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.
GREAT COUNCIL OF KENTUCKY—SEVENTH SESSION. DANVILLE, MAY 14-15, 1901.
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:—
Upon assuming his stump, Great Sachem Ellerkamp was presentedwith 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:
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.
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:—
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 itmust 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 recommendedits 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.
Great Representative Lawrence Leopold presented a ring to Great Sachem Ellerkamp in behalf of the Past Sachem's Association of Louisville.
Past Great Sachem W. C. Diederich, senior Past Great Sachem present raised the Great Chiefs elect as follows:—
GREAT COUNCIL OF KENTUCKY—EIGHTH SESSION, OWENSBORO, MAY 13-14, 1902.
GREAT COUNCIL OF KENTUCKY—EIGHTH SESSION, OWENSBORO, MAY 13-14, 1902.
The Great Sachem announced the following as members of Standing Committees for the ensuing great sun:—
Finance—Henry W. Ray, of No. 3; O. R. King, of No. 1; W. M. Evans, of No. 8.
Law and Usage—Frank L. Smith, of No. 1; W. A. Crader, of No. 8; Geo. C. Wolf, of No. 77.
Returns and Reports—Robert Lee Page, of No. 80; N. G. Mothershead, of No. 57; Forsee D. Lee, of No. 71.
Appeals—Louis Vissman, of No. 8; C. H. Bateman, of No. 50; Sebastian Stone, of No. 56.
State of the Order—L. L. Bebout, of No. 60; J. H. Kemper, of No. 18; L. E. Herrell, of No. 54.
After Past Sachem Frank L. Smith, of No. 1 had exemplified the unwritten work of the Order, the Council Fire was quenched to be rekindled in the wigwam of Wyandotte Tribe, No. 3, hunting grounds of Maysville, G. S. D. 412.
Previous to the kindling of the council fire an excellent program of welcome was rendered, including musical selections by the Red Men's Band, and addresses by Past Great Sachem John I. Winter, Past Great Incohonee Thomas K. Donnalley, of Pennsylvania, and Great Sachem Pelham.
At the 10th run, rising of the 12th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 412, the ninth Great sun council fire was kindled in ample form, all elective and appointed Great Chiefs being present, as well as 78 Past Sachems.
D. N. Zimmerman, of No. 4 and Thomas M. Russell, of No. 3, were appointed to assist Great Junior Sagamore Denhardt in the examination of credentials, which committee soon reported the presence of fifty-six Past Sachems in the forest for the first time, and they were admitted to seats in the Great Council, making the total attendance 134.
The roll call of representatives disclosed the presence of the representatives of fifty-seven Tribes out of sixty-three.
An election for Assistant Great Chief of Records was then entered into, and Past Sachem Frank L. Smith was chosen, the opposing candidate being P. P. Doll, of No. 8.
Great Sachem Pelham presented his long talk in print, the first time it had been done, which met with the approval of all.
The following quotations are from that document:—
"I am proud to say the condition of the Order in this Reservation is prosperous and progressive. Probably fifteen hundred names have been added to the roster of membership during the past great sun, and with few exceptions the Tribes and Councils are on the hunt for palefaces with that enthusiasm and energy that knows no such word as fail."
In regard to Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas he said:—"This branch of the Order appears to have been almost entirely neglected by former Great Councils of this Reservation. The tax formerly assessed against members of Councils was repealed by this Great Council at its fifth session, and I find no mention of them in the Records since.
Experience has shown that the Tribe and Council are each benefited by the presence of the other, and the membership of both are alike interested in the upbuilding of their local branches and in the advancement of the interests of the Order generally.
Under the care of this Great Council are five Councils who are entirely at sea in the matter of laws for their government; and it would surely be wise in this body to formulate a code for their benefit.
Diligent inquiry failing to furnish me with the name of any person who would undertake the business of organizing Tribes in this Reservation, I therefore tried to find some one in each locality who would undertake to organize a Tribe nearby. As a direct result, ten new Tribes were instituted, the organizers being in each case persons living in the near locality of the new Tribes."
The method thus inaugurated by Great Sachem Pelham has been pursued by his successors to the present, with results never equaled by any Reservation in the history of the Order.
As usual he recounts the dispensations granted, decisions made, and announces the inauguration by the Great Council of the United States of the Orphan's Guardian Fund.
"I appointed Past Sachem Frank L. Smith Exemplifier for the Reservation at large, and sent him on an extended trail, and he visited and exemplified the work to forty-one tribes in two moons. It is to be regretted that the amount of the appropriation for this purpose would not permit the visitation of every Tribe in the Reservation. That the visits and instructions were highly appreciated is attested by numerous letters from the Tribes, and they clearly remonstrate the great importance of following up the institution of a Tribe by proper instruction and encouragement, either by a neighboring Tribe or by a Great Chief or Exemplifier."
He reported the following tribes as being defunct:—Delaware, No. 23, Lebanon; Seneca, No. 27, Stanford; Narragansett, No. 43, Middlesboro; Shabbona, No. 46, Somerset; Sagamore, No. 66, Hickman; Nokomis, No. 74, Franklin.
Among the recommendations offered were the following:—
"That a code of laws be prepared for the government of Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas of this Reservation."
"That the horse be adopted as the Totem of this Reservation as recommended by our Great Representatives at Norfolk last Corn Moon."
The following appointments were made to fill vacancies:—
On Laws and Usage—C. P. Harding, of No. 5.
On State of the Order—Thos. O. Long, of No. 57.
On Charters—John H. Ropke, of No. 8; Chas. Wheeler, of No. 48; G. W. Griffith, of No. 11.
The Great Council then went into the election of Great Chiefs.
Horace J. McFarlan, of No. 33, was elected Great Sachem by acclamation.
H. H. Denhardt, of No. 11 was elected Great Senior Sagamore without opposition.
Lewis L. Bebout, of No. 60 was elected Great Junior Sagamore on the second ballot, O. R. King, of No. 1, L. D. Owen, of No. 8, and D. H. Russell, of No. 10 being also in nomination.
Henry W. Ray, of No. 3 was unanimously elected Great Chief of Records, Henry Schwieters, of No. 8 being also nominated but declined to make the race. C. E. Lyddane, who had held the chieftaincy for five consecutive great suns was not a candidate for re-election, and he was awarded the honors of a Past Great Sachem.
S. C. Moore, of No. 7 was re-elected Great Keeper of Wampum without opposition.
W. C. Pelham, of No. 3, Chas. A. Hess, of No. 10 and John H. Buschemeyer, of No. 8 were elected Great Representatives for two Great Suns each, other candidates in nomination being Lawrence S. Leopold, of No. 8; W. C. Diederich, of No. 19; Willie Walker, of No. 1; J. Robin Garr, of No. 7; John H. Ropke, of No. 8.
Great Keeper of Wampum S. C. Moore reported balance in the Great Council wampum belt as being $2,853.10.
It was agreed by unanimous vote to kindle the next Great Sun Council fire in the wigwam of Otego Tribe, No. 60, hunting grounds of Paducah.
An amendment to the laws was adopted fixing the minimum fee for adoption at four fathoms. It had been fixed at eight fathoms by the previous Great Council, and it was proposed at this time to increase it to fifteen fathoms, but with the result of fixing it at the first named figure where it has remained to the present. Muchconfusion was caused by the misunderstanding of the term "adoption fee" many supposing it to be the total fee for membership, including all three degrees. It was here defined as meaning the fee for the "adoption" or first degree of Redmanship.
The Great Chief of Records presented his long talk from which the following data is obtained:—Adopted, 2158; admitted by card, 133; reinstated, 44; suspended, 467; expelled, 16; withdrawn by card, 61; deceased, 40; present membership, 5,053; disbursed by Tribes for relief, $6,633.94; for burial of the dead, $1,604.00; for other purposes, $18,085.74; invested by Tribes, $6,705.10. total worth of Tribes, $28,280.65.
The Finance Committee reported having found the books and accounts of the Great Chief of Records and Great Keeper of Wampum in correct form, and made the following recommendations, which were concurred in:—
That Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas be assessed five in. per Great Sun for each female member, for the benefit of the Orphans' Guardian Fund of the Great Council of the United States.
That the Great Sachem and Exemplifier be allowed the sum of $1,000 for the ensuing great sun.
That the printing of the Record be awarded to the Louisville Anzeiger Co. at $1.10 per page.
That the Assistant Great Chief of Records be allowed fifty fathoms for services rendered.
Past Great Incohonee Thos. K. Donnalley, of Pennsylvania, representing the Great Incohonee of the Great Council of the United States, Thomas G. Harrison, of Indiana, addressed the Great Council and exemplified the unwritten work of the Order.
The Committee on State of the Order expressed the sentiments of all in the following:—"Throughout the entire reservation there is universal complaint at the carelessness and delay in getting the proceedings of the last Great Council in hands of the various Tribes." Although the copy had been furnished promptly to the printer, the book in question had not been delivered until just prior to the present session.
The Committee on Returns and Reports, of which Robert Lee Page was chairman paid the following tribute to Great Sachem Pelham:—"Under his guidance and administration the Order has prospered and grown in strength. His advice and decisions have been fair and impartial and his conduct such as to meet with the approbation of the entire membership. His administration is one that will ever be remembered, and we feel that we cannot give him the praise he so richly deserves. We could with greater ease addbeauty to the lily or fragrance to the rose than we could adequately express our appreciation of Bro. Pelham."
The following resolution was adopted:—That the Horse's Head on an Indian Shield as recommended by the Great Council of the United States be adopted as the totem of this Great Council, and that this Great Council reserve unto itself the right to control the manufacture and disposal of the said Totem or jewel.
The Committee on Charters recommended that charters be granted to the following new Tribes, which was agreed to:—Kabo, No. 78, Petra; Eyota, No. 87, Ball's Landing; Swift Foot, No. 88, Campbellsburg; Tallalu, No. 89, Callaway; War Eagle, No. 90, Bedford; Idaho, No. 91, Four Mile; Tallapoosa, No. 92, Milton; Mingo, No. 93, Newport; Sago, No. 94, Germantown; Wissahickon, No. 95, Lockport; Iona Council, No. 6, D. of P., Pittsburg.
Great Prophet Ellerkamp offered the following suggestions, which were adopted:—
That memorial page or pages be printed in each great sun's record containing the names of all brothers deceased during the previous great sun.
That at the opening of each Great Council every representative be handed a copy of the last record and a copy of the manual.
That the Asst. Great Chief of Records prepare a page or pages containing all new laws and resolutions enacted and also all unfinished business.
It was ordered that the Great Chief of Records prepare and have printed a suitable form upon which Deputy Great Sachems shall hereafter make their reports.
That matter of deferred business, consisting of the report of the special Committee on Widow's and Orphan's Home Fund was taken up, and on motion of Past Sachem H. C. Yunker, of No. 7 was laid on the table.
An amendment to the laws was offered to lay over one great sun providing a penalty for electioneering.
Another to take the same course was offered providing for holding the Great Sun Council in Hot Moon instead of Flower Moon.
The Finance Committee recommended the payment of mileage to 78 Representatives, Great Chiefs and members of Committees, amounting to $753.53, being an average of $9.66 per member.
Past Great Incohonee Thomas K. Donalley proceeded to raise the Great Chiefs elect, appointing as Great Tocakon Past Great Sachem Willie Walker.
The following Standing Committees were announced for the ensuing Great Sun:—
Finance—W. M. Evans, of No. 8; Henry Schwieters, of No. 8; O. R. King, of No. 1.
Law and Usage—L. D. Owen, of No. 8; W. C. Morgan, of No. 90; H. J. Northcutt, of No. 37.
Returns and Reports—Robert Lee Page, of No. 80; Forsee D. Lee, of No. 71; N. G. Mothershead, of No. 57.
State of the Order—Thos. M. Russell, of No. 3; C. H. Bateman, of No. 50; Louis Vissman, of No. 8.
Appeals—J. Robin Garr, of No. 7; C. A. Melone, of No. 8; John Hafendorfer, of No. 14.
Thanks of the Great Council were tendered Wyandotte Tribe, No. 3 for its hospitality, and after the Great Prophet had said a prayer, the Council Fire quenched in ample form.
The Tenth Great Sun Council Fire of the Great Council of Kentucky was kindled in the wigwam of Otego Tribe, No. 60, at Owensboro, at the 11th run rising of the 10th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 413.
Prior to the kindling, introductory exercises were held as follows:—Addresses by Mayor Yeiser, and Judge R. V. Lightfoot, with responses by Bros. R. L. Page, S. C. Moore, and Great Minewa, Thos. J. Smith, representing the Great Incohonee.
At the kindling of the council fire there were present all the Great Chiefs, except Great Prophet, three Past Great Sachems and 75 Past Sachems.
Lee W. Zweydorf, of No. 7 and Ben H. Schrader, of No. 5 were appointed to assist the Great Junior Sagamore in the examination of Credentials.
Past Great Sachem Willie Walker of No. 1 was appointed Great Prophet for the session, Great Prophet Pelham being unable to be present.
Upon the recommendation of the Credential Committee fifty-sevenPast Sachems were admitted to seats in the Great Council, and the representatives of sixty-two Tribes were recognized. The attendance this session was 136.
It was agreed that Representatives of Tribes instituted so recently as not to be legally entitled to representation be allowed mileage.
The Great Sachem announced the following appointments on committees to fill vacancies:—
State of the Order—C. P. Harding, of No. 5; L. H. Roberts, of No. 10.
Charters—Claude B. Terrell, of No. 90; J. M. Clifford, of No. 10; Hugh Johnson, of No. 81.
A communication was read from Great Incohonee Thomas G. Harrison, expressing his regret at not being able to be present and appointing Great Minewa, Thomas J. Smith as his representative.
The Deputy or Acting Great Incohonee was announced in the Forest and Past Great Sachems Willie Walker, Ellerkamp and John D. Walker were appointed as escorts, when he was admitted with the usual honors.
Great Sachem McFarlan presented his long talk in print, from which the following extracts are made:—
"We have much for which to extend thanks to the Great Spirit who has so kindly 'blessed us with plenty' and 'rewarded our labors two-fold'; at least have we not to be content with present conditions which everywhere indicate that the affairs of the Order are in splendid condition; that the affairs of the Great Council are in safe hands and that the rank and file is made up of indefatigable and competent workers, who are filled with enthusiasm and an earnest desire to advance the Order to that high and prominent position which it must eventually occupy and which every Red Man wishes it to attain. From every source comes to me good tidings of noble work being carried on; of palefaces being adopted; of a search for a better understanding of the fundamental principles and laws of the Order; Peace and harmony; good fellowship and brotherhood. I believe we can safely say that during the next Great Sun our membership will be increased to the extent that we shall have a larger representation in the Great Council of the United States. I wish that I could say my administration was one of perfection.