Red Lodge (United States)
The Red Lodge was a fraternal organization that traced its lineage back to 1912 with the creation of the Red Lodge or Medicine Lodge by Ernest Thompson Seton within the Woodcraft Movement. They describe themselves as a Brotherhood of men who have an appreciation for the outdoors, who are interested in the mystic side of Woodcraft and who have learned that true power comes from self-control. History In 1902 Ernest Thompson Seton created the Woodcraft Indians in Cos Cob, Connecticut. Despite the name, it was a group for non-Indian youth. He used the program to teach youth about the importance of nature, personal development and democracy. The program would grow to become a national organization, but in the later years dwindle in membership. In 1912 a book was printed in the form of 100 scrolls. The scrolls are titled The Red Lodge and they were written by Ernest Thompson Seton. By 1917 the Red Lodge went through a name and policy change, it now allowed females to join, and became known as the Sun Lodge. In 1916 Ernest Westlake founded the Order of Woodcraft Chivalry, he appointed Ernest Thompson Seton as the honorary Grand Chieftain. The Order of Woodcraft Chivalry included the Sun Lodge as a type of innermost circle. Audrey Westlake, the son of Ernest is quoted to have described the Sun Lodge as "in a sense, the church of the movement". Organization The Mother Lodge The Mother Lodge serves as the Grand Lodge for the Red Lodge organization. It has the right to grant or deny annual charters to all Red Lodges. The Mother Lodge functions the same way as the individual Red Lodges the only difference being its charter granting ability. Red Lodge A Red Lodge is the basic unit of membership, it can be formed with the approval of The Mother Lodge and only after a charter has been granted. Three or more men who have achieved the Dibando degree are required to form a new lodge. Degrees Candidate In order to be considered a Mikana or Candidate for membership, an individual must be a man of 21 years of age. The individual must strongly desire membership in the Order. The individual must sleep outside for no less than 100 nights. They must wait until a spot in the Lodge opens up (There is a 24-person limit per lodge). Two members of the Lodge need to vouch for his membership. First Degree In order to become a Dibando or Brother of the first degree, an individual must first have been found by the Council to be a Mikana. The individual must create a fire by friction thus creating "Sacred Fire". Next he must be sunburnt to the waist in what is referred to as a "Sundance". The Mikana will then be instructed to keep a fire going in the wilderness from sunset to sunrise thus completing a "Vigil". He will then need to read and understand the "Four Mystic Rolls". The Mikana will then be subjected