAS July lst. 1898.
In round numbers $50, 900 in members, a
net gain of over II 600 in the last year,
and gain in the past six years of over
II 600 Money expended fer relief of mem
bers' widows and orphans. near $500, 600 in
the past year, and that the total worth of
the order on July lst last, wss Sl,5i5 172,
to be used in dispensing benefits TO the sIck
and needy.
Is it no. noble order, caring for, and