Great Sachem H. H. Denhardt, as was now the custom, presented his Long Talk in print, and the following extracts will be of interest:—
"As the members of the Great Council of Kentucky assemble in peace and harmony around this Great Sun's Council fire, we can congratulate ourselves upon the close of the most prosperous year in the history of the Order in Kentucky. From Paducah our runners swiftly to their Tribes returned spreading the spirit of true fraternity there engendered into every wigwam in our Reservation, and as a result the council fires of the various Tribes have been kept brightly burning; discord has been banished from their midst; and the braves and warriors have become accustomed to assemble not for the purpose of wrangling among themselves, of gaining some petty advantage over another brother or over another Tribe, but plans for the capturing of palefaces were discussed and as a result at least two thousand palefaces' scalps are dangling at the belts of our warriors and braves.
This Great Sun has been one fraught with many blessings and pleasures. The propitious sky has occasionally been obscured by a fleeting cloud, but the passing shadow only intensified the brightness that followed.
Through the sunshine and the shadows, the pleasures and trials, our beloved Order has grown until now it has taken rank as one of the most prosperous fraternal societies in Kentucky.
I have brought to the performance of the duties devolving upon me my best energies, my untiring efforts and all the zeal and industry I could command. It, no doubt, is true that I have not measured up to the full requirements of the high and important Chieftaincy to which your over-kindness has elevated me; I have, however, labored with an eye single to the advancement of our Order. I have tried to be diligent, sought to be impartial and endeavored to be zealous and faithful."
Concerning Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas he said:—"I have done what I could to promote the welfare of this most excellent branch of our order. Some progress has been made, but still there is need of encouragement being given those who are striving to push forward the cause of this Degree."
He reported the institution of twenty-one new Tribes and two Councils of the Degree of Pocahontas, as well as the resuscitation of four Tribes and one Council D. of P.
Concerning the Widows' and Orphans' Home Fund he said:—"It seemed to be almost the unanimous opinion of those to whom I talked concerning this matter that the time for the creation of this fund had arrived even at the last Great Council; however, no action was taken. I believe that the movement to establish a Home for the Widows and Orphans of Kentucky Red Men is the greatest work ever undertaken by our beloved Order in Kentucky. When we establish a Home of this sort we are doing some real good in the world and that is what our Order exists for, and that is, or should be, the aim of every member of the Order."
After publishing a list of subscriptions to the Home Fund amounting to $438.30, and having recounted a long list of visitations, he said—
"The Angel of Death has laid his hand heavily on our Order during the past Great Sun. Mary McFarlan, wife of Horace J. McFarlan, Great Prophet of the Great Council of Kentucky, died on the 15th Sun of Buck Moon, G. S. D. 413.