The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-04
WHAT THE RED MEN
 STAND FOR, AND WHENCE THEY CAME
Origin and Objects of Strong Fraternal Organizati0n-ln-
 teresting Early History

The Improved Order of Red Men is the oldest fraternal organization of purely American origin. It is the lineal descendant of the Sons of Lib- erty, who, for more than ten years prior to the Declaration of Independ- ence, had by their active work paved the way for that immortal act When the Sons of Liberty in many localities merged into Societies of St. Tamina. from 1771 to 1900, the love of coun- try and the conservation of liberty were still the guiding impulse. In 1913 it took on another form in the Society of Red Men, formed at Fort Mifflin, as shown in the historic archives of the Order. Under this name it existed for nearly twenty years with a proud record of frater- nity and benevolence. For causes that in like manner affected all simi- lar organiza tions of that period. from 1928 to 1892, the Society of Red Men languished and became nearly ex- tinct In 1883 members who had been active therein gathered few of the smculdering embers of the dimly burning council brand and l1indled the council fire of the Im- proved Order of Red Men in the hunting grounds of Baltimore, Mary land, and heightened the chain Of friendship by adding to it's patriotic and fraternal features the charitable and benevolent work of it's present ministrations.
 It is true the societies existing previous to the year 1913 made no use of the name of Red Men as 3 part of the title by which they were known. ''St. Tammany's Society was a frequent appellation in the Middle and Southern States. The organ1za- tion at Boston and elsewhere of 1765- and later, known as the Sons Of Liberty" preceded the Tammany same spirit and to perform the same service They frequently referred to each other as "the Indians and the well known fact will be recalled that. on a certain important date, party of men, "disguised as Indians" rush ed down to the wharf by the water side and pitched into Boston HarboT the tea which had been imported but which the colonists refused to re- ceive and pay taxes upon. The men who constituted the famous Boston of Liberty of Boston and vicinity.
 Undoubtedly these various societies had means of communication. The business in which they were engaged was extremely dangerous. If they succeeded they were heroes. IT they failed they were traitors. Until IT was decided whether their reward was to be the laurel wreath or the halter there was the utmost necessity of concealing their personal identity
 Instinctively they turned to the un- cultivated field of red mems myster- ies for their ceremonies and so-calleJ secret work. and in the sublimfty and grandeur Of the unsullied character istics of the aboriginal race. then their near neighbors and plentiful around them, found inspiration for the mystical lore deemed necessary for their gatherings and suitable for the concealment of identity, insepara ble from the dangerous work in which they were engaged-of founding new nation. It is a remarkable fact. which may be used to substantiate the orders claim, that these earlier societies were followed in direct lineal descent by the Society of Red Men instituted at Fort Miff1in in the spring of 1913 and by the Improved (Continued on Page 2l