537:
431:
582:
600:
136:
564:
528:
591:
546:
573:
638:
forest as free to you as the air is to the eagle." "To adopt orphans and bring them up in various ways is pleasing to the Great Spirit." "Be merciful to the stranger found astray in the forest." "It is the will of the Great Spirit that you reverence the aged." "The three sisters: our life - our supporters. Unbroken faith." "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth." "The Great Spirit spoke and the whirlwind was still. This belt preserves our words."
41:
555:
345:
152:
179:. Despite the name, the order was formed solely by, and for, white men. This whites-only rule was part of their bylaws until 1974, when the all-white clause was eliminated. Their current position is that they are now open to people of all ethnic backgrounds. In 1935 the organization claimed a membership of about half a million but, by 2011, that declined to a little more than 15,000.
464:
Red Men. It asked the other German-language groups (or Stamms) to join the new group, but few did so. The
Independent Order had a height of 12,000 members, though in the 1880s many Stamms returned to the Improved Order. It still existed in 1896, but according to Albert C. Stevens it gave "no sign of vigorous growth". In the early 1920s,
463:
In 1850, the German-language, "Metamora Tribe of
Baltimore", refused to pay a benefit, even though the Great Councils of Maryland and the United States decided that it was legal and proper for them to do so. The group then surrendered its charter and formed a new, German-speaking Independent Order of
438:
The order has historically opposed federal welfare programs, waste in government and
Communism. However, there are examples of substantial socialist participation in the organization in pockets of the United States; for example, in southern West Virginia, during the build up to the West Virginia Mine
245:
In 1834, the
Improved Order of Red Men (IORM) was started as a revival in Baltimore. It was focused on temperance, patriotism and American History. In 1835, with only two groups in place (called "tribes" by the IORM), a larger IORM was organized. Unlike the original Order, the IORM uses only expanded
257:
Sec. 1. No person shall be entitled to adoption into the Order except a free white male of good moral character and standing, of the full age of twenty-one great suns, who believes in the existence of a Great Spirit, the
Creator and Preserver of the Universe, and is possessed of some known reputable
442:
After the Civil war in West
Virginia, the Improved Order of Red Men became a fraternal organization of some notoriety for vigilante activity. The Red Men Act, West Virginia's anti conspiracy law, was passed in response to a groundswell of such violence. Occasionally this vigilante activity included
262:
In one 1886 "tribe", a member's 12 cent a week dues went into a fund which was used to pay disability benefits to members at a rate of about "three fathoms per seven suns" ($ 3/week) for up to "six moons" (6 months) and then two dollars a week. Some medical care ("a suitable nurse") was available,
476:
In 1904, another group called the
Independent Order of Red Men emerged in Virginia, this time composed entirely of African Americans. When the Improved Order objected to the use of the name, the leader of the group, R. M. Spears, had the charter withdrawn and renamed the group the "Afro-American
637:
Captions: "Red men administer no oaths binding you to any political or religious creed. They bind neither your hands nor your feet. As you enter their wigwams so you depart a free man." "If a stranger enter your abode welcome him and forget not always to mention the Great Spirit." "And make the
393:", to open a meeting is called "kindling the fire", officers' installations are called "Raising up of Chiefs" and voting is called "twigging". The Masonic influence is seen in the three basic degrees – Adoption, Warrior and Chief. There is also a fourth degree, Beneficiary, for insurance.
361:
Until 1974, the Order was open to whites only. That year the 106th Great
Council of the United States eliminated the all-white clause in what was called a "turning point for the order". In the present-day, the Improved Order of Red Men is open to people of all ethnic backgrounds.
283:" and governed by a "Great Sachem" and "Great Council" or "Board of Chiefs". The national level is the "Great Council of the United States". The Great Council consists of the "Great Incohonee" (president), and a "Board of Great Chiefs", which includes the "Great Senior
412:
when dating their documents, rather than AD (note: the Redmen did not use the Common Era reference); however, in CE 1865, a new system was devised and adopted, known as the "Great Sun of
Discovery" (GSD). The first year of the system, known as GSD 1, was the year that
1178:
Cyclopedia of
Fraternities: A Compilation of Existing Authentic Information and the Results of Original Investigation as to the Origin, Derivation, Founders, Development, Aims, Emblems, Character, and Personnel of More Than Six Hundred Secret Societies in the United
319:. There was also once a uniformed division called the Knights of Tammany, as well as a group called the Chieftains League, which consisted of members who had been exalted to the Chief Degree (see below) and were in good standing within their respective "tribes".
417:
arrived in the Americas, namely AD 1492. In this system, years were known as "great suns" and months were called "moons", each with their own epithet, e.g. "Cold Moon" for January, but the length of these years and months conformed to the conventional
27:
357:
The Improved Order of the Red Men grew in membership in the late 19th century. It reached 519,942 members in forty-six states in 1921, but had declined to 31,789 in 32 states in 1978 and to 15,251 by 2011.
904:
164:
263:
and also a death benefit of one hundred dollars. The fund was invested in bonds, mortgages, and "Building Association Stock". Meetings were held weekly on Friday nights.
618:
231:
The organization grew in the 1820s. Parallel lines of advancement were offered in the Order of Red Men: a series of military titles and a set of “Indian rankings.”
489:, suggesting that the group had at least 23 local "tribes" in the state. The badge is identical to the ones worn by the IORM, except with the AAORM initials.
250:
172:
1228:
378:
dressed as their idea of "Indians". Thus, they continue to dress as "Indians" and use Native American terminology, despite being a non-Native organization.
481:". The Virginia IORM still apparently considered an injunction against the new group, but it is unclear how the episode turned out. A Tribe #23 based in
536:
718:"The Society of Red Men, organized at Fort Mifflin, G.S.D. 322 A. D. 1813, Improved Order of Red Men diploma, our emblematic and historical totem"
1238:
899:
961:
1223:
191:— met in Boston to protest the tax on tea imposed by England. When their protest went unheeded, they disguised themselves as their idea of
1243:
672:
1233:
217:
For the next 35 years, the original Sons of Liberty and the Sons of St. Tamina groups went their own way, under many different names.
246:
Native American titles. Rather than the public display of Native American costumes, the IORM uses its regalia in private gatherings.
936:
430:
382:
176:
859:"Great Council of U.S. Improved Order of Red Men" entry, Associations Unlimited database, Gale Research Co., 2011, cited at
1077:
439:
Wars, "the Improved Order of Red Men . . . the most comfortable lodge for Socialist miners and other radical workers."
1218:
316:
1133:
206:, were formed. The most well-known of these was New York City's Society of St. Tammany, which grew into a major
239:
326:, as a youth auxiliary for males 8 and up. Most of the members of the Degree of Hiawatha were concentrated in
287:" (first vice-president), "Great Junior Sagamore", "Great Chief of Records" (secretary), "Great Keeper of the
862:
613:
1197:
784:
Constitution, By-laws and Rules of Order, Sciota Tribe, No. 214, Improved Order of Red Men, of Pennsylvania
447:
1168:
300:
1165:
What a mighty power we can be: African American fraternal groups and the struggle for racial equality
1102:
581:
271:
The Order has a three tiered structure. Local units are called "tribes" and are presided over by a "
786:. Frankford Avenue and Aramingo Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Shaw Brothers, Printers. 1886.
599:
508:
95:
1127:
752:
682:
503:
220:
Around 1813, a disenchanted group created the philanthropic "Society of Red Men" at historic
135:
414:
334:
238:, attacks on fraternal groups based on excessive drinking, and, ultimately, a wide-spread
8:
1203:
Guide to The Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men record, 1905-1968
722:
482:
766:
402:
419:
280:
235:
1202:
940:
921:
742:
207:
167:
established in North America in 1834. It claims direct descent from the colonial era
140:
563:
527:
498:
375:
284:
196:
195:, proceeded to Boston harbor, and dumped overboard 342 chests of English tea. (See
1205:
housed at the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center
590:
545:
908:
371:
188:
168:
54:
26:
703:
381:
The group's ritual terminology is derived from language they believe is used by
747:
985:
572:
330:. In 1979 there were less than 5,000 members in approximately 125 "Councils".
1212:
1160:
717:
486:
465:
192:
434:
Improved Order of Red Men donating ambulance to the United States government
808:
554:
513:
409:
390:
338:
312:
225:
221:
211:
468:
could not get into contact with them, but felt it probably still existed.
386:
327:
296:
187:
On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists — all men, and members of the
151:
113:
147:, and vignettes of imagined scenes of Native American life and cultures.
478:
139:
Improved Order of Red Men membership certificate, 1889, with busts of
40:
85:
485:
is attested by the existence of a ribbon badge in the collection of
344:
812:
International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders
323:
203:
144:
1079:
Courts and Lawyers of Pennsylvania: A History, 1693-1923, Volume 4
1045:
962:"CALHOUN REDMEN BECAME VIGILANTES - Legitimate Lodge Turns Brutal"
341:, a junior order of the Degree of Pocahontas, was formed in 1952.
1107:. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 634–637
677:
292:
1057:
288:
276:
272:
790:
295:" (past president). The headquarters of the Order has been in
249:
In 1886, its membership requirements were defined in the same
1082:. New York: The American Historical Society, Inc. p. 358
937:"Red Men and Rednecks the Fraternal Lodge in the Coal Fields"
450:
in 1911 and helped organize the SAI's first two conferences.
202:
In the late 18th century, the Tammany Societies, named after
275:" and a board of directors. Local meeting sites are called "
817:
234:
Class and ethnic differences introduced by new immigrants,
880:
829:
619:
List of Improved Order of Red Men buildings and structures
1020:
1018:
673:"What's The Story Behind Old North's Red Men Sioux Sign?"
45:
Improved Order of Red Men Museum and Library, Waco, Texas
1104:
A History of Delaware County Pennsylvania and Its People
654:
652:
650:
648:
646:
644:
1192:
1015:
841:
1198:
Official History of the Improved Order of Redmen 1893
911:, Reprint, London: Forgotten Books, 2013. (pp. 494-5)
641:
171:. Their rituals and regalia are modeled after those
124:
1010:Historical Dictionary of Native American Movements
1159:
1063:
1051:
901:Official History of the Improved Order of Red Men
471:
299:, since at least 1979. They maintain an official
1210:
370:The order itself claims direct descent from the
242:in 1832 led to the decline of the organization.
458:
306:
425:
1041:. St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. p. 192.
767:"Founding dates of fraternal organizations"
374:, noting that the Sons participated in the
1039:A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies
253:phrasing as the rest of the constitution:
39:
25:
1163:; Liazos, Ariane; Ganz, Marshall (2006).
337:and dates to the 1880s and the Degree of
322:In 1952, the Order created the Degree of
33:Motto: Freedom, Friendship, & Charity
1229:Men's organizations in the United States
1125:
986:"The Daily Register 29 Dec 1879, page 3"
778:
776:
429:
385:, though it also shows the influence of
343:
315:of the order was founded in 1890 as the
150:
134:
1193:Improved Order of Red Men official site
1175:
1150:
1075:
1024:
886:
847:
835:
823:
814:New York; Facts on File, inc 1997 p.114
796:
741:
658:
624:
446:The IORM supported the founding of the
443:the use of red masks over their faces.
1211:
1100:
1094:
1036:
923:The American Language: Supplement I-II
860:
1239:Secret societies in the United States
773:
737:
735:
733:
704:"Boston Tea Party Historical Society"
1181:. New York: E. B. Treat and Company.
670:
155:Red Men's Hall, Jacksonville, Oregon
1224:1813 establishments in Pennsylvania
926:, Alfred A Knopf, New York (p. 185)
13:
1244:Organizations based in Waco, Texas
1126:Bartlett, Ichabod Sargent (1918).
1012:Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press p.75
730:
492:
477:Order of Red Men and Daughters of
396:
333:The Order female auxiliary is the
279:". The state level is called the "
14:
1255:
1234:Organizations established in 1813
1186:
401:Originally, the society used the
31:Symbol: Totem of the Eagle (TOTE)
1155:. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
1076:Eastman, Frank Marshall (1922).
598:
589:
580:
571:
562:
553:
544:
535:
526:
1144:
1134:S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1119:
1069:
1064:Skocpol, Liazos & Ganz 2006
1052:Skocpol, Liazos & Ganz 2006
1030:
1002:
978:
954:
929:
914:
892:
853:
802:
317:National Haymakers' Association
266:
105:Patriotism, charity, friendship
16:American fraternal organization
1008:Todd Leahy and Raymond Wilson
759:
710:
696:
671:Roth, Clare (August 8, 2019).
664:
631:
472:Afro-American Order of Red Men
1:
920:Mencken, Henry Louis (1945),
614:1896 Atlantic City rail crash
352:
861:Gnerre, Sam (2 March 2011).
459:Independent Order of Red Men
453:
307:Auxiliaries and side degrees
69:; 190 years ago
59:Society of Red Men (c. 1813)
7:
1176:Stevens, Albert C. (1907).
863:"Improved Order of Red Men"
607:
448:Society of American Indians
10:
1260:
1169:Princeton University Press
1151:Schmidt, Alvin J. (1980).
898:Lindsay, George W (1893),
519:
426:Philanthropy and positions
365:
182:
1219:Improved Order of Red Men
236:anti-Masonic persecutions
173:assumed by men of the era
161:Improved Order of Red Men
119:
109:
101:
91:
81:
63:
50:
38:
24:
20:Improved Order of Red Men
1132:. Vol. 2. Chicago:
1101:Jordan, John W. (1914).
389:. Outsiders are called "
1153:Fraternal Organizations
1037:Preuss, Arthur (1924).
799:, p. 286, 288–289.
410:calendar year numbering
867:South Bay Daily Breeze
509:John Buchanan Robinson
435:
349:
260:
165:fraternal organization
156:
148:
753:Yale University Press
683:Ohio State University
504:Albert Dutton MacDade
433:
347:
255:
154:
138:
625:Notes and references
415:Christopher Columbus
335:Degree of Pocahontas
826:, p. 157, 288.
723:Library of Congress
483:Metompkin, Virginia
291:" (treasurer) and "
21:
1129:History of Wyoming
907:2016-03-04 at the
889:, p. 287–288.
838:, p. 43, 260.
743:Deloria, Philip J.
681:. Columbus, Ohio:
436:
420:Gregorian calendar
350:
301:museum and library
157:
149:
19:
1136:. pp. 55–56.
966:www.hurherald.com
755:. pp. 59–65.
348:Pocahontas Degree
258:means of support.
251:pseudo-Indigenous
208:political machine
133:
132:
1251:
1182:
1172:
1156:
1138:
1137:
1123:
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1114:
1112:
1098:
1092:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1073:
1067:
1061:
1055:
1054:, p. 44–45.
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997:
996:
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949:
948:
939:. Archived from
933:
927:
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884:
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845:
839:
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635:
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584:
575:
566:
557:
548:
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530:
499:Alben W. Barkley
383:Native Americans
376:Boston Tea Party
240:cholera epidemic
197:Boston Tea Party
177:Native Americans
129:
126:
77:
75:
70:
43:
29:
22:
18:
1259:
1258:
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909:Wayback Machine
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531:
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493:Notable members
474:
461:
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428:
399:
397:Calendar system
372:Sons of Liberty
368:
355:
309:
269:
189:Sons of Liberty
185:
169:Sons of Liberty
123:
73:
71:
68:
58:
55:Sons of Liberty
46:
34:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1200:
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1188:
1187:External links
1185:
1184:
1183:
1173:
1161:Skocpol, Theda
1157:
1146:
1143:
1140:
1139:
1118:
1093:
1068:
1066:, p. 236.
1056:
1044:
1029:
1027:, p. 262.
1014:
1001:
990:Newspapers.com
977:
953:
928:
913:
891:
879:
852:
850:, p. 287.
840:
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748:Playing Indian
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709:
695:
663:
661:, p. 288.
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175:to be used by
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1167:. Princeton:
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943:on 2020-11-19
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1145:Bibliography
1128:
1121:
1109:. Retrieved
1103:
1096:
1084:. Retrieved
1078:
1071:
1059:
1047:
1038:
1032:
1025:Stevens 1907
1009:
1004:
993:. Retrieved
989:
980:
969:. Retrieved
965:
956:
945:. Retrieved
941:the original
931:
922:
916:
900:
894:
887:Schmidt 1980
882:
870:. Retrieved
866:
855:
848:Schmidt 1980
843:
836:Schmidt 1980
831:
824:Schmidt 1980
819:
811:
809:Alan Axelrod
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797:Schmidt 1980
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686:. Retrieved
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659:Schmidt 1980
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514:A. J. Rosier
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267:Organization
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226:Philadelphia
222:Fort Mifflin
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212:Tammany Hall
201:
186:
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158:
110:Headquarters
872:3 September
408:system for
387:Freemasonry
328:New England
313:side degree
297:Waco, Texas
281:Reservation
114:Waco, Texas
51:Predecessor
1213:Categories
995:2023-01-16
971:2023-01-16
947:2022-10-03
479:Pocahontas
405:Anno Mundi
353:Membership
210:known as "
141:Washington
82:Founded at
1111:19 August
454:Offshoots
391:Palefaces
303:in Waco.
96:Fraternal
86:Baltimore
64:Formation
57:(claimed)
905:Archived
745:(1998).
688:July 19,
608:See also
324:Hiawatha
285:Sagamore
204:Tamanend
1086:29 July
678:WOSU-FM
520:Gallery
403:Hebrew
366:Rituals
293:Prophet
277:Wigwams
183:History
145:Tammany
120:Website
102:Purpose
72: (
1179:States
289:Wampum
273:Sachem
125:redmen
339:Anona
163:is a
1113:2018
1088:2018
874:2014
690:2024
159:The
143:and
127:.org
92:Type
74:1834
67:1834
224:in
214:."
199:.)
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