The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-08

Order of Red Men at Baltimore in 1884 where the first tribe was formed that the customs and manners, and, indeed, some of the identical cere- monies, have descended in the ritual istIc work of the Order.
 Coming down from the Sons of Lib- erty, by whom the Republic was founded, the Order can be nothing less than intensely patriotic and broadly American. And all who come loyalty to the government which their ancestors founded.
 The primary objects of the Order are to promote among men the exer- else and practice of the true prin- ciples of benevolence and charity, the and orphans of it's members. The democratic influences which attended it's birth-the idea that all men are equal-ere the tenets of the Order, and what a man is. not what he pos sesses,. constitutes his claim for re- cognition among the brotherhood.
 Friendship, fraternity, and hos pitality are exemplifed as cardinal virtues, and nowhere are hearts brought closer together than around the council fires of the Red Men. In sickness or distress a brother is visit ed, comforted and assisted: and when the hour of death has removed him from his trial on earth he is buried by his brothers, who continue watchful protective care for h1s wld- ow and orphans. It is in this beautf- full spirit of friendship that the Red intercourse within his wigwams, which broadens his character, en- larges his heart, educates his facul- ties, gives him amusement and re- creation, and altogether helps him to be a sober. upright. intelligent citi- zop o hottor husband father son ar brother. and man more qualified In every way to perform his duties and to enjoy the world.
 The Order has been criticized in some instances because of it's title and the supposed barbarian of it's cerem onials. But every true, intel1i- gent Red Man takes great delight in the fact that it is the acknowledged conservators of the history, the cus- toms and the virtues of the original by the earliest travellers and writers to have beeen intelligent, brave and free, loyal in friendship, generous in Inequalities, and with many traits of character worthy of emulation by the civilized race.
 church or creed, because the mem bership embraces all sects and re- ligion.-
 In 1885 the members of the society of Red Men decided that the proper plan for continuing the organization central organization, and a meeting was called in the city of Baltimore to carry out this proposition. This meeting, after lengthy discussion, de- cided to eliminate politics and pro- vide for a plan of systematic bene- fits.
 Under the new regime the Order progressed very rapidly and soon council fires were burning in several States of the Union.
 As the Order spread into other States it was decided that a different plan of government was necessary, and in 1847, in response to a call sent out by the Great Council of Maryland, a convention was called to organize the. Great Council of the of the order. A plan of propagand- izing was outlined and the steady growth which continued up to 1865 commenced.
 In 1861 the Order had over 10000 members, divided almost evenly be- tween the North and the South. The war broke out and for four years the Order was at a standstill, many of the Brothers supporting the cause of the North or the South. After peace had been restored the Order was one of the first to revive and the records States in 1865 show that representa- tives of the South were welcomed to that session.
 From 1865 down to 1912 the Order had steadily progressed unti. .s num- bers close to 550,000 (including the Degree of Pocahontas) members.
 The Order is represented in every State and Territory in the United States and its possessions.
 For the proper administration of it's affairs, the Order is divided into three divisions:
 1. The Great Council of the United States, incorporated under the laws of the United States. It is the head of the Order, and is composed of rep- resentatives, elected from State Great Councils.
 2. State Great Councils, which are amenable to the laws promulgated