The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-21
RED MANS ANSWER
Claims Attack Of Father 6er-
nardlne, Of Sherodsville
Was Unwarra ted.

Inc puDl1CduOn III thc NeWs-DSho
crt of the remarks Of Rev. Father
Bernardine, of Sherodsville, in refer
ence to the organization OF a lodge OF
the Improved Order of Red Men at that
place. has led j. p. Williams, of 941
North Cleveland avenue, Canton, to
write a reply in which he gives what
he states are the true facts with ref
erence to the matter. Mr.. Williams Is
the district great chief and he it was
who went to Sherodsville and organ
lied the branch Of the order.
He denies that there was any fraud
practiced in order to induce members
of the Catholic church or others to join
the Red Men. His letter is as follows:
I'm your edition of November H.,
there apeared an article under the
heading of Societies Under Ban,"
which made special reference to the
Tribe of the Improved Order Of Red
Men recently organized in Sherods-
vile. The article in question made
some very caustic remarks in regard
to the organization and promoters
thereof. Permit me therefore OF correct
the erroneous statements made and to
bring before the public the facts in
their true lights. In the first place let
me correct the name used as organizer,
which appeared in the above mention
ed article as j. r. Williams: This is
incorrect and in order that no citizen
of that name, who might read the ar
ticle and feel that he had been the
victim of unjust condemnation, wish
to state that the tribe was organized
by j. P. Williams, OF 941 North Cleve-
land avenue. The statements made In
regard to trying to induce persons to
join by false statements and fraudu-
lentSways are certainly untrue
The facts are as follows: had been
requested to come to Sherodsville by
several persons who thought they
would like to organize a tribe of the
Improved Order of Red Men and in
accordance with their request l went
to Sherodsville and explained to them
the objects of the organization. After
talking with them for some time the
question was asked, Can any person
join the organization without fear of
conflicting with their religious free
dom? l explained to them fully that
there was nothing which in any way
would conflict with their civil or reli,
gious freedom, and that religious and
political arguments or talks were alb.
solutely prohibited; that the neces-
sary requirements for membership
were that the applicant be an Ameri-
can citizen, of good moral character
and believer in the existence of a
Supreme Being.
The, Improved Order of Red Men is
the Oldest fraternal organization of
purely American origin and teaching
and was organized in the year 1765, at
which time 1t was called the Sons of
Liberty, organized for the sole purpose
of trying to throw off the yoke of ty-
ranny and establish the independent
government which we enjoy, free from
foreign rules. In order to conceal their
identity and be able to meet without
fear of detection they formed the Sc
cret society and adopted the manners
and customs OF the primitive red
men, and in the sublimity and gran
deur of the noble characteristics of the
aboriginal race they found inspiration
for their object in view, and by which
they were enabled to conceal their
identity in order to perform the dan
gerous work in which they were en-
gagged. Their motto was freedom and
the Improved Order of Red Men has
for its principles, freedom, friendship
and charity.
We are organized to perpetuate the
memory OF the early struggles Of our
forefathers and in addition to exercise
the spirit of charity-that crownine
virtue of human life-under whose
grand influence mankind is lifted to a
higher plane, and that man is not
what he possess constitute his claim
for recognition in the order am at
loss to understand why our organiza-
tion. banded together to perpetuate
the memory of the early struggles of
our forefathers and to teach the prin-
ciples OF benevolence and charity.
should receive such Unjust condemna-
ton. The Improved Order of Red
Men Is q strictly patriotic organization
and teaches loyalty to our government,
and to be condemned as conspirators
against legitimate authorities, to say
nothing of being branded as liars and
frauds is beyond my comprehension
and can only say in conclusion, that
the principles of RedmanshIp have
taught me the exercise of charity to
friend and foe and that our antagonist
must have been misinformed by some
person with malicious intent and in
my opinion his statement very much
affects the freedom of an American
citizen.
]. p. WILLIAMS.
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