Chapter VII (4)

We honor a wonderful past, and rejoice in a prosperous present, yet we know that the work of the Order has not ended, and that so long as time shall last, and the enemies of society endure, it will be necessary for this and similar Orders to exist. The need of good men, honest men, men who believe in manhood and in brotherhood, who know responsibilities and can assume them, was never greater than today. This Order has given us men who have lifted human burdens and have lived to help, aid and assist their fellow man.

We have a strong, vigorous and constantly expanding organization. The past with its lessons, its struggles, its successes, is ours. We live in sunlight now; fortune has favored us; the skies are bright with promise; surely at the close of this Great Sun, we can sincerely and honestly repeat:

Oh Great Spirit from out whose hands,
The Great Suns fall like grains of sand,
We meet today, united, free,
And loyal to our land and Thee,
To thank Thee for the era done
And trust Thee for the opening one."

Concerning the Long House, the Great Sachem said: "As yet, the manner of raising wampum for this purpose has not been decided upon. The location of the Long House in this Reservation means far more for the Kentucky Redman than we realize. It means that each Great Sun Louisville will be the Mecca for a large number of the most influential members of our Order. In addition to this, it will be of great financial benefit to the Red Men and paleface merchants of Kentucky's metropolis, and, while more directly beneficial to them, is indirectly beneficial to you. This, however, should not be considered in comparison to the good that will result to the Order here."

Among the recommendations of the Great Sachem were the following:--

That a tax be levied for the purpose of raising a fund for the erection of a Long House in Louisville by the Great Council of the United States.

That some action should be taken whereby each member of the Order can be supplied with a copy of the laws.

That the time of holding the Great Sun Council should be changed from Flower Moon to Cold Moon.

That the law requiring the Chiefs of Tribes to be bonded through the chieftaincy of the Great Chief of Records be abolished.

That the salary of the incoming Great Chief of Records be increased from five hundred fathoms to nine hundred fathoms.

That a code of laws governing the Trustees of the Widows', Orphans' and Aged Red Men's Relief Fund be adopted.

After reciting a long list of opinions and decisions rendered, the Great Sachem enumerates the sixty-five Tribes and three Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas instituted during his administration, with dates, and names of Organizers and Instituting Chiefs.

After recounting the dispensations granted by himself and his Deputies, Great Sachem Page closed his admirable Long Talk as follows:

"In discharging my duties I have been made a better Red Man and a better man. I love my fellow-man more to-day than I did one Great Sun ago. I shall never cease to lend my humble aid and assistance to the cause of this great fraternity.

In conclusion I trust that in passing judgment upon my efforts and work you may be able to say: 'He hath done what he could, and in the best manner he knew how.'"

The following statistics are from the Long Talk of Great Chief of Records Henry W. Ray:--

Membership last report, 8,933; adopted, 4,486; admitted by card, 122; reinstated, 227; suspended, 1,647; expelled, 21; withdrawn by card, 109; deceased, 91; present membership, 11,950; number of Tribes last report, 128; tribes instituted, 58; extinct since last report, 6; whole number of Tribes Jan. 1, 1908, 180; gain in tribes, 52; disbursed by Tribes for relief, $16,904.12; for burial of dead, $4,103.30; amount invested by Tribes, $70,500.79; amount in wampum belts of Tribes, $33,075.79; total worth of Tribes, $103,576.78; expenses of Great Council for great Sun, $9,611.46; balance in Great Council wampum belt, $2,208.01.

The Great Representatives to the Great Council of the United States presented a report of the transactions of the Great Council of particular interest to the Great Council of Kentucky, and particularly as to the legislation in regard to the proposed Long House. The following was reported as having been adopted by the Great Council of the United States:

"Be it resolved by this Great Council of the United States: That a committee of three of its members be appointed to devise ways and means for the erection of the Long House, to be erected at Louisville, Kentucky, and to report at the next session of this Great Council. Be it further resolved, that said Committee shall consist of the present Great Incohonee as Chairman and two Past Great Incohonees to be selected by the Great Incohonee and to serve at no expense to this Great Council."

The Credential Committee then reported having approved of the credentials of 175 Past Sachems who were in waiting in the Forest, the same were admitted and instructed in the Great Council Degree. The same Committee also approved of the Credentials of the representatives of 143 Tribes. The total attendance was 343 Past Sachems.

A speaking leaf was then read from Great Incohonee W. A. S. Bird, announcing the appointment of Past Great Sachem D. H. Russell as his special representative, and the credentials were acknowledged. Acting Great Incohonee Russell was then received with the usual honors.

Great Sachem Page announced the following appointments to fill vacancies on Standing Committees:--

Degree of Pocahontas--Henry Lyons, of No. 166, Vice W. E. Coleman, of No. 78.

State of the Order--W. E. Buck, of No. 60, vice Wm. Stoeckel, of No. 93.

Past Sachem Albert Miller, of No. 1 presented the Great Council with two emblematic Tomahawks his own handiwork.

Great Sachem Page appointed the following as a Committee on Charters:--N. G. Mothershead, of No. 57; Joe Woodruff, of No. 195; J. W. DeHart, of No. 8.

The Finance Committee reported the following recommendations which were concurred in:

That the books and accounts of the Great Chief of Records, the Great Keeper of Wampum and the Trustees of the Widows', Orphans' and Aged Red Men's Relief Fund, having been audited and found correct, be approved.

That the sum of two thousand fathoms be appropriated from the funds of this Great Council for the use of the Great Sachem in the performance of his duties.

That the Kentucky Red Man and American Red Man be declared to be the official journals of this Great Council, and that the sum of one hundred and fifty fathoms be appropriated to each.

That no appropriation be made for salary of Assistant Great Chief of Records for the ensuing great sun.

That Mileage be paid to the Great Chiefs, Representatives and Members of the Standing Committees, amounting $1,457.01, an average of $8.18 to each of 178 individuals.

The Judiciary Committee reported having approved of the by-laws of 53 Tribes and Councils.

The following amendment to the laws was unanimously adopted it being mandatory, in conformity to a requirement of the Great Council of the United States:--No paleface following the occupation of saloon keeper, bar tender, liquor dealer or professional gambler shall be eligible to membership in a Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men.

Great Senior Sagamore J. H. Kemper, who until this time had been absent, entered the Council Chamber and was given a fraternal reception.

The Great Chief of Records was authorized to have printed in convenient form the Constitution governing Tribes.

The Great Chief of Records was authorized and instructed to attend the sessions of the Great Chief of Records Association, at the expense of the Great Council.

A model code of by-laws was authorized, under which new Tribes are required to work at least six moons after instituted.

The law requiring the Great Chief of Records to notify all Tribes of all suspensions was repealed.

The law requiring the financial chiefs of Tribes to be bonded in a specified bonding company was repealed, leaving it to each Tribe to make its own selection of a Company.

The salary of the Great Chief of Records was increased from 500 to 900 fathoms per great sun.

An amendment was presented to provide for additional revenue for the purpose of erecting a Widows' and Orphans' Home, but action on same was deferred for one great sun.

An attempt to provide for the appointment of official organizers was defeated.

The Board of Trustees of the Widows', Orphans' and Aged Red Men's Relief Fund reported a code of laws to govern that Body, and the disbursement of relief, which was unanimously adopted.

The report of the Secretary of that Board, Bro. Sam Marcus, shows, total amount in the Home Fund $1,122.51; total amount disbursed for relief, $73.00; total balance in relief fund, $312.07.

A bill was presented reducing the amount to be paid organizers to $2.00 for each paleface, but was defeated.

Lexington was selected as the place for the kindling of the next great sun council fire, Bowling Green and Elizabethtown being also in nomination.

Past Great Sachem L. L. Bebout in a characteristic speech presented Great Sachem Robert Lee Page with a beautiful and costly silver service, the joint gift of many Tribes and individuals. Great Sachem Page responded, expressing his heartfelt appreciation of the handsome tribute.

Great Junior Sagamore W. H. McDonald presented a Great Representative's sash to Acting Great Incohonee D. H. Russell, which that Great Chief accepted in appropriate terms.

Great Prophet Russell, in behalf of Past Sachem N. Bierman, of Cherokee Tribe, No. 8, offered as a reward for faithful work for the Order an emblematic Ring to the member of the Order who shall bring into his Tribe the greatest number of new members in each Great Sun, counting from each Great Council.

The contract for the printing for the ensuing great sun was let to The Louisville Anzeiger Company, the Record being the base, at $1.00 per page.

The run having arrived for the election of Great Chiefs, the Great Sachem announced that when tellers were required to receive and count ballots, each candidate in nomination for Chieftaincy should have the privilege of appointing one of the tellers in his race.

Past Great Sachem H. H. Denhardt presiding, the election took place, resulting as follows:

Robert Lee Page was unanimously elected Great Prophet.

Joe H. Kemper, of No. 18 was elected Great Sachem by acclamation.

W. H. McDonald, of No. 111 was elected Great Senior Sagamore, there being no other candidates in nomination.

Homer J. Northcutt, of No. 184 was elected Great Junior Sagamore, Wm. A. Grader, of No. 8, being also in nomination, and lost by small margin.

Frank L. Smith, of No. 1 was elected Great Chief of Records, other candidates in nomination being T. J. Tierney, of No. 80; J. M. Holstner, of No. 10 and C. F. Melton, of No. 81. Henry W. Ray, the retiring Great Chief of Records, having served for five consecutive great suns, was awarded the honors of a Past Great Sachem and declined to be a candidate for re-election.

Herman V. Cohn, of No. 8, was elected Great Keeper of Wampum for the third term, M. M. Redding, of No. 64 being also in nomination.

Four Great Representatives to the Great Council of the United States were elected, each to serve for two great suns as follows:--Past Great Sachem Robert Lee Page, of No. 80; L. L. Bebout, of No. 60; G. A. Ellerkamp, of No. 8 and Henry Wood Ray, of No. 3. Other candidates in nomination were Past Great Sachem H. J. McFarlan, of No. 33; Past Sachem Lawrence S. Leopold, of No. 8; Past Great Sachem John D. Walker, of No. 1; Past Sachem Chas. A. Hess, of No. 10.

A bill was presented and passed increasing the per capita tax to be levied upon Tribes to five feet each six moons, the additional ten inches to be set aside as a special fund to aid the Great Council of the United States in the erection of a Long House, or permanent headquarters in the hunting grounds of Louisville.

Great Sachem Page announced the appointment of Henry C. Yunker as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Widows', Orphans' and Aged Red Men's Relief Fund for three great suns.

Upon the recommendation of the Committee, charters were granted to the following named New Tribes and Councils:--Ogallala, No. 196, Polsgrove Landing; Nipsit, No. 197, Pilgrim; Suwanee, No. 198, Trinity; Shawmut, No. 199, Jattie; Merrimac, No. 200, Hammond; Adirondack, No. 201, Clifford; Walla Walla, No. 202, Calhoun; Creek, No. 203, Dayton; Arapahoe, No. 204, Providence; Brule, No. 205, Clay; Naugatuck, No. 206, West Naugatuck; Monon, No. 207, Stamping Ground; Saginaw, No. 208, Denton; Pewawbeek, No. 209, Hopper; Sangamon, No. 210, Manchester; Emahaka, No. 211, Morganfield; Weshaway, No. 212, Wofford; Agawam, No. 213, Catlettsburg; Manhattan, No. 214, Jellico; Wahnahton, No. 215, McCarr; Kearsarge, No. 216, Aberdeen; Tuscahoma, No. 217, Charley; Chicotah, No. 218, Dekoven; Incas, No. 219, Fletcher; Petaluma, No. 220, Lily; Samoset, No. 221, Majestic; Canonicus, No. 222, Gallup; Kennebec, No. 223, Meek; Watstika, No. 224, Marion; Santana, No. 225, Pikeville; Itaska, No. 226, Rumsey; Monadnock, No. 227, Slick Rock Creek; Ozark, No. 228, Elkhorn City; Tuskaloosa, No. 229, Benton; Ioka, No. 230, South Carrollton; Ninegret, No. 231, Elk Lick; Anawan, No. 232, Big Creek; Napanee, No. 233, Muddy Branch; Pocasset, No. 234, Uniontown; Waco, No. 235, Oneida; Kokomo, No. 236, Danleyton; Tonkawa, No. 237, Sebree; Tecumseh, No. 238, Tannery; Pokonoket, No. 239, Bush; Erie, No. 240, Fork Ridge; Kiowon, No. 241, Slaughtersville; Ramona, No. 242, Sawyer; Chicopee, No. 243, Bonanza; Washoan, No. 244, Onton; Horicon, No. 245, Morgantown; Alleghan, No. 246, Burnwell; Nokonan, No. 247, Ashbyburg; Beaver, No. 248, Allen; Kewanee, No. 249, Greenville; Genesee, No. 250, Hunnewell; Chessapeake, No. 251, Dixon; Tonikan, No. 252, Madisonville; Kenaway, No. 253, Harlan; Casco, No. 254, Beaver Dam; Canadawa, No. 255, Barnetts Creek; Atabaska, No. 256, Cromwell; Waukesha, No. 257, Teague; Cayuga, No. 258, Maplesville; Dekorra, No. 259, Ingram; Catawissa, No. 260, St. Charles. Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas:--Aletah, No. 15, Middlesboro; Minnewawa, No. 16, Jennings; Leola, No. 17, Georgetown.

A bill was presented, to lay over one great sun, providing for a reduction in the fee for admission by withdrawal card.

Acting Great Incohonee D. H. Russell, assisted by Past Great Sachem G. A. Ellerkamp, as Great Tocakon, raised the Great Chiefs as follows:--

Joe H. Kemper, of No. 18 Great Sachem
W. H. McDonald, of No. 111 Great Senior Sagamore
Homer J. Northcutt, of No. 184 Great Junior Sagamore
Robert Lee Page, of No. 80 Great Prophet
Frank L. Smith, of No. 1 Great Chief of Records
Hermann V. Cohn, of No. 8 Great Keeper of Wampum
Ben C. Nunn, of No. 14 Great Sannap
A. Englehard, Jr., of No. 8 Great Mishinewa
W. E. Buck, of No. 60 Great Guard of Wigwam
L. H. Roberts, of No. 10 Great Guard of Forest

Great Sachem Kemper announced the appointment of Past Sachem Geo. W. Hinesley, of No. 8 as a member of the Board of Appeals for three great suns.

Following were the appointments on Standing Committees:

Finance--Henry Schwieters, of No. 8; R. F. Arnett, of No. 1; Roy C. Scott, of No. 18.

Judiciary--Robert T. Crowe, of No. 33; Claude B. Terrell, of No. 90; Chas. A. Davis, of No. 111.

State of the Order--W. B. Dillon, of No. 166; R. S. Hunter, of No. 11; John J. Sandmann, of No. 70.

Degree of Pocahontas--J. M. Clifford, of No. 10; W. Fred Thomas, of No. 3; T. J. Tierney, of No. 80.

Returns and Reports--Sebastian Stone, of No. 56; V. M. Hainline, of No. 18; T. H. Sanders, of No. 89.

The thanks of the Great Council were extended to Robert Lee Page, for his dignified, fair and impartial rulings, and to Blackfoot Tribe for its hospitality.

Past Great Sachem's Jewels were presented to Henry Wood Ray and Robert Lee Page, and when the Great Prophet had said a prayer, the council fire was quenched.