Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1894 — THE PICTS OF INDIANA. [ARTICLE]

THE PICTS OF INDIANA.

Criticism of Minor Details of the Brookville Organization. New York Sun. IA-X -- The study of the Pictish antiquities has a main seat in Brookville, Ind. The year 1892, so rich in commemorations, had the additional glory of witnessing the completion of the Brookville water works. As our esteemed contemporary, -the Franklin Democrat, says, “A feeling grew upthat the two events”— the completion of the water works and the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America —“should be celebrated in one jubilee." Mr. Hebman Trichler, one of the founders of the Order of Clncinnatus, believed that a new society would be the best means of joining the great events. It was finallj' decided that the field of Pictish history was not fully occupied, and Brookville being well supplied with persons of Pictish descent, a Pictish society was formed. It was called and still prospers as Clan Ben Grampis No. 1, Scotus Gaul Picti; and while it is equaled by few societies in point of constitution and by-laws, it is excelled by none in the majestic sonority and poetry of its names of officers. It has a lord of firth and flood, a thant of the donjon keep, an earl of locks and heather, a merlin churl of the heather,a lord of mounts and valleys, a seer of the sacred fire, a monarch of the mystic mists, a knight of the castle gate, a watchman of the outer wall, a bearer of the hazel rod, a bede of Buchan, a Douglass of the guard and a Co • lumba of lona.

We do not find that tattooing or painting of the body is practiced by the members of the S. G. P., nor are we sure whether they wear the Highland costume orgo back in their garb to a point nearer the Pictish fashion as described in Blackmore’s couplet: 1 A painted vest Prince Voltiger had on, Which from a naked Pict his grandsire won. The Brookville Picts march in single file, have good old Caledonian appetites, and are full of poetry, science and history. Mr. G. Henri Bogart, one of the most, eminent of Indiana poets, is a clansman of the Clan Ben Grampis. Perhaps he conceived the poetical idea of the Han colors:

“White, as the snow of the Grampian summits, indicating purity of purpose; green, as the firs and pines clothing their slopes, indicating that friendship keeps ever alive; and purple, the regal hue, emblematic of the imperial majesty of unity, represent our clan, as they formed the historic tartan of MacAlpin.” Fraternity, amusement and improvement are the objects of the Brookville Picts, and those objects seem to be attained. “Any male citizen of eighteen, of good character, who believes that Brookville is the greatest town on earth," is eligible to membership. “The citizens >f the earth generally Shall be invited” to the public amusements given by the clan on the Fourth of Idly. The only criticism that we should think of making of this original and solid society relates to a minor detail. The constitution provides that ‘the keeper of the tower shall perorm the usual duties of a janitor, md shall be paid (olank) for each Meeting.” He shall be paid blank iollars or cents may be good Pictish, Cut it’s not good English. Besides, the keeper of the tower ought not to lave to sweep. An ancient Pict with a feather duster in his hand is aotto be imagined. Would anybody think of asking a Merlin churl of the heather to wash the dishes?