The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-10-26


Years Ago Towards Building the
Home.
Yesterday was an important day with
the local tribes of Red Men and it will
mark an epoch in the history of the
order in Wilmington. The occasion
was the laying of the corner stone of
the handsome new wigWam which is
being erected on North Front street
and when it is completed it will not
only be one of the most handsome wig
vans in the state of North Carolina
but in the southland. Well may the
Red Men feel proud of it and tribes all
over the state will point with pride to
the home of their brothers in the city
by the sea. The exercises took place
yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock and
were attended by a very large crowd,
the street in front of the new building
being crowded from side to side ALI
visiting chiefs named in the pro-
gramme were present but Great Sach-
EN- B. w. Taylor, of Washington, N
c., and telegram was received from
him expressing great regret at his in
ability to be present and he said al
though not present in person he was in
spirit. In his absence the work OF
the Great Sachem was performed by
Major E. A. Ebert, of Winston-Sale
great senior sycamore.
The programme was carried out as
announced with the above exception.
Prior TO the exercises at the building
there was a parade in which a large
number of the Red Men participated.
In Wilmington are between five and six
hundred Red Men and yesterday after
noon it seemed like half of the popula-
ton of the city belonged to one of the
three tribes in this city for badges
designating the tribe to which they be-
lOnged were to be seen on the coat
lapels of many Of the men seen upon
the streets. The strength of the order
here is but an evidence of what it is
over the United States for the order
now has more than 5000 tribes and the
membership is between $4,000 and
100000. In every state and territory
OF this great country are tribes of Red
Men and year by year the number is
increasing at rapic rate.
The music was furnished by the
Fort Caswell band, and it is certainly
composed of some excellent musicians,
and the Acme quartette, which is COM
posed of Messrs. w. R. Dosher, first
tenor, A. l.. Dosher, second tenor, W.
oH ir4 ho, II
second bass and J. W. Fleet. accom-
panist. Several selections were rem
dered by the quartette which elected
much applause.
Colonel Walker Taylor acted as mas
ter of ceremonies and he presided in a
most original manner. The exercises
were opened by prayer which was by
Rev. A. McCullen. Mayor A. M Wad-
- dell made the address Of welcome and
among other things he said if there was
any one thing that the people of Will
mingtOn were noted for it was their
hospitality and that the more visitors
made themselves at home the better
the people liked it. Turning to the
visitors he said, eve turn the keys of
the city over to you, it is yours, and
assure you that the people will do all
IN their power to make your visit a
pleasant one"
Next came the exercises incidental to
the laying of the corner stone and was
conducted by e. A. Ebert, great senior
sycamore; F. M.Hodges, great prophet;
sgamore; F. M. Hodges, great prophet;
w. Ben Goodwin, great chief of re-
cords, and E. P. H. Strunck, great
Of 1;c&;o
work is very pretty indeed and espec-
tally the sentiments expressed in con-
nection with the three tenets of I'M
proved Order of Red Men, Freedom,
Friendship and Charity The greater
part Of the services was read by Great
Senior Sycamore E. A. Ebert.
In a email metal box which was put
in the corner Of the wall before
the corner stone was placed in posi-
ton and sealed was placed bunch of
arrows, an ensIgnia that the Red Men
had buried all enmity against their
SThite brethren, "a wampum belt and
the United States flag. In addition to
fha above articles the daily papers
containing the programme of the ex-
:ises. a list of the membership of each
trihe also the bylaws, full report OF
tbe building committee up to the pres
ont time and several other articles by
members of the different tribes. The
stone was placed in position and seal
Cd Inv Mr.. r. H. Brady, the contractor
VINO is putting up the building.
After the laying Of the corner ston'
MIR. Marsden Bellamy in a few appro
priate words introduced the speaker
of the occasion. the Hon. Thomas &