All About The Red Men

The Improved Order of Red Men is a National Fraternal Organization that believes in.....

Love and respect for 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 American...
Helping those in need through organized charitable programs...
Linking our members together in common bond of friendship brotherhood and...
Perpetuating the beautiful legends and traditions of 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 nonprofit organization devoted to inspire a greater love for the United States of America and the principles of American Liberty.

Why The Name 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 government 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 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 worked after the Ancient Masonic Craftsman.

Some Words You Will Hear and What They Mean

The state organization is set up like the National Organization, with a State Great Council and a State Chief as President. The Board of Chiefs are elected from Past Chiefs of Local Tribes.

The local organization is set up like the National and State Organizations. The Local Organization is called a Tribe. The Sachem presides with a Board of Officers with similar duties as the state and national organizations.

Flag Recognition Program - A Program to honor those patriotic Americans who display the flag regularly.

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 the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

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 held the first weekend of May to renew and strengthen our beliefs in the American way of life.

Braille Press and Seeing Eye Dogs - Financial support to aid and promote needs of the blind.

Retarded Children’s Programs - Support of various projects and programs of the Association of The Retarded, including the Special Olympics.

Princess Pocahontas Day - Held annually the 4th Saturday in June at Jamestown Island at the Princess Pocahontas statue to commemorate the life of Princess Pocahontas and her contributions to the English-Speaking people, sponsored by the Degree of Pocahontas, Great Council of Virginia.

Red Men-Pocahontas National Charity Program - The National Charity supports Alzheimer’s research and other projects of the National Alzheimer’s Association.

Highway Safety Program - A program to promote safe driving.

What Is The History of The Red Men?

1. The Order of Red Men traces its origin to certain secret patriotic societies found 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.

2. The Boston Tea Party. 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.

3. During the Revolutionary War, members of secret societies quenched their council fires and took up musket to join with the continental Army. To the cause of Freedom and Liberty, they pledged their lives, their fortunes and secret honors. At the end of the hard fourth war, the American Republic was born and was soon acknowledged among the nations of the word.

4. Following the Revolution the various secret societies founded before and during the conflict continued in existence as brotherhoods of fraternities.

5. 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.

6. At Baltimore, Maryland, in 1847, the various local tribes came together and formed a national organization called the Grand Council of The United States.

7. 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 over 150,000. The order continued to grow and by 1920, tribes in 46 states totaled membership over one half million.

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