The Van Buren press., 1873-06-24
Gala Day ofthe Knights OF Pythas
Iyanhoe Lodge, No, 2.
Knights Out in Full Force.

AZ q
/ Castle Hall. on Main street. and at ocloc'
formed In line IN front ofthc Hall, presenting
A fine appearance The parade was undel
command Of Col BOB. NEWELL, DEPUTY
! Grand Chancellor Of Arkansas. The con-
mlnd bring given the line wheeled into three
platoon, under command of Wm. Whitfield
/ c. G. Wilcox V. C., and Bro. Knight Al
vis Smith commanding each platoon respect
lively. The column was led BY four Past
/ Chanccllors. mounted, preceded by The Van
/ Buren, Cornet Band.
/ The column moved up Main street to Saint
Joseph street, down st. Joseph to Broad,
down Broad to Columbus, up Columbus IL
Main, ~, Main to the Castle Hall, where the
order to break ranks was given and all re-
paired to the Pie Mic grounds.
The Pie Me was at the Agricultural Fair
grounds At l0l6 an address was delivered
by V. {. Granville Wilcox a. follows:
CHASCrLLoR COMMANDER, LADIES AND CEN
rLEMEN:-
We meet to-day, not to celebrate particu-
lar event. or IN obedience To pny established
custom. This meeting, of iair daughters and
brave sons. for innocent EN- ment. was suS-
| gested and brought about 10y an Order that
has but lately made It's appearance
Ihi, order known a. the knights or Gfth-
ms boasts OF no long line of ancestry, and
cannot count it, life by centuries. but mll OF
youth ful Vigor, challenges the admiration Oi
all IL il now fully entered into the lists Of
benevolent institutions, and demands It's
share OF honor due to such organizations Tor
their ceasrles7 and untirng warfare on evil; ;
their arduou- cndeayors to promote true
friendship; tu alleviate the su1erings OF hu-
manity to iuculcAte in the mind noble ideas,
aud to cultivate in the garden of the heart
that charity which ennsbles humanity and
yitaliIrs friendship, 1t is the mission of tIl,
order. go promote true brotherhood among
men that brotherhood and kmdliness taught
hy our great Book of Law. 1t belongs To the
number OF institutions, that like Angels ol
MERCY carry healing under their wings. ana
ar" to hc 'uuud towering about the sick cham
her administering to the wants Of suffering
brethren. ,mnotbing the rugged pathway OF
the widuW aud the orphan. As was once the
good Samaritan so is this and kindred insti-
iuliuuS, always found on the highway OF life,
binding mp the torn and bleeding heart al
miuistcring consolation and inspiring hope
in tie sad hearts of weary and foot-sor trav-
elcrS. Like all such organizations, being of a
secret character many surmiseS as to the OBJ
( iects OF the order of knights of PythiaS, have
been iudGlged in by the uninililted. some
! have supposed 1t TO be a political orRanlLt-
/ tion, whose aim was TO promote the interests
/ OF some political party, Others, that 1t was
but AZ association Of men. for the purpose OF
/ enjoyment and mlrth, and It's ceremonies were
composed Of practical jokes, bnrlesques, etc
, The real objects of this Order, are officially
. given as follows: Founded on none but the
purest and sincere,t motives, its aim l. to al
lcviate the suffering of brother, succor the
IN fortunate, zealously watch at the bedside
of the sick, .oothe the diving pillow, perform
the last sad rites mt the grave of n brother
offer consolation To the afflicted, and care ioI
the " idow and orphan.
| Just after the cessation OF hostilities be-
tween the States of this Union, the founder,
OF this Order thought OF establishing Fra
ternity that might tend TO re-unte the sew
cred bonds Of friendship, and bring together
| again those that had thus been severed HnC
/ rivcn apart by the terrible thrOes and agonle'
! of ciNil war. \ rough draft of the ritual Was
written by j. h. Rathhouc, in the town o
/ Eagle llarhor, llonshton county, Michigan
/ in the VintcrS Of lSj9-Sl. Subsequently, Mr.
I Rathhone moved to the City Of Washington
and It was not until the 18th day of Fehrua
ry. lsGi. TIA! steps rWf6Gf III R6ciStv,, on the
! plan which he had skctched in 1861 At I'll,
close OF 1865 but one Lodge was in existence
! The Fraternity now numbers about two hun
| drcd thousand members, with Lodges in thir'
! ty-tiyc States. two Territories, Canada, tht
! Hawaiian Islands, and many other places.
Although this Order INDUCES in much dis
! play, yet its solid eXcellenCies are well known
/ and ~ highly appreciated l,y those who know
4 them The crring brother feels the gcntl,
/ hand OF affection drawing him into the right
! path, and learns the loving tones of friend
/ ship, .hat bid him sin no more Ii is a hcauli
/ ful thought that after the bloody struggle bu
/ that latel, irit oar country torn ami bleeding
/ there are among US Institutions. founded or
most excellent tcuets, that shed around az
/ the gentle dcWS of Friendship, to culiycH an,
! invigorate the tender plants of reconciliation
/ Pleasant retreats TO which We can resort ant
! lay aside the Armor and shake OF the dust q
/ the heated arena Of life Where we can meet
| to renew VOWS of friendship and teach ant
/ learn lessons OF tChaliiy and forgiveness. Sucl
/ institutions are highly advantageous to socie
/ ty, "a they serve to curb violent passions, ant
| to weaken and finally destroy prejudice. Ii
! the sacred precincts e! our Castle Halls, M
strife or contention is known, but each hear
is warmed by the holy light ii adialing from
| our Book of Laws ever open in our midst
! Tha, Book which teaches Us that the ties o
love and friendship were once strong enough
to draw away part Of the God head, and pu
/ it in ilcSnly form, to bc offered sacrhcia
atonement FOR the transgrcssons of man
! That gives the narrative OF a life fun OF sac
/ vation of erring and ungratcml mortals
! Our great patron, from whom We derive on
name, We are told had n companion for whom
! bis friendship was put to the SeVeroSt test
parnou being inearccrated and C0ndcmneC
10 die by the Tyrant Dionvsius, Of Syracuse
| for an alleged onSpiracy, asked the favor o
y few hours respite, that he might visit
nsighhuriug place. arrange hi, worldly af
fairs, and bid n final adieu TO his strlckcl
family, pythlas his friend, interccdcd with
! pionl sius and offered to sHbmit 10 inCaTcern
ton himself in the place 6f Damon until hi
| return, and In case he failed TO return, 10 sut
ter death for him, nionysius had no faith il
the existence of such diSntcrcstcd friendship
and determined to try the devotion of Py
thias. PNthias was accordingly thrown int
prison and Damon flew 10 his loved ones. Az
ter making all arrangements for his depart
urc from earth and bidding long, last fare
well to his broken hearted family, he started
on his return to meet the grim monste
awaiting him. Before lis arrival the TIM
came for the execution and pythicS was lc,
forth to suffer death for his absent friend
Firmly he trod the path from his dungeon t,
the scanold. aud only cried. lis sweet to di
for those We love- Before his execution
however, Damon came ami his friend W n
saved. Donysius was so impressed by thi
devotion. that he pardoncd Damon and mad
him and Pythlas his friends and counselors
1t Is such friendship n. this, that is taugh
by oar Order;
AS frost to the bud and blight to the bios
som. even such i sclf-nterest TO friendship
: For confidence cannot dwell where selfish
ne.s is porter at the gate.
II thou see thy friend TO he selfish thol
canst not be sure of his honesty;