The Chemawa American, April 01, 1916, Page 11, Image 11

THE CHEMA W A
AMERICAN
9
teachings of Christianity, but it still has many devout adherents.
This code is known amongst the Iroquois as Gai-wi-wo, and it is pro­
claimed for the benefit of the people twice in the year, at the meeting
of the Six Nations in September and at the midwinter thanksgiving.
There are six preachers or holders" who expound this teaching to the
tribes, during the recital of which the preacher stands at the fireplace
of the council house which serves as the altar, and his exposition of the
code continues during three days. It is a time of “ revival” among the
so-called pagan Indians, and often brings the Iroquois from the Cana­
dian reservations over to join in the general dissemination of the pre­
cepts of the prophet.
Handsome Cake was born in 1735 on the Genesee river, near the pres­
ent town of Avon, Livingston county, and is buried on the Onondaga
reservation where a monument stands to his memory. Though a sach­
em of the Seneca nation, his inspirations came to him only after he had
wasted his prime of life. His teachings are somewhat enterwoven with
natural superstitions, and in this, too, his code is not unlike that of oth­
er historic religions, but there is so much of excellence in his teachings
that their vitality is still evinced by the earnest effort on the part of his
followers to carry out his precepts. He made no definite claim, he did
not pose as infallible or even as truly virtuous, and Chief Cornplanter,
now one of the expositors or “ holders” of the code, says of him, “ We
do not worship him; we worship one great Creator; we honor and re­
vere our prophet and leader; we revere the four messengers who watch
over us, but the creator alone do we worship.”
The Six Nations’ centennial of the death of Handsome Lake took
place on the Onondaga reservation! during the first week of November,
last year. Hundreds of visiting Indians and their white friends took
part in the ceremonies of condolence.
A J E A G U E OF P E A C E
j
T he Iroquois Confederacy was a league of peace. The reader into
the history of our colonial struggles, stained too often with the gory
recitals of Iroquois invasions, will hardly think of the Six Nations as
confederated for purposes of peace. But they were, and more than
that, this Iroquois Confederacy was a League to Enforce Peace. The
tribes were bound by their most sacred oaths, confirmed in council by
their most revered and solemn ceremonies and symbols, to keep peace
among themselves and to add to their number other tribes that would
join them in this purpose. The symbol of this confederacy was the
e\ergrowing tree,’ shown on their great wampum now in the State