The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-05-25
THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs.

A Review of the Growth of the Order
In Kansas.
The following interesting sketch of
the growth of the order of Knights of
Pythias was published in the Leaven-
worth Times during the recent meeting
of the grand lodge in that city:
The first lodge of Knights of Pythias
in this state was instituted by Grand
Chancellor Charles ID. Lucas, of Mis-
souri,, at Lawrence, on April 4, 1872. and
the second at WyandotIe, by the same
gentleman, five years later. There was
considerable trouble in regard to these
lodges, as il seems they were instituted
illegally, under the rule that until there
is grand lodge in any state the terri
tory IS under the control of the supreme
lodge. Deputy Grand Chancellor Lucas
had, however, acted in good faith, val
uing his reputation as man too
highly to be guilty of any sly or
fraudulent transactions, and be-
fore he instituted the lodges wrote
to the then supreme chancellor, Read,
to have the jurisdiction of the Missouri
grand lodge extended over the state of
Kansas. This statement he made to
Supreme Chancellor Berry, who sue
ceeded Mr.. Reed in that Office, feeling
that his position in society and the one
held in the young and prosperous order
would bear him out in his statement.
Recognizing the zeal of Mr.. Lucas.
though holding that it had led him into
exceeding the authority in him vested,
the supreme chancellor placed the
matter before the supreme lodge,
which held the territory was sole
ly the property of the supreme
body. To relieve Mr.. Lucas of
the embarrassing situation in which his
great zeal for the good of the order had
placed him, however, they were rendered
null and void so far as the grand lodge
| of Missouri was concerned, but being
then in existence they were legalized in
form and recognized as such. Dispen-
sationsiwere accordingly issued in proper
form, dating back TO cover the interim
elapsed, and thus legaliZing the whole
matter.
Three other lodges were instituted the
same year, Seneca, No. 3. in this city, on
July 90; Independent, No. 4, at Olathe,
on August 2; and Cyndon, No. 5, at
Salina, on August 0. On September 5,
of the same year, under an order from
Supreme Chancellor Berry, the repre-
sentatives and past chancellors of these
five lodges met at Lawrence, Supreme
Chancellor Berry in the chair, and or
ganiZed the grand lodge Of the state.
The following persons were admitted as
| members of the grand lodge and re
ceived the grand lodge degree:
H. J. Caniff, George A. Farwell, Jacob
| Weiss, E. S. Scudder, John Charlton, j.
A. Bliss, Of lodge No. 1.
E. L. Bartlett, j. G. WEIGH, NJ. c.
Dunn, James Laidlau, James Howell,
of lodge No. 2.
G. w. Lathrop, T. W. Deering, c. H.
Messenger, w. F. Porter, of lodge No.
WA. ofenbacber, J. F. B. Hartung,
w. c. Elder, Benjamin Amos, of lodge
No. 4.
G. G. Lowe, of lodge No. 8.
The following officers were then
| elected:
Venerable grand patriarch j. C.
WEIGH.
Grand chancellor-H J. Caniff.
Vice grand chancellor-W. A. Often
bacher.
Grand banker-G. G. Lowe.
Grand corresponding and recording
scribe-J. A. Bliss
Grand guide-M. G. Dunn.
Grand inner steward-W. G. Elder.
Grand outer steward. Weiss.
These officers were then installed by
Supreme Chancellor Berry, after which
he declared the grand lodge of the state
of Kansas of the order of the Knights of
Pythias duly and regularly organized,
and delivered the lodge to 81. j. Canitf,
elected grand chancellor.
The succeeding grand chancellors
have been Thomas W. Deering, Edward
L. Bartlett, Frank II. Bolton, j. w.
Wheeler, John NJ. Price, Fl. III. Frazier,
William F. Ewing, Joseph 81. Lyon.
In little over ten years after the or
ganizstion of the first lodge in this state
we find fifty one lodges, with an esti-
mated membership of over 1900. This
growth is remarkable, and certainly
should be very gratifying to those who
have been in charge Of the interests of
the order.