The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1877-10-23
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs.
Meeting Of the Grand Lodge Of the
State-Delegations from Abroad
Purposes of the Ordcr-Parade
Upon the Streets.

Ii is unfortunate that gloomy and disa
erceab,e day has attended th
meeting of the Grand Lodge 81 ih
knights Of PvthIas, in this city. But fo
that circumstance, il won'd have been i
al! respects a memorable event. The eli,
ls.i PREPARED i,ssii f"r g,la day, an,
would have worn It's, bris.l,ies attire
bat even ii,..se lao were most cited Al ia
pr"e,.,,s I'll a hnlidly c"ul,i scarsrlv fare
their cn,hu~iasm aI"v. th. .l-pressin:
effects al vel and di-agr,cable day, will
al atmosphere thick with ya."rs an,
streets ih,t were n veri,able l,bloliv
Nevertheless, our-l'eorle sirng led brav~i,
against the unfortunate condition If ia,
weather, sud As far as il was possible, ,.u
on a
SMILING APPEARANCE.
/ At an early hour the visitors began {" ar
! rive from abroad. The incumirg iraiI.
brought delegates Of Knights f,"m al part.
: oi the State and the hustle on the street.
b-gsn la indicate an even, of na ordinary
/ importance. In the intervals ia which
the sun l'eeped ost from gathering clouds
brilliant regalias II .sh-d upon the streets,
and groups collected on the corners and
aion: the paysm-nts, wearing
THE INsIGNIt OF THE ORDER.
As the dav advanced towards noon, the
riffs ia the overhanging clouds grew wider
and bright sun a, last flashed through
the atmosphere. Then the wreatls came
"u; and fss;"oHs Of evergreens begun Ia APP
pear nion the prominent buillings. Little
hv little the ci put on ITS holiday attire.
and those who had looked forward with So
mnch pleasure To- the demonstrations, begun
4" rec"ver their spirits ia the hope that
their delightful anticipstians might Vet Tx
measurably realizsd. By noon, it is posi-
BILE that rs many as
THREE HUNDRED KNIGHTS
had reached the city, and then distributed
over town, AS their inclina.ions led them
combined 10 form spectacle novel as il
ms attractive. la the meantime, the
preparations for he assembling Of the
Grand Lodge went steadily for
ward, and in spite Of an
Il the unfavorsble indications OF the early
morning, the representation was as large as
the Order had anticipated. nj the proceed
ings Of
THE GRAND IOIsiE,
il is, of course, impossible 10 speak, since it's
work was confined To the business usual
upon such occasions. But a brief retrospect
oi the Order and its purposes may not be
out Of place. Ii WAS organized fourteen
years ago in Washington City, by the Roth
borne Bros. 1t was meant Ia supply a
place which other benevolent organizations
had failed To ill. Originating ia the be-
lieve that AL men should b. drawn together
in the brotherhood as generous and kind a
possible, il took for its motto:
''CHARIrY, FRIENDSHIP AND BENEvoIENCE,"
Founded, as it is said to Ike, upon the beau
lifui dramatic Legend which has been woven
into such fascination under the title
nj "Damon and Pythias," it is
meant 10 illustrate as far as
human infrmities will allow that wealth
# friendship and personal devotion which
forms snch a conspicuous feature Of that
wonderful conceii with which the author of
Damon and l'ythias" has fascinated the
DRAMATIC AND LITERARY WORLD.
Having this romantic origin, but appealing |
10 the sense of duty which is inherent in
al! men, the Order had sudden and Wig
orous popularity. and soon took rank with
The most popular organizations Of the
II spread over the country, and
rivalcd in extent and success, the pioneers
Of charltab BILE institutions. lis quaint con-
neit may have at first attracted, but the !
purity Of its principles aided largely 10
confirm lis proselytes, and now, in every
rity. and town, and country, the
KNIGHTS OF rYrmAs
are known and honored as among the most
Of our social institutions. In |
Dbtrnsive in its mission, and unosten-
taiions in its purposes, it 5 Sic
reeded in winning popular re-
spect and confidence. II would be of
course inviIious and inexcusable to draw
a comparison between il and other institu-
lions which have been organized for similar
PURPOSES, but it will do no injury TO any
one to say that this new order has accom-
which fully entities it To rec
ognition As
A NOBLE MISSIONARY.
Free from political prejuIices
and religious influences except
in tins; that it inculcates pure
life, recognition Of the redeeming agencies
OF the Bible and reliance upon
THE PROMISES OF GOD,
it has started out upon a career which Is
sure to accomplish great and benevolent
surfaces. 1t inculcates clarity for all-it
draws the vail Of compassion over human
errors. and endeavors to raise the fallen. II
recognizes the universal brotherhood Of
man, and has for all, friendship and kind.
ness. Relieving that il is the duty of the
strong to succor the weak it inculcaies be-
nevolence; the duty Of all men 10 allie.
viate suffering and mitigate distress.
Actuated by there influences the Order has
gone on adding new members to il and
INCREASING IN POPULARITY
until it now numbers, perhaps, one hundred
and fifty thousand souls. In a community
so thoroughly in sympathy with benevolent
undertakings it would be superauous to say
anything euIogistic Of an Order OF this kind.