Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-10-02
ChlvaIry ana ChivaIrIc orders.


Pythian Journal:
The order Of knights Of Pythias
is the conception of Just1s II. Rath-
bone, and the first lodge was insti-
tuted by him in the city of Wash
ingtOn, on the evening Of February
is, 1864. The ritual of the three
ranks was written by him while
teaching school in ''the Lake Supe-
rior country" few years previous;
hence we claim to be an order Of
comparatively recent origin; yet,
to-day, we count our lodges by hun
dreds and our knights by thousands.
All over the country our castle halls
open their portals to our knights,
and even now from the distant i
islands Of the South Pacific comes
the echo Of our chancellor com
nlandcr's tFuncheOn OF authority on I
the pedestal Of his castle hall.
1t was a beautiful conception |
aye, an inspiration that prompted a |
teacher in the free schools OF free |
America to go back twenty-five |
hundred wears and select such a l
level from ancient history as the |
noble friendship of Damon and
Pythias and setting it in the poetic |
chivalry of the middle ages-make
it the foundation for the beautiful
work and monitOrial teachings of
the three ranks of Pythian knight
hood. Our wonderful growth is no
surprise to those who have passed
our portals and have learned the
beautiful and fraternal teachings of
Pythian knighthOcd. Asin its early
"A. Iwsxv. nAffeAI &h0 urvrrlH
and made better men of those who
came in contact with it by discard
ing and denOuncing the prevailing
treachery and vices of the age, so,
to-day, does Pythian knighthood
make better citizens and bettermen
of its members by enforcing its inn
peratiVe mandates of friendship,
charity and benevolence. AS an
order we claim the civilized world
as our field Of work. 1t is ours to
conquer, but not by force of arms,
not by physical proves, nor by
brute force, as once the knights OF
the middle ages prOpagated their
victims and peculiar doctrines; but
by silent force of merit; the intel
lectuaI force OF moral example and
teaching; the force of friendship,
charity and benevolence, as prac-
ticed by our lodges and members
and inculcated by our teachings.
With such elements of strength
with such a power for good and
such a spirit of fraternal friendship
as exists in our order, there is no
reason why we should not continue
y to prosper and increase in lodges
and members until we have carried
our banner and established our
lodges and members until we have
carried our banner and established
our lodges in every land, where
they will become as enduring as
time itself-as enduring as the great
principles we advocate and practice.
Such will be the chivalry of the
future; such is the charity of to-day;
and such as / have already de-
seribed Is the chivalry of the past.
To you / leave the comparison of
the chivalry of the Rst with that of
the present, insisting only that
never did a nobler knight or truer
man cOnseerate his sword to the
cause of justice on the altar of re-.
ligiOn in feudal times than he who
assumes and keeps the obligations
taken in our castle halls, on the
altar of pythian knighthOod. He is
my ideal OF true knight.
Cumberland Lodge, No. II, of
GAINESVILLE, Tenn, was instituted
in May, 1873, with nine charter
members. During the first year Is
members were added to the roster,
and the membership has been stead
lily increasing. Since the LIST of last
July they have initiated q new
members, with 15 added to the ros-
ter. The life insurance feature adj
ded to the order in 1877 has proven
most satisfactory. Founded upon
the safest plan and directly under
the control of the supreme lodge,
with the most economical manage
~ment, no great salaried agents or
officers to draw the Iife-blOod, it has
distributed the sum of 1929, 900 and
relieved from perjury and want the
widows and orphans Of IA deceased
brothers, and all this has been done
by an assessment of only $3.50 on
each member per month.
This is one of the organizations
which, while doing good, giving
mutual aid and assistance TO the
living, makes provision for a broth
er's family after death, not in fine
phrases and condoling resolutions,
but in the substantial shape Of two
or three thousand dollars, that ev-
cry member of the fraternity is in
terested in seeing paid. Some of
our best and most influential citi-
zens are connected with the lodge
here, and are urging their friends to
secure for themselves and families
the benefits offered.