Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-15
PYTHIAS.
Who His sens are ana what fiaey dO-A
Brief Account OF the Institution OF
the knights OfPythlas.

"The Knights Of Pythias" is the name of a
new society that has grown with tremendous
Eanldtty aqring the past eight years. The Or
derls benevolent,
THE OBJECTS
Of it are thus officially set forth:
The Order of the Knights of Pythias is found
ed upon naught but the purest and sincerest
motives It's aim is 60 alleYiate the spfferings
of brother, succor the unfortunate, Zealously
watch at the bedside of the sick, sOOthe the
pillow of the dying, perform the last sad rites
at the grave OF a brother, offer consolation to
the afflicted, and caring, with all a brothers
love, for the widow and orphan.
No human institution is better calculated to
promote the happiness and well-being of man.
1t invites 10 its lodge the sous of virtue of
love, ang Of peace; tnat they may be connect
ed hy vows Gf eternal anlity IN a holy alliance,
and unite their best endeaYOrs for mutual
and general advantage 1t brings together
men estranged from each other by climate.
language and education, and teaches them
that they are children Of one Almighty
Father; and that, therefore, they should love
as brethren, II TEACHES nc creed Ia religion
but that Of dependence upon and aecounte-
bility to the One Eternal and Almighty God.
Ii embraces in its communion the good and
true of all Sects and opinions, Men of all
Greeds and POLITICS meet together Ia Its lodges
and find common refuge from dissensions
that too often mar the harmony of social in
tereOurse. II is a society whose principles are
10 do! justice to all mRnkind-tQ render TO
every man his dues-ta cherish feelings of
-beneyalenee and Kindness 70 our fellow-be-
oppressed and distressed ana pnfartunate OF
our race, Rratherly love and charity are the
pillars on which. 1t rests, and friendship and
truth the bond and surety of its preservation.
ITS ORIGIN,
II was originated IN Washington city by a
JUSTICE Of the Peace named j. Z. X. Plant IN
February, 1864. Although having a very ancf-
ent name IL is a thoroughly modern tnstitu-
ton. Its progress was for several years rather
slow, but new lodges were instituted from
time 70 time, and in April, S65, delegates in o
provisional aSsemblage formed Supreme
Lodge, which met for the first time on August
II, 1865, and became fully Organized by the
adoption Of constitution and bylaws and
the election of grand officers. So remarkable
in less than four years il has very nearly one
hundred and thirty thousand members, with
Grand. Lodges IN thiTty-ope States, ana a
rapid. growth Of the organization in foreign
lands.
THE ORDER IN TENNESSEE.
The order was first introduced into Tennes-
see Ia August, 1867 when Holston Lodge, No. /,
was instituted at Knoxville by c. L. RUSSELL
supreme Vice chancellor, and Calvin Nc
Through the energy and zeal of this worthy
knight, the order has been extended by the in
stitution OF Damon Lodge, No. ? at Chatta-
nooga; Myrtle Lodge, No, 8, Nashyillel Ray
ard Lodge, No. 4, az MurfreeshOro; Tennessee
Lodge, No ., and Memphis Lodge, No. 8, at
Memphis,
ITS REeALIA, GOVERNMENT, EXTENT AND IL
TERARY ATrAINMENTs.
The Knights Of Pythias have working or
lodge regalia and their knightly uniform The
former Is furnished by each lodge, The latter
is furnished hy each knight for himself. II is
expected that, at the next session of the Su-
preme Lodge, il viii be ordered that all
knights of Pythias who take part in public
professions of the order, shall wear the
knightly uniform, which Is very elegant. OF
course, those who do not choose to turn out on
such occasions need not be at the expense Of
getting the knightly regalia.
If this order, having Its Supreme Lodge in
this country, advances as rapidly in the old
world as II has In this, itsinfiuence in sustain
ing liberal thought in Europe must be Inn
mense hereafter.
The Supreme Chancellor of the order is
Samuel Read, of Mount Holly, New Jersey,
He is O man of great ability and energy, and
the wonderful growth of the order is largely
due to his lapors. Perhaps IL is also in some
degree due TO the peculiar characteristics Of
the organization.
Tie whole order Is controlled by the Su-
preme Lodge OF the World, which has estab-
lished branches lf tic organization or has up-
der consideration applications for such establ
Germany, Italy, Spain, England and Australia.
The next session OF the Supreme Lodge will be
held at Baltimore, Maryland, on the sixteenth
instant,
The knights have already q number of re-
spectacle newspaper organs. The principal of
these are the Spri0 u Agfte, published in " ash
ington City by c. NJ Bartoe, the Grand Scribe
the KNlghts Of Pytlfds Journal, published in
Philadelphia by ". Rlanehnis, and the EsythiGn
Record published In louisville by J, W, Mes
tor d CO.