EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH BY AN INDIAN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 200, 29 August 1874, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH BY AN INDIAN.

(Commended specially to the notice of Dr. Redwood.) At a Masonic banquet given in Chicago, 111., a short time ago, Ely 8. Parker, a chief of the Six Nations, and a practising lawyer of Galena, delivered a speech, which is thus spoken of in an article in the Masonic Journal: —“ One speech of the evening, also an incident attending it, deserves more particular mention. It was that of Bro. Sir Knight Parker, a grandson of Red Jacket, and his successor of the Six Nations. He is a full blooded chief, but highly educated, and an eloquent speaker. I shall not attempt even an outline of his speech, for if re-produced, it should be with its charms of action and utterances which very few' men can equal. He spoke of himself as almost a lone remnant of what was once a noble race ; of his coming to manhood, and seeing his race disappearing as the dew before the morning sun. As he found his race wasting away, he asked himself—- ‘ Where shall I find home and sympathy, when our last council fire is extinguished ? I said I will knock at the door of Masonry, and see if the white race will recognise me, as they did my ancestors when we were strong and the white man weak. I knocked at the door of the Blue Lodge, and found brotherhood around his altar. I went before the great light in the chapter, and found their valiant sir knights willing to shield me here without regard to race or nation. I went further. I knelt at the cross of my Saviour, and found Christian brotherhood the crowning charity of the Masonic tie. lam happy to meet you in the grand councils of the gatherings, and sit with you at this festive board to share those greetings and hospitalities. I feel assured that when my glass is run out, and I shall follow the footsteps of my departed race, Masonic sympathisers will cluster around my coffin, and drop in my lonely grave the evergreen acaia, sweet emblems of a better meeting. If my race shall disappear from the continent, I have a consoling hope that our memory shall not perish. If the deeds of my ancestors shall not live in story, their memories remain in the name of our lakes and rivers, your towns and cities, and will call up memories otherwise forgotten.” Few eyes could withhold their tears as he poured forth in words like those the utterance of a full heart. Silence for a time prevailed after he sat down; he again rose and said “ I have in my possession a memento which I highly prize ; I wear it near my heart. It came from my ancestors to me as their successor in office. It was a present from Washington to my grandfather, Red Jacket, when our nation was in its infancy. You will be glad to see and handle it, and I should do wrong not to give you the opportunity.’ As he spoke thus he moved the wampun neck, and drew from his bosom a large massive medal in an oval form, about seven inces by five, and it passed from hand to hand along the tables. On oue side of this medal were engraved in full length the figures of two chiefs— Red Jacket in costume, presenting the pipe of peace, and Washington, with right hand extended, as in the act of receiving it. On the other side, the Masonic emblems, with the date 1792, if memory is correct.”