The national Republican., 1869-06-22
rOOmmUotfsief I

"KsI0HTs or PYTHIAs.n-The Increasing
pSgSH,1y SSns .n. Of r. ,s,
alarming. We believe thai. .Mr. sambola, the
notorious leader OF the thugs OF this city, 10
one Of the chief splrits Of this order, which Of
itself is sufficient evidence Of Its true chsr.
acter. We understand thatit ls exclusively a.
white mans concern, and hat oolored men are
not admitted. The admission fee Is ten dol
lars, which conveys the idea At once that II 10
no place for small hshes, We have had so
much OF Seymour Knights" and "Blalt
Knlsh,.n that We h.ys a. nnslly settled down os
aimixture. The very name 10 omlnous. The
knights Of Pythias," like the "Golden
Clrele," 10 OF rebel origin, and we are At a loss
lican, can attach himself 70 such an order Of
well.kuown dlsloyalty. We were Informed
that some Of the secret agents Of this mysterI.
poatmas with a view 10 have him join
them, but that he had SUFFICIENT Republican
prime iples left TO refuse. We have heard q
about this order, and being Determined 10
sound the mystery as far as possible, we shall
keep on the alert, and watch future develop
| ments.-Radiedi SiaRddrd, JHAe ..
Mr.. Editor The above Is fair sample Of
the effusion Of tho brain Of one who knew
nothing about the Knights OF Pythias cx-
cept what he had seen through pair Of
rebel spectacles. The Order Is too well
known In the Northern, Eastern and West.
ern States to be harmed by any such at.
tempts to wedge politics into lis folds; and
as for IL being Of "rebcl origin" baser
falsehood never was uttered, for Its founders
were persons connected with the Goycl Il.
ment during Its seyerest trials. No ''sma'l
nsh" like the scrlbbler OF the above Item
need apply for membership In the Knights
Of Pythias, as necessary requisites arc good
character, sound morals, &C.; and II the
writer judges an Order like the Knights Of
Pythlas from q 'ten-lollar'' standpoint "a
be "dlsloyal organization" what must b
his opinion OF kindred charitable organiza
tlons that charge higher rates Of admission
Although the politics Of an applicant for ad
mission into Its folds Is not questioned, ye
II the author Is "at loss TO know how
man calling himself Republican can attnel
himself 10 such an Order Of well-known dis
loyalty" he had better consult tho thou
sands Of Republicans that hold membersbi
therein, taking care, however, TO frst apollo
gize for the base insult he has offered then
In his paper.
Who Mr.. sambola Is, We do not know. A
to Its being exclusively ga white mans con
cern," l would respectfully ask him II ever
In the history OF secret societies OF this coun
try, the colored men came within eight vote
Of securing a charter TO work upon an edua
footing with the whites, as was the case a
the last session Of the Supreme Lodge Of thl
, Order an Order which has over two hun
dred lodges, seventy five thousand member.
and Is engrafted In twenty-one States Of tn
Union. The author must keep dclectabl
= company, for he admits that he hears "lo,
D suspicious whispcrings" occasionally, an
r that he also plays evesdropper. "The IL
= creasing popularity OF this mysterious orgar
b lzatlon," need not occasion him any harm
'. for "its aim Is to alleviate the sufferings {
G a brother, Zealously watch at the bedside {
c the sick, soothe the dying pillow, and perforl
c the last said rites ut the grave Of II brothe
i offering consolation TO the afflicted, and ca
!, Ing for the widow and orphans" Havin
' these principles In view, VIC endeayor TO ei
d empliiy them by practical tests, and II, /
h the grace Of God, II shall successfully carr
= out this object, We shall feel that our mi
sion has not been In vain.
Respectfully, C. NJ. b.
n For the Ka'ghts.
a, WAsuIsGToN, J unc Is 1859