p. 127Improved Order of Red Men

This society claims to be the oldest secret society of purely American origin in existence. This claim rests on its being a virtual continuation of the Sons of Liberty, formed prior to the War of the Revolution, and the secret societies to which the latter gave birth.

In 1765 Colonel Barre made the memorable speech in the House of Commons against taxation of the Americans. In reply to Charles Townshend’s assertion that the colonies had been cared for and nourished by the indulgence of the British Government, Barre scornfully denied it, saying that care was exercised in sending unfit persons as Governors to rule over them—men whose behavior on many occasions had caused the blood of those “Sons of Liberty” to recoil within them. A secret organization had been formed of citizens of Maryland in 1764-65 to protest against the unjust and oppressive British legislation affecting the American colonies. Hearing of the speech of Barre, they at once assumed the name “Sons of Liberty.” The activity of the Sons of Liberty at Baltimore and elsewhere in Maryland as early as 1766-77, gave rise to the organization of St. George’s, St. Andrew’s and St. David’s societies in that state, composed of those who were loyal to the British crown, and it is explained that in order to ridicule those organizations, the Sons of Liberty claimed the patronage of an undoubted American, an Indian Chief named “Tamina,” whose life and exploits they professed to trace from his own descendants. They called themselves Sons of St. Tamina, afterwards Tammany. Members of this society, in 1813, organized the Order of Red Men, and from this the Improved Order of Red Men was established, in 1834, at Baltimore. Their ritual was framed on Masonic principles and the nomenclature, legends, customs and ceremonies of the aboriginal Americans introduced. Thus we have among the officers: Great Incohonee, Great Sachem, Sagamore, Sannap, Prophet, Braves and Hunters. The members are said to attend a Council, in a Wigwam, on a certain Sun of a certain Moon of the Great Sun (year of discovery, i. e., discovery of America; from which they take their date). The Great Sun commences on the first Cold Council. Fire is kindled, instead of the meeting being opened, and the close is described as the quenching of the Council Fire. Fathoms, feet and inches stand for dollars, dimes and cents. Every adopted paleface receives a new name, often that of an animal, bird, or some quality or characteristic of mind or body. The Council opens and closes with prayer.

At the proper time, the Sachem says: “Brothers, you will now rise, while our beloved Prophet invokes the Great Spirit.”

The Prophet will approach the place of the council brand and repeat the following:

“O, Thou Great Spirit of the universe, good and powerful as Thou art, whose power is displayed in the splendor of the sun, the glories of the night, the foliage of the forest, the roaring of the rivers and the great waters of the deep, look down from Thy majestic throne of grace and shed Thy bounties upon all Red Men of the forest. Do Thou, Great Spirit, inspire each Red Man’s breast with that holy courage that will teach him to paddle his canoe safely to ‘that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns.’ Teach him truth, wisdom, and brotherly love toward his fellow Red Men. Grant that our walks be upright and pleasing in Thy sight. Banish all discord from our councils, that our Council Fire may forever burn to Thy glory. Bless us with plenty, and reward our labors two-fold. May the Red Man and the paleface be friends. Enable us to prove by our good works that we are brethren, and show the stranger that with us virtue, charity, love, peace, freedom and friendship dwell. Inspire our Great Councils with wisdom, that they may be able to guide their respective Tribes in the right path, that they do not go astray and follow the path of the evil spirit. Preserve our homes from danger, and make us wise and virtuous. Teach us the trail we must follow while we live in this forest, and when it is Thy will that we shall cross the river of death, take us to Thyself, where Thy Council Fire of Love and Glory burneth forever in righteousness. O Thou, Great Spirit, hear us.”

Brothers respond: “O Thou, Great Spirit, hear us.”

The initiation is similar to what takes place in other lodges. The candidate is partly undressed, blindfolded, a rope tied around his waist and moccasins put on his feet. Having gone through some preliminary performances, the following takes place:

Guard of Wigwam: “Who comes there?”

Junior Sagamore: “The Junior Sagamore, with a pale face, whom the hunters have captured in the forest.”

(The Guard advances in the direction of Senior Sagamore and says):

Guard of Wigwam: “Senior Sagamore, the Junior reports the capture of a pale face, found astray in the sacred home of the Red Man.”

Senior Sagamore: “Admit them.”

(Enter Junior with Braves, Warriors, paleface and Scouts. The Scouts remain standing at the inner wicket. The First Sannap leaves his position, and watches every movement of the Chiefs. The others trail once around the council chamber, halting a short distance in front of the Senior’s tepee, who, beholding the captive, rushes toward him with uplifted knife, but is intercepted by the Junior, who says):

Junior Sagamore: “Hold, Senior. Our Warriors and Braves have decided that the captive shall be tortured at the stake.”

Senior Sagamore: “At the stake! Then let us proceed. Pale face, you have been captured by the Braves, and unless some Chief interposes, you perish at the stake. Why do you tempt your fate; or is it your wish to become a Red Man?”

(The pale face must answer affirmatively, or he cannot proceed.)

Senior Sagamore: “Know, then, that Red Men are without fear, and none but such can be adopted by our Tribe. Are you a man of courage?”

(Pale face answers.)

Senior Sagamore: “Then, before you can be admitted, you must prove yourself such. The honest and brave man meets death with a smile; the guilty tremble at the very thought.”

“Warriors, seize your prisoner—bind him to the stake.”

(The Warriors seize pale face and bind him to the stake with thongs.)

Senior Sagamore: “Too often have we been deceived by pale faces, who professed friendship and bravery, but who repaid our hospitality with ingratitude and treachery. What they have been, I fear he is—a spy. Therefore, prepare your keenest and brightest scalping knives, and your weightiest war clubs. Our brave Junior Sagamore will superintend the execution.”

Junior Sagamore: “Warriors, prepare for the execution. Braves, make ready and pile high the fagots. He has declared he is a man without fear. The flames from the fagots will test his boasted courage. Proceed.”

(The Warriors will secure their war clubs, the Braves will gather the fagots, and place them at the feet of the pale face and around the stake; they will place two cones of red fire on each side of the stake. When this is done, the Junior says):

Junior Sagamore: “Braves, light the fagots.”

(Two of the Braves will light the cones, and, at a signal from the Junior, the Warriors and Braves, led by the Junior, will perform a scalp dance around the pale face. The First Sannap, having observed what was taking place, hurries to the Prophet’s tepee, and explains by signs the situation to him. The Prophet, leaving his tepee and coming nearer the scene, perceiving the danger of the pale face, exclaims):

Prophet: “Hold.”

(He rushes into the group and to the captive, scatters the fagots, and seizing a knife from the Junior Sagamore, cuts the thongs that bind the pale face, and, looking at the Warriors and Braves, says):

Prophet: “Is it fit that you should execute on suspicion alone? Is it not more becoming of Red Men to show mercy to the stranger who has been found astray in the forest? The tomahawk has been buried, and the innocence of his intent has been proven by his courage. I pronounce him a man without fear. Retire. (Turning to the captive, he continues): Pale face. Kishe Manitou saw fit to create the red skin and the white, therefore they should be brothers; but the speaking books of the pale faces teach them wisdom, which makes them mistrustful and covetous. With the children of the forest it is otherwise. All their wealth and stock belongs to the Tribe in common. Honor is given to whom honor is due; and they hold it to be their duty, in every case of difficulty and danger, to assist a brother.”

“Pale face, I understand that you have said that you wished to be numbered with our Tribe; if so, I would advise our well-tried Junior Sagamore to refer your case to our Sachem, and, if accepted by him, he will impart to you that which will make the forest as free to you as the air is to the eagle, and every Red Man you meet will know you as a brother.”

“Pale face, I have done.”

(Prophet now retires to his station, and the Junior Sagamore steps up to the pale face.)

Junior Sagamore: “At the recommendation of our Prophet I will refer your case to our Sachem. What says our Senior Sagamore?”

Senior Sagamore: “What the Prophet says is good. To your care, caution and bravery, I commit the captive.”

Junior Sagamore: “Know, then, that no paleface dare approach the presence of our Sachem until he shall have obliged himself to lock up, in the inmost recess of his bosom, all he may hear and see, in the council chamber, which is to be kept secret from all persons not members of the Improved Order of Red Men. Are you willing to take this pledge of honor? (Answers.) Braves, conduct the pale face to our beloved Prophet.” (Braves conduct the pale face to the Prophet, when the Junior introduces him thus):

Junior Sagamore: “Venerable Prophet, this is the pale face whose life you caused to be spared. He wishes to take the pledge of honor.”

Prophet: “Pale face, it is a duty incumbent on me, before you can be introduced to our Sachem, to administer to you a sacred pledge of honor, one which I assure you will in no wise conflict with your civil or religious liberty. Let your thoughts be seriously upon your pledge, while you repeat it after me.”

“Therefore, place your left hand over your heart, extend your right hand toward heaven, palm outward, and repeat, saying your name when I say mine: I,————, being desirous of becoming acquainted with the mysteries of the Improved Order of Red Men, do hereby solemnly promise and declare that I will keep secret from all persons, except such as shall prove to be Improved Red Men, all signs, passwords, and other matters that are to be kept secret. And I do further promise, that I will never attempt to kindle a council fire unless I am duly and regularly authorized so to do, or assist, or participate in any council, the fire of which has been kindled by a suspended or expelled brother, or any person not authorized by the Great Council of the United States to kindle the same. To all this I promise and pledge my sacred honor, without intending any evasion whatsoever. So help me the Great Spirit.”

(The Prophet will continue:)

Prophet: “Your pledge of honor has been given, which we in faith accept. A token of my favor you must bear and to our Sachem give, ere all the signs and mysteries of this degree are revealed. (Presents him with eagle’s plume.) Behold—the eagle’s plume—fit emblem to bear to him to gain the knowledge you crave. May the Great Spirit bless and safely guide you.”

Junior Sagamore: “Braves, conduct the pale face to our Sachem.”

(The Braves conduct him within a short distance of the tepee, and then retire to rear of pale face. The Warriors all rise suddenly, and with uplifted clubs rush toward pale face, the Junior warding off the threatened blows.)

The pale face is soon instructed in the secret work and declared a member of the tribe. Besides the Adoption Degree there are the Hunters’ Degree, the Warriors’ Degree and the Chief’s Degree. For brevity’s sake I will give only the ceremonies of the highest or Chief’s Degree.

The degree application having been balloted for, the Sachem will direct the Sannap to retire to the forest, where, finding the candidate for exaltation, he will present him with the Red Tomahawk and White Feathered Arrow. All the lights in the wigwam must be extinguished except the council fire. After a few breaths, the Sachem will say:

Sachem: “Guard the wicket, let the warning be given.”

Sannap: “The Sannap and a runner from the Warriors’ Council, bearing a message to the Chiefs.”

Sachem: “Let them be admitted.”

(As soon as they have entered the wigwam, the two Pow-wows will advance and receive the warrior … the Prophet will remove the outer covering from entrance to his tent, which will then be screened only by the transparency of a human skeleton. He will light the council brand behind the skeleton and exclaim):

Prophet: “The Great Spirit is offended at his red children, and has withdrawn the visible symbol of his pleasure. The spirit of darkness has gone abroad, and spread its sable mantle over the once smiling bosoms of creation. The azure heaven above, the green earth beneath, the pleasing foliage of the forest, the shining bosoms of the lakes, the rippling waters of the swift running rivers, and the variegated hues of the angry waves of the great oceans which surround our land—all, all have merged into darkness and disappeared. The beasts of prey have gone forth, the ravenous wolf breaks the dismal gloom with his sanguinary bark, the stealthy panther utters his piteous but deceptive cries; all, all is darkness and desolation. Let us invoke the Great Spirit for mercy, for life, for light. (The Prophet removes the skeleton and says): Oh, thou Great Spirit, bless every heart sincere in freedom’s cause. Bless our fraternal band; in friendship may it stand. Extend it thro’ the land, by Thy Almighty power.”

(A few more verses of similar incantations are said and a Wampum Belt is given to pale face.)

Sannap: “Venerable Prophet, the tomahawk has been buried, and the brother returns with the sacred Wampum Belt.”

Prophet: “My son, hearken to the voice of the Prophet. The Great Spirit loves the Red Man and He is One. Let our words go quickly forth, and assemble our chiefs together, to witness the entering of this brother into the covenant of faith, which shall never be broken; that we also may be one, and have but one war club, one council fire, and one voice.”

(The Sachem, Senior and Junior Sagamores will now advance to the Prophet, bringing from their stumps the council brands, which the Prophet will receive, and uniting them in one flame, continues):

Prophet: “By the blending of these fires, fit emblems of purification, vigor and life, by which the primitive red men symbolized the mysterious union into which they were bound in the strong bonds of amity and love, let us also symbolize the inseparable ties of fraternity which shall henceforth bind us.”

“As this fire is consuming, so let the sordid and grosser passions of our nature be destroyed, as it is warm and invigorating, so let the fire of love burn within us, to nourish and stimulate us; and as its rays dispel the darkness and gloom from our midst, so may the divine law, emanating from the Great Spirit, illuminate our souls, and shed its hallowed rays upon our path.”

(Lighting the calumet, the Prophet continues):

Prophet: “As the smoke from this calumet, ascending to the Great Spirit, blends together, so may our affections blend together in this covenant of faith, which shall not be broken. You shall keep our secrets, and we will keep yours; you shall administer to our wants, and we will administer to yours. These are our words, they have gone forth from our mouths and shall not return.”

“And now, as a token and pledge of your fidelity to us, that you will fulfill to the utmost of your ability, without equivocation or mental reservation, the various requirements of this degree, its doctrines and teachings, we extend to you the calumet, by which was solemnized the most sacred compacts among the primitive Red Men.”

The calumet is smoked, the signs and grips explained, and an instruction on the symbols given.

Surely, the above is sufficient to prove that a Christian cannot belong to the Improved Order of Red Men.