Improved Order Of Red Men


Great Council Of New York State


"We are just starting this page, so please come back often and see our progress... Thanks to Great Senior Sagamore Med Lizotte and Art O'Donnell for all their help."

"BOARD OF GREAT CHIEFS OF NEW YORK STATE."

G.S.D. 510 - 511
(July 2001 - June 2002)

--------------------

"This is Great Sachem Russell Pingrey, PGS."

--------------------


"This is Great Senior Sagamore Med Lizotte, PGS and Great Junior Sagamore Arnold VanScooter."


"This is Great Prophet Floyd Platt, PGS."


"Great Chief of Records, Michael J. Grasby Sr., PGS and Great Keeper of Wampum Kenneth Warner"


"Great Sannap Leon Huey and Great Mishinewa Harold McMann, PGS"


"Great Guard of The Wigwam Robert Scott and Great Guard of The Forest Howard Terhaar"

"2001 - 2002 Board Of Great Chief's Meetings."

November 3, 2001 - Rochester - 2PM
April 13, 2002 - Watkins Glen - 2PM
June 15, 2002 - Johnstown - 2PM

--------------------

"TRIBAL VISITATIONS"
(Subject to change)

October 17, 2001 - Joint visit - Rochester, NY (Wah-Be Tribe #7 - Wahoo Tribe #228 - Rochester Tribe #579)

March 6, 2002 - Joint visit - Lockport, NY (Tioga Tribe #289 - Good Eagle Tribe #455)

March 19, 2002 - Glenham, NY (Mawenawasigh Tribe #479)

April 23, 2002 - Joint visit - Vestal, NY (Oneactah Tribe #104 - Chequaga Tribe #201 - Kickapoo Tribe #236)

May 21, 2002 - Johnstown, NY (Teroga Tribe #569)

June 16, 2002 - Indian Castle Church - Little Falls, NY

Iroquois Tribe #490 will be posted at a later date.

"Freedom...Friendship...Charity"

America's Oldest Fraternal Organization ---- Chartered By Congress.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who Are The Red Men?

The Fraternity was founded in 1765 and was originally known as the Sons of Liberty. These patriots concealed their identities and worked "underground" to help establish freedom and liberty in the Early Colonies. They patterned themselves after the great Iroquois Indian nation and its democratic governing body. Their system with elected representatives to governing tribal councils had been in existence for several centuries.
After the American Revolution the name was changed to The Order of Red Men. They kept the customs and terminology of the Indians as a basic part of the Fraternity. Some of the words and terms may sound strange, but they soon become a familiar part of the language for every member. The Masons are similar to the Order of Red Men in that they have patterned their rituals and work after the Ancient Masonic Craftsman. The Order of Red Men is a National Fraternal Organization that believes in ...

Love and Respect of the American Flag...
Preserving our Nation by defending and upholding the principle of free Government...
America and the democratic way of life...
Preserving the traditions and history of this great Country...
Creating and inspiring a greater love for the United States of America...
Helping our fellow men through organized charitable programs; Linking our members together in a common bond of Brotherhood and Friendship; Perpetuating the beautiful legends and traditions of a vanishing race and the keeping alive of its customs, ceremonies, and philosophies...

Legally, The Order of Red Men is a Patriotic Fraternity Chartered by Congress. It is a Non-Profit Organization devoted to Inspiring a greater love for the United States of America and the principles of American Liberty.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"History of the Red Men"

The Order of Red Men traces its origin to certain secret Patriotic Societies founded before the American Revolution. They were established to promote Liberty and to defy the tyranny of the English Crown. Among the early groups were: The Sons of Liberty, Sons of Tamina and the Red Men.
On December 16, 1773 a group of men, all members of the Sons of Liberty, met in Boston to protest the tax on tea imposed by England. When their protest went unheeded, they disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians, proceeded to Boston harbor and dumped overboard 342 chests of English tea.
During the Revolutionary War, members of secret societies quenched their council fires and took up muskets to join with the Continental Army. To the cause of Freedom and Liberty, they pledged their lives, their fortunes and sacred honors. At the end of the hard fought war, the American Republic was born and was soon acknowledged among the Nations of the world.
Following the Revolution the various secret societies founded before and during the conflict continued in existence as brotherhoods or fraternities.
For the next 35 years each group went its own way, under many different names. In 1813, at historic Fort Mifflin, near Philadelphia, several of these groups came together and formed one organization known as the Society of Red Men.
At Baltimore, Maryland, in 1847, the various local tribes came together and formed a national organization called the Grand Council of the United States.
With the formation of a national organization, the Order of Red Men soon spread, and within 30 years there were State Great Councils in 21 states with a membership of over 150,000. The Order continued to grow and by 1920, tribes in 46 states totaled membership over one half million.
Today the Order of Red Men continues to offer all Patriotic Americans an organization that is pledged to the high ideals of Freedom, Friendship and Charity. The same ideas on which the American Nation was founded. By belonging to this proud and historic organization you can demonstrate your desire to continue the battle started at Lexington and Concord to promote Freedom and protect the American Way of Life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Goals of the Red Men."

To promote patriotism and the American Way of Life; to provide social activities for the members and support various charitable programs. Our activities include:

Flag Recognition Program- - A program to honor those patriotic Americans who display the flag regularly. Faith Of Our Fathers Chapel--Chapel erected at Freedom Foundation, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to memorialize the ideals and principles of our founding fathers.

Annual Pilgrimage To Faith Of Our Fathers Chapel - Annual meeting to renew and strengthen our beliefs in the American Way of Life.

Braille Press - Financial support to aid and promote books for the blind.

Retarded Children's Program - Support of various projects and programs of the Association of the Retarded, including the Special Olympics.

Red Men's Day At Arlington National Cemetery - Annual ceremony to honor our unknown soldiers and all brave Americans who have fallen in battle to protect our Freedom.

Red Men's Week - Week of December 16th designated as National Red Men's Week, commemorating Boston Tea Party in 1773.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Charitable Programs."

The National Charity project of the Improved Order of Red Men is "ALZHEIMERS". Since 1991, the Organization has given over a quarter of a million dollars to the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's disease knows no social or economic boundaries; but it does incline heavily toward older people, affecting seven to nine percent of Americans over the age of 65, yet it strikes those in their 40s and 50s as well. Indeed, some of our own members have been stricken with this dreaded disease. Our members not only give generously, but work with local Alzheimer's Chapters across the nation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Youth Activities"

The Degree of Hiawatha is a Junior Tribe of Red Men composed of boys 8 years and older. The Degree of Hiawatha has for its aim the development of each boy so that he may appreciate the virtues of unity, freedom, strength, peace, charity, loyalty, education, hope, love, courage, friendship, patriotism and tolerance. In other words, we help the young boys of today to mature as exemplary men in the world of tomorrow.

To start a Degree of Hiawatha in your home town, contact your local Red Men Tribe or the National Office - P.O. Box 683, Waco, Texas 76703.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Prominent Americans Who have been Members."

George Washington
Samuel Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Patrick Henry
John Hancock
Richard M. Nixon
Thomas Paine
Paul Revere
Theodore Roosevelt
Warren G. Harding
Franklin D. Roosevelt
And Many Other Prominent Citizens...

"I am confident that in the final analysis we shall find that the stability of our government depends not so much on our armies and navies, though they may be vastly important, but rather, we must depend upon the Brotherhood of Humanity as represented by great force of fraternity. The fraternal societies are one of the greatest powers for good government and the protection of the home that we have in this country. The government will endure just as long as we protect the great interests represented by our fraternal societies."

"Theodore Roosevelt"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Question & Answers."

Q. How do I Become A Member?
A. Contact a local tribe or member who will provide you with an application blank.

Q. What if there is no tribe in my town?
A. Contact the National Office, P.O Box 683, Waco, Texas 76703-0683.

Q. Is it expensive to join?
A. No -- The initiation fee and annual dues vary with the individual tribe's laws and the facilities that are offered.

Q. Must I memorize a large amount of unwritten or secret work?
A. No -- You will be required to know the password and the secret signs of the Order, both of which may be learned in only a few minutes.

Q. Will I be required to wear Indian dress to the meetings?
A. No -- The only time the Indian Regalia is worn is during the Adoption degree. Occasionally the tribal officers may wear the Indian costume at various public affairs, but this is done with discretion.

Q. Do you have to be an Indian to belong?
A. No.

Q. How is the Order of Red Men associated with the Indians?
A. Only through our customs, terminology, and ritualism, which is patterned after early American Indians. For example, the masons take their teaching and work from the history of the Ancient Masonic craft.

Q. What are the primary purposes and beliefs of the Order?
A. The Motto, or precepts, of the Order are Freedom, Friendship and Charity.

"Freedom" -- We endeavor to preserve and uphold the American Way of Life and its guarantee of Liberty. Freedom has been the hope and aim of the oppressed of every land. It is now the proud boast of every American. We dedicated our lives to its maintenance.

"Friendship" -- Is the binding link and unswerving loyalty of one to another, which makes sweet and lasting the relationship that one member bears to another.

"Charity" -- Is giving with an open hand and willing heart in time of need, assistance to weak or unfortunate and measured not by wealth but by moral worth. Charity exemplifies the Brotherhood of Man.

Q. What do you do at your meetings?
A. Our meetings are conducted much the same as any organization. Aside from our ritualistic opening and closing, the regular business of the tribe is conducted. Various projects are planned and discussed and regular programs are presented. Social affairs are apart from these.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Links to other sites on the Web

Improved Order Of Red Men National Web Site.
2001 Red Men's Day At Arlington Pix.
Mawenawasigh Tribe #479, Beacon, N.Y.
Tioronda Council #224, Beacon, N.Y.
Tribes and Councils of New York State

Counter "People have visited our site since 11/02/01."

Sign Our Guestbook View Our Guestbook

© 2000 michaelg98982001@yahoo.com