Developing Democracy in Bar Mills, Maine
by Meg Gardner
Imagine a situation in which teenagers are separated from their parents by long distances. Imagine the teenagers having to rely on their own wits and hard labor in order to survive. They are without sufficient food and they have little access to goods and services. These teens have virtually no communication with their parents. If any word finds its way to them it is several months old and it almost always emphasizes how they must behave.
To add insult to injury, the parents never visit them, but instead send surrogates who pontificate about the teenagers’ duties to support their parents and who make arrangements to reap gains from the teenagers’ labors. Furthermore, they charge taxes on goods from the parents that are essential to the teenagers’ survival. As the teenagers become adults and develop a way of life that excludes the old parents, they rebel against the known social order, separate from their parents, and eventually form their own, new form of government, called a republic.
The “teenagers” in America named themselves Patriots in order to separate their political ideas from those of the British establishment. Called “Tories” or “Royalists,” the British generally abided by the dominant political philosophy of “traditional conservatism.” A hierarchal form of government, the country was ruled by a monarch who had the “divine right” to do so. Thus began the development of a democratic government in America.
As the colonists became more disgruntled with the impositions mandated by the British government, they began to discuss their options in small local groups that met on a regular basis. The British tried to suppress the buzz among the colonists by enforcing old laws and instituting new ones. The various small group discussions grew more heated – and more popular. Finally, the British pushed too hard, rewarding the British East India Company with tax-exempt status and, consequently, giving it a monopoly on importing tea.
Some of the small groups of colonists that had solidified before this final affront angrily staged a demonstration on December 6, 1773, that we all know as the Boston Tea Party. Groups of Patriots calling themselves the Sons of Liberty and disguised as Native Americans boarded East India ships anchored in Boston Harbor and threw more than three hundred bales of tea into the sea. This represented a hefty loss of profits to the East India Company, to say nothing of the loss of taxes to the British Crown.
England responded by closing the harbor to all shipping and by imposing new legislation that attempted to put the colonies under direct English control. Although there was disagreement among the colonists about the best way to handle this situation, these actions by the British galvanized the colonists. They all agreed to meet in Philadelphia to discuss the situation and to develop a collective response; this meeting became known as the First Continental Congress.
You may be wondering what this well-known story has to do with the Improved Order of Red Men Narragansett Tribe No. 91. In fact, the many small citizen groups discussing the political, economical, social, and governing ramifications of England’s authority over their lives evolved into our way of solving the problems as a democracy as opposed to abiding as a subject of a monarchy. Alexis de Tocqueville, the French political thinker who was fascinated by American democracy, wrote in 1840, "Among democratic nations,…all the citizens are independent and feeble; they can do hardly anything by themselves, and none of them can oblige his fellow men to lend him their assistance. They all, therefore, become powerless if they do not learn voluntarily to help one another.”
Fraternal organizations grew from the small community groups that discussed the British problem and became united in their determination to live in a democracy. These organizations became so popular and socially important that it is estimated that one out of every five men in the country belonged to at least one of the organizations by the end of the nineteenth century. Many still exist: the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and, of course, the Order of Red Men, for example. A particular favorite of mine is The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (I am not positive, but I believe this one no longer exists). Those organized before the Civil War, including the Order of the Red Men, tended to be more ritualistic and secretive, while the newer ones were organized primarily for social charity (and life insurance). Some, especially those organized in the Twentieth Century, were organized for more specific political or social causes. However, they all have similar elements of ritual and common goals that solidify their commitment to the organization and to each other.
The Improved Order of the Red Men claims to be the oldest fraternal order, direct descendants of the Sons of Liberty. The name “Red Men,” while we now may consider it archaic and even derogatory, traces back to the Boston Tea Partiers who used Native American disguises. However, in “The Official History of the Red Men” (published in 1893 under the auspices of “The Great Council of the United States”) there is emphasis that the name “hearkens” to the great Iroquois Nation, with its ideals of democracy, brotherhood, integrity, and loyalty to each other and to the Great Spirit. I.O.R.M. was organized similarly to the Iroquois, with chapters called “tribes” that used local Native American tribal names. Many of the rituals, dress, and language used in their ceremonies (all secret) are reminiscent of Native American traditions. Their women’s auxiliary is called the Degree of Pocahontas.
The Improved Order of Red Men Narragansett Tribe No. 91 (and its auxiliary The Degree of Pocahontas) and the Saco River Grange were the two fraternal organizations in Bar Mills/Buxton (a grange in Bar Mills/Hollis was organized later). It was organized in 1904, with prominent local names among charter members: Marcellus Richardson, Samuel Shepard, Freeman Palmer, Leonard Towle, Thomas Sands, Richard Palmer, Stephen Palmer, Daniel Palmer. Most of the members were fairly young and they represented typical trades in the village. Burton Pease’s father James was a member in 1918, and other members over the years included Guy Hall, Lester Sands, Rankin Bartlett, Albert Meserve (Meserve’s Store), Edwin Palmer (Palmer House), and George Merriman (dentist). They met in the room over Leonard Sands’ blacksmith shop (later this was the Hall and Sands Store and even later it was the office for Rogers Fibre Company).
We know that Bar Mills members held public dances in their hall every week and that they supported the Bar Mills Red Cross. From its earliest days the national organization has initiated activities that promote respect for the American flag; they also have emphasized the preservation of Native American traditions, legends, philosophies, and ceremonies. We can assume that these priorities were also observed by the local Tribe. Their calendar is unique in that they calculate years based on Columbus’ “discovery” of America in 1492. They also use Native American or quasi-Native American names for the months of the year: January – Cold Moon; March – Worm Moon; August – Sturgeon Moon; etc.
We have not been able to verify when Narragansett Tribe No.91 I.O.R.M. was dissolved, but we believe that the organization maintained itself for about fifty years.There are only three Improved Order of Red Men tribes left in Maine: Tarratine Tribe No. 13, Presumpscot Tribe No. 21, and Wescustago Tribe No.37. The dwindling numbers represent powerful cultural changes that have forever reshaped our understanding of community. However, the basic values of these fraternal organizations – conversation, democratic compromise, caring for one another, respecting history, and acts of charity – remain integral to our practice of democracy. They are good lessons to have learned and to remember.
To add insult to injury, the parents never visit them, but instead send surrogates who pontificate about the teenagers’ duties to support their parents and who make arrangements to reap gains from the teenagers’ labors. Furthermore, they charge taxes on goods from the parents that are essential to the teenagers’ survival. As the teenagers become adults and develop a way of life that excludes the old parents, they rebel against the known social order, separate from their parents, and eventually form their own, new form of government, called a republic.
The “teenagers” in America named themselves Patriots in order to separate their political ideas from those of the British establishment. Called “Tories” or “Royalists,” the British generally abided by the dominant political philosophy of “traditional conservatism.” A hierarchal form of government, the country was ruled by a monarch who had the “divine right” to do so. Thus began the development of a democratic government in America.
As the colonists became more disgruntled with the impositions mandated by the British government, they began to discuss their options in small local groups that met on a regular basis. The British tried to suppress the buzz among the colonists by enforcing old laws and instituting new ones. The various small group discussions grew more heated – and more popular. Finally, the British pushed too hard, rewarding the British East India Company with tax-exempt status and, consequently, giving it a monopoly on importing tea.
Some of the small groups of colonists that had solidified before this final affront angrily staged a demonstration on December 6, 1773, that we all know as the Boston Tea Party. Groups of Patriots calling themselves the Sons of Liberty and disguised as Native Americans boarded East India ships anchored in Boston Harbor and threw more than three hundred bales of tea into the sea. This represented a hefty loss of profits to the East India Company, to say nothing of the loss of taxes to the British Crown.
England responded by closing the harbor to all shipping and by imposing new legislation that attempted to put the colonies under direct English control. Although there was disagreement among the colonists about the best way to handle this situation, these actions by the British galvanized the colonists. They all agreed to meet in Philadelphia to discuss the situation and to develop a collective response; this meeting became known as the First Continental Congress.
You may be wondering what this well-known story has to do with the Improved Order of Red Men Narragansett Tribe No. 91. In fact, the many small citizen groups discussing the political, economical, social, and governing ramifications of England’s authority over their lives evolved into our way of solving the problems as a democracy as opposed to abiding as a subject of a monarchy. Alexis de Tocqueville, the French political thinker who was fascinated by American democracy, wrote in 1840, "Among democratic nations,…all the citizens are independent and feeble; they can do hardly anything by themselves, and none of them can oblige his fellow men to lend him their assistance. They all, therefore, become powerless if they do not learn voluntarily to help one another.”
Fraternal organizations grew from the small community groups that discussed the British problem and became united in their determination to live in a democracy. These organizations became so popular and socially important that it is estimated that one out of every five men in the country belonged to at least one of the organizations by the end of the nineteenth century. Many still exist: the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and, of course, the Order of Red Men, for example. A particular favorite of mine is The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (I am not positive, but I believe this one no longer exists). Those organized before the Civil War, including the Order of the Red Men, tended to be more ritualistic and secretive, while the newer ones were organized primarily for social charity (and life insurance). Some, especially those organized in the Twentieth Century, were organized for more specific political or social causes. However, they all have similar elements of ritual and common goals that solidify their commitment to the organization and to each other.
The Improved Order of the Red Men claims to be the oldest fraternal order, direct descendants of the Sons of Liberty. The name “Red Men,” while we now may consider it archaic and even derogatory, traces back to the Boston Tea Partiers who used Native American disguises. However, in “The Official History of the Red Men” (published in 1893 under the auspices of “The Great Council of the United States”) there is emphasis that the name “hearkens” to the great Iroquois Nation, with its ideals of democracy, brotherhood, integrity, and loyalty to each other and to the Great Spirit. I.O.R.M. was organized similarly to the Iroquois, with chapters called “tribes” that used local Native American tribal names. Many of the rituals, dress, and language used in their ceremonies (all secret) are reminiscent of Native American traditions. Their women’s auxiliary is called the Degree of Pocahontas.
The Improved Order of Red Men Narragansett Tribe No. 91 (and its auxiliary The Degree of Pocahontas) and the Saco River Grange were the two fraternal organizations in Bar Mills/Buxton (a grange in Bar Mills/Hollis was organized later). It was organized in 1904, with prominent local names among charter members: Marcellus Richardson, Samuel Shepard, Freeman Palmer, Leonard Towle, Thomas Sands, Richard Palmer, Stephen Palmer, Daniel Palmer. Most of the members were fairly young and they represented typical trades in the village. Burton Pease’s father James was a member in 1918, and other members over the years included Guy Hall, Lester Sands, Rankin Bartlett, Albert Meserve (Meserve’s Store), Edwin Palmer (Palmer House), and George Merriman (dentist). They met in the room over Leonard Sands’ blacksmith shop (later this was the Hall and Sands Store and even later it was the office for Rogers Fibre Company).
We know that Bar Mills members held public dances in their hall every week and that they supported the Bar Mills Red Cross. From its earliest days the national organization has initiated activities that promote respect for the American flag; they also have emphasized the preservation of Native American traditions, legends, philosophies, and ceremonies. We can assume that these priorities were also observed by the local Tribe. Their calendar is unique in that they calculate years based on Columbus’ “discovery” of America in 1492. They also use Native American or quasi-Native American names for the months of the year: January – Cold Moon; March – Worm Moon; August – Sturgeon Moon; etc.
We have not been able to verify when Narragansett Tribe No.91 I.O.R.M. was dissolved, but we believe that the organization maintained itself for about fifty years.There are only three Improved Order of Red Men tribes left in Maine: Tarratine Tribe No. 13, Presumpscot Tribe No. 21, and Wescustago Tribe No.37. The dwindling numbers represent powerful cultural changes that have forever reshaped our understanding of community. However, the basic values of these fraternal organizations – conversation, democratic compromise, caring for one another, respecting history, and acts of charity – remain integral to our practice of democracy. They are good lessons to have learned and to remember.