Articles of Incorporation.

These Articles of Incorporation, formed and entered into to incorporate The Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men, of the State of Kentucky, an order instituted for the purpose of affording relief to such of its members as may be suffering from sickness, distress or other causes, for the furtherance of the general welfare of the members thereof, for the better government of the Order, and for the more effectual accomplishment of the charitable objects which are to be furthered by the Order and this corporation.

1.—The name of the corporation shall be the Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men.

2.—The object for which this corporation is formed is to perpetuate the legal existence of the Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men, to have a corporation with the legal capacity to sue and be sued, to contract with and be contracted with, to pass the necessary laws for the government of the Tribes belonging to and under the jurisdiction of this Great Council, to purchase, hold, mortgage and sell real personal property, to incur debt sufficient to carry out its purposes, and to afford relief to such of its members as may be in distress, and to accomplish charitable aims as are consistent with the constitution and continued existence of the Improved Order of Red Men.

3.—Its principal office shall be located in the city of Lexington, county of Fayette, State of Kentucky.

4.—The private property of the members of the corporation shall not be subject to the debts of the corporation.

5.—No stock or shares shall be issued, and no dividends or profits shall be divided.

6.—The existence of the corporation shall commence from the signing of these articles and the filing of same in the office of the Secretary of State of Kentucky; and the corporation shall continue in existence for a period of 25 years.

7.—The officers of this corporation for the present shall be J. R. McConnell, of Lexington, Great Sachem; W. E. Fite, of Augusta, Great Senior Sagamore; John I. Winter, of Augusta, Great Junior Sagamore; J. B. Mendenhall, Great Prophet; Frank L. Smith, of Lexington, Great Chief of Records; and John Armstrong, of Lexington, Great Keeper of Wampum; and they shall hold their offices for such terms as the corporation may by by-laws determine, and until their successors are elected in accordance with the said by-laws.

8.—That the said corporation shall from time to time establish, make and put into execution such constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations as may be passed from time to time by the Great Council, and may revoke, annul, alter and amend them at pleasure, provided that they be not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States, or of the State of Kentucky, or to the provisions of this act.

9.—That these articles be formed and this corporation made for the benefit of all persons who are now members in good standing of the Great Council of Kentucky of the Improved Order of Red Men, in the State of Kentucky, and they shall be members of said corporation without any further act on the part of those who sign these articles, and for their benefit from this corporation.

Signed and acknowledged this 16th day of June, 1896.

J. R. McConnell, Great Sachem.
W. E. Fite, Great Senior Sagamore.
John I. Winter, Great Junior Sagamore.
J. B. Mendenhall, Great Prophet.
Frank L. Smith, Great Chief of Records.
John Armstrong, Great Keeper of Wampum.

The Great Chief of Records, continuing his report, said: "On the 24th of Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 405, I received the charter and effects of Tecumseh Tribe, No. 5, of Harrodsburg. At the last Great Council the Great Chiefs were authorized to borrow five hundred fathoms. No such loan was ever negotiated, and the G. C. of R. and the G. K. of W. were left to adjust matters as best they could. I issued Great Council notes to creditors to the total amount of $376.50, all of which are now paid, and the Great Council now has a small balance in its wampum belt, with all debts paid. Following are the statistics of the Order in this reservation to close of term ending 31st Worm Moon, G. S. D. 406:

Whole number of members as per last report, 1,142; adopted since last report, 468; reinstated, 2; admitted by card, 17; suspended, 204; expelled, 4; withdrawn, 24; deceased, 9; present membership, 1,388; gain, 246; rejected, 17; Past Sachems, 116; Past Great Sachems, 4; number of Tribes at last report, 11; Tribes instituted, 6; defunct, 1; whole number of Tribes, 16; Tribes making no report, 3; Tribes in good standing, 13; balance in Great Council Wampum belt, $73.04."

The Board of Appeals reported that they had carefully examined the appeal of E. G. Van Zandt from the action of Hiawatha Tribe in expelling him, and sustained the action of the Tribe. Also in the appeal of J. B. Mendenhall, from the action of Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, in expelling him, the committee made the same finding.

A new law was proposed providing for the consolidation of two or more Tribes in the same hunting grounds.

The Finance Committee recommended, "That this Great Council issue mileage vouchers to the Representatives and Great Chiefs entitle to same, said mileage vouchers to be turned in as per capita tax by the Tribe of which the brother is a member," which was agreed to.

The Committee on Charters recommended that charters be issued to the following Tribes:

Calumet Tribe, No. 18, of Mt. Sterling.

Choctaw Tribe, No. 20, Corbin.

Totewa Tribe, No. 14, Owensboro.

The Great Council then proceeded to the nomination and election of Great Chiefs, which resulted as follows, and they were raised with impressive ceremonies at the proper time by Past Great Sachem Thomas A. Hornsey.

W. E. Fite, of No. 6Great Sachem
John I. Winter, of No. 6Great Senior Sagamore
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19Great Junior Sagamore
J. R. McConnell, of No. 1Great Prophet
Frank L. Smith, of No. 1Great Chief of Records
John D. Walker, of No. 4Great Keeper of Wampum

Great Sachem Fite announced the following as Appointive Chiefs:

J. W. Scobee, of No. 2Great Sannap
H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7Great Mishinewa
Fred J. Kramer, of No. 19Great Guard of Wigwam
John Hafendorfer, of No. 14Great Guard of the Forest
Thomas M. Russell, of No. 3Great Rep. to G. C. U. S.

An amendment to the general laws was proposed providing for a penalty for Tribes failing to make reports in accordance with the law.

An amendment to the general laws was proposed to reduce the per capita tax.

Much time was taken in the discussion of the many decisions of the Great Sachem, and they were finally adopted with some changes.

The Finance Committee then made the following report: "We have carefully examined that portion of Frank L. Smith's report which properly comes to our committee, and find the same true and correct—all vouchers being attached. We find the books and accounts of this Great Chief in excellent shape and we tender him our thanks for his help rendered this committee by the simplicity and fullness of his books and accounts and vouchers. We recommend the adoption of the Great Chief of Records' report. We have carefully examined the books and vouchers of the Great Keeper of Wampum, and find the same correct, and recommend the adoption of his report with this exception: We advise that the note dated Jan. 20, 1897, payable to the Elite Stationery Co., for $135.25, and on which there appears a credit of $85.00, be referred to the incoming Finance Committee." Action on the foregoing report was deferred until after the report of the Committee on State of the Order had been received.

The Committee on State of the Order recommended that the reports of the Great Chief of Records and the Great Keeper of Wampum be referred to the incoming Finance Committee for careful investigation, which was agreed to.

The following resolution was offered, which was made a special act for the ensuing great sun, to be considered at the next Great Council as an amendment to the general laws:

Resolved: That the Great Sachem, and he for his Deputy, give a bond to the amount of $500.00 with three good signatures, for the faithful performance and settlement of all expenses in organizing Tribes in this reservation.

An amendment to the constitution governing Tribes was proposed reducing the minimum age for eligibility to membership to 18 great suns.

The point was raised that at the last Great Council the salary of the Great Chief of Records was raised to three hundred fathoms, and that the act was not regular, it requiring an amendment to the by-laws to apply, and that the resolution would not hold for the next great sun. The Great Sachem ruled the point well taken, and on motion it was voted that the salary of the Great Chief of Records for the ensuing great sun be one hundred fathoms.

An amendment was offered to increase the salary of the Great Chief of Records to two hundred fathoms.

A special dispensation was ordered issued to Miami Tribe, No. 17, permitting said Tribe to kindle its council fires once each moon.

A special committee was appointed to formulate a code of laws to govern the organization of new Tribes.

It was unanimously voted to accept the invitation of Onequa Tribe, No. 2, of Winchester, to kindle the next Great Sun Council fire in its wigwam.

A vote of thinks was extended to Osceola Tribe, No. 19, for its hospitality in entertaining the Great Council.

The special committee on formulation of laws governing organizers presented a report embracing a code of laws, which was adopted for the ensuing great sun, to be considered at the next Great Council as an amendment to the general laws.

The Great Sachem announced the following appointments of standing committees:

Finance—Chas. D. Meyer, of No. 8; C. M. Chasteen, of No. 4; L. E. Pearce, of No. 4.

Law and Usage—W. C. Pelham, of No. 3; C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2; O. R. King, of No. 1.

Returns and Reports—H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7; Willie Walker, of No. 1; Charles A. Lang, of No. 8.

Board of Appeals—T. B. Wright, of No. 11; Watt. M. Gay, of No. 18; Charles A. Lang, of No. 8.

The council fire was then quenched, to be rekindled in the wigwam of Onequa Tribe, No. 2, hunting grounds of Winchester, at the 10th run, rising of the 10th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 407.

1898.
FOURTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.

The fourth Great Sun Council fire of the Great Council of Kentucky was kindled in the wigwam of Onequa Tribe, No. 2, hunting grounds of Winchester, at the 10th run, rising sun of the 10th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 407, all the elective Great Chiefs being present. Great Sachem W. E. Fite presided.

The Great Junior Sagamore reported the credentials of the following named Past Sachems as being correct, and they being in the forest were introduced and received the Great Council Degree:

Miantonomo, No. 1—H. A. Daniel.

Onequa, No. 2—M. E. Pearce, H. Lundberg.

Wyandotte, No. 3—J. Harry Richardson.

Winona, No. 4—F. M. Taylor, J. J. Finigan.

Paughcaughnaughsinque, No. 6—W. G. Knoedler.

Hiawatha, No. 7—J. W. Jarboe.

Cherokee, No. 8—G. W. Hinesley.

Shawnee, No. 9—B. W. Bierbaum.

Mohican, No. 11—J. C. Willett

Totewa, No. 14—Charles Oderman, H. W. Miller.

Calumet, No. 18—R. A. Chiles.

Osceola, No. 19—Ed Ballard.

Indianola, No. 21—W. A. B. McNutt.

Representatives' credentials were recognized from Tribes Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 18, 13, 21.

The Great Sachem appointed the following committees:

On Charters—Thos. A. Hornsey, of No. 1; H. V. Cohn, of No. 8; R. W. Jones, of No. 2.

State of the Order—Frank L. Smith, of No. 1; Ben C. Nunn, of No. 14; R. Eason, of No. 1.

The minutes of the previous Great Council were approved as printed.

The Great Sachem in his long talk said: "I have no flattering report to make; yet I thank the Great Spirit and many loyal brothers that the Order is in as good condition as it is, for Redmanship in Kentucky has had a fight for existence, instead of being buoyed up by the strong hand of co-operation and fraternal love."

He reported that on the 7th of Hunting Moon, 406, he received the resignation of Frank L. Smith as Great Chief of Records, which he accepted, and appointed Chas. D. Meyer, of No. 8, to fill out the unexpired term, and that Bro. Meyer qualified and was raised on the 11th sleep of Cold Moon in the wigwam of Cherokee Tribe, No. 8.

"While I have the honor of reporting to you but one new Tribe, yet I feel that one good Tribe is worth half a dozen that after a short time become a burden and a worry to the Great Council to keep them alive. On the sleep of the 9th sun, Buck Moon, G. S. D. 406, aided by our Great Senior Sagamore, Bro. John I. Winter, and the degree team of Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, No. 6, I instituted Indianola Tribe, No. 21, at Minerva, with 24 charter members."

The Great Sachem recounted a list of dispensations granted and visitations made, showing that he had sat around the council fire of nearly every Tribe in the reservation.

He made the following recommendations:

That a charter be granted to Indianola Tribe, No. 21, at Minerva. Agreed to.

That immediate and definite action be taken in regard to Otego Tribe, No. 15, at Paducah; Iroquois Tribe, No. 12, at Hopkinsville, and Seminole Tribe, No. 16, at Henderson, as it is possible to save one or more of these Tribes if this Great Council sees fit to take the steps necessary to do so. It was ordered that the incoming Great Sachem visit these Tribes and endeavor to relight their council brands, and that an appropriation of 90 fathoms be made to cover his expenses.

"That this Great Council take such steps as will in the future prevent the organization of new Tribes and leaving them bankrupt. Too much attention cannot be given to this." With reference to this recommendation the Great Council at the proper time passed a code of laws governing the organization of new Tribes.

The Finance Committee reported as follows:

"We have examined the books and accounts of the Great Chief of Records, Chas. D. Meyers, and the Great Keeper of Wampum, John D. Walker, and find the same correct up to date. We recommend that the Great Chief of Records have a new set of books gotten up at the expense of the Great Council." They also recommended the payment of current accounts and mileage of Representatives and Great Chiefs, all of which was concurred in.

The amendment proposed at the previous Great Council providing for the giving of a bond by the Great Sachem in the sum of five hundred fathoms was brought up by the Committee on Law and Usage and decided to be inexpedient and unnecessary.

Laws governing the organization of new Tribes were adopted, which are in force at the present time and a part of the general laws.

The Committee on Law and Usage reported favorably on the following amendment to the general laws, and recommended its adoption, but the records do not show that any action was ever taken in the matter: "That the Great Chief of Records shall receive for his services the sum of two hundred fathoms per great sun, to be paid monthly."

The Committee on Law and Usage reported adversely on the proposed amendment to admit pale faces of eighteen great suns of age, and their recommendation was adopted and the proposed law defeated.

It was moved and seconded that Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas be allowed representation in this Great Council, but that the Representatives must be Past Sachems and pay their own expenses, but the motion was tabled.

The Great Council was invited to kindle its next Great Sun Council fire in the hunting grounds of Louisville, and the invitation was unanimously accepted.

It was moved and seconded that "Our Representatives to the Great Council of the United States be instructed to vote against any liquor legislation," but the question was laid on the table.

The following amendment to the general laws was proposed to lay over one Great Sun for action: "Resolved: That the by-laws be changed by striking out Section 4, Article XX." This would have the effect of relieving Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas from paying per capita tax.

An amendment was proposed, to lay over one great sun for action, providing for the election of Great Chiefs on the second sun of the great sun session instead of the first.

It was voted that the Great Keeper of Wampum be authorized to borrow the necessary amount to pay the running expenses for the ensuing year.

Great Representative Thomas M. Russell, of No. 3, presented a report, from which we extract the following:

"The question of importance to our Great Council at the late session of the Great Council of the United States was the action of the Committee on Appeals in the Van Zandt case, which decision will be found in the records of the G. C. U. S. of G. S. D. 406, page 493, in which they sustain Mr. Van Zandt's appeal, giving as a reason for so doing that he did not receive the notices of the charges. I personally talked to Brother Gregory, chairman of the committee, and while he believed that Van Zandt had committed things unbecoming a Red Man, he said that the law was very plain and they could not deviate from it."

The following is extracted from the report of the Great Chief of Records:

Number of members at last report, 1,174. adopted, 76; admitted by card, 9; reinstated, 23; suspended, 109: withdrawn, 16; expelled, 1; deceased, 3; present membership, 1,209; gain since last report, 38; pale faces rejected, 1; amount in Great Council wampum belt, $252.42.

Brother C. C. Conley, Great Chief of Records of the Great Council of the United States, was then introduced and received with the usual honors. After an appropriate address he proceeded to raise the elective and appointive Great Chiefs as follows:

John I. Winter, of No. 6Great Sachem
W. C. Diederich, of No. 19Great Senior Sagamore
Willie Walker, of No. 1Great Junior Sagamore
W. E. Fite, of No. 6Great Prophet
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2Great Chief of Records
John D. Walker, of No. 4Great Keeper of Wampum
H. V. Cohn, of No. 8Great Sannap
Louis Vissman, of No. 9Great Mishinewa
E. E. Bennett, of No. 11Great Guard of Forest
John Hafendorfer, of No. 14Great Guard of Wigwam
Enos Spencer, of No. 8Great Rep. to G. C. U. S.

The Great Sachem announced the standing committees as follows:

Finance—W. S. Roberts, of No. 7; C. M. Chasteen, of No. 4; Louis Vissman, of No. 9.

Law and Usage—W. C. Pelham, of No. 3; E. E. Bennett, of No. 11; Ben C. Nunn, of No. 14.

State of the Order—G. A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9; George Hinesley, of No. 8; Samuel G. Dorr, of No. 11.

Returns and Reports—H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7; T. B. Wright, of No. 11; H. W. Ray, of No. 3.

Board of Appeals—L. E. Pearce, of No. 4; J. G. Sewell, of No. 7; George Dehler, of No. 8.

Appropriate resolutions of thanks were then adopted thanking Onequa Tribe, No. 2, for its hospitality and Brother C. C. Conley for his distinguished services and counsel during the burning of the council brand.

The council fire was then quenched, to be rekindled in the hunting grounds of Louisville, at the 10th run, rising of the 9th sun of Flower Moon, G. S. D. 408.

1899.
FIFTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.

The fifth Great Sun Council fire of the Great Council of Kentucky, Improved Order of Red Men, was kindled in the wigwam of Cherokee Tribe, No. 8, in the hunting grounds of Louisville, on the 9th sun of the Flower Moon, G. S. D. 408.

Representatives were present from Tribes Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 18, 19, 21.

Alonzo Walker was appointed official stenographer to report the proceedings of this Great Council.

The following named Past Sachems were admitted for the first time:

Hiawatha, No. 7—S. O. Knoche, W. B. Leatherman, J. W. Jarbee, M. M. Harbeson.

Cherokee, No. 8—L. S. Leopold, W. S. Marshall, H. W. Stockhoff, L. P. Rammers.

Shawnee, No. 9—J. C. Boardman, H. W. Bohmer, B. W. Bierbaum, W. M. Evans, G. A. Ellerkamp, E. M. Miller.

Mohican, No. 11—J. L. Small.

Totewa, No. 14—B. Rosenthall, H. W. Miller.

Osceola, No. 19—C. A. Malone.

The minutes of the previous Great Council were approved as printed.

The Great Sachem then presented his long talk, in which he said: "The Great Book says that whom the Great Spirit loves he chasteneth; the Red Men of Kentucky certainly stand very close to the big heart of the Great Spirit, having been greatly tried in the fires of ignorance, stupidity and greed. But, brothers, methinks I see behind the dark cloud that has long enveloped Kentucky Redmanship a silver lining, denoting the rising of the sun of prosperity. I believe the dross has been separated from the gold; I believe the day is not far distant when I shall see Kentucky Redmanship where it belongs numerically. To see my beloved Order on its proper plane in Kentucky will amply repay me for many weary day's labor in our vineyard."

The Great Sachem then recounted the appointments made and dispensations granted by him, as well as the decisions he had made, all of which were referred to the proper committees, as were also the long talks of the Great Chief of Records and the Great Keeper of Wampum.

The Committee on Law and Usage reported recommending that the Great Council concur in and adopt the recommendations of the Great Sachem, and the report was agreed to.

The amendment to the by-laws proposed at the last session, relieving Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas from taxation, was adopted.

The following proposed amendment was the cause of much discussion, but was finally defeated by a small margin:

"No brother shall be eligible to the Chieftaincy of Great Sachem unless he has served one term as an elective Chief of a Great Council; nor to the Chieftaincy of Great Prophet unless he has served in the Chieftaincy of Great Sachem."

An attempt was made to change the date for kindling the Great Sun Council fire, but without success.

The incoming Great Sachem was directed to take immediate steps to close up the affairs of Iroquois, Otego and Seminole Tribes, they each being reported defunct.

The Finance Committee made its report approving the accounts of the Great Chief of Records and Great Keeper of Wampum, and ordered mileage that was to be paid those entitled thereto. The committee strongly recommended that the Great Sachem visit every Tribe in the reservation.

Lexington was selected as the next hunting grounds in which to kindle the Great Sun Council fire.

A rising vote of thanks was extended to Great Chief of Records Lyddane for having waited until there was sufficient wampum in the belt before drawing his salary, in order that the per capita tax might be paid promptly.

The Committee on the State of the Order made its report, in which it noted the fact that there had been a diminution in the membership for the past great sun, but that, notwithstanding, the Order was in a healthy and vigorous condition. It recommended that the incoming Great Chiefs be more zealous in making official visitations.

Amendments to the general laws were offered, to lay over one great sun, to "admit pale faces 18 great suns of age," and also to grade the representation of Tribes according to their membership.

Bro. T. A. Hornsey, as the Senior Past Great Sachem present, raised the following named Great Chiefs:

W. C. Diederich, of No. 19Great Sachem
Willie Walker, of No. 1Great Senior Sagamore
Gustav A. Ellerkamp, of No. 9Great Junior Sagamore
John I. Winter, of No. 3Great Prophet
C. E. Lyddane, of No. 2Great Chief of Records
John D. Walker, of No. 4Great Keeper of Wampum
John Hafendorfer, of No. 14Great Sannap
E. E. Bennett, of No. 11Great Mishinewa
James Schrepper, of No. 8Great Guard of Forest
R. A. Chiles, of No. 18Great Guard of Wigwam

Bro. H. C. Rhodes, of No. 7, Great Representative to the G. C. U. S. for two great suns.

Great Keeper of Wampum Walker announced that after all bills payable at this Great Council had been settled the wampum belt would be empty, but that there would be no debt.

After the Great Prophet had invoked the Great Spirit, the council fire was quenched.

SIXTH GREAT SUN COUNCIL.
1900.

A special session of the Great Council was called at Louisville on the 5th sun of Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 408, and the Council fire was kindled by special dispensation from the Great Incohonee in the absence of the Charter of the Great Council. Great Senior Sagamore Willie Walker presided.

The special session had been called for two purposes. First, to investigate charges that had been preferred against Great Sachem W. C. Diederich, accusing him of having conspired with certain organizers to do illegal acts, and to have otherwise acted in violation of the law respecting the organization and institution of Tribes. Second, to adjust a dissention among the chiefs and members of Hiawatha Tribe.

Representatives were present from Tribes Nos. 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 14.

After due investigation of the charges against Great Sachem Diederich, it was ordered that they be withdrawn, and the same being done, Great Sachem Diederich was conducted to his stump amidst applause.

The commissions of J. B. VanZandt and W. E. Fite as organizers were revoked.

After a thorough investigation of the affairs of Hiawatha Tribe, the same were adjusted, and the council fire of this special session was quenched.