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Founded in Elmira NY in 1885, this organization was/is a women's auxiliary
to the Improved Order of Red Men. Its first council was held in Philadelphia
in 1887. Its objectives are the teaching of kindness, love, charity and
loyalty to one's country. It has secret rituals, secret signs and passwords
and an initiation process. Its 1977 membership was 22,827. I do not have
present day statistics. Its emblem is an Indian woman with two American
flags on each side of her. She has a shield which says Degree of Poconhontas.
On the flagholders shown here, the shield is present but the predominant
symbol is a bird.
Among its projects are Aid to Indian Children. Financial support is
given for braille books for the blind and for retarded children. They have
participated in programs for safe driving.
(Source: Greenwood Encyclopedia of .... Fraternal Organizations,
Alvin J. Schmidt, Greenwood Press, 1980, pp 260-262.)
See http://members.xoom.com/redmen/)
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