Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-22

herald, with % men J. II. Abbott, iicuten.
ant commander Of grand division, is also
with them.
Mystic, OF Girard, G. w. Miller, com.
mander; j. ID. Wallace, lieutenant COM
mander; A. p. Riddle, herald, with 81
men.
Representatives are also present from
Wyandotte, Ellsworth, Hiawatha, Topeka,
Newton, Emporia and Cherryvale.
Should the day prove pleasant one, Il
very large crowd will be present to witness
the prize drill and band contest, which we
learn will take place in Riverside Park.
From Tuesdays Daily.
The thirteenth annual convention of the
Grand Lodge Of Knights OF Pythias Of the
State of Kansas will convene in this city
to-day at nine O'Clock, and the first annual
session OF the u. X. will meet tomorrow.
The programme for the occasion and the
names of the various committees are as fol-
lows:
As to tho origin Of this order, the follow
ing will be found OF peculiar interest ut this
time:
This order was founded February 10, 1854,
at Washington, D. c., by Justus II. Rath-
bone. At time when "war was in the
heart of man and sorrow was In his home:''
when from ocean TO OCEAN, from gulf to
gull, our glorious land was engaged In
scenes Of carnage and death, Justus II.
Rathbone, then a school teacher, at WASH
ington, d. c., saw in Grecian history the
germ of an order that should have power
in dispelling the warmth of sectional strife
and restoring the hearts of men to basis
OF universal brotherhood.
The reign Of the tyrant Dionysius the ell.
der marked an era of selfshness in the
worlds history.
Damon, a senator at Syracuse, by his OPP
position to Dyonysius In his attempted
usurpation Of power, was placed under sen.
,ence Of immediate death.
Pythias, the time-tried friend of Damon,
besought the tyrant to grant him a respite.
that be might bid last farewell to those he
loved. The denial of this request was fol-
lowed by the most striking exemplfication
OF pure friendship that has ever illuminated
the pages Of history. Pythias, who WELL
knew the honor Of his friend. offered him.
self as IA pledge for Damon's return. agree
ing to pay the penalty with his own life
should Damon prove him false.
Dionysius accepted the proiered hostage
and placed Pythtas In darkness and in
chains, while his friend OF years fastened
to the home where loved ones dwelt.
Hir earthly affairs are speedily arranged
the last fond embrace is given-he looks
a last look upon bis friends, now frantic
with grief-and starts to return, but finds
that his slave has slain his steed. Syracuse
was leagues away; he saw his day of re-
spite fading into night-his friend led to
the scaffold-he heard his pledge of honor
the cry of mockery without the prison
wall.
Crazed at the thought OF honor lost, friend
and friendship sacrificed, he seized pass
ing steed, and swifter than the winds OF
heaven, flew towards Syracuse-and cer-
tain death. Aye, more TO the rescue OF
his friend, and maintenance of his honor
to him-sweeter than life and home.
rs tue list ibDlucht Is Gdiltu anu lit tAt- |
cutioner's axe is uplifted over the head o.
Pythias, he rushes through the gates, |
springs upon the scaffold, redeems his |
honor and the life of his friend.
The display of manhood and true cour-
age led captive the tyrant's heart. who, re-
hitting the death sentence OF Damon,
sought admission to their friendship.
This bright spot on the page of the past |
was the corner stone upon which MIR. Rath- |
bone ''builded better than he knew" For |
years the fires burned low upon the affairs
of the young and struggling brotherhood, |
but in its present high noon, when, from
every hill top, the shields Of brave and gall |
liant knights make bright the day Of p rom |
Use, the founder of the order may rest as
sured that its star assembled will never
wane.
The order in this city was organized in
the spring OF 81 with about thirty charter
and it now numbers upwards of
seventy-fve. In the state there are some
l07 subordinate lodges, and twelve divis-
ions of the uniform rank.