The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-19

\ Va VIZ iulh utt Ill ctGSeUL4 annual session
in Leyy's Hall last night. ?. G.. John Max
| well, OF Myrtle Lodge, No. 25, called the
assembly to order and introduced P. C. n.
! A. Atkinson, Jr., of-Damon Lodge, No. Z,
| who, on behalf of the knights OF Richmond.
welcomed the Grand Lodge to our city.
/ ADDRESS OF WELCOME De II. A. ATKINSON, IN,
As citizens OF common country, to Vir-
ginia's capital I bid you welcome. AS
members OF a common brotherhood, ex-
tend you cordial greeting. AS Pythian
knights, welcome to our hearts and homes.
4 In you, as exponents OF great principles,
Richmond feels peculiar pride, as 1t was
here that the Grand Lodge OF Virginia first
I saw the light, and on this the eve OF its an
niVersary her children gather with happy
! hearts, and with one accord to Deity would
4 pray:
l - Strengthen. guard. and guide her ever;
! May she glory IN loves chain ~.'sitt
| Till It's links the angels sever .f-.,5.4
| Ne'er on earth to clasp again.
/ Pythian knighthood is to-day an accom-
plished fact. Her banner floats from the
mountain-top, and her pure teachings, like
the dews from Heaven, run down the noun
tain through the valley to the seashore, and
on the crested front OF grand old ocean is
! borne in triumph to distant lands to glad
den the heart and homes OF man. ..,s-,s4
She is no sunshine flower, but living
reality, and when the storms OF adversely
burst upon man the teachings Of our order
bloom and blossom with pure and sweeter
fragrance. a ~
| Her tenets Of Friendship, Charity, and
Benevolence are the grandest principles OF
earth the motiye-power OF true greatness
and the foundation OF eternal happiness
the connecting link of earth and heaven.
Her teachings are the development OF true
manhood. Nor are these emrty names, but
are eXemplifed in the life and conduct OF
every true Knight. The history Of no order
is more resplendent with deeds OF noble char
ity than our own. In the dark hour OF our
country's history, when famine and pesti-
lence brooded over our sunny South !;
when men and women fell victims to
the scourge; when darkness and gloom
filed the homes and hearts Of the noble
men and women OF New Orleans and Mem
phiS, Pythian knighthood stood first and
foremost in its deeds OF charity and benevo-
lence. Nor need we 60 TO antiquity for an
example Of friendship 1t is true that Da-
mon and Pythas lived in other times and
gave an example of pure friendship, and as
the great prototypes Of our order, we bow
and admire the grandeur OF the deed, and
from its history our order takes its name.
Yet here in Virginia, in the history Of our
own order, in our midst the heroic exam.
pie OF Holder Hines will live fresh and
green in the memory of all, and his ma me
will go down to history as the Pythian OF
modern times. -. :... r
We have bright record, a tradition that
sparkles with great achievments and bril-
liant exploits, a history and q name that will
live when storied urns and monumental
piles shall fade and fall, live in the hearts of
the true, the virtuous, and the good; live
It'll time shall be no more; live with the
gloritied spirits OF the blest. And tonight,
as we gather around the sacred altar, repre-
sentatives OF these principles, let US raise
our hearts to Heaven and rededicate our.
selves to the pursuit Of Pythian principles,
erect here the beautiful temple clothed
with majesty and honor, radiant with celes.
tial beauty, pregnant with gems and tro.
phies to deck the brow OF obcdicnt and
brave knights; for as such you are well
come. May your deliberations be harmoni.
Gus, and the teachings of our order be ever
present to stimulate and encourage you,
and your coming together be conducive OF
great good and may you return to your
homes refreshed, and in your lives refec!
the beauty and grandeur Of Pythian knight
hood.
RESPONSE GRASD ChANCELLOhs
The Grand Chancellor responded as fol.
lows: ,.., o.. --.... ....
Past Chancellor Atkinson,-The recep.
tion we have received tonight from you,
and through you the Richmond lodges, is
truly cordial, and could only emenate from
the generous heart Of Pythian. Permit
me as Grand Chancellor, and in behalf OF
, the Grand Lodge, to return you, and
through you those whom you represent
, Iour grateful thanks. Mere words will not
, express our feelings on this occasion.
, can only add that the knightly courtesy and
elegant grace with which we have been re-
ceiyed is only equal to our appreciation.
, The Grand Chancellor appointed the fol-
!. lowing Committee on Credentials: ?. G
G.. L. L. Bass, and P. C.'s ". J. LithgoW
w. c. Arlington, D. e. Richardson, and
George e. Bowden. "
The committee found the following
! lodges represented: 2, Fl. E. Downing; g.
: Richardson 6, W. d. May;.7, 81. A. Atkin
son; 8, w. A. Edwards; 10, C. j. Smith
II, w. T. Crawford; -, j. w. Carr; 13
D. Fl. Stern; "A, c. F. Danforth; Is, Jacoi
Hechler; 16, j. D. Knapp II, 7. L. Court
ney; 90, w. T.. Lithgow; 81, S. S. Weisi
ger: %, R. S. Chew %, T. w. Joseph "a
". &. Arlington; 25, NJ. L. Hudnall; %
:, Il. A. Darlington: 30, T. F. Ash; 80, A
s. Gittman; 80, John 81. Alexander; SO, &
E. Andrews; 3S, John B. Levy; 40, w. 9
Bass; 46, J. w. Mitchell; 4S, W. W. Cox
49, George W. Withers; SO. A. c. Withers
: COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
The Grand Chancellor appointed the FOL
lowing committees:
State OF the Order-H. A. Akin son, Jr.
L. B. Allen, E. NJ. Crump, 0. +. Baggett
and T. l.. Courtney.
Grievances and Appeals-S. 5. Welslger
Robert S. Chew, John H. Alexander, w. r
Richardson, and George w. Withers.
Finance. T. Danforth, Jacob Hechler
C. e. Andrews, II. E.Downing, A. S. Git
man. ..ss3
Proceedings OF Grand Lodge Officers
Hugh Latham, 7. F. Ash. III. F. Hudnali
Joseph D. Knapp, w. A. Edwards.
Charters. and Dispensations- ns-William j
: Crawford, 81. A. Darlington, James w
Carr, D. H.. Stern, and j. b. Levy. @
Laws and Supervision-C. e. Loehr, j
w. MITCHELL w w. Cox, w. 81. Hall, ant
Fl. G. q. Hartman.
REPORT OF TIE GRAND CHANCELLOR. {
l The report Of A.. C.. Attkisson. Crane
/ Chancellor, was read. He says:
The condition OF the order Is extremes.
gratifying. It is prosperous throughout th'
d State, with one or two exceptions. ON
4 lodge only has yielded up her charter, but
Il new lodge has taken her place., Our mum
\ bers have considerably increased, and ou
Il finances are greatly improved. Thls is du'
llan part to the good material OF Which !odge