IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN, an American civic society, with benevolent and social characteristics, organized 14 Oct. 1833. Founded upon the manners, traditions and cus toms of the aborigines of the Western World, the Order adopted their unique figures of speech, which it transmits with historical accuracy. Knowing that some time the Indian race will become extinct it intends to occupy an original place in public interest as the repository of In dian customs, Indian traditions and Indian nomenclature. The Order's motto is dom, Friendship and Charity.' Its interpreta tion, as promulgated by official authority, may be concisely stated in these words: Freedom, in honor of that race to whom the forests, the plains, the hills and the valleys of this land were as free as the air to the eagle, and in memory of the early struggles to wrest these United States from dependency to foreign rule. Friendship, to commemorate the unswerving loyalty with which an Indian maintained a noble and unselfish affection for him to whom it was plighted, and which makes sweet and last ing the relations that one member bears to an other. Charity, the love expressed to a brother by those who meet around the brightly burn ing council fire; the sympathy which is pleased at his success, and the fraternal affection that grieves over his sorrows and disappointment.
The Order is organized along the familiar lines of civic societies. Its supreme power is the Great Council of the United States, and from this body emanates all authority for the establishment of local branches in towns and cities; also Great Councils in States and Territories and in the Dominion of Canada. State and Provincial Great Councils, under restricted delegated authority, exercise governmental oversight,— within their respec tive jurisdiction,— similar to that of the Great Council of •the United States. Local branches of the Order are Tribes, Degree Councils and Councils of the Degree of PoCahontas. The Great Council of the United States has for its chiefs, or officers, the presiding and executive official, who is called the Great Incohonee; the Great Senior Sagamore, second in authority; Great Junior Sagamore, third officer; Great Prophet, who is often a Past Great Incohonee; the Great Chief of Records, or Grand Secre tary; the Great Keeper of Wampum, or Grand Treasurer; Great Tocakon, the messenger of the presiding officer, or Grand Marshal; the Great Minewa, an officer in charge of the inner wicket; and the Great Guard of the Forest, guardian of the outer door. State Great Coun
cils have chiefs whose duties correspond to the officers of the supreme body, as follows : Great Sachem, presiding chief ; Great Senior Saga more, Great Junior Sagamore, Great Prophet, Great Chief of Records, Great Keeper of Wam pum, Great Sannap, Great Mishinewa, Great Guard of Wigwam, Great Guard of Forest. The chiefs of a tribe are: The Sachem, who presides; Senior Sagamore, Junior Sagamore, Prophet, Chief of Records, Keeper of Wam pum, Collector of Wampum, First and Second Sannap, four Warriors, four Braves, the Guard of the Wigwam and Guard of the Forest. In Degree Councils the chiefs governing them are similar to those of a tribe. The Councils of Pocahontas admit white women to membership, and those of the order who have attained to the Chief's Degree. The chiefs of the council,— whose duties are defined in an ornate ritual,— are: Pocahontas, presiding officer; Wenonah, Powhatan, Keeper of Records, Collector of Wampum, Keeper of Wampum, First and Sec ond Scout, First and Second Runner, two Counsellors, four Warriors, Guard of Wigwam, and Guard of the Forest. Provision has also been made for the establishment of State Great Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas, similar in authority to those of the Tribal Branch, the officers of which run parallel with local coun cils. The names of the chiefs have the prefix of "great," and these Great Councils are given jurisdiction over this degree, all under the sov ereignty of the Great Council of the United States. After various attempts to organize a branch for the "display element,' legislation created, in 1899, the Red Men's League, with a uniform resembling the ((Continental). and a perfect military code. Into this organization were merged prior uniformed bodies and bene ficial councils. The adoption of consistent laws i at once secured a continued increase in this branch of the Improved Order of Red Men.