Redmanship in Kentucky for Fifty Great SunsSmith, Frank L.
History
Redmanship in Kentucky for Fifty Great Suns
Smith, Frank L.
Improved Order of Red Men. Great Council of Kentucky
"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will also show if he has ever been suspended, reinstated, withdrawn,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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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