National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-23
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
At the Birthplace of the Order-An Interesting
Extract from the History of the Order
General Programme Of the Ex-
ercises for To-Day.

There is lodge of Knights of Pythias,
| Franklin, No 2, now located on Capitol HILL and
organized ut the Navy Yard on the Sth of April,
1864 which was for eight months in its history the
only organized body of Knights of Pythias in the
country. 1t saved the beautiful order from OBJ
lyiOn and by the energy enterprise and liberality
Of its early members lodges were first established
outside of the District of Columbia. The pioneers
OF this lodge were Robert l. Middleton Daniel Car
rgan, Edw. Fox, C. NJ Barton, James Gill, Nicholas
Wayson, Joseph H. Lawrence, Hudson Petit,
Joseph II. Martini Edward Dunn, James w. Kelly,
Jasper Scott, J. II. Wheeler, Joshua Clark, John H.
King and John W. Cross. Several Of the above
named are not living to witness the eighteenth
anniversary to- day. The first lodge ofthe knights
was organized at Temperance Hall, now harinls
Hail. on street. on the 18th of February, 1864
1t was of sickly growth, and ceased working alto
gether in q few months. Justus ID. Rathoone, the
founder Of the order, who was member OF No. j.
and who was unavoidabiy absent from the city
after the foundation of the first lodge, was admitted
to membership in Franklin Lodge in April, 1866
after an absence of nearly two years. Mr.. Rath-
bone is now the supreme lecturer ofthe order, and
is fulfilling engagement to lecture before lodge
in Pennsylvania, else he would be present to par
ticipate in the ceremonies of to-day. The Knights
of Pythias now number nearly ninety thousand
members. and have lodges in every State Of the
Union, in the Sandwich Islands, Australia, Eng
land, and Germany. This is a good showing in
seventeen years. and the possibilities of the future
may be imagined. There are fourteen subordinate
lodges and a Grand Lodge in the Dis
trict at present. The members of the order
in this city viii celebrate the eighteenth ami
Nersary of the founding OF the order to-day, sew
eral visiting bodies from Maryland and Virginia
uniting in the ceremonies. The general programme
of the celebration is follows: Two o'clock p. m,
line OF parade to be formed in front of City Hall;
eight o'clock p. M, public meeting, Odd Fellows
H&ll, to be addressed by prominent members Of
the order; ten o'clock p. m, grand banquet at
Tallmadge Hall. The members Of the order expect
that the parade viii be of the finest and most
imposing and unique displays ever wit
messed on the streets of the Capital, eX-
Guiding great public displays like that of
day. All of the District lodges viii
turn out and their numbers will be greatly rein
forced by the visiting bodies. There will be eight
or nine bands in the line. The procession will be
formed st two o'clock at the City Hall, in the fol-
lowing order: Mounted police; Chief Comman-
der Coldwell and aids; mounted Knights; Donch's
Band; knights in full Uniform; Knights in fatigue
uniform; Marine Band; Excelsior and Equal
Lodges; Knights i'll citizens dress; Grand Lodge,
District of Columbia, in carriages; officers and
of Supreme Lodge in carriages; in
vited guests in carriages; band; visiting uni
formed divisions according to seniority;
band; uniformed drill associations, with bands;
band; visiting uniformed knights; visiting
knights in citizens dress. The line of march will
be from Louisiana avenue to Third street, to Penn
Sylvania avenue, TO and around the monument at
the foot of the Capitol to Fifteenth street. to Penn
sylrania avenue, pass in review by the President
Of the United States at the Executive Mansion,
thence TO and around Washington statue; back to
street. to Vermont avenue, to the Thomas statue,
down street, to Ninth street, TO street, to Sew
enth street, TO Louisiana avenue, and dismiss in
front of City Hall.
Virginia DIVISION No. >, of Norfolk, which arrived
afternoon, is quartered at the American
House. The Richmond division which is ex-
pected this morning, has been assigned quarters |
1t the Imperial Hotel. Atlanta division. No. l. of
win arrive this morning, and camp |
It the Washington House. Five or six divisions |
Ire expected from Baltimore. They will |
arrive at halfpast one O'Clock p. m, in time for
he parade There will be in the line four mounted
companies of knights. Franklin, No. ,, the old |
;st lodge in the district viii parade mounted and
n full armor. A company i'll arInor is also ex-
,ected from Baltimore. Ample arrangements have |
,een made for the entertainment OF guests, for
whose benefit collation. Will be spread during the
lay at Tallmadge Hall. The committee of az
is composed of the following gentle
ncn: p G. Cs ]. T. Coidwell, ". H. Hines Halvor
Nelson, Amos ]. Cunning, and John II. Schom-
,ert; p. C.s Charles E. Miller, John Adams, J. Il.
hanks, J. P. Smith, II. G. Wagner, w. H. G. Sim
mons, J. II. Haislipp, Charles A. Payne, Ed
Brown, and Charles l. Shook.
Seventeen members of Lynchburg Division. No
arrived last night, and are CHARTERED at the Ar
ington Delegations are expected TO arrive to-
lay from New York and Philadelphia. Nearly all
ho visiting Knights are accompanied by ladies'