ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GREAT COUNCIL OF KENTUCKY AND ITS RECORDS FROM 1895
to 1907.
In compliance with request of petitioners from various Tribes in
Kentucky, Great Chief of Records of the Great Council of the United
States, Charles C. Conley, acting Great Incohonee, and Past Great Sachem
William C. Conley, of Pennsylvania, acting Great Chief of Records,
appeared in the wigwam of Miantonomo Tribe, No. 1, hunting grounds of
Lexington, on the 27th sun of Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 404, for the
purpose of kindling the Great Council fire of Kentucky.
After appropriate remarks of instruction had been given by the two Great
Chiefs, the following named Past Sachems, who responded to the call,
were marked as present:
Miantonomo Tribe, No. 1--J. B. Mendenhall, John Armstrong, Oscar R.
King, J. R. McConnell, Past Great Sachem T. A. Hornsey, Willie Walker,
Henry Vogt, R. Eason, Frank L. Smith.
Onequa Tribe, No. 2--R. W. Jones, J. W. Holler.
Wyandotte Tribe, No. 3--T. M. Russell.
Winona Tribe, No. 4--W. B. Wilkerson, Wm. Metcalfe, J. Hull Davidson.
Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6--John I. Winter, W. E. Fite, J. W.
Crumbaugh.
Hiawatha Tribe, No. 7--E. G. Van Zandt, J. H. Young, A. F. German.
Osceola Tribe, No. 19--W. C. Diederich.
As Past Sachems McConnell, Diederich and Mendenhall had been admitted to
other State Great Councils, the acting Great Incohonee appointed Past
Sachem McConnell as Great Guard of the Forest, pro tem.; Past Sachem
Diederich as Great Guard of the Wigwam, pro tem.; and Great Sannap, pro
tem., was filled by Past Sachem Mendenhall.
The acting Great Incohonee, assisted by the acting Great Chief of
Records and Past Sachem Mendenhall proceeded to constitute the Great
Council of Kentucky, which was consummated at 12 o'clock high sun.
The following named Great Chiefs were then elected or appointed and
raised up:
J. B. Mendenhall, of No. 1 Great Sachem
J. R. McConnell, of No. 1 Great Senior Sagamore
W. E. Fite, of No. 6 Great Junior Sagamore
J. Hull Davidson, of No. 4 Great Prophet
Frank L. Smith, of No. 1 Great Chief of Records
A. F. German, of No. 7 Great Keeper of Wampum
J. B. Mendenhall, of No. 1 Gt. Rep. to G. C. U. for two great suns
The Great Sachem-elect appointed:
John I. Winter, of No. 6 Great Sannap
Thos. M. Russell, of No. 3 Great Mishinewa
W. C. Dienerich, of No. 19 Great Guard of Wigwam
R. W. Jones, of No. 2 Great Guard of Forest
The Great Sachem announced the following committees:
On Laws--P. G. S. Thos. A. Hornsey, Great Senior Sagamore J. R.
McConnell and Great Junior Sagamore W. E. Fite.
On Credentials--Great Prophet J. Hull Davidson and Past Sachems E. G.
Van Zandt and R. Eason.
The committee on Laws recommended that the laws of the Great Council of
Pennsylvania be adopted by the Great Council of Kentucky, and after some
slight amendments they were adopted.
The Committee on Credentials reported Past Sachems P. T. Farnsworth, of
No. 1, John D. Walker, of No. 2 and Charles Scott, of No. 4 as being in
the forest with proper credentials, and recommended they be admitted,
and they were admitted and received the Great Council degree. It was
voted that an appropriation of two hundred fathoms be made for the
expense of the Great Chiefs for the ensuing term.
The Great Chief of Records was authorized to prepare an original design
for a seal and to procure the seal as soon as possible.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved: That in expression of its appreciation of the invaluable
services performed by the Great Chief of Records of the Great Council of
the United States, Charles C. Conley, acting Great Incohonee, and Past
Great Sachem William C. Conley, of Pennsylvania, acting Great Chief of
Records, who have so ably and courteously assisted and instructed the
Great Council of Kentucky during its course of organization, the records
of the Great Council shall contain this resolution expressive of its
gratitude for their distinguished services.
The various bills and expenses incident to institution were ordered
paid, leaving a balance in the wampum belt of seven fathoms, six feet
and two inches.
It was voted to kindle the next council fire in the wigwam of
Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, at Augusta.
Following are the statistics of the Order at the time of
institution--Whole number of Tribes, 10; Tribes not reporting, 2;
adopted, 265; admitted by card, 12; withdrawn by card, 4; suspensions,
10; rejections, 9; total membership, 638; Past Sachems, 71.
Council of the Degree of Pocahontas--Minneola, No. 1, at Ashland;
Minnehaha, No. 2, at Lexington.
The Great Sachem announced the appointment of standing committees for
the ensuing great sun, as follows--
Finance--J. Hull Davidson, No. 4; Thomas M. Russell, No. 3; John I.
Winter, No. 6.
Law and Usage--W. E. Fite, No. 6; W. C. Diederich, No. 19; Willie
Walker, No. 1.
Returns and Reports--R. Eason, No. 1; T. A. Hornsey, No. 1; John D.
Walker, No. 4.
Board of Appeals--E. G. Van Zandt No. 7; W. C. Diederich, No. 19; J. W.
Crumbaugh, No. 6.
The council fire was then quenched in ample form.
=1896.=
SECOND GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
The second Great Sun Council fire of the Great Council of
Kentucky, Improved Order of Red Men was kindled in the wigwam of
Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, at the 10th run rising of the 12th
sun of Flower moon, G. S. D. 405, with Great Sachem J. B. Mendenhall
presiding. All of the elective Great Chiefs were present except A. F.
German, Great Keeper of Wampum.
The Great Sachem appointed the following named brothers as a committee
on Credentials--John I. Winter, of No. 6, John Armstrong of No. 1 and J.
W. Crumbaugh, of No. 6.
The committee on credentials reported representatives present with
proper credentials from Tribes, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 17, and
19, and recommended that they be recognized and seated as the
representatives from their respective Tribes, which was concurred in.
The committee also reported the following named Past Sachems as being in
the forest for the first time with proper credentials and recommended
that they be admitted and receive the Great Council Degree, which was
agreed to:
Miantonomo, No. 1--H. H. Wilson.
Onequa, No. 2--J. W. Scobee.
Wyandotte, No. 3--W. C. Pelham and D. P. Ort.
Winona, No. 4--L. E. Pearce.
Paughcaughnaughsinque, No. 6--J. W. McKibben, W. E. Hamilton, Thos. M.
Gray and N. Feagan.
Cherokee, No. 8--Chas. A. Lang.
Osceola, No. 19--Conrad Gensler.
Past Sachem Michael Grau, of No. 17, having previously been admitted
to the Great Council of Ohio, was also admitted to a seat in the Great
Council of Kentucky.
The records of the last Great Council were approved as printed.
The Great Sachem then began reading his long talk, and we make the
following extracts therefrom:
"I herewith submit the report of my official actions between 27th
Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 404, at which time this G. C. was instituted, and
11th Flower Moon, 405.
The Order in this reservation has enjoyed a season of prosperity, and
the membership has, through hard work, been greatly increased. The
following new Tribes have been instituted:
Shawnee, No. 9, Louisville, on the 10th of Worm Moon; Mohican, No.
11, Bowling Green, on the 24th of Plant Moon, and three Tribes will be
instituted before the close of this moon.
All of our Tribes, with the exception of Miami, No. 17, and Tecumseh,
No. 5, have greatly increased their membership, as will be seen from the
report of the G. C. of R.
I regret to say that some opposition on the part of some of the members
of Cherokee Tribe, No. 8, has been manifested in regard to fee paid to
organizers, and this matter will, in all probability, be presented by
their representatives for your consideration at this session.
Hiawatha Tribe, No. 7, labored under the impression that no other Tribe
could legally be instituted in the hunting ground of Louisville without
first obtaining their consent, and it was necessary for me to summon
the Great Chiefs to meet with that Tribe on the sleep of the 28th of
Snow Moon, and after considerable discussion the matter was amicably
adjusted, and they have since prospered."
The Great Sachem then recounted appointment of Deputies for each Tribe,
dispensations granted, decisions rendered and visitations made.
Among his recommendations were the following:
"That the salary of the Great Chief of Records be increased to three
hundred fathoms." This was approved by the finance committee and
concurred in by the Great Council.
That the Great Sachem be allowed to draw on the Great Keeper of Wampum
for the expenses of that stump, from time to time, as they may become
necessary." This was agreed to after fixing the limit at one hundred
fathoms.
[Illustration: GREAT COUNCIL OF KENTUCKY--SECOND SESSION, AUGUSTA, MAY
12-13, 1896.
Great Chiefs Seated--N. Feagan, G. of W. Frank L. Smith, G. C. of R. W.
E. Fite, G. Sr. Sag. J. R. McConnell, Gt. Sachem. J. B. Mendenhall, Gt.
Prophet. J. I. Winter, G. Jr. Sag. John Armstrong, G. K. of W.]
The Great Chief of Records in his report said:
"The work of a full great sun has been crowded into the short space of
four and one-half moons, owing to the peculiar time of kindling our
first Great Council fire.
The placing of the Great Council upon a footing to transact business
has required me to cause to be printed not only the records of the first
Great Council, but also the laws, blanks for dispensations, reports,
credentials, stationery, etc., that will not have to be done again for
many great suns.
Having been authorized by the Great Council to prepare an original
design for a seal, I set about the same, and caused a skillful draftsman
to carry out my ideas in an India ink drawing, from which seals were
engraved on wood in two sizes, and a die sunk and the seal properly
prepared. The design proved a difficult one to execute and was quite
expensive, yet when I considered that it was to last for all time as the
Great Seal of the Great Council of Kentucky, I felt warranted in making
the expenditure, as the design has been highly commended by the Great
Chiefs to whom it was submitted.
I beg to submit for the consideration of the Great Council the system I
have adopted for listing, by means of a card catalogue, the entire
membership of the Order in this reservation. I have caused to be printed
two thousand cards like sample filed herewith. These cards are filled
out, one for each member, with all the information obtainable as to the
history and rank in the Order, and are filed alphabetically. This
system, started from the institution of the Great Council and kept up to
date from the semi-great sun's reports from Tribes, will enable the G.
C. of R. at a moment's notice, by referring to the catalogue, to tell
the Tribe to which any brother named may belong, when and where he was
adopted, advanced, raised and exalted; also whether or no he is a Past
Sachem, and if he has been admitted to the Great Council of Kentucky. It
will also show if he has ever been suspended, reinstated, withdrawn,
readmitted, etc., with dates in every case. In the future, I am of the
opinion this will prove to be of inestimable value. I now have the
catalogue of the Order in a complete state up to the first of Plant
Moon.
In order that this system may be carried out in every particular, I
have prepared a special report blank, which, if the Chiefs of Records of
Tribes will be particular to comply with, will enable the list to be
kept complete and accurate.
I have been unable to obtain any report for the last term from Tecumseh
Tribe, No. 5, or even an answer to any of my letters, though the last
one was registered to insure its receipt by the C. of R."
The Great Chief of Records made the following recommendations:
1st. That the Card Catalogue system, as inaugurated by the G. C. of R.,
be approved and adopted.
2nd. That the report blank in connection therewith be approved and
adopted, and Tribes be required to report in accordance therewith.
3rd. That each Tribe be required to place on file with the G. C. of R. a
copy of their by-laws in printed form.
4th. That the price schedule of supplies as printed in the first records
be approved and adopted.
5th. That the G. C. of R. be forbidden to furnish or supply any
individual members of the Order with any supplies whatever, except it be
a question book and necessary literature for the purpose of instituting
new Tribes and charter supplies to new Tribes, and to Tribes only when
ordered under the seal of the Tribe, and in no case unless paid for when
ordered, in current funds.
These five recommendations were reviewed by the committee on the state
of the Order, approved by them and were then adopted by the Great
Council.
The following statistics are drawn from the report of the Great Chief of
Records: Whole number of members at time of institution, 623; adopted
since, 525; admitted by card, 3; reinstated, 2; suspended, 7; withdrawn,
4; number of members in Tribe failing to report, 17; whole number at
present time, 1,125; rejected, 19; Past Sachems, 76; Past Great Sachems,
3; Tribes at institution, 10; Tribes instituted, 2; Tribes failing to
report, 1; Tribes in good standing, 11; balance in hands of Great Keeper
of Wampum, $117.02.
The Great Sachem appointed the following committees:
On State of the Order--H. H. Wilson, No. 1; J. W. McKibben, No. 6; W. C.
Pelham, No. 3.
On Charters--Charles A. Lang, No. 8; R. Eason, No. 1; D. P. Ort, No. 3.
On Grievances--John I. Winter, No. 6; J. R. McConnell, No. 1; L. E.
Pearce, No. 4.
The long talks of the various Great Chiefs were referred to the proper
committees.
Telegrams of congratulation were ordered sent to the various Great
Councils holding concurrent councils.
A special committee was appointed to make arrangements for having the
Great Council photographed.
The Committee on Law and Usage recommended that the various
dispensations granted by the Great Sachem be approved, and they also
reported having approved of the by-laws of several Tribes, and the
report of the committee was concurred in.
The Committee on Charters recommended that charters be issued to Shawnee
Tribe, No. 9, at Louisville, and Mohican Tribe, No. 11, at Bowling
Green, which was approved.
The Committee on Returns and Reports reported having examined the
reports of the various Tribes, and finding them correct in the main,
recommended that they be approved, and the report was concurred in.
The Finance Committee reported having examined the reports of the Great
Chief of Records and the Great Keeper of Wampum and found them correct,
and their report was concurred in.
The Mileage Committee reported the mileage account of the Great Chiefs
and Representatives, and their report was approved and warrants for the
payment of the same were ordered drawn.
The election of Great Chiefs resulted as follows:
J. R. McConnell, No. 1 Great Sachem
W. E. Fite, No. 6 Great Senior Sagamore
John I. Winter, No. 6 Great Junior Sagamore
J. B. Mendenhall, No. 6 Great Prophet
Frank L. Smith, No. 1 Great Chief of Records
John Armstrong, No. 1 Great Keeper of Wampum
Thos. M. Russell Gt. Rep. to G. C. U. S. for 1 great sun
The Great Sachem-elect made the following appointments:
R. Eason, No. 1 Great Sannap
W. C. Diederich, No. 19 Great Mishinewa
N. Feagan, No. 6 Great Guard of Wigwam
J. W. Scobee, No. 2 Great Guard of Forest
The foregoing were duly raised up at the proper time by Past Great
Sachem J. Hull Davidson, of No. 4.
It was voted that the Great Council kindle its next council fire in the
wigwam of Osceola Tribe, No. 19, at Ashland.
Great Sachem Mendenhall took occasion to officially thank
Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, for its munificent gift of a Past
Great Sachem's jewel in a few well chosen words.
The matter of the solution of the financial problem for the ensuing six
moons was referred to a special committee as follows: John D. Walker, of
No. 4; Chas. A. Lang, of No. 8; R. Eason, of No. 1.
It was voted that the Great Representatives be instructed to vote for
and use their influence in favor of the anti-saloon law before the Great
Council of the United States. Rep. Chas. A. Lang, of No. 8, wished to be
recorded as voting nay.
The Special Committee on Finance recommended that the Great Chiefs be
instructed to borrow five hundred fathoms to meet the necessary demands
upon the Great Council, and their recommendation was adopted.
It was ordered that the Great Chiefs take immediate steps to incorporate
the Great Council of Kentucky.
Rep. Chas. A. Lang, of No. 8, presented a complaint from Cherokee Tribe,
No. 8, regarding the disposition of the fees collected from charter
members of that Tribe, and it was ordered that the whole matter of the
investigation of the differences between the Louisville Tribes and the
Great Council of Kentucky be referred to the incoming Committee on
Appeals and Grievances.
The bonds of the Great Chief of Records and the Great Keeper of Wampum
were presented and approved.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved: That organizers of Tribes in this reservation shall be allowed
as commission and fee for services rendered in institution, one-half the
fees collected from charter members, the said fee to be for his own use,
and all other wampum collected, after deducting the necessary expenses
of institution, such as traveling expenses of instituting chiefs,
charter fee, etc., shall be paid into the wampum belt of the Tribe by
the organizer, and he shall make an itemized statement of said expenses.
The following resolution was also adopted by a unanimous rising vote:
Resolved: That the thanks of the Great Council be extended to
Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, for the use of their wigwam for the
meeting of this Great Council, for the very efficient manner in which
its members have entertained the members of this body, and to the kind
ladies and citizens of Augusta for the elegant banquet given, as well as
for all the numerous courtesies which we have received at their hands.
We beg leave to assure them, one and all, who have in any way
contributed to our pleasure while in their midst, that we shall ever
look back with pleasure to our meeting in their beautiful city.
Great Sachem McConnell announced the following appointments on standing
committees for the ensuing great sun:
Finance--Conrad Gensler, No. 19; J. Hull Davidson, No. 4; John I.
Winter, No. 6.
Law and Usage--W. C. Diederich, No. 19; W. E. Fite, No. 6; Willie
Walker, No. 1.
Returns and Reports--Chas. A. Lang, No. 8; R. Eason, No. 1; Thos.
Cassida, No. 19.
Appeals and Grievances--L. E. Pearce, No. 4; Thos. M. Russell, No. 3; R.
W. Jones, No. 2.
The council fire was then quenched, to be rekindled in the wigwam of
Osceola Tribe, No. 19, at Ashland, at the 10th run, rising of the 11th
sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 406.
=1897.=
THIRD GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
The third Great Sun Council fire of the Great Council of Kentucky was
kindled in the wigwam of Osceola Tribe, No. 19, on the 11th sun of
Flower Moon, G. S. D. 406, at the 10th run, 30th breath, rising of the
sun, Great Sachem J. R. McConnell presiding. All Great Chiefs were
present except John Armstrong, Great Keeper of Wampum, and N. Feagan,
Great Guard of Wigwam.
The Great Sachem made the following appointments, pro tem:
Great Guard of the Wigwam, John D. Walker, No. 4.
Great Keeper of Wampum, Mat. M. Gay, No. 18.
The Great Junior Sagamore reported the credentials of the following
named Past Sachems as being in proper form, and they being in waiting
were introduced and instructed in the Great Council Degree.
Miantonomo, No. 1--W. B. Eason.
Onequa, No. 2--J. W. Shearer.
Wyandotte, No. 3--Frank H. Bromley.
Winona, No. 4--C. M. Chasteen.
Paughcaughnaughsinque, No. 6--Geo. H. Bandle.
Hiawatha, No. 7--H. C. Rhodes, J. G. Sewell.
Cherokee, No. 8--Chas. D. Meyer, James Schrepper, Albert Spies, Herman
V. Cohn.
Shawnee, No. 9--Wm. A. Crader, Louis Vissman.
Mohican, No. 11--T. B. Wright.
Totewa, No. 14--John Hafendorfer.
Calumet, No. 18--Matt. M. Gay.
Osceola, No. 19--C. E. Horrocks, J. F. Horstman, Thos. F. Cassida, M. A.
Rodgers.
The records of the previous Great Council were approved as printed.
The Great Sachem then read his long talk. Therein he reported the
institution of the following Tribes.
Iroquois Tribe, No. 12--at Hopkinsville, on the 28th of Flower Moon, G.
S. D. 405.
Totewa Tribe, No. 14, at Owensboro, on the 4th of Buck Moon, G. S. D.
405.
Otego Tribe, No. 15, at Paducah, on the 21st of Sturgeon Moon, G. S. D.
405.
Seminole Tribe, No. 16, at Henderson, on the 25th of Sturgeon Moon, G.
S. D. 405.
Calumet Tribe, No. 18, at Mt. Sterling, on the 14th of Hunting Moon, G.
S. D. 405.
Choctaw Tribe, No. 20, at Corbin, on the 22nd of Plant Moon, G. S. D.
406.
A list of 128 questions had been propounded to the Great Sachem by
Miantonomo Tribe, No. 1, to which he made answers in his long talk, and
they were reviewed by the Committee on Law and Usage, approving the
Great Sachem's decisions in most cases and altering and reversing them
in some instances. These decisions formed the digest of the Great
Council of Kentucky at that time.
The Great Sachem said: "Having received due notice that Brother J. B.
Mendenhall, of Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, had been expelled
from all rights and privileges of said Tribe, I declared his office of
Great Prophet and Great Representative to the G. C. U. S. vacant and
appointed P. G. S. Thos. A. Hornsey, of No. 1, as Great Prophet, and
Past Sachem Chas. A. Land, of No. 8, as Great Representative to the G.
C. U. S.
On the 7th sun of Plant Moon I learned that Seminole Tribe, No. 16, had
ceased to kindle its council fire, and was contemplating disposing of
their rituals to pale faces. I therefore appointed Bro. G. B. Vargason,
of Totewa Tribe, No. 14, as a special Deputy to visit Henderson and
arrest their dispensation and secure all property of said Tribe, and to
get possession of rituals at all hazards."
The Great Sachem also reported the expulsion of E. G. Van Zandt, of
Hiawatha Tribe, No. 7.
He reported a list of dispensations granted, which were approved by the
Great Council, after having been reviewed by the proper committee.
He also said: "On the second sun of Corn Moon, 405, I received appeal of
E. G. Van Zandt from the action of Hiawatha Tribe, No. 7, in expelling
him from the Order, which I have referred to the Board of Appeals. Also
that of J. B. Mendenhall, from Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, which
is in the hands of the Board of Appeals for their consideration.
During the past great sun one Tribe has ceased to kindle its council
fire, that of Tecumseh Tribe, No. 5. Heroic efforts were made by Great
Chief of Records F. L. Smith to keep their council fire burning, but to
no purpose."
Among the recommendations made by the Great Sachem were the following:
"That this Great Council define explicitly what is the legitimate
expenses of organizer in instituting Tribes." This matter was referred
to a special committee, who reported a code of rules to govern
organizers for the ensuing great sun, and to come up for consideration
as an amendment to the by-laws of the Great Council at the next Great
Sun Council.
"That Section 1, Article XVII, of the Constitution of Tribes be amended
so as to read as follows: 'No person shall be adopted into a Tribe of
the Order, except a free white male, of good moral character and
standing, and of the full age of eighteen great suns.'" This matter was
discussed at some length, and the Great Sachem finally ruled that it
must lay over one great sun and would be in order at the next Great Sun
Council.
"That the Chiefs of Records of this reservation be more prompt in
forwarding their six moons' reports and per capita tax to the Great
Chief of Records, immediately after the 31st sun, Worm Moon, and 30th of
Corn moon of each six moons." This recommendation was concurred in by
the Great Council.
"That Past Sachems be required to procure and wear regalia according to
their rank as Past Sachems in this Great Council," and this
recommendation was adopted.
"That the decisions of this Great Council be adopted as a code and
digest for the government of Tribes in this reservation," which was
agreed to.
"As new Tribes, after being instituted, are so often left with but a
faint idea of the workings of the Order, that the Great Sachem, or some
one properly qualified, visit them at least within six moons after
institution, to instruct them in the work, or designate some Past Sachem
for this work when he cannot do it himself." The recommendation was
adopted.
"I recommend that the dispensation issued to Seminole Tribe, No. 16, be
revoked, and that the incoming Great Sachem take proper steps to receive
and recover all books and paraphernalia belonging to the Tribe, and the
same measure in regard to Iroquois Tribe, No. 12." The subject matter
was referred to the incoming Great Sachem with instructions to endeavor
to revive the council brands before arresting the dispensations.
The following extracts are made from the report of the Great Chief of
Records:
"I am pleased to report that there has been a marked improvement in the
matter of reports from Tribes, yet several of the reports received are
neither complete nor correct. As the Tribes and chiefs become more
accustomed to their duties I believe this matter will adjust itself. The
card catalogue is now nearly complete, containing the names of members
of every Tribe in the reservation to date except Iroquois, No. 12, and
Choctaw, No. 20. No report has ever been received from No. 12 at
Hopkinsville, and communications from brothers in those hunting grounds
lead me to believe the Tribe is defunct. I received a report from
Seminole Tribe, No. 16, of Henderson, for the term ending 30th of Corn
Moon last, but no tax, there being none due from them at that time.
Since then I have been unable to get any communication from their Chief
of Records. Otego Tribe, No. 15, of Paducah, has made no report for the
last six moons' term, and repeated speaking leaves to its C. of R.
during the past moon have elicited no response. I have no other
intimation that the Tribe is not in good condition.
At the last Great Sun Council I was empowered to have the Great Council
incorporated, and the same has been done, and the articles legally
recorded. Herewith I append the incorporation papers:"
Articles of Incorporation.
These Articles of Incorporation, formed and entered into to incorporate
The Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men, of the
State of Kentucky, an order instituted for the purpose of affording
relief to such of its members as may be suffering from sickness,
distress or other causes, for the furtherance of the general welfare of
the members thereof, for the better government of the Order, and for the
more effectual accomplishment of the charitable objects which are to be
furthered by the Order and this corporation.
1.--The name of the corporation shall be the Great Council of Kentucky
of the Improved Order of Red Men.
2.--The object for which this corporation is formed is to perpetuate the
legal existence of the Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order
of Red Men, to have a corporation with the legal capacity to sue and be
sued, to contract with and be contracted with, to pass the necessary
laws for the government of the Tribes belonging to and under the
jurisdiction of this Great Council, to purchase, hold, mortgage and sell
real personal property, to incur debt sufficient to carry out its
purposes, and to afford relief to such of its members as may be in
distress, and to accomplish charitable aims as are consistent with the
constitution and continued existence of the Improved Order of Red Men.
3.--Its principal office shall be located in the city of Lexington,
county of Fayette, State of Kentucky.
4.--The private property of the members of the corporation shall not be
subject to the debts of the corporation.
5.--No stock or shares shall be issued, and no dividends or profits
shall be divided.
6.--The existence of the corporation shall commence from the signing of
these articles and the filing of same in the office of the Secretary of
State of Kentucky; and the corporation shall continue in existence for a
period of 25 years.
7.--The officers of this corporation for the present shall be J. R.
McConnell, of Lexington, Great Sachem; W. E. Fite, of Augusta, Great
Senior Sagamore; John I. Winter, of Augusta, Great Junior Sagamore; J.
B. Mendenhall, Great Prophet; Frank L. Smith, of Lexington, Great Chief
of Records; and John Armstrong, of Lexington, Great Keeper of Wampum;
and they shall hold their offices for such terms as the corporation may
by by-laws determine, and until their successors are elected in
accordance with the said by-laws.
8.--That the said corporation shall from time to time establish, make
and put into execution such constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations
as may be passed from time to time by the Great Council, and may revoke,
annul, alter and amend them at pleasure, provided that they be not
repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States, or of the
State of Kentucky, or to the provisions of this act.
9.--That these articles be formed and this corporation made for the
benefit of all persons who are now members in good standing of the Great
Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men, in the State of
Kentucky, and they shall be members of said corporation without any
further act on the part of those who sign these articles, and for their
benefit from this corporation.
Signed and acknowledged this 16th day of June, 1896.
J. R. McConnell, Great Sachem.
W. E. Fite, Great Senior Sagamore.
John I. Winter, Great Junior Sagamore.
J. B. Mendenhall, Great Prophet.
Frank L. Smith, Great Chief of Records.
John Armstrong, Great Keeper of Wampum.
The Great Chief of Records, continuing his report, said: "On the 24th of
Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 405, I received the charter and effects of
Tecumseh Tribe, No. 5, of Harrodsburg. At the last Great Council the
Great Chiefs were authorized to borrow five hundred fathoms. No such
loan was ever negotiated, and the G. C. of R. and the G. K. of W. were
left to adjust matters as best they could. I issued Great Council notes
to creditors to the total amount of $376.50, all of which are now paid,
and the Great Council now has a small balance in its wampum belt, with
all debts paid. Following are the statistics of the Order in this
reservation to close of term ending 31st Worm Moon, G. S. D. 406:
Whole number of members as per last report, 1,142; adopted since last
report, 468; reinstated, 2; admitted by card, 17; suspended, 204;
expelled, 4; withdrawn, 24; deceased, 9; present membership, 1,388;
gain, 246; rejected, 17; Past Sachems, 116; Past Great Sachems, 4;
number of Tribes at last report, 11; Tribes instituted, 6; defunct, 1;
whole number of Tribes, 16; Tribes making no report, 3; Tribes in good
standing, 13; balance in Great Council Wampum belt, $73.04."
The Board of Appeals reported that they had carefully examined the
appeal of E. G. Van Zandt from the action of Hiawatha Tribe in expelling
him, and sustained the action of the Tribe. Also in the appeal of J. B.
Mendenhall, from the action of Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, in
expelling him, the committee made the same finding.
A new law was proposed providing for the consolidation of two or more
Tribes in the same hunting grounds.
The Finance Committee recommended, "That this Great Council issue
mileage vouchers to the Representatives and Great Chiefs entitle to
same, said mileage vouchers to be turned in as per capita tax by the
Tribe of which the brother is a member," which was agreed to.
The Committee on Charters recommended that charters be issued to the
following Tribes:
Calumet Tribe, No. 18, of Mt. Sterling.
Choctaw Tribe, No. 20, Corbin.
Totewa Tribe, No. 14, Owensboro.
The Great Council then proceeded to the nomination and election of Great
Chiefs, which resulted as follows, and they were raised with impressive
ceremonies at the proper time by Past Great Sachem Thomas A. Hornsey.
W. E. Fite, of No. 6 Great Sachem
John I. Winter, of No. 6 Great Senior Sagamore
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19 Great Junior Sagamore
J. R. McConnell, of No. 1 Great Prophet
Frank L. Smith, of No. 1 Great Chief of Records
John D. Walker, of No. 4 Great Keeper of Wampum
Great Sachem Fite announced the following as Appointive Chiefs:
J. W. Scobee, of No. 2 Great Sannap
H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7 Great Mishinewa
Fred J. Kramer, of No. 19 Great Guard of Wigwam
John Hafendorfer, of No. 14 Great Guard of the Forest
Thomas M. Russell, of No. 3 Great Rep. to G. C. U. S.
An amendment to the general laws was proposed providing for a penalty
for Tribes failing to make reports in accordance with the law.
An amendment to the general laws was proposed to reduce the per capita
tax.
Much time was taken in the discussion of the many decisions of the Great
Sachem, and they were finally adopted with some changes.
The Finance Committee then made the following report: "We have carefully
examined that portion of Frank L. Smith's report which properly comes to
our committee, and find the same true and correct--all vouchers being
attached. We find the books and accounts of this Great Chief in
excellent shape and we tender him our thanks for his help rendered this
committee by the simplicity and fullness of his books and accounts and
vouchers. We recommend the adoption of the Great Chief of Records'
report. We have carefully examined the books and vouchers of the Great
Keeper of Wampum, and find the same correct, and recommend the adoption
of his report with this exception: We advise that the note dated Jan.
20, 1897, payable to the Elite Stationery Co., for $135.25, and on which
there appears a credit of $85.00, be referred to the incoming Finance
Committee." Action on the foregoing report was deferred until after the
report of the Committee on State of the Order had been received.
The Committee on State of the Order recommended that the reports of the
Great Chief of Records and the Great Keeper of Wampum be referred to the
incoming Finance Committee for careful investigation, which was agreed
to.
The following resolution was offered, which was made a special act for
the ensuing great sun, to be considered at the next Great Council as an
amendment to the general laws:
Resolved: That the Great Sachem, and he for his Deputy, give a bond to
the amount of $500.00 with three good signatures, for the faithful
performance and settlement of all expenses in organizing Tribes in this
reservation.
An amendment to the constitution governing Tribes was proposed reducing
the minimum age for eligibility to membership to 18 great suns.
The point was raised that at the last Great Council the salary of the
Great Chief of Records was raised to three hundred fathoms, and that the
act was not regular, it requiring an amendment to the by-laws to apply,
and that the resolution would not hold for the next great sun. The Great
Sachem ruled the point well taken, and on motion it was voted that the
salary of the Great Chief of Records for the ensuing great sun be one
hundred fathoms.
An amendment was offered to increase the salary of the Great Chief of
Records to two hundred fathoms.
A special dispensation was ordered issued to Miami Tribe, No. 17,
permitting said Tribe to kindle its council fires once each moon.
A special committee was appointed to formulate a code of laws to govern
the organization of new Tribes.
It was unanimously voted to accept the invitation of Onequa Tribe, No.
2, of Winchester, to kindle the next Great Sun Council fire in its
wigwam.
A vote of thinks was extended to Osceola Tribe, No. 19, for its
hospitality in entertaining the Great Council.
The special committee on formulation of laws governing organizers
presented a report embracing a code of laws, which was adopted for the
ensuing great sun, to be considered at the next Great Council as an
amendment to the general laws.
The Great Sachem announced the following appointments of standing
committees:
Finance--Chas. D. Meyer, of No. 8; C. M. Chasteen, of No. 4; L. E.
Pearce, of No. 4.
Law and Usage--W. C. Pelham, of No. 3; C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2; O. R.
King, of No. 1.
Returns and Reports--H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7; Willie Walker, of No. 1;
Charles A. Lang, of No. 8.
Board of Appeals--T. B. Wright, of No. 11; Watt. M. Gay, of No. 18;
Charles A. Lang, of No. 8.
The council fire was then quenched, to be rekindled in the wigwam of
Onequa Tribe, No. 2, hunting grounds of Winchester, at the 10th run,
rising of the 10th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 407.
=1898.=
FOURTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
The fourth Great Sun Council fire of the Great Council of Kentucky was
kindled in the wigwam of Onequa Tribe, No. 2, hunting grounds of
Winchester, at the 10th run, rising sun of the 10th sun of Flower Moon,
G. S. D. 407, all the elective Great Chiefs being present. Great Sachem
W. E. Fite presided.
The Great Junior Sagamore reported the credentials of the following
named Past Sachems as being correct, and they being in the forest were
introduced and received the Great Council Degree:
Miantonomo, No. 1--H. A. Daniel.
Onequa, No. 2--M. E. Pearce, H. Lundberg.
Wyandotte, No. 3--J. Harry Richardson.
Winona, No. 4--F. M. Taylor, J. J. Finigan.
Paughcaughnaughsinque, No. 6--W. G. Knoedler.
Hiawatha, No. 7--J. W. Jarboe.
Cherokee, No. 8--G. W. Hinesley.
Shawnee, No. 9--B. W. Bierbaum.
Mohican, No. 11--J. C. Willett
Totewa, No. 14--Charles Oderman, H. W. Miller.
Calumet, No. 18--R. A. Chiles.
Osceola, No. 19--Ed Ballard.
Indianola, No. 21--W. A. B. McNutt.
Representatives' credentials were recognized from Tribes Nos. 1, 2, 3,
4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 18, 13, 21.
The Great Sachem appointed the following committees:
On Charters--Thos. A. Hornsey, of No. 1; H. V. Cohn, of No. 8; R. W.
Jones, of No. 2.
State of the Order--Frank L. Smith, of No. 1; Ben C. Nunn, of No. 14; R.
Eason, of No. 1.
The minutes of the previous Great Council were approved as printed.
The Great Sachem in his long talk said: "I have no flattering report to
make; yet I thank the Great Spirit and many loyal brothers that the
Order is in as good condition as it is, for Redmanship in Kentucky has
had a fight for existence, instead of being buoyed up by the strong hand
of co-operation and fraternal love."
He reported that on the 7th of Hunting Moon, 406, he received the
resignation of Frank L. Smith as Great Chief of Records, which he
accepted, and appointed Chas. D. Meyer, of No. 8, to fill out the
unexpired term, and that Bro. Meyer qualified and was raised on the 11th
sleep of Cold Moon in the wigwam of Cherokee Tribe, No. 8.
"While I have the honor of reporting to you but one new Tribe, yet I
feel that one good Tribe is worth half a dozen that after a short time
become a burden and a worry to the Great Council to keep them alive.
On the sleep of the 9th sun, Buck Moon, G. S. D. 406, aided by our
Great Senior Sagamore, Bro. John I. Winter, and the degree team of
Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, I instituted Indianola Tribe, No.
21, at Minerva, with 24 charter members."
The Great Sachem recounted a list of dispensations granted and
visitations made, showing that he had sat around the council fire of
nearly every Tribe in the reservation.
He made the following recommendations:
That a charter be granted to Indianola Tribe, No. 21, at Minerva. Agreed
to.
That immediate and definite action be taken in regard to Otego Tribe,
No. 15, at Paducah; Iroquois Tribe, No. 12, at Hopkinsville, and
Seminole Tribe, No. 16, at Henderson, as it is possible to save one or
more of these Tribes if this Great Council sees fit to take the steps
necessary to do so. It was ordered that the incoming Great Sachem visit
these Tribes and endeavor to relight their council brands, and that an
appropriation of 90 fathoms be made to cover his expenses.
"That this Great Council take such steps as will in the future
prevent the organization of new Tribes and leaving them bankrupt.
Too much attention cannot be given to this." With reference to this
recommendation the Great Council at the proper time passed a code of
laws governing the organization of new Tribes.
The Finance Committee reported as follows:
"We have examined the books and accounts of the Great Chief of Records,
Chas. D. Meyers, and the Great Keeper of Wampum, John D. Walker, and
find the same correct up to date. We recommend that the Great Chief of
Records have a new set of books gotten up at the expense of the Great
Council." They also recommended the payment of current accounts and
mileage of Representatives and Great Chiefs, all of which was concurred
in.
The amendment proposed at the previous Great Council providing for the
giving of a bond by the Great Sachem in the sum of five hundred fathoms
was brought up by the Committee on Law and Usage and decided to be
inexpedient and unnecessary.
Laws governing the organization of new Tribes were adopted, which are in
force at the present time and a part of the general laws.
The Committee on Law and Usage reported favorably on the following
amendment to the general laws, and recommended its adoption, but the
records do not show that any action was ever taken in the matter: "That
the Great Chief of Records shall receive for his services the sum of two
hundred fathoms per great sun, to be paid monthly."
The Committee on Law and Usage reported adversely on the proposed
amendment to admit pale faces of eighteen great suns of age, and their
recommendation was adopted and the proposed law defeated.
It was moved and seconded that Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas
be allowed representation in this Great Council, but that the
Representatives must be Past Sachems and pay their own expenses, but the
motion was tabled.
The Great Council was invited to kindle its next Great Sun Council fire
in the hunting grounds of Louisville, and the invitation was unanimously
accepted.
It was moved and seconded that "Our Representatives to the Great
Council of the United States be instructed to vote against any liquor
legislation," but the question was laid on the table.
The following amendment to the general laws was proposed to lay over one
Great Sun for action: "Resolved: That the by-laws be changed by striking
out Section 4, Article XX." This would have the effect of relieving
Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas from paying per capita tax.
An amendment was proposed, to lay over one great sun for action,
providing for the election of Great Chiefs on the second sun of the
great sun session instead of the first.
It was voted that the Great Keeper of Wampum be authorized to borrow the
necessary amount to pay the running expenses for the ensuing year.
Great Representative Thomas M. Russell, of No. 3, presented a report,
from which we extract the following:
"The question of importance to our Great Council at the late session of
the Great Council of the United States was the action of the Committee
on Appeals in the Van Zandt case, which decision will be found in the
records of the G. C. U. S. of G. S. D. 406, page 493, in which they
sustain Mr. Van Zandt's appeal, giving as a reason for so doing that he
did not receive the notices of the charges. I personally talked to
Brother Gregory, chairman of the committee, and while he believed that
Van Zandt had committed things unbecoming a Red Man, he said that the
law was very plain and they could not deviate from it."
The following is extracted from the report of the Great Chief of
Records:
Number of members at last report, 1,174. adopted, 76; admitted by card,
9; reinstated, 23; suspended, 109: withdrawn, 16; expelled, 1; deceased,
3; present membership, 1,209; gain since last report, 38; pale faces
rejected, 1; amount in Great Council wampum belt, $252.42.
Brother C. C. Conley, Great Chief of Records of the Great Council of the
United States, was then introduced and received with the usual honors.
After an appropriate address he proceeded to raise the elective and
appointive Great Chiefs as follows:
John I. Winter, of No. 6 Great Sachem
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19 Great Senior Sagamore
Willie Walker, of No. 1 Great Junior Sagamore
W. E. Fite, of No. 6 Great Prophet
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2 Great Chief of Records
John D. Walker, of No. 4 Great Keeper of Wampum
H. V. Cohn, of No. 8 Great Sannap
Louis Vissman, of No. 9 Great Mishinewa
E. E. Bennett, of No. 11 Great Guard of Forest
John Hafendorfer, of No. 14 Great Guard of Wigwam
Enos Spencer, of No. 8 Great Rep. to G. C. U. S.
The Great Sachem announced the standing committees as follows:
Finance--W. S. Roberts, of No. 7; C. M. Chasteen, of No. 4; Louis
Vissman, of No. 9.
Law and Usage--W. C. Pelham, of No. 3; E. E. Bennett, of No. 11; Ben C.
Nunn, of No. 14.
State of the Order--G. A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9; George Hinesley, of No.
8; Samuel G. Dorr, of No. 11.
Returns and Reports--H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7; T. B. Wright, of No. 11; H.
W. Ray, of No. 3.
Board of Appeals--L. E. Pearce, of No. 4; J. G. Sewell, of No. 7; George
Dehler, of No. 8.
Appropriate resolutions of thanks were then adopted thanking Onequa
Tribe, No. 2, for its hospitality and Brother C. C. Conley for his
distinguished services and counsel during the burning of the council
brand.
The council fire was then quenched, to be rekindled in the hunting
grounds of Louisville, at the 10th run, rising of the 9th sun of Flower
Moon, G. S. D. 408.
=1899.=
FIFTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
The fifth Great Sun Council fire of the Great Council of Kentucky,
Improved Order of Red Men, was kindled in the wigwam of Cherokee Tribe,
No. 8, in the hunting grounds of Louisville, on the 9th sun of the
Flower Moon, G. S. D. 408.
Representatives were present from Tribes Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9,
11, 14, 18, 19, 21.
Alonzo Walker was appointed official stenographer to report the
proceedings of this Great Council.
The following named Past Sachems were admitted for the first time:
Hiawatha, No. 7--S. O. Knoche, W. B. Leatherman, J. W. Jarbee, M. M.
Harbeson.
Cherokee, No. 8--L. S. Leopold, W. S. Marshall, H. W. Stockhoff, L. P.
Rammers.
Shawnee, No. 9--J. C. Boardman, H. W. Bohmer, B. W. Bierbaum, W. M.
Evans, G. A. Ellerkamp, E. M. Miller.
Mohican, No. 11--J. L. Small.
Totewa, No. 14--B. Rosenthall, H. W. Miller.
Osceola, No. 19--C. A. Malone.
The minutes of the previous Great Council were approved as printed.
The Great Sachem then presented his long talk, in which he said: "The
Great Book says that whom the Great Spirit loves he chasteneth; the Red
Men of Kentucky certainly stand very close to the big heart of the Great
Spirit, having been greatly tried in the fires of ignorance, stupidity
and greed. But, brothers, methinks I see behind the dark cloud that has
long enveloped Kentucky Redmanship a silver lining, denoting the rising
of the sun of prosperity. I believe the dross has been separated from
the gold; I believe the day is not far distant when I shall see Kentucky
Redmanship where it belongs numerically. To see my beloved Order on its
proper plane in Kentucky will amply repay me for many weary day's labor
in our vineyard."
The Great Sachem then recounted the appointments made and dispensations
granted by him, as well as the decisions he had made, all of which were
referred to the proper committees, as were also the long talks of the
Great Chief of Records and the Great Keeper of Wampum.
The Committee on Law and Usage reported recommending that the Great
Council concur in and adopt the recommendations of the Great Sachem, and
the report was agreed to.
The amendment to the by-laws proposed at the last session, relieving
Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas from taxation, was adopted.
The following proposed amendment was the cause of much discussion, but
was finally defeated by a small margin:
"No brother shall be eligible to the Chieftaincy of Great Sachem unless
he has served one term as an elective Chief of a Great Council; nor to
the Chieftaincy of Great Prophet unless he has served in the Chieftaincy
of Great Sachem."
An attempt was made to change the date for kindling the Great Sun
Council fire, but without success.
The incoming Great Sachem was directed to take immediate steps to close
up the affairs of Iroquois, Otego and Seminole Tribes, they each being
reported defunct.
The Finance Committee made its report approving the accounts of the
Great Chief of Records and Great Keeper of Wampum, and ordered mileage
that was to be paid those entitled thereto. The committee strongly
recommended that the Great Sachem visit every Tribe in the reservation.
Lexington was selected as the next hunting grounds in which to kindle
the Great Sun Council fire.
A rising vote of thanks was extended to Great Chief of Records Lyddane
for having waited until there was sufficient wampum in the belt before
drawing his salary, in order that the per capita tax might be paid
promptly.
The Committee on the State of the Order made its report, in which it
noted the fact that there had been a diminution in the membership for
the past great sun, but that, notwithstanding, the Order was in a
healthy and vigorous condition. It recommended that the incoming Great
Chiefs be more zealous in making official visitations.
Amendments to the general laws were offered, to lay over one great sun,
to "admit pale faces 18 great suns of age," and also to grade the
representation of Tribes according to their membership.
Bro. T. A. Hornsey, as the Senior Past Great Sachem present, raised the
following named Great Chiefs:
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19 Great Sachem
Willie Walker, of No. 1 Great Senior Sagamore
Gustav A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9 Great Junior Sagamore
John I. Winter, of No. 3 Great Prophet
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2 Great Chief of Records
John D. Walker, of No. 4 Great Keeper of Wampum
John Hafendorfer, of No. 14 Great Sannap
E. E. Bennett, of No. 11 Great Mishinewa
James Schrepper, of No. 8 Great Guard of Forest
R. A. Chiles, of No. 18 Great Guard of Wigwam
Bro. H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7, Great Representative to the G. C. U. S. for
two great suns.
Great Keeper of Wampum Walker announced that after all bills payable at
this Great Council had been settled the wampum belt would be empty, but
that there would be no debt.
After the Great Prophet had invoked the Great Spirit, the council fire
was quenched.
SIXTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
=1900.=
A special session of the Great Council was called at Louisville on the
5th sun of Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 408, and the Council fire was kindled
by special dispensation from the Great Incohonee in the absence of the
Charter of the Great Council. Great Senior Sagamore Willie Walker
presided.
The special session had been called for two purposes. First, to
investigate charges that had been preferred against Great Sachem W. C.
Diederich, accusing him of having conspired with certain organizers to
do illegal acts, and to have otherwise acted in violation of the law
respecting the organization and institution of Tribes. Second, to adjust
a dissention among the chiefs and members of Hiawatha Tribe.
Representatives were present from Tribes Nos. 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 14.
After due investigation of the charges against Great Sachem Diederich,
it was ordered that they be withdrawn, and the same being done, Great
Sachem Diederich was conducted to his stump amidst applause.
The commissions of J. B. VanZandt and W. E. Fite as organizers were
revoked.
After a thorough investigation of the affairs of Hiawatha Tribe, the
same were adjusted, and the council fire of this special session was
quenched.
Regular Session.
The sixth Great Sun Council Fire was kindled in the Hunting Grounds of
Lexington, at the 10th run, rising of the 8th Sun of Flower Moon, G. S.
D. 409.
All Great Chiefs were present and the representatives of 27 Tribes. The
gross attendance was 95 Past Sachems.
Great Sachem W. C. Diederich then read his long talk, in which he said,
"I entered upon the duties of the office with a firm determination to
devote my best endeavor to the upbuilding of our beloved Order in the
Great Reservation. Finding I had not much time to devote to the
upbuilding of our Order, I had the pleasure of appointing Brother John
B. VanZandt as my Organizer, and the progress he has made will be seen
in his report. I have, during my term, had some unpleasantness. It has
not all been smooth sailing, but now peace and harmony reign once more.
I have tried to fulfil my obligations to the best of my ability and the
Great Spirit has safely guided me through."
The Great Sachem reported having visited nearly every Tribe in the
reservation, the institution of a number of new tribes, a few
dispensations granted and decisions made.
The State Organizer, J. B. VanZandt reported the institution of 19 new
tribes, as follows:--Hiokatoo, No. 5, Louisville; Wahoo, No. 10,
Louisville; Wabee, No. 13, Louisville; Choctaw. No. 15, Louisville;
Montezuma. No. 16, Louisville; Tecumseh, No. 12, Louisville; Mohawk, No.
20, Louisville; Chippewa, No. 22, Louisville; Delaware, No. 23, Lebanon;
Black Hawk, No. 24, Springfield; Matamora, No. 25, St. Matthews;
Wyoming, No. 26, Danville; Seneca, No. 27, Stanford; Dakota, No. 28,
Junction City; Onondaga, No. 30, Lancaster; Manitou, No. 31, Eminence;
Iroquois, No. 32, Pittsburg; Massasoit, No. 33, LaGrange; Montauk, No.
35, East Bernstadt.
Great Chief of Records C. E. Lyddane in his long talk said:--"In no
other reservation has Redmanship increased to such an extent during the
past great sun as in Kentucky. Council Fires have been kindled in the
metropolis, in the country towns and in the mining villages." From his
report is gleaned the following: Number of members adopted, 1015;
reinstated, 29; Admitted by card, 10; suspended, 176; withdrawn, 34;
expelled, 3; deceased, 9; present membership, 2018; number of working
tribes, 36; amount disbursed by tribes for relief, $1,525.36; for
funeral benefits, $343.00; for other purposes, $7,386.80; total worth of
tribes, $9,247.06.
The Great Council then went into the election for Great Chiefs.
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19, was elected Great Prophet, there being no
other nominations.
Willie Walker, of No. 1 was elected Great Sachem, no others being
nominated.
G. A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9 was elected Great Senior Sagamore, with no
other nominations.
W. C. Pelham, of No. 3 was elected Great Junior Sagamore, with O. R.
King, of No. 1, S. C. Moore of No. 7 and John Ropke, of No. 8 also in
nomination.
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2 was elected Great Chief of Records without
opposition.
John D. Walker, of No. 4 was elected Great Keeper of Wampum by
acclamation.
Louis Vissman, of No. 9 was elected Great Representative to the Great
Council of the United States for two great suns, E. E. Bennett, of No.
11 and J. R. McConnell, of No. 1 being also in nomination.
Danville was selected as the place for the kindling of the next council
fire, Maysville and Owensboro being also in nomination.
A resolution was introduced and adopted to elect a General State
Organizer.
After one of the most spirited races of the session, John Hafendorfer,
of No. 14, was elected over J. B. VanZandt, of No. 9.
This was the first time an official Organizer had been selected by the
Great Council, heretofore it having been considered entirely within the
power of the Great Sachem to regulate the matter to suit himself, the
theory being that the Great Sachem was the official Organizer, and it
was his privilege to appoint such deputies as he thought proper.
An amendment to the laws was adopted permitting membership of palefaces
18 great suns of age, with the proviso that such applications should
bear the endorsement of parent or guardian.
A resolution was offered providing for representation of tribes in the
Great Council according to membership, but the matter was laid on the
table.
Charters were ordered issued to all Tribes instituted during the
previous great sun.
On the recommendation of the Committee on Returns and Reports it was
ordered that in the future the organizer of a new Tribe shall file a
written report of its institution within one moon thereafter.
On the recommendation of the Committee on the State of the Order it was
ordered that no "Supervisory District Deputy Great Sachems having
authority over tribal Deputies be appointed."
The following resolution was unanimously adopted:--"The roll of Great
Chiefs and Representatives shall be called at the close of each sun's
session and no brother shall be entitled to mileage unless he shall
answer thereto."
It was also ordered that the Great Sachem be required to visit every
Tribe in the Reservation at least once during his term, and the finance
committee was directed to set aside an amount sufficient to cover
expenses incurred. This would be quite an expensive matter if followed
in the present day, and the Great Sachem's term would have to be
extended to cover more than one sun or it would be impossible for him to
comply with the law.
Past Sachem Frank L. Smith was allowed a small fee for his services as
Assistant Great Chief of Records, being the first recognition of such a
sub-chieftaincy.
The Great Sachem ruled that representatives of Tribes not having been
instituted two moons and not having paid tax were not entitled to
mileage. The fiscal great sun at that time ended the 30th of Worm Moon,
and the Great Sun Council was held then as now the second Tuesday in
Flower Moon, and but few tribes were thus deprived of mileage for their
representatives.
The Finance Committee recommended the allowance of mileage to 38 Great
Chiefs and Representatives, amounting to $161.70, an average of $5.22 to
each.
The Great Sachem's expense account of $97.37 for the great sun was
allowed.
A controversy between Tippecanoe Tribe, No. 29 and Hiawatha Tribe, No.
7, regarding a claim of the latter against the former that certain
Hiawatha members had taken membership in Tippecanoe without leave or
license was adjusted by ordering that such members take cards from
Hiawatha Tribe. It would seem that the matter should have been settled
in a different manner, as it is not possible for dual membership to
exist, and the brothers in question were members of either one tribe or
another, and as membership of a Red Man in another Tribe is impossible
without the depositing of a card, it should have been ruled that the
brothers were still members of Hiawatha Tribe and subject to its laws in
every respect.
Past Great Sachem J. R. McConnell raised the following named Great
Chiefs:--
Willie Walker, of No. 1 Great Sachem.
G. A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9 Great Senior Sagamore.
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19 Great Prophet.
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2 Great Chief of Records.
John D. Walker, of No. 4 Great Keeper of Wampum.
W. B. Eason, of No. 1 Great Sannap.
Wm. A. Crader, of No. 9 Great Mishinewa.
M. M. Harbeson, of No. 7 Great Guard of Wigwam.
Geo. W. Griffith, of No. 11 Great Guard of Forest.
Past Great Sachem McConnell appointed Thos. M. Russell and Henry W. Ray,
of No. 3, to raise the Great Junior Sagamore elect, W. C. Pelham, to
his stump in the council chamber of his Tribe.
Former organizer J. B. VanZandt presented petitions for charters for
Irondequoit Tribe, No. 38, at Hardinsburg and Choctaw Tribe, No. 39 at
Bardstown, and it was ordered that charters be granted the tribes as
soon as instituted.
Great Sachem Walker announced the appointment of the following
committees:--
On Finance.--John M. Shely, of No. 1; Chas. A. Hess, of No. 10; J. M.
Martin, of No. 2.
On Laws and Usage.--Ben. C. Nunn, of No. 14; E. E. Bennett, of No. 11;
Frank L. Smith, of No 1.
On Returns and Reports.--Henry W. Ray, of No. 3; W. E. Grubbs, of No.
28; Michael Grau, of No. 17.
On Appeals.--Wm. M. Evans, of No. 9; R. A. Chiles, of No. 18; H. V.
Cohn, of No. 8.
On State of the Order.--John Ropke, of No. 8; W. A. Waters, of No. 24;
J. W. Scobee, of No. 2.
After thanks had been given to Miantonomo Tribe for its courteous
entertainment of the Great Council, and to Past Great Sachem Diederich
for his services as Great Sachem, the Great Prophet said a prayer, and
the Council Fire was quenched.
SEVENTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
=1901.=
Prior to the kindling of the council fire, the Great Council was called
to order at the Opera House by Past Sachem V. Freeman, chairman of the
local committee, and after an invocation by the Rev. J. O. Vaught, in a
few well chosen remarks he introduced the Hon. William Jennings Price,
who delivered an address of welcome, which was a beautiful word picture.
This was appropriately responded to by Great Sachem Willie Walker, after
which the guests were dismissed and the Seventh Great Sun Council Fire
of the Great Council of Kentucky was kindled in the Wigwam of Wyoming
Tribe, No. 26, Hunting Grounds of Danville.
All of the Great Chiefs were present and twenty-six Past Sachems. Frank
L. Smith was appointed Assistant Great Chief of Records.
The Great Council Degree was conferred upon forty-one Past Sachems in
waiting, and thus the total attendance at the session was 78.
Representatives were present from 42 Tribes and but two were
unrepresented.
Great Sachem Willie Walker, in his long talk said--"The past great sun
has wrought most magnificent results and shows what human desire and
harmonious action can accomplish. Where the banner of thirty-six Tribes
and one council of the Degree of Pocahontas hung in the breeze, there
now triumphantly floats, kissed by the winds of heaven, thirty-one
additional emblems, and one of the Degree of Pocahontas." He may well
have been proud of his record, for not until five great suns had passed
was it even equaled. He also said--"One of the most exalted things a
man can do is to succor the distressed, feed the hungry and clothe the
poor, and especially to care for the widows and orphans. We should by
all means begin a fund for the establishment of a Widows' and orphans'
Home for our Order. I suggest that a committee of five be appointed
to formulate a plan by which we can establish this fund and that they
report at this Council." This was the first mention in the Great Council
of Kentucky of this subject, soon destined to be one of the most
important objects of legislation, and Great Sachem Walker has the credit
of its inception.
After having made several other important recommendations, given a list
of his appointments of Deputies, a digest of decisions and opinions
rendered, he closes with a glowing tribute to deceased Past Sachems John
R. Shely, of No. 1; R. W. Jones, of No. 2 and Joe Gast, of No. 18.
The Great Chief of Records Lyddane reported as follows:--
Adopted since last report, 1564; reinstated, 38; admitted by card, 23;
suspended, 266; withdrawn, 69; expelled, 22; deceased, 28; present
membership, 3,196. Disbursed by Tribes for relief, $3,921.43; for burial
of the dead, $1,065.00; for other purposes, $15,025.86; total worth of
tribes, $13,478.09.
Great Keeper of Wampum John D. Walker reported there being $1,851.64 in
the Great Council wampum belt.
The Great Sachem made appointments on the standing Committees as
follows, to fill vacancies:--
Finance--W. S. Cramer, of No. 1; Lawrence Leopold, of No. 8; L. Vissman,
of No. 9.
Law and Usage--D. N. Zimmerman, of No. 4.
Appeals--H. S. Chase, of No. 28.
State of the Order--Henry Schwieters, of No. 8; J. R. McConnell, of No.
1; Jas. R. W. Smith, of No. 63.
Charters--R. F. Arnett, of No. 1; L. W. Zweydorf, of No. 7; S. T. Noe,
of No. 24.
The following named Great Chiefs were elected for the ensuing great
sun:--
Willie Walker, of No. 1 was elected Great Prophet without opposition.
Gustav A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9, was elected Great Sachem, there being no
other nominations.
W. C. Pelham, of No. 3 was unanimously elected Great Senior Sagamore.
H. J. McFarlan, of No. 33, was elected Great Junior Sagamore, other
candidates being E. B. Ryan, of No. 4; Lee W. Zweydorf, of No. 7; O. R.
King, of No. 1.
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2 was re-elected Great Chief of Records without
opposition.
John D. Walker, of No. 4 was unanimously re-elected Great Keeper of
Wampum.
Willie Walker, of No. 1, Lawrence S. Leopold, of No. 8 and John
Hafendorfer, of No. 14 were elected Great Representatives to the Great
Council of the United States.
It developed later that Kentucky was entitled to only two of the three
Great Representatives elected, and thus credentials were not issued to
Past Sachem Hafendorfer, he being the last to be elected.
F. W. Jones was unanimously elected State Organizer.
Owensboro was selected as the next place for kindling the Great Council
Fire, in the Wigwam of Totewa Tribe, No. 14.
Great Sachem Willie Walker announced that contributions had been
received from Kentucky Tribes for the relief of the sufferers from the
Galveston flood amounting to $242.50, which had been forwarded to the
Relief Committee.
[Illustration: GREAT COUNCIL OF KENTUCKY--SEVENTH SESSION. DANVILLE, MAY
14-15, 1901.]
The Committee on Law and Usage recommended that there be some means
adopted to bring about more uniformity in Tribal by-laws, and suggested
that a model code be prepared as a guide to new tribes especially.
A resolution to amend the laws so as to allow Tribes representation
according to membership was defeated.
Great Mishinewa Wm. A. Crader, for the special Committee appointed at
the last Great Council to adjust the differences between Tecumseh Tribe,
No. 29 and Hiawatha Tribe, No. 7 reported that the matter had been
amicably settled.
Past Sachem John Hafendorfer, who had been elected State Organizer at
the previous Great Sun Council presented a report, in which he stated he
had appointed F. W. Jones as Chief Deputy Organizer, and that credit was
due to Bro. Jones for the work that had been accomplished, thirty-one
new Tribes having been instituted.
The Finance Committee reported having found the books and
accounts of the Great Chief of Records and Great Keeper of Wampum
correct, and made the following recommendations, all of
which were concurred:--
That fifty fathoms be appropriated for the relief of the Galveston
flood sufferers.
That mileage be allowed all members of Standing Committees. This was the
first time members of the Standing Committees had been paid.
That the Great Sachem be authorized to appoint a State Exemplifier, and
that $500.00 be appropriated for the use of the Great Sachem and the
Exemplifier. The Great Sachem appointed Past Sachem Frank L. Smith, of
No. 1 to this position, which he has held by re-appointment each Great
Sun to the present time, 1908.
That a special Committee of three Past Sachems be appointed to
investigate the matter of a Widows' and Orphans' Fund and report at the
next Great Council. The Great Sachem appointed on this Committee, O. R.
King, of No. 1; W. M. Evans, of No. 9; and H. V. Cohn, of No. 8,
together with the incoming Great Sachem, ex-officio.
The Committee on Charters recommended that charters be issued to the
following named tribes, they having been instituted during the past
Great Sun: Cataraugus, No. 36, Livingston; Red Hawk, No. 40, Falmouth;
Shabbona, No. 46; Somerset; Oconee, No. 47, Bloomfield; King Phillip,
No. 48, Hustonville; Shingawassa, No. 50, Bardfordsville; Comanche, No.
51, New Haven; Ta wa-wa, No. 52, Vine Grove; Minewa, No. 53, Beaver Dam;
Kentucky, No. 54, McHenry; Tioga, No. 55, Sturgis; Huron, No. 56,
Versailles; Standwaitee, No. 57, Earlington; Blazing Arrow, No. 58,
Madisonville; Sagwa, No. 59, Lawrenceburg; Otego, No. 60, Paducah;
Wichita, No. 61, Mayfield; Waukee, No. 62, Fulton; Pequod, No. 63,
Louisville; Lotowana, No. 64, Midway; Maumee, No. 65, Paris; Sagamore,
No. 66, Hickman; Black Foot, No. 67, Frankfort. Juanita Council, No. 3,
D. of P., Louisville. No charter was issued to Minetonka Tribe, No. 49,
it being reported defunct.
It was reported that Shawnee Tribe, No. 9 and Tecumseh Tribe, No. 12,
both of Louisville, had consolidated, and it was ordered that a charter
be issued to the new Tribe as Tecumseh Tribe No. 9.
A resolution to establish the minimum fee for adoption and degrees at
ten farthoms ($10.00) was defeated.
Upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, mileage was allowed to
Great Chiefs, representatives and members of standing committees, sixty
in number, amounting to $473.50, being an average of $7.89 per capita.
An amendment to the general laws fixing the minimum fee for adoption at
eight fathoms was presented to be considered at the next Great Council.
The contract for printing proceedings was awarded to A. J. Domeck, of
Louisville, at 75 cents per page.
An amendment to the general laws providing for the election of Great
Chiefs by the "Australian Ballot", all Past Sachems to participate, the
election to take place in the wigwams of the various Tribes was
presented to lay over one Great Sun. This proposed law was styled by its
opponents the "Goebel" law of Redmanship.
It was ordered that portraits of all deceased Past Sachems, members of
this Great Council, be printed in the records, together with a memorial.
The Great Chief of Records was instructed to prepare a roster of all
members of the Great Council, to be kept in a book provided for that
purpose, and to have it present at each Great Council.
It was the sense of the Great Council that the Great Council of the
United States be invited to kindle its next Great Sun Council Fire in
the Reservation of Kentucky.
Past Great Sachem J. R. McConnell raised the Great Chiefs elect, as
follows:--
Gustav A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9 Great Sachem.
W. C. Pelham, of No. 3 Great Senior Sagamore.
H. J. McFarlan, of No. 33 Great Junior Sagamore.
Willie Walker, of No. 1 Great Prophet.
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2 Great Chief of Records.
John D. Walker, of No. 4 Great Keeper of Wampum.
Upon assuming his stump, Great Sachem Ellerkamp was presented with a
handsome Great Sachem's regalia by Past Sachem F. L. Smith, in behalf of
his many friends and Brothers.
The Great Sachem announced the appointment of Great Chiefs as follows,
and they were raised in due form:
W. M. Evans, of No. 9 Great Sannap.
John W. Riley, of No. 11 Great Mishinewa.
Ed. L. Hays, of No. 26 Great Guard of Wigwam.
Harry F. Davis, of No. 15 Great Guard of Forest.
An amendment to the laws was offered providing that organizers should
submit a list of all proposed charter members of a new Tribe, to all
Tribes in the same hunting grounds where same was to be instituted in
hunting grounds already containing one or more tribes. Consideration was
deferred one great sun.
The Great Sachem announced the following standing committees for the
ensuing great sun:--
Finance--Henry Schwieters, of No. 8; M. M. Harbeson, of No. 7; Henry W.
Ray, of No. 3.
Law and Usage--Wm. A. Crader, of No. 9; Frank L. Smith, of No. 1; L. D.
Owen, of No. 8.
Returns and Reports--N. G. Mothershead, of No. 57; C. S. Hill, of No.
23; E. E. Reno, of No. 41.
Appeals--M. H. McCorkle, of No. 43; F. A. Gould, of No. 10; D. R.
Breeding, of No. 50.
State of Order--A. J. Domeck, of No. 16; C. A. Melone, of No. 9; Chas.
A. Wheeler, of No. 48.
After extending a hearty vote of thanks to the Chiefs and members of
Wyoming Tribe, No. 26 for the many courtesies shown the Great Council,
the council fire was quenched.
EIGHTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
=1902.=
This Council Fire was kindled in the wigwam of Totewa Tribe, No. 14,
Hunting Grounds of Owensboro, at the tenth run, 45th breath, rising of
the 13th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 411. All of the elective Great
Chiefs were present.
Previous to the kindling of the Council Fire welcoming exercises were
held in the Court House, where Past Sachem S. W. Bedford, of No. 14, as
chairman, introduced Mayor Yewell and Bro. LaVega Clement, who delivered
addresses of welcome responded to by Great Sachem Ellerkamp, when the
meeting adjourned to the council chamber of Totewa Tribe.
The Great Sachem made appointments as follows to fill vacancies in the
appointive Great Chiefs:--
George W. Griffith, of No. 11 Great Mishinewa.
Lee W. Zweydorf, of No. 7 Great Guard of Wigwam.
Chas. R. Brent, of No. 8 Great Guard of Forest.
The Great Sachem stated that he had been requested to appoint a Chief's
Degree member of No. 14 as official stenographer of the Great Council,
but the brother not being a Past Sachem, he could not be admitted. A
motion being made that the Great Council Degree be conferred upon the
Brother in question, the Great Sachem ruled the matter out of order.
It was then ordered that the Great Council go into the nomination and
election of an Assistant Great Chief of Records. Prior to this session,
the Assistant to the Great Chief of Records had been appointed by that
Great Chief.
Frank L. Smith, of No. 1 and J. G. Sewell, of No. 7 were placed in
nomination, but Past Sachem Sewell declining to serve if elected, the
remaining candidate was elected by acclamation.
The following were appointed a Credential Committee--Great Junior
Sagamore H. J. McFarlan, assisted by Con Trouth, of No. 7; H. H.
Denhardt, of No. 11, and C. M. Chasteen, of No. 4. This Committee
reported recommending the admission of 47 Past Sachems in waiting, and
the recognition of the representatives of 37 Tribes. The total
attendance at this Great Council was 101.
From the Great Sachem's Long Talk, the following is quoted:--
"To my regret I am compelled to say, that the growth of the Order is not
as phenomenal as that of the two previous great suns when a gain of 1500
members was made, but still I am proud to state that, what a few moons
ago seemed a probable loss in membership is reverted into a gain, and
where the membership one year ago was 3269 we now have 3525 members.
Since last Great Council Delaware Tribe, No. 23, at Lebanon, Ononga
Tribe, No. 34 at Covington, Red Hawk No. 40 at Somerset, Tawawa, No. 52
at Vine Grove, Sagwa, No. 59, at Lawrenceburg, Wichita, No. 61, at
Mayfield, Waukee, No. 62 at Fulton, and Black Hawk, No. 24, at
Springfield have become defunct. After due investigation to ascertain
the cause of so many Tribes quenching their council fires, I find that
the most of the trouble can be found in the following three causes:
First, lack of proper instruction; Second, the organizer did not
exercise enough care when soliciting charter members for new tribes,
placing therein members objectionable to a majority; Third, Tribes
numerically and financially weak would overreach themselves in the
matter of buying paraphernalia, then finding themselves involved would
attempt to give a pow-wow, and instead of bettering themselves would
plunge deeper in debt and dissolution would follow. To the credit of
Bro. F. W. Jones it must be said that he exercised splendid judgement
as to the character of the charter members of the tribes he instituted
during the past great sun."
The Great Sachem enumerates his visitations, appointments of Deputies,
and decisions rendered. From the recommendations offered by that Great
Chief we quote the following:--
"The Articles of Incorporation need to be revised and I would urge
immediate attention to this matter.
The minimum fee for the three degrees should be placed at ten fathoms.
The fee for adoption in Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas should be
fixed. The laws are at present vague.
The Great Council should empower the Great Sachem to appoint an
instructor or Exemplifier, and fix his compensation. A little wampum
invested in this manner will materially enlighten and strengthen weak
and tottering Tribes."
The Great Sachem recounted the memorial services held by the Louisville
Tribes on the death by assassination of President Wm. McKinley, and paid
tribute also to the memory of Past Sachems Wm. A. Metcalf, of No. 1 and
Thos. Wendroth, of No. 17, who had passed to the great beyond since last
Great Council.
The institution of fifteen new Tribes by State Organizer F. W. Jones is
recounted, and also of two Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas.
The following consolidations are recorded:
Minewa, No. 53, of Beaver Dam with Kentucky, No. 54, of McHenry, the
council fire of the former being quenched forever.
Pequod, No. 63, with Hiawatha, No. 7, both of Louisville, the Council
fire of No. 63 being quenched forever.
Red Jacket, No. 44, with Hiawatha, No. 7, both of Louisville, quenching
forever the council fire of Red Jacket, No. 44.
Tippecanoe, No. 29, with Cherokee, No. 8, both of Louisville, the former
going of existence.
Tecumseh No. 9, which had already absorbed Shawnee No. 9 and Tecumseh
No. 12, with Cherokee, No. 8, the former quenching its council fire
forever.
An extended review is made of the efficient work done by Special Deputy
Great Sachem Wm. A. Crader in visiting weak and defunct Tribes,
endeavoring to revive where possible, and where not possible closing the
Tribes by quenching their council fires forever.
The following were appointed to fill vacancies in Standing Committees:--
State of the Order--Ben C. Nunn, of No. 14; Edw. L. David, of No. 5.
Great Keeper of Wampum John D. Walker made his report showing balance in
wampum belt of $2,537.37.
The Great Chief of Records presented his Long Talk, from which we make
the following extracts: Members adopted since last report, 1221;
admitted by card, 110; reinstated, 35; suspended, 513; expelled, 2;
withdrawn, 55; deceased, 25; disbursed by Tribes for
relief, $5,247.45; for burial of the dead, $1,050.00; for other
purposes, $17,152.19; amount invested by Tribes, $7,742.08; total worth
of Tribes, $17,079.23.
The election of Great Chiefs was then entered into, with the following
results:--
Gustav A. Ellerkamp was unanimously elected Great Prophet.
W. C. Pelham, of No. 3, being the only nominee for Great Sachem was
elected by acclamation.
Horace J. McFarlan, of No. 33, was elected Great Senior Sagamore without
opposition.
H. H. Denhardt, of No. 11, was elected Great Junior Sagamore on the
third ballot, other candidates being W. A. Crader, of No. 8, L. L.
Bebout, of No. 60, and O. R. King, of No. 1.
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2, being the only candidate, was unanimously
elected Great Chief of Records.
S. C. Moore, of No. 7 was elected Great Keeper of Wampum, there being no
other nominee. John D. Walker, the former encumbent having served five
great suns successively was given the honors of a Past Great Sachem, and
he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
Past Great Sachems G. A. Ellerkamp and John D. Walker were elected Great
Representatives for two great suns each. Other candidates in nomination
being F. W. Jones, of No. 14 and John Hafendorfer, of No. 14.
The Great Sachem announced the following appointments to fill vacancies
on Committees:--
Appeals--J. M. Clifford, of No. 10; Ben H. Schrader, of No. 5; W. B.
Eason, of No. 1.
Charters--J. G. Sewell, of No. 7; C. A. Woolfolk, of No. 7; L. L.
Bebout, of No. 60.
It was ordered that the matter of organization of new Tribes for the
ensuing Great Sun be left in the hands of the Great Sachem, he to
appoint such organizer or organizers as he might deem for the best
interests of the Order.
Maysville was unanimously selected as the place for kindling the next
Great Sun Council Fire.
The special Committee appointed at the last Great Sun Council to present
a plan for the establishment of a Widows' and Orphans' Fund presented a
report embodying the text of a law and recommended its adoption, but
its consideration was deferred one great sun that the matter might be
referred back to the tribes for thorough discussion therein. The bill,
as recommended by this Committee was adopted four great suns later with
some slight modifications.
The Committee on Law and Usage reported having prepared a model code of
by-laws for the use of Tribes, and they having been promulgated by the
Great Sachem were already in use by many Tribes.
A law was enacted establishing the minimum fee for adoption at eight
fathoms, it formerly being three fathoms.
An amendment to the law was adopted requiring organizers to submit a
list of all candidates for charter membership to all tribes in the same
hunting grounds.
The Great Representatives to the Great Council of the United States made
a written report, which was the first time this had been done.
State Organizer Jones reported having instituted fourteen new Tribes,
and gave data in regard to each.
It was ordered that the Great Representatives invite the Great Council
of the United States to kindle its Great Sun Council Fire in 412 in the
hunting grounds of Louisville.
The bill proposed at the previous Great Sun Council, providing for the
election of Great Chiefs in the Council Chambers of Tribes, by the
"Australian" ballot, was reported on adversely by the Committee on Law
and Usage, and thus the so-called "Goebel" bill was defeated.
On the recommendation of the Committee on Laws and Usage, it was ordered
by the Great Council that Tribes must pay benefits to a disabled brother
as long as his disability should continue. It had been the custom of
Tribes to provide by a by-law to that effect that benefits should cease
after a stated period. The ruling also provided that the minimum amount
of benefits to be paid should be a sum equal to the dues of the brother
that might accrue during his disability, or in other words, enough to
keep the brother in good standing. Later the Great Council of the United
States fixed the minimum amount at one fathom per seven suns.
A resolution was adopted requiring the financial Great Chiefs to give
bond in an indemnity bonding company, and that the Great Keeper of
Wampum should be paid a salary of fifty fathoms per Great Sun.
The Finance Committee, among other recommendations offered the following
which were agreed to:--
That the Assistant Great Chief of Records be allowed fifty fathoms for
his services.
That the printing for the ensuing Great Sun be awarded to the "American
Red Man" at 95 cents per page.
That five hundred fathoms be appropriated for the use of the Great
Sachem for the best interests of the Order.
The minimum fee for adoption in Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas was
fixed at one fathom.
Charters were granted the following new Tribes:--Otawa, No. 68, Olive
Hill; Powhatan, No. 69, Carrollton; Sioux, No. 70, Louisville; Little Ha
Ha, No. 71, Owenton; Morning Star, No. 72, Fordsville; Warsaw, No. 73,
Rockport; Floating Canoe, No. 76, Richmond; Shawnee, No. 77, Georgetown;
Grand Glaze, No. 79, Monterey; Ptocawa, No. 80, Louisville; Yosemite,
No. 81, Louisville; Appalachia, No. 82, Pineville; Passyunk, No. 83,
Harrodsburg; Spotted Wolf, No. 84, Coalton; Red Cloud, No. 85, Warsaw;
Big Eagle, No. 86, Sanders; Alfaretta Council, No. 4, Louisville;
Prairie Flower, No. 5, Newport.
On the recommendation of the Finance Committee mileage was allowed the
Great Chiefs, Representatives, and Members of Standing Committees,
amounting to $610.47, being paid to 68 individuals, an average of $8.97
per capita.
An amendment was proposed to be considered at the next Great Sun Council
advancing the minimum fee for adoption to fifteen fathoms.
A resolution was adopted instructing the Great Representatives to
endeavor to have a change made in the grip.
An emblematic Tomahawk was ordered presented to Totewa Tribe, No. 14, in
commemoration of the present session of the Great Council in its wigwam.
It was ordered that a committee of two be appointed to prepare new
Articles of Incorporation, and the Great Sachem appointed Lawrence S.
Leopold, of No. 8, and H. J. McFarlan, of No. 33.