The Sunday herald., 1881-03-06

brave to stand for truth and right, even against
to resist temptation and attacks
brave 10 endure the trials and dsappolntmehs OF NE
Lot lis do this aud he this and thlrd motto VIII
Such, then, briefly, are some OF the fundamental
principles OF order as inculcaed by our mystic
l.. n. Nowhere have these principles been more
nobly vndicacd than In the life OF that brave knight
whose honorcd name VIC bear aud whose heroic and
unsesh devotion 10 friendship Will live and lnger IN
our hearts fresh and fragrant forever!
DAMoS AND rYruIAs.
The story Of the noble rythlis, though familiar TO
MS all, Is yet ever new. Uniustly condemned 10
death by Diouysus, the tyrant ~ Sicily, he obtained
permission to visit h's family in nclghbo,ng place.
ON condition that his friend Damon should remain as
pledge Of his return Damon ,o"s ms pace i, IN ,m
did not return NJ y fixed time. Unexpected impcdi-
ments detained him. Ills faithful slave knowing
that he relying for his return upon the swift secd
witch he rode, and -esrous Of saving his master
life, slew the horse In the night, but Pythias un.
dauuted, set forth on foct lie came to deep and
dangerous stream. 1Iosltatng but q moment ht
plunged into It's aoaring food and safely reached the
opposite shore. Then he attacked by two iunians,
but selling a club ho felled them TO the ground and
hurried on. In the meanwhile the appointed tim,
had come. Damon stl convinced OF his friends
fidelity, Is already on the way to the place OF eNecn
tion; already the people begin to murmur anh to PITY
his crcduliy already the tyrant Is sneeting at hin
FOR his confidence In friendship; already the axe o
the exccutioncr Is lifted high In air. when suddenl!
a shout arises from tile edge Of the vast crowd. II
opens, and pale. rc-worn dust covered man, ever
the gallant PythiaS, staggers into the arms. OF hi
other, the spectators melt into tears and Dyonisu
himself sofened by the spectacle approaches pardons
and entreats them to admit him, third In thei
friendship.
Thus, i,rother Knights-al,hough in a hurried an'
imperfect ihannet-1 have sketchen the origin, MS
tory, and progress Of otir order; have referred
Its objects set forth In Its triple motto, and Illus
tfocd In the life ot our brave patron saint fythias
uoStLrstpS.
Those objects. permit mo to say In conclusion
ate worthy of all praise. You meet to stieng,he
tI Ia
noghbors as friends, and as felow-citizcns lo
meet 10 give each other the right hand Of fricnhshi
and fellowship; TO salute each other In the spirit
love and unity; TO mngle once more those kindi
symrathtes, those sweet amenities ana cndenfln
and which imrart TO the harslness Of liic all II
beauty and consolation, all lis elegance and refine
ncnt. such as understand, are some Of the obiec
yuu have In view.
Let us ever bear In mind that to the accomplish
ment ~ these high objects is intruslel. Into o,
hands the sacred mysteries of Pythan Knighthood
this country are now committed. Let us evince
the word hy our zeal and faithfulness that we al
not unmndful Of the magnitude Of the charge an
| the responsibility of the trust. Fral and erin
mortals, have vcntured to initiate the most bear
tiiul oi all the qualities of God, love and mercy
In Him infinite aud all-puwerful, we claim To excl
else aul cultivate toward our brethren. These al
the principles showed forth IN our forms and Ger,
nohics. Let them ever illumine our hearts and iiiu
| trate our lives.
Let our motto be +. c. H.. let the objects we ha'
! In view hrotherly love, relief, and friendship,
| never forgotten; let them be fortified by our be
and most enduring affections: let them he cherish,
as the safeguards uf Ordcr let them lie sacred
regarded this day and crermoie as our security ~
our g ~, aud here may look for peace, harmony
and prosperity, while yonder, In the Celestial lol,
| above, truth and virtue having been our worth
guides we will he conducted to the Throne ot the ~
preme chancellor Of the universe; there, In the pre-
enCe of the good and pure of all ages aud climes,
hear from Ills lips the welcome words: Wei dom
good and faithful servant. you have fought the got
fight. receive the crown of Immortality. -
That such may Ire your reward anh the reward
every true knight is my sincere wish, my heaitf'
prayer.