Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-02-27
THE MARTINSBURG HERALD, SATURDAY, FEB. II,
SUNSHINE AMONG THE KNIGHTS

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SUNSHINE AMONG THE KNIGHTS.
The knights Of Pythias of WASH
ington Lodge No. /, attheir Lodge
room in the Bank building Friday
night last, celebrated the ed anniver-
sary of the organization of the order.
At Z O'Clock the Lodge room was
crowded with as many persons as
could be comfortably seated, and We
knights were greeted by the pretty
faces Of large number of their moth
ers, sisters, sweet -hearts and invited
friends. The old Red Fox and Bald
Eagle of the "Red Men," perched
above the windows, looked gravely
down upon the visitors, as much as to
say, New departure, Eth! Well, let
the Band play" The mottos of well
come, the banners of the Order and
flags hung in artistic festoons about
the room. The orchestra broke the
stiffness with sweetest strains of mu-
sic, and Rev. VIM. Gerhardt took the
chair and called the meeting to order.
The K. of P.'s opening ode was then
sung by the whole company. VIM.
Gerhardt, who is Archon, then deliv-
cred the address, which was listened
to with closest attention
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND SIR
KNIGHTS. -Twenty-t years ago, where
was the Order called the knights of
Pythias of the World ?" This organiza-
ton, which has assumed such vast pro-
portions, and gained such firm foot
hold in the minds and hearts of our
American people as a benevolent institu-
ton, had then no existence and no name.
There has, perhaps, never been an in
| stance of such rapid growth in the histo-
ry of benevolent institutions. I think it
is safe to say that the example is without
parallel.
A genial wave of humanity, starting
from the metropolis of our nation, has
suddenly. but gently rolled over our
country in circle widening and widen
ing, until it has.touched the Atlantic and
the Pacific, the Pilgrim Rock of the
Gulf. Its kindly but potent power has
influenced thousands and hundreds of
thousands to unite in the bonds of friend
ship and charity, for cooperative action
with kindred associations for the anne
Iteration of mankind.
The anomaly of this sudden and rapid
growth becomes the more apparent,
when we consider under what circum-
stances this Order was born, and what
were its surroundings in its infancy.
The Order was organized at the Capt.
tai of this great nation on the 10th day of
February, 1854, when the most gigantic
Civil War the World ever witnessed was
raging in this country, when the North
and the South were arrayed against each
other in deadly strife, and the nation
struggled to maintain an existence which
was in imminent peril. The very per-
sons who then founded the Organization
were in feeling and sentiment as wide
apart, nationally and politically. as the
poles. Under such circumstances kind
Providence las We must regard it,, put it
into the hearts of the originators and
pioneers of this Order to lay the founda-
ton of an organization which would be-
come common ground of active benev-
olence and humanity for parties other
wise so wide apart.
1t had in it's principles no political or
sectarian ingredient, but the laudable
aim of its founders was to allay the bit
terness of feeling existing sectionally, to
counterfeit the separating tendency, and
prevent the prevailing elimination and
re-crimination of opposing factions.
Their efforts were prompted by desire
to prevent disintegration, and to encour-
age and promote aggregation. Their
mission was paciication. and a kind
Providence has blessed their efforts. and
this day, among the hundreds of thous-
ands that have enlisted under the ban
ner of +. G. & B. are to be found, from
the Senator to the Peasant, men of differ
ent languages, different education, diff
ferent political views, and different re-
ligious creeds and its outstretched arms
are already extending beyond the ocean,
TO fold in its embrace other nations.
But whilst the Order stands out thus
before the world as a vigorous youth en-
dowed with wonderful powers, it is a
fact in its history, that its birth-throes
were alarming, and its infancy SO deli
cate as to need all the fostering care of
its friends.
This Order, whose lessons of friend
sup are DstoSc upou tue stOI vi DdL1Ou
and Pythias, claims J. H. Rathbone, of
Washington City. as its founder. It's
first meeting was held in Temperance
Hall in that city, on the evening of Feb.
10, 1864. Mr.. Rathbone obligated the
Brothers present, after which, by resolu-
aion, the Order assumed the name of
Knights of Pythias, and the first Lodge
was named Washington Lodge No. L.
Mr.. Rathbone being Worthy Chancellor,
who, at this meeting presented Ritual
he had prepared for opening and clos
ing the lodge, and for the ceremony of
initiation, which was adopted. AT their
next meeting, on the 23d, degree Rit-
ual was reported and adopted, and four
days afterwards Ritual for the Third
Degree. On the 8th of April, the Past
Chancellors of Washington Lodge resolv-
ed themselves into the Grand Lodge of
the District of Columbia, Joseph T. K.
Plant, Grand Chancellor. Four days
afterwards, April ~, Franklin Lodge No.
2, was instituted at the Navy Yard,
Washington. This Lodge seems to have
proved the salvation of the Order, as
Washington declined from this date until
it ceased to exist Soon two more Lodges
were formed-Columbia and Potomac
Lodges--and in 1865 Lodge in Alexan-
dria. These, however, declined also,