The San Francisco call., 1904-08-17
MANY RED MEN
MEET CHIEFS
Kindling the Council Fire i'll
the Long House by Order
of Great Sachem SamuelS
DEGREE OF POCAHONTAS
Election to Be Held To-Day
in Each Governing Body
for the Several ChieftainS

The council fire of the thirty-ninth
great sun session of the Great Council
of California, Improved Order of REQ
Men, was kindled in the Long House
at $40 Post street, yesterday forenoon
at 10 o'clock by order Of Great Sachem
Jacob Samuels. All great chiefs were
at their respective stumps on the fall
of the tomahawk calling the represen-
tatives together.
After the routine Of opening the
Great Council for the transaction Of
business the great sachem made his
long talk to the great representatives.
1t was an exhaustive review Of the
work of the past great sun. He con-
graduated the order upon the growth
it has made, the number OF adoptions
being $685. but regretted that there was
the report of many suspensions and he
urged all tribes to do all that can be
done to prevent suspensions in future.
He expressed himself in favor of an
organizer to build UP the order in this
reservation where no tribes exist. He
stated that the order has grown to
such dimensions that the great sachem
cannot visit all the tribes and urges
that the work be divided between the
four leading great chiefs. He COM
mended the work of the recently estaD-
lished Board of Relief in this city,
spoke in high terms Of the incumbent
great chief Of records and urged that
when a competent official is secured
for that very important chieftainey,
the fraternal crown should not be
torn from his brow" Much OF his
talk was devoted to official acts.
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS YEAR
From the long talk of the great chief
of records, Porter l.. Bliss, 1t appears
that during the last twelve moons the
net increase was 1872, making the total
membership in this reservation 13,177
The amount paid for relief Of brothers
of the order during that period was
SAT. 1865 and amount paid for the burial
of the dead was $S0S7. The assets Of
the order amount to S214. .726. His talk
also showed that the banner tribe in
membership is AltahmOs No 81 of this
city, with 455 members at the close
of the reports to the speakers office.
Iroquois No. 35 of Stockton follows
next with 425 members. OF the 90 tribes
forty-nine have a membership in ex-
cess of 100.
The other great chiefs presented their
reports, the reading of which occupied
the entire session.
]. J. Bryan of ManZanita Tribe. Will
liam Moran of Modoc Tribe and w. T.
Lyons of Altahmos Tribe were ap-
pointed a committee to select three
teams from among the local tribes to
eXemplify before the Great Council the
work of the three degrees.
At IL o'clock to-day the special order
of business will be the election of great
chiefs for the ensuing great sun In the
natural order of things c. S. Davis of
Angels Camp should, by reason of the
fact that he occupies the second high
est position in the order. become the
next great sachem, but there is some
talk of placing in opposition to him
one of the past great sachems, who
during his incumbency proved himself
one of the most energetic and popular
chiefs the order ever had. A. d. Mason
will undoubtedly be advanced to the
stump of great senior sycamore. 1t is
stated that for the station Of great
junior sycamore there will be several
candidates, the most prominent being
Julius S. Godeau of Seminole Tribe of
this city. The great contest will be for
the office of great chief of records.
there being three candidates in the field
Porter l.. Bliss. the incumbent; Fred
B. Swan and Oscar Seavey. There are
a number who seek the smaller chief
taincies and the honor of being chosen
as representative to the Great Council
of the United States.
COUNCIL BRAND KINDLED.
The council brand of the Great Coun-
Gil of the Degree of POcahOntas was
also kindled yesterday in the tepee on
Post street. There were present about
$50 representatives. also all the great
chiefs. Great PocahOntas Minnie Belts
presiding The entire forenoon session
was taken uD in organization. and in
the afternoon the reports Of the great
Pocahontas and other great chiefs were
presented and read. The reports show
the institution OF eleven new councils
and an increase of 1920 members during
the last great sun. One council was
reorganized.
This forenoon there will be the cleo
ton of great chiefs for the ensuing
term Mrs. Annie NJ. Bliss of this city,