Knights of the Golden Eagle.'-The order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle is a secret benevolent institution, founded in the city of Baltimore, Md., Feb. 6, 1873, by John E. Burbage, in conjunction with a number of prominent business men. It has for its motto "Fidelity, Valor, and Honor." For the proper administration of its affairs the order is divided into Supreme, Grand, and Subordinate Castles.

The Supreme Castle is the source of all true and legitimate authority over the order, and possesses as such exclusive power, and is composed of all Past Grand Chiefs in good standing.

Grand Castles exist by virtue of a charter or dispensation issued by authority of the Supreme Castle, or Supreme Chief during its recess, have exclusive jurisdiction over all Subordinate Castles within their territorial limits, and are composed of all Past Chiefs

1 Contributed by Edward S. Rowand.

in good standing in their Subordinate Castles. Subordinate Castles exist by virtue of charters granted by the appropriate Grand Castles.

In September, 1875, M. S. Ilgenfritz, a member of the order in Baltimore, made a visit to Philadelphia, and explained the objects of the order to a number of gentlemen, most of whom were active Odd-Fellows, and so well pleased were they that arrangements were made for a meeting for the purpose of introducing the order into Philadelphia, and a few evenings later the meeting was held at the office of C. K. & W. D. Hammitt, No. 119 South Fourth Street, when it was resolved to form Keystone Castle, No. 1.

On Friday evening, Oct. 1, 1875, the officers of the Grand Castle of Maryland visited Philadelphia and instituted Keystone Castle, No. 1, at Broadway Hall, corner of Broad and Spring Garden Streets, with the following charter members:

Edward S. Rowand, C. K. Hammitt, J. H. Christ, M. E. Gibson, W. A. Witherup, S. R. Richards, L. F. Bailey, T. J. Butler, S. W. Rowand, W. S. Cunningham, A. C. Lukens, Jacob Heritage, John Little, George L. Keller, Edward Christ, William Christ, A. H. Fenn, George W. Graham, W. D. Hammitt, William Hilt, G. F. A. Hofius, George C. Hoster, S. W. Meixell, W. W. Moore, D. S. Paul, D. R. Paul, T. H. Potts, L. Robinson, George Richardson, H. P. Schetky, V. W. Walter, L. B. Milson, T. A. Delaney, George B. Robinson, J. W. Tindall, C. C. Banks, W. J. Dornan, George H. Fennemore, J. Warner Goheen, F. H. Iddings, F. S. Irwin, J. S. Muschamp, Wilfred Patterson, W. L. Suddards, John R. Cantlin, Timothy McCarthy, and William Culbertson.

The following officers were installed:

P. C., C. K. Hammitt; N. C., Edward S. Rowand; V. C., George H. Fennemore; H. P., J. H. Christ; V. H., M. E. Gibson; M. of R., W. A. Witherup; C. of E., Charles Zane; K. of E., S. R. Richards; Sir H., L. F. Bailey; W. C., A. O. Cox; Ensign, Thomas J. Butler; Esq., William Mustard, Jr.; 1st G., S. W. Rowand; 2d G., W. S. Cunningham; W. B., C. C. Maurer.

The institution of Keystone Castle met with such unqualified success that it was deemed advisable to form other castles, and for that purpose Sir Knights W. S. Suddards, J. Warner Goheen, F. H. Iddings, F. S. Irwin, J. S. Muschamp, and Wilfred Patterson withdrew from Keystone Castle and organized Ivanhoe Castle, No. 1, and Sir Knights John R. Cantlin, Timothy McCarthy, William Culbertson, and William J. Dornan withdrew and organized Apollo Castle, No. 3. On Dec. 17, 1875, the officers of the Grand Castle of Maryland again visited Philadelphia, and in the room of Keystone Castle instituted the two new castles, making three castles formed in about three months.

The necessary number of castles for the formation of a Grand Castle being now in successful existence, a meeting of the Past Chiefs of the three castles was held at the rooms of Suddards and Fennemore, No. 820 Arch Street, on Wednesday evening, Jan. 12, 1876, followed by several other meetings. The organization being completed, the Grand Castle of Pennsylvania was duly instituted in the room of Keystone Castle on the evening of April 27, 1876, by authority of the Grand Castle of Maryland, the then supreme authority in the order, and the following installed as officers:

G. C., Edward S. Rowand, of No. 1; G. V. C., John R. Cantlin, of No. 3; G. Sir H., W. H. Landell, of No. 2; G. H. P., J. H. Christ, of No. 1; G. V. H., A. Moore, of No. 2; G. M. of R., W. A. Witherup, of No. 1; G. K. of E., W. J. Dornan, of No. 3; G. W. C., J. R. Cantlin, of No. 3; P. G. C., W. L. Suddards, of No. 2.

At the semi-annual session, Oct. 4, 1877, a plan was adopted for the formation of the Supreme Castle, and on Jan. 22, 1878, the Past Grand Chiefs of Maryland and Pennsylvania met in Golden Eagle Hall, No. 51 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, and organized the Supreme Castle. During the past two years the order has grown very rapidly, and now exists in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, and New Jersey, with prospects of its early introduction into several other States.

The officers of the Supreme Castle, the headquarters of which is at present in Philadelphia, are as follows: S. C., Edward S. Rowand, Philadelphia, Pa.; S. V. C., John W. Simpson, Baltimore, Md.; S. H. P., M. S. Ilgenfritz, Baltimore, Md.; S. M. of R., Timothy McCarthy, Philadelphia, Pa.; S. K. of E., William Culbertson, Philadelphia, Pa.; S. Sir H., J. M. Correll, Baltimore, Md.; S. 1st G., George O. Wiley, Boston, Mass.; S. 2d G., B. B. Hough, Wilmington, Del.

The Grand Chiefs of Pennsylvania have been—

Edward S. Rowand, John R. Cantlin, Timothy McCarthy, William Culbertson, Thomas W. Brooks, Joseph B. Howell, John Dickinson, William Hilt, Harry C. Stout.

The Philadelphia castles are Keystone, Ivanhoe, Apollo, Ingomar, Crusaders, Pilgrim, Fidelity, Philadelphia, Columbia, Kenilworth, Waverly, Pennsylvania, Aurora, Welcome, Warwick, Oliver, St. John, Harris, and Southwark. The order has a membership in Pennsylvania of about two thousand five hundred.

Ancient Order of United Workmen.'-This fraternal and beneficial order was founded in Meadville, Pa., on Oct. 25, 1865, by J. J. Upchurch, with seven members. Since then it has extended over nearly every State in the Union and into Canada. The object of the order, besides those of a social and fraternal character, is to provide for the families of deceased members by contributions from the members of an amount equal to two thousand dollars for each deceased member. It was the first order having this purpose in view. Since the order was started there has been distributed by this means over one million five hundred thousand dollars in Pennsylvania, and over eight million dollars throughout the United States. The order consists of a Supreme Lodge, having general supervision and control over the whole, and of Grand Lodges in each State where there are over two thousand members. These Grand Lodges are composed of representatives from subordinate lodges located in various parts of the State.

In the State of Pennsylvania there are two hundred and one lodges and a membership of fourteen thousand. Throughout the United States the order has a membership of over one hundred and thirty thou

1 Contributed by William H. James.

sand. The assessments upon the members in Pennsylvania have averaged seventeen dollars per annum. The main office of business of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, that of the General Recorder, is at Pittsburgh. The subordinate lodges meet weekly or semi-monthly. The Grand Lodge meets on the second Tuesday of January in each year. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was incorporated by an act of Assembly approved March 9, 1871.

The order was started in the city of Philadelphia on April 27, 1874, by J. C. Davitt, the first lodge, Philadelphia Lodge, No. 73, being instituted with seventeen members. In this city in February, 1884, there were twenty-four lodges, with a membership of three thousand eight hundred and forty-three, as follows:

The Improved Order of Red Men. The society known as the Improved Order of Red Men claims to be the oldest secret beneficial organization whose entire ritual and speculative work is founded upon purely American customs and traditions, existing in this country, and as far as is known, with one exception, the oldest of this character. There may be others claiming to have been founded earlier, but the writer is not aware of the fact.

The celebration of the day of St. Tammany, the tutelar saint of Pennsylvania, was begun in Philadelphia probably as early as the time of the agitation in consequence of the passage of the British Stamp Act. The fact is shown by the address hereafter quoted made in 1773. The first public notice of such a celebration appeared in the newspapers of May, 1772, in which it was stated that "the sons of King Tammany met at the house of James Byrne, in Philadelphia, on the 1st of May, 1772, to celebrate the memory of that truly noble chieftain, whose friendship was most af fectionately manifested to the worthy founder and first settlers of this province." There was a dinner and toasts, and the account of the meeting said, "It is hoped that from this small beginning a society may be formed of great utility to the distressed, as this

2 Contributed by W. G. Hollis, Past Sachem.

commandant of the district, Gen. Bloomfield, at his office on Sixth Street, on the 23d, having first received their equipments from the brigade inspector, Maj. Sharp, when they at once proceeded to Fort Mifflin. While on duty there the society of Red Men was organized. Its object was mutual aid and support in time of necessity, for social enjoyment, and members were pledged to stand by each other at all hazards in defending their country.

The garrison was shortly afterward strengthened by United States regulars, and there being no further need of the volunteers, they were discharged. The volunteers left the fort on the 7th of April following, and the nearest we can fix the date of the organization of the society, as many of the early records are lost, is between the 23d of March and the 7th of April, 1813. In the latter part of 1816 notice was published in some of the papers of the city calling a meeting of all then living in the city who had been identified with the society of Red Men at Fort Mifflin, to meet in council, to revive old associations, and, if possible, start the society anew. The call was responded to by a number of the former members, and at this meeting the society was reorganized under the name of the "Red Men of Pennsylvania."

It is to be regretted that a more definite point of time cannot be given as to this interesting event, but the early minutes were for the most part kept on loose sheets of paper or in small account-books, which have been lost.

The society name was the Tribe of Columbia, Society of Red Men. Under this title it existed with varying success until about 1832 or 1833. There were at least three, if not four, other tribes formed between the years 1818 and 1831,-the Northern and Southern Tribes, one in Germantown, and one in the Northern Liberties.

In its early days the society was semi-military and civil in its organization, although strictly non-partisan. Nothing of a sectarian or party political nature was allowed to be introduced during the burning of its council-fires. The old preamble to their constitution declared that they held as a sacred truth that all men were born equally free, and endowed by their great and beneficent Creator with the right of enjoying and defending their rights and liberties, and pursuing their own happiness so far as they conform to the known and salutary principles laid down in the constitution and laws of our beloved country, and that they had formed themselves into an association for mutual benefit, to assist each other when in need, and minister to each other's necessities in sickness, and in case of death to care for the widow and orphan.

It was a cardinal principle of these early Red Men that no one having or holding a slave or being connected with the traffic in human beings could be a member of the society. They were thus the pioneer Abolitionists of our city, and it is a remarkable fact that,

notwithstanding this feature of their principles, they had established a flourishing tribe of the society in the city of Charleston, S. C., as early as 1819 or 1820, which continued to exist until its membership was scattered by a fearful epidemic which broke out in that city about the year 1824. Under the old organization the presiding officer was called Generalissimo; his powers were quite extensive. The first to hold this office was Francis Shallus, who was known among the initiated by the Indian title of Yeougheowana-wago (Yeo-wauna-wa-go), or Split Log. In addition to the Chief, there were two Captain-Generals, four Lieutenant-Generals, twenty Major-Generals, thirty Brigadiers, and a large number of subordinate officers. These, whenever traveling or going from the city permanently, were commissioned to institute new tribes wherever they might locate, and were all considered aids to the Generalissimo. The society worked upon this plan until 1834, when the Society of Red Men-Tribe of Maryland, No. 1-was organized at the house of D. McDonald, on Bond Street, Fell's Point, Baltimore, mainly through the instrumentality of William Muirhead, a former member of the Philadelphia Tribe, acting under a commission from the third Generalissimo, "Old Warrior" (Richard Loudenslager). The society name of Mr. Muirhead was "Withea of Missouri, or Hospitality."

This new tribe continued until 1835, when a change was made by a number of members withdrawing and forming Logan Tribe, No. 1, and on the 20th of May, 1835, the Grand Council of Maryland was formed by Past Chiefs and representatives of this tribe. Several modifications in the work of the order were made, and when the Grand Council was incorporated, by a surreptitious act of the brother having charge of the matter, the name was changed to Improved Order of Red Men, instead of Order of Improved Red Men, as had been adopted. In 1847 the Great Council of the United States was organized by representatives of the Grand Council of Maryland and District of Columbia and the various tribes then in existence.

In the year 1848, the order, under its new phase, was re-established in Philadelphia, although the old one still held its existence in Lancaster and Reading, and continued to do so until about 1860. In December of 1848, Metamora Tribe, No. 2, was instituted at Lancaster, Pa. Tecumseh Tribe, No. 1, had already been instituted at Norristown, June 14, 1847. Lenni Lenape Tribe, No. 3, was instituted in February, 1848; Kuquenuku, No. 4, in April, 1848; Pocahontas, No. 5, October, 1849; Mohegan, No. 6, Waynesborough, Franklin Co., February, 1849. On the 23d of May, 1849, the Great Council of Pennsylvania was instituted in the wigwam of Lenni Lenape Tribe, No. 3, by the Great Sachem Incohonee, John Smith, of Virginia. Since then the order has had a steady and healthful growth, and to-day it numbers in this State nearly one-half of the entire member

title of Independent Order of Red Men. In Pennsylvania, a few years afterward, a number of tribes became insubordinate, and united with Metamora Tribe, of Maryland, and thus aided in building up the order as established by that tribe. This latter organization is composed exclusively of Germans.1

CHAPTER L.

Chippewa, No. 51.

Camanchee, No. 52.. Wyalusing, No. 56...

Wawatam, No. 63.

Penobscot, No. 70.

Idaho, No. 73....

67

270

41

53

134

47

177

294

For many years the order has been without a permanent home. In this respect the Independent Order outstripped the Improved Order. During the past outstripped the Improved Order. During the past year this want has been met in the purchasing and fitting up of a fine and commodious wigwam, known as the Wigwam of the Great Council of Pennsylvania, Improved Order of Red Men. It is located at No. 928 Race Street, in this city. The lower rooms are used as offices of the Great Council. The second floor is devoted to social gatherings of members, and the third and fourth floors are handsomely fitted up as tribal wigwams or meeting-rooms. This building was appropriately dedicated to the uses of Redmanship on the 1st of January, 1884.

BANKS AND BANKERS, AND CURRENCY.

WHEN the Swedes and Dutch first occupied the banks of the Delaware the currency in use among the Indians was mainly wampum, or peag, or wampum-peag, as it was variously called. It consisted of dark purple and white beads, made out of shells or stone, and pierced for stringing. The purple beads had twice the value of the white, and when arranged in strings or belts were used as articles of jewelry. As currency, wampum was used in strings, and valued according to measure; a fathom or belt consisted of three hundred and sixty beads. At an early period the settlers, in trading with the Indians, and in many operations among themselves, when it was certain that it could be disposed of to the Indians for furs and peltries, sometimes used wampum; but as it was liable to deterioration by wear and use, and became over-abundant, besides not being of a character to satisfy foreign debts, it soon ceased to be current, and was abolished as a nuisance.

When the early settlers received gold and silver they hoarded it up to pay for foreign commodities, and to supply its place for making "change," began to use a "barter currency." Beaver, otter, bear, fox, raccoon, and other fur skins and country produce constituted the first currency of the early settlers. In many instances taxes were collected and fees were paid in barter. The Duke of York's laws exacted a quit-rent of one bushel of wheat per one hundred acres records, was taken for taxes (and of course for rent of land patented. Wheat, we find by the Upland likewise) at the rate of "five guilders per scipple,”

five guilders per scheepel, or bushel, thirty pence sterling, or sixty cents, or thirty pence Pennsylvania currency, equal to forty-four and one-fifth cents,—a rent, therefore, of three-fifths or two-fifths of a cent per acre.2 "Country money," by which a large

1 Within the limits of this history the facts have been given regarding the organization and progress of the oldest and most important of the secret societies of this city. It has been found impossible, however, to fill out the details concerning all the associations of that character which have existed or do exist in Philadelphia.

2 In March, 1680, Thomas Kerby and Robberd Drawton, servants, sued Gilbert Wheeler for wages, and Upland court allowed Kerby and

land, withdrew from the order, and set up under the

to be paid "in corne or other good pay in yo River." "Corne in ye river"