Newark Leader

Red Men Buy $3,000 Worth of Defense Bonds

At the regular meeting of Minnewa Tribe No. 52 Improved Order of Red Men held Monday night, the Tribe authorized the Secretary Edw. C. Richardson to purchase two $1,000 and two $500 Defense bonds in order to do their bit in the fight for liberty.

Some people will ask "What is the Improved Order of Red Men?" It is the oldest Fraternity of purely American origin and can definitely trace its history back to about the year 1760 when it was known as the Sons of St. Tamina and the Liberty Boys. These societies all thru the long years of the Revolution were battling for freedom. Early in December 1773 when three ships laden with tea arrived in Boston Harbor, and after a meeting was held, about 65 men disguised as Indians rushed down to the wharf and in a few hours time threw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

The Improved Order of Red Men has upon its membership roll some very distinguished American citizens including lawyers, judges, supreme court officials and even the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was admitted to membership in the Order at Albany, New York, Jan. 11, 1930.

Minnewa Tribe No. 52 Improved Order of Red Men was instituted at Newark, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1870 with 18 charter members, all of whom have passed to the Happy Hunting Grounds. At one time the local Tribe was the second largest in the state, having nearly 500 members on its roster. At the present time, although the Tribe has not a large membership, they were able to do their bit to help out Uncle Sam.

Officers of the local Tribe include James E. Jones, prophet; Wm. H. Butler, sachem; Jos. C. Bader, senior sagamore; C. C. Motherspaw, junior sagamore; Edw. C. Richardson, chief of records; W. A. Tanner, keeper of wampum, and trustees Fred C. Mours, James E. Jones, and Jos. C. Bader.