National Republican., 1885-09-05
AFTER DAMON AND PYTIIIAS.
THE ORDER OF KNIGHTlIOOD FOUNDED
on THE FAMOUS FRIENDSHIP.
Its Rise in This city Twcniy-Onc Years
Ago and Progress Throughout the
Union and Universe Sincc-OVer Two
Thousand Active Lodges Now.

The order Of the Knights of Pythas, now
in most ilourishing condition, and cocN-
tcusvc with the Union originated in this
city upon the 10Th Of February, 1864, the
first lodge of the order, named Washington
Lodge, No. !, being instituted at that date
at Temperance Hall now known as Marini's
Upon the Sth OF April following grand
lodge Of the District was organized and
commenced the organization of subordinate
lodges The original meeting, when the
work of the order was first read, took place
at 500 street, the following gentlemen be-
ing present las the members of q musical
association known as the "Arion Glcc
Cmb"J Messrs. Il. A. Champion, T.. $.
Kimball ID. l.. Burnett W. II. Burnett,
Roberts, and Driver The ritual was wit
ten by Justus H. Rathbouc, originally In
the town of Eagle llarbor, llUughton (uOw
keewenawl county, Lake Superior, Mich,
IN the winter of lsliO--'Gl. Tile first meet
ing took place Monday evening, Feb. IL,
1864, at which time each Of the gentlemen
above named were duly obligated hy Mr..
Rathhonc, and aitcrwarl resolved them
selves into individual committees to
obtain the proper persons to form the first
lodge. and this was the nucleus of the
present extensive ami still growing order
Franklin Lodge. No. ., was instituted
under u chartcrtrom the Grand Lodge April
IT,, 1864. upon MAY 10, 1864. Columbia
Lodge. and on June . of the same year
Potomac Lodge were given birth. In the
following year, on Feb. !, Alexandria Lodge.
Of Alexandria, Va, was constituted, and
from that time up to the spring Of 1866 but
little progress or increase of the member
ship was had On April Is. lSdG, Mount
Vernon Lodge, Of this District was organ
lied, and in May following the ritual and
work Of the order was revised, and the
order, so far rs its work Is concerned,
placed substantially upon the basis that II
occupies to-day. On July 80 Liberty Lodge
was established at the Navy Yard. and on
Feb %, 1867, Excelsior Lodge, No. !. was
properly instituted ut the city Of Philnlc-
phiG, Pa, followed hy the organization Of
Keystone Lodge the ensuing July. These
lodges were the cradle of the order in the
territory that to-day is the banner state Of
the order. there being in the state of Penn
Sylvania at this time 3jj lodges, with a
membership of ~, 80. In November, 1866.
the order was introduced into Maryland, and
thcncXt month lodges were started at Mount
Holly and Camden, y. j. Early in 1865
the order obtained footing in Delaware
hy the institution of three lodges, and in
April of this year 1t was introduced into
Tue stulC ol laOulslulu'
THE FIRST CONVENTION.
On June q. 1868, u convention of dele
gates, appointed from the states in which
the order had obtained lodgmcnt, convened
IN this city, adopted constitution uudcr
and by which the Supreme Lodge Of the
world was organized and established as the
head of the order. In May of this year
RathbOnc Lodge was organized IN the city
Of New York, thus Introducing the frater-
nifty to the Empire state. Shortly after the
order made its advent into California, next
into the state of West Virginia, and next in
Nebraska. The order grew very rapidly.
and during the years 1867 and 1868 lodges
were instituted in the states of MasSaCh-
sctts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and
other New England states; also in the states
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky,
Missouri, and Kansas, and closely upon th,
II has gone on until 1t has obtained a foot
ing and a home in nearly all the
states and territories of the Union.
passed into the British provinces of
North America, and has home in the
Islands of the sea crossed the Atlantic
ocean and founded lodges in the kingdom
Of Great Britain.
OVER TWO THOUSAND LODGES.
To-day there exists 2,OGl lodges, with &
membership Of l53GSl, and the order ha,
been in existence only twenty-One years
Borne upon the old style of Damon and
Pythas, II seeks to inculcatc the worth and
beauty Of such friendship. Its cardinal
principles are Friendship, Charity. and
Benevolence its notices and teachings,
Be generous, brave, and true"
THE ENDOWMENT RANK.
The next important step in the order was
the establishment Of the Endowment Rank
At the meeting Of the Supreme
Lodge held at Cleveland, Ohio, IL
August, 1877, this rank was adopted
The object is to secure to the families O
deceased members of the rank certain
sum of money, to he paid by the Suprem,
Lodge as directed hy the members Will,
living. This rank consists Of four classes
designated as first and second. third ant
fourth Any member Of the rank may be
long to either or both classes, but canno
a IT,, a. Il.