The Portland daily press., 1874-08-07
The Pyihian Celebration.
A THOUSAND KNIGHTS IN LINE.

The first celebration of the knights OF Pyth-
las in Maine took place in this city yesterday.
and was very creditabIe to the young and -four
ishng order. The three lodges established in
this city have made the organization familiar
to our people. The Order was founded in the
city of Washington, by j. A. Rathbone on the
10Th of February, 1864. 1t now numbers over
1885, 900 members, and has comrades in every
state Of the Union, in Canada, and in the
Sandwich Islands. 1t derives its name from
the old story of Damon and Pythias, and its
principles are symbolized by the 'F G. B."
friendship, charity, benevolence, which are
blazoned on all its banners. Portland possesses
three lodges of Pythias, Bramhall Lodge No.
8, with membership of 259; Munioy Lodge
No 6, with membership Of $50; and Pine
Tree Lodge with 50 members.
In the Order there are three grades of rank
The Page, Esquire and Knight. These grades
are distinguished by the color in the shoulder
straps and in the escutcheon on the cap.
The uniforms consist of black suit, over
hich is worn baldric of blue, orange and
scarlet, a white helmet or a black cap with
band of silver lace, and the scutcheons of the
Order, shorlder-straps, sword and belt, and
gauntlets.
Some Of the visiting Knights arrived We'd
nesday noon, but the majority did not reach
here until an early hour yesterday morning. A
little after midnight the Grand Lodge OF Rhode
Island, Hiram L. Howard, Grand Chancellor.
with delegates from sixteen lodges, under es-
cort of delegates from Massachusetts, lodges,
accompanied by the Salem Brass Band, put in
an appearance. Two hours later the Nerom-
bega Lodge of Bangor, and the Gardiner Lodge
of Gardiner, headed by the Bangor Cornet
Band, arrived at the railway station. AT five
in the morning the Webster and King Philip
lodges of Boston came in on the steamer Forest
City, while little later other Knights came in
on the New Brunswick. The Biddeford, Saco,
Lewiston and Saccarappa knights came in on
trains soon after.
THE PROCESSION.
The weather was fine and,a better day for a
street procession could not have been wished
The knights assembled at Pythian Hall, from
which f1oated the d-blue-orange banner of
the Order, at nine o'clock. The sidewalks
were crowded with curious spectators and
many were the praises showered upon the
SNOWY uniforms. at ten o'clock the differen
lodges began to fall into line, but it was nearl,
eleven before the procession was formed il
marching order. Finally the proce ssion start
ed in the following order:
Chief Marshal
General D Fessenden.
" xd j s Gsssn' Aides. 6 G e e Chase Chase.
81
Bramhall Lodge, No 3, NJ I Ste~eHs, G. 10 mel
MuDjoy Lodge, No 6, G Robinson, c c, go men.
(Ihese Portland Lodges acting as escort.l
Grand Lodge of Maine and invited guests in cal
riages as follows:
First Carriage-Supreme Chancellor Of the Worl,
Dayis Mayor Wescott; Grand Chancellor TAR
Maine; and Col Moore, chairman Of Executi,
Committee.
Second Carriage-Grand CHANG }llor Bartlett of KaI
sas. Grand Vice Chancellor g lie Of Aiassaehusett
Hon j Ill Drummond, toast master; q MasoI
Secretary Executive COMMITTEE
Third Carriage V G, II Peabody Of Maine; p
G. Ingersoll of Maine; N Il, X Williams; j
Rackliff Executive Committee.
Fourth Carriage-P G C, TAR of Maine; G C, Lo
gee; G FOG, Whitney; NJ Sawyer, Execute
Committee.
Fifth oarliage-P GC,EH Hanson; P C, E
Young; G of II and S. f Chase JfEoston; u
Harmon, Executive Committee.
Sixth Carriage--Cran Chancellor IL L Toward
Rhode Island; G G, Lee OF Pawtucket. Rhode
land q K of and 5 n Il, Triton of Pawtuck
Rhode Island; q G, DIR Davis of Proyileu. e, ~ o
Island.
Seventh Carriage-P G C, Crpente..; p C, SWEET;
Chevy; p c, Pratt,
Eighth Carriage c, WTJrer; P c, j Ciiesp
Ninth Carriage-C C, II and tides Of j A A
drew Lodge of Bo iton, aad j leopard, u ID q
Tenth Carrage-Officers OF Boston Lodge No 8, Ire;
Pettis, Recorder Nichols, Trustee Barrett.
Eleventh Carrag s-ATsssrs. Lewis Of Marlb
Lodge; Goldsmith Of King solomon Lodge; Isa