Ceremonies Of The Great Council Of The United States : Improved Order Of Red Men
$200
In stock
Description
A rare illustrated guide to the ceremonies, songs and rituals of the Improved Order of Red Men , an Native American themed secretive fraternal order supposedly descended from the Sons of Liberty
Improved Order of Red Men. Ceremonies Of The Great Council Of The United States Of The Improved Order Of Red Men For Tribes Of The Order. [Publisher?] [Place of Publication?] Plant Moon GSD 427 [April 1919]. Revised Edition.
The Improved Order Of Red Men is a still extant Native American styled secret society that claims descent from the Revolutionary era’s Sons of Liberty, famous for throwing tea into Boston Harbor while dressed as Indians. Inspired by the offices, degrees and rituals of Freemasonry, the Improved Order of Red Men recasts the first, second and third degrees as “adoption”, “warrior” and “chief”, with the Worshipful Master and other temple officers receiving Algonquin-inspired titles like “sachem”, “sagamore”, “Guard of the Wigwam”, and “Collector of Wampum”. In addition to providing diagrams for various ceremonies and an explanation of appropriate regalia, the text also provides lyrics and notation for ritual songs. The Improved Order of Red Men’s unique calendar calls months moons and tracks the years since the “Great Sun of Discovery” and Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Formally founded in Baltimore in 1834, the Red Men claim a 1765 founding date and the title of the “oldest fraternal order” in the United States. Though conditions for membership consist of being male, at least 18 years old, and belief in “the Great Spirit”, traditionally, membership was also race contingent with Native Americans being banned from admission.
Three copies of any edition found in OCLC as of August 2022.
8vo, [3]-164pp + 7 pages of music. Red embossed cloth boards. Corners and spine ends bumped. Spine worn with reading creases. Bookblock darkened. Pencil note, “Junior Sagamore” to first free endpaper. Partly legible pencil note last free endpaper. Pgs 11-23 darkened with minor margin soiling. Pages otherwise clean apart from 4 small pen marks to lower page margins. Includes 20 diagram plates and 7 pages of lyrics and music for ritual songs. Good condition.
If you liked this book you might also enjoy this early edition of Light On Masonry covering the rituals of Freemasonry and the disappearance of William Morgan.
