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