Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-21
AFTER TwExTY-ONE YEARS.
knights of Pythias Celebrate the An
niversary of Their Order with Inter
estinR Exercises

kn1Ghts OF PyTn1as celebrate the An
niversary of Their Order with Inter
esting Exercises
ArmOry Hall was well filled last ight
with an audience assembled upon the
occasion of the twenty-frst anniver-
sary celebration of the knights of
Pythias. Sir Knight R. R. Rich
ards presided, and Sir Lieutenant
Commander c. e. Wakefield was seated
bv his side The speakers and several
leading members of the order were seated
on the left Of the presiding officer, and
those who furnished the musical part of
the entertainment on the right.
The exercises began with the singing of
the opening ode, after which Sir knight
Richards made some Introductory re-
marks reviewing the history of the o-der.
The Knights were first organized in Feb
ruary. 1864, in Washington, ID. c., by four
individuals. The order was based upon
the story of Damon and Pythias, and had
for its foundation brOtherly love. In
1880 it had 10000 members, in
1882 10000. in 1881 100000, and
it now has 10000. The speaker cited as
an instance of its benefits that during the
prevalence of the yellow fever in Savan-
nah in 1876 $4,000 was sent to the relief of
the 800 members then in the city.
"COme and Join the Merry Dance"
was then sung ~ the Baptist Church
choir when Hon. Robert Falligant, p. G..
NJ. at A, was introduced.
Sir knight Falligant's address was an
eloquent portrayal of the good accom-
plished by the order. "Twenty-One years
have passed." he said, "and we have now
before us the glowing manhood of the
Knights of Pythias." Its existence had
not been an effeminate one, but, like the
incarnation of HIM who came to save
mankind, it represents and expresses the
attributes OF God. 1t is said by some to
be wrong to have secret societies, but
there is nothing more secret about the
order than about the God we worship.
. The life that pulsates in you" said
the speaker, sis the secret OF God which
buds into the mystery of Immortality"
The members and the order act like the
influence of infancy, and it anImates all
it reaches with the emotions that make
life holy. He said that great as was the
example Of brOtherly love shown by
Damon and Pythias, equally as strong eX-
amples have occurred in the ranks of this
order. He cited number of instances in
which members had sacrificed their lives
for the safety OF brothers.
Mrs. Ida Wade then sung the solo, "Say
Not Farewell" and was literally APP
plauded. Messrs. j. n. McDOnough and
II. W. Readick rendered the duet, Burial
at Sea-
Hon. p. W. Meldrim, p. g. c., made
the next address. He said that when he
was a struggling boy and came to the bar,
the hand of many gallant knight helped
him on a weary way, and that in days
that are gone he owed much to the Pyth-
ians. who had always been kind to him.
The secret of the growth of the order was
that it bore the stamp of the strong en-
ergy of the American people on it. 1t
was born in time CT civil war,
when the energy of the American people
was exerted to its utmost, and partOOk of
the character Of the era in which it was
born. AS the American people are made
up Of all nations, the Knights Of Pythias
are made up OF all classes. without re-
gard to nationality or creed. There is
living principle in the order,
and it is the same that gave to
the old knights in the days Of chivalry
their strong arm and pure heart. The
best youths were selected for knights
and the best men are selected for men,
bership of the Knights of Pythias. Wealth
or position is not the standard by which
applicants are tried, but they are such
men as you could introduce to your wife
and daughter and say "this is my triend,"
is the question to be answered.
The next musical selection was solo
'.Go Forth, o Gentle Dove" sung by II. W.
Readick. Mr.. Frank ReadIck sung
'There is Nothing Like a Freshening
Breeze" and Miss Anna l.. Laird and Mr..
j. y. McDOnOugh sung the duet "Only
Thee" and received an encore.
Sir Knight Richards then made few
closing remarks, aud after a male quar-
tette had been rendered by j. y. Melon
ough, H. w. Readick, 5. McDonough, and
+. Readick, the audience quietly dispersed.
The committee having the
celebration in charge consisted of
R. F. Harmon, Chairman: Waring Rus
sell. Jr.. Secretary; Nathan Il. Platshek,
w. X. Pearce. ii. NJ. Reeve. W. t. Leo
pold. III. A. Strobhar, John Juchter, w.
s. Yokum, E. J. Grady, IL. Bleyert,
George Campsen.
Miss Eva Platshek was accompanist IN
the musical part of the programme.