Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora IndiansJohnson, Elias
History
Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians
Johnson, Elias
Iroquois Indians; Tuscarora Indians
* * * * *
TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
About the year 1800, a new religion was introduced among the Six Nations,
who alleged to have received a revelation from the Great Spirit, with a
commission to preach to them the new doctrine in which he was instructed.
This revelation was received in circumstances so remarkable and the
precepts which he sought to inculcate, contained in themselves such
evidences of wisdom and beneficence, that he was universally received
among them, not only as a wise and good man, but as one commissioned by
the Great Spirit to become their religious teacher, by the name of _Ga-
ne-o-di-yo_, or "Handsomelake." This new religion, as it has ever since
been called, with all the ancient and new doctrines, was also taught,
strenuously, the doctrine of Temperance, which seemed to be the main and
ultimate object of his mission, and upon which he chiefly used his
influence and eloquence through the remainder of his life. He went from
village to village, among the several nations of the Iroquois, and
continuing his visits from year to year, preaching the new doctrine with
remarkable effect; many abandoned their dissolute habits and became sober
and moral men.
The wholesome doctrine of sobriety was not preached in vain, even among
the Tuscaroras; nevertheless, they did not embrace the ancient and the
new faith, nor its ceremonies, but the preaching of this singular person.
The influence of his eloquence, with which he enforced the doctrine of
temperance, had the effect of forming a temperance society, which was
kept up a number of years, by holding meetings and by lectures given by
the leading men of the nation, until the year 1830, when a regular
temperance society was organized, which was based on a written
constitution; and in the year 1832 there was a general temperance society
formed at the Cattaraugus Reservation, embracing all the, then, different
Seneca Reservations; and in the year 1833 the Tuscaroras reorganized so
as to be connected with the Seneca temperance society, organized at
Cattaraugus. I found the following articles in the records of the
Tuscarora temperance society, to-wit:
"Temperance Society, formed among the Tuscaroras, February 19th, 1830,
re-organized January 27th, 1833.
"PREAMBLE.
"Whereas, Present and past occurrences clearly prove that intemperance is
a great and destructive evil; therefore,_Resolved_, That we, the
chiefs and warriors of the Tuscarora Nation, will do all in our power to
arrest its progress, both in this village and elsewhere."
Experience has taught us that efforts to advance this good cause are not
in vain, encouraged by what we have already effected, we have conceded to
re-organize our society, which shall be named and governed as follows:--
"CONSTITUTION.
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