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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1914)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN AN INTERESTING INSTITUTION A CHIPPEWA INDIAN LODGE 16 JjE herewith publish an item which appeared not long ago in the International Good Templar, published at Glas vj gow, Scotland. This letter, written by Mr. Thomas b Edwards, should be of especial interest to Mr. H. A. Larson, as he at one time occupied the same position which Mr. Edwards now holds. The item follows: It may be of interest to the readers of the International to know that I organized a lodge of Chippewa Indians at Odanah, Wisconsin, at the beginning of September. Twenty-eight charter members, and several others, have applications in for membership at future meetings. The old chief with an unpronounceable name, but when rendered into Eng lish means Blackbird, joined, although he cannot speak English. He is one of the chiefs who ceded the Indian lands to our National Gov ernment, and one of the clauses in the Treaty declares that no intoxi cating liquors shall be sold or given away in the ceded territory. This clause,li however, has been violated, as have other provisions of the Treaty, to the somewhat detriment of the Indians. The old chief must be 80 years old, but is as straight as an arrow, and full of vitality for one of his age; he was glad the white man had come to do them good instead of harm them, as so often had been his experience in the past. He urged the young men to join the Order, and asked the scholars of his tribe to translate the ritual and the work of the Order in detail. A few department officers who are looking after the welfare of the In dians also joined, and it augurs well for the future of the Lodge. It al so shows there is a change taking place in the temperance question in this nation, because some years ago none of the officials would dare to identify themselves with dry forces. The Indian department, especially, was very wet, and many of the officials made money by debauching their wards, and the complaint of graft was often heard. Now, on the other hand, nearly all the prominent officials connected with the Indian depart ment are clean men, and are doing what they can to keep the Indians away from liquor, which seemed to be a general failing among the other wise noble red men. Thomas Edwards, G. C. T. Wisconsin. ifWi