The winter after the meetings above, a communication was received by the Secretary of our society, Dea. Samuel Jacobs, from the Tuscaroras of Grand River, Ontario, wishing him to forward to them a copy of the constitution of our temperance society, and stating that they wish to form a society based upon the same, which was deferred by Dea. Jacobs until the June following, when Dea. Jacobs, Wm. Patterson, Rev. Thomas Green and Wm. Chew went to Grand River with the constitution. After it was read in their meeting, the Canadian brothers adopted it and formed a society based on the same. It was then proposed and adopted that a convention should be held in the Six Nations council-house, at Grand River, Ontario, in October, 1875. Accordingly the convention duly met and continued three days. Our cornet band was present, with quite a number of the members of our society. The meetings were very pleasant and interesting. The officers were as follows, to-wit:
President--Wm. Chew, of Lewiston
Vice-President--John Hill, of Grand River
Secretary--Josiah Hill, of Grand River
Before the convention closed it was decided that the next convention should be at the Tuscorora Reservation, Lewiston, N. Y., on the 17th day of October, 1876, and the officers appointed were as follows, to-wit:
President--Josiah Hill, of Grand River.
Vice-President--Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Secretary--Elias Johnson, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Just before the appointed time for the convention to meet, there was a communication received by Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, our head chief, from A. Sim Logan, of Cattaraugas Reservation, N. Y., being leader of the Seneca national cornet band, asking the privilege of attending the contemplated convention with his band. The letter was read at one of the temperance meetings and was not only acceded to, but they were cordially invited to attend, and on the 17th day of October, 1876, the day appointed for the convention, they were on hand. A. Sims Logan, with his national cornet band, of Cattaraugus, and Levi Jonathan, with his Tuscasora cornet band, of Grand River, and Solomon Cusick, with his temperance cornet band, of Lewiston, N. Y, were present, which comprise the three leading bands of music of any nations of Indians.
The programme was substantially as follows:
The meeting was called to order by the president, Josiah Hill, of Grand River.
A hymn was sung by the assembly, in the Indian language, words, "Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my Redeemer's praise;" tune, Dundee.
Prayer by Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, N. Y.
The following were chosen as committees of arrangements to-wit:
Mr. Wm. Chew, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Win. Printup, of Lewiston, N.Y.
Mr. Joseph Henry, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. George Beaver, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. Wm. Nephew, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
Mr. Wm. Printup made the congratulatory speech of the meeting through an
intrepreter, Joseph Henry.
The speakers of the first session were as follows, to-wit:
Mr. Levi Jonathan, of Grand River, Ont., on Temperance.
Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, N.Y., on Moral Reform.
Mr. Joseph Henry, of Grand River, Ont., on Industry.
Mr. A. Sim Logan, of Cattaraugus, N. Y., on Education
The Tuscarora cornet band favored this session with music between the speeches.
Adjourned at 2 o'clock P. M. and convened again at 5 o'clock P.M.
The assembly was called to order by the president.
The following were the speakers, to-wit.
Mr. Simon Carrier, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. Josiah Hill, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. William Anderson, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. Wm. Chew, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Elias Johnson, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Wm. Nephew, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
Music was favored the second session by the Seneca national band, of Cattaraugus. N. Y.
Adjourned at 8:30 o'clock P. M. to 10 o'clock A. M. to-morrow, after singing the tune Greenville, words, "Savior, Visit Thy Plantation."
Benediction by Rev Thomas Green.
Oct. 18.--The assembly was called to order by the Vice-President. Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, at 10 o'clock A.M. Opened by singing an Indian hymn Prayer by Rev. Thomas Green, of Lewiston, N. Y.
The following were the speakers, to-wit:
Mr. Thomas Williams, of Grand River.
Mr. George Beaver, of Grand River.
Mr. John C. Lay, of Cattaraugus.
Adjourned at 1:30 o'clock P. M. to 4 P. M.
The assembly was called to order at 4 o'clock P. M. by the President.
The following were the speakers, to-wit:
Mr. John John, of Grand River.
Mr. Levi Jonathan, of Grand River.
Dr. Bombry, of Grand River.
President Josiah Hill, of Grand River.
Mr. Albert Cusick, of Onondaga Castle.
Mr. Abram Hill, of Onondaga Castle.
Rev. Thomas Green, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. William Patterson, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Marvin Crows, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
This forenoon we were favored with music by our temperance cornet band between the speeches.
In the afternoon session we were favored with music by C. C. Lay's orchestra band, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
President Hill in the chair, business was resumed.
Mr. John C. Lay moved that the next convention be held on the Cattaraugus Reservation, N. Y. This was followed by a motion of Levi Jonathan, that the next convention be held at Grand River, Ontario, who claimed that they had adopted the constitution, while the Senecas had not. After some discussion, A. Sim Logan said, "If you will give us a copy of your constitution, we will accept of it and form a society based on the same."
It was then put to vote and carried that the next convention should be held at Cattaraugus, N. Y., on the 25th day of September, 1877.
The following officers were appointed, viz:
Mr. Elias Johnson. Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. Y., President.
Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River, Vice-President.
Dr. Bombry, Cayuga, of Grand River, Secretary.
On the evening of October 25th, as aforesaid, the convention duly met, and was called to order by the President, E. Johnson; opened by singing and prayer. Business was then resumed. The Secretary not being present, Prof. Chancy C. Jemison, of Cattaraugus, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The committee of arrangements was as follows, viz:
Mr. John Canada, Seneca, of Cattaraugus.
Mr. A. Sim Logan, Seneca, of Cattaraugus.
Mr. Job King, Seneca, of Cattaraugus.
Mr. Levi Jonathan, Onondaga, of Grand River.
Mr. James Jemison, Cayuga, of Grand River.
Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Tuscarora, of Lewiston.
Mr. Wm. Chew, Tuscarora, of Lewiston.
Mr. Daniel La Fort, Onondaga, of Syracuse, N. Y.
Mr. Abram Hill, Oneida, of Syracuse, N. Y.
The convention continued three days. Many speeches were made by the leading men of the several nations that were represented. The meetings were unusually interesting. Every speaker seemed to be moved to the utmost of their enthusiasm. The congregations were large, and every face seemed to glow with the interest that was awakened in the great cause of temperance. The order and decorum that prevailed throughout all the meetings was becoming to any Community.
There were also four cornet bands which favored the assemblies with
music, in their proper times, which added very much to the interest of
the convocation. The bands were as follows, to-wit:
Mr. A. Sim Logan's national cornet band, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
Mr. Chester C. Lay's silver cornet band, of the same place.
Mr. Levi Jonathan's Tuscarora cornet band, of Grand River, Ontario.
Mr. Enos Johnson's temperance cornet band, of Tuscarora, N. Y.
On the morning of the last day of the convention before the services began, the four cornet bands consolidated in one, which made over fifty members, and played several tunes together outside of the Presbyterian church, in which the convention was held, and made a rousing band of music.
The first article of the constitution, which reads thus: "This society shall be denominated the Temperance Society," was amended so as to read thus: "This society shall be denominated the Six Nations Temperance Society of the United States and Canada."
The assembly was then called to sign the temperance pledge of this society. There were upwards of two hundred that signed, most of whom resided on the reservation in which the convention was held; but there were some from the Tonawanda, Alleghany and Onondaga reservations, and also one Oneida, from Green Bay, Wis.
The Onondagas and Tonawandas made application for a copy of the constitution to be sent to them, that they might form temperance societies on their respective reservations, which was granted them, and Mr. Josiah Hill was appointed to write the copy and send the same to them.
The convention adjourned on the evening of the third day to meet again the next year at Grand River, Ontario.
OFFICERS
Mr. John Canada, Seneca, of Cattarauguh, President.
Mr. Wm. Patterson, Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. Y., Vice-President.
Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River, Secretary.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. Y., Treasurer.
It will be seen by the above that the Tuscaroras have not been altogether idle on the subject of temperance. The temptations of intemperance surrounding our reservation are great. We hope that the legislature will aid us in enacting more rigid laws, for the temptation is working even in cider, which seems to be more intoxicating now than in former times.