Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-02-27


OF Pythias. and the event was clebrat-
ed BIZ Washington Lodge No. 1, intAeir
hall in the Peoples National sank
Building, At 80 o'clock Friday night
The room was nicely arranged and d
large audience Of invited friends aaa
4 relatives assembled 10 witness and en-
joy the exercises of the occasion. r. G.
1 9. G., Prof Vim. 4. GerhaFdt, after
the opening ode had been sung. arose
aud addressed the audience in q highly
entertaining and pleasant manner. He
spoke Of the organization Of The Order
I in Washington, in 1861; at the time
I when d great civil war was drenehing
/ the land in blood, and intensifying sec
/ tioHal hatred, instead Of Increasing ira
ternal love. The Lodge was founded
/ on the beautiful legendary story OF the
loving friendshipof Damon and Pythias
in which the latter offered to die in the
/ place Of the former. Friendship aud
brotherly love and union were the great
objects in the formation OF the new or
der; no political tendencies were to be
tolerated or encouraged. No organiza-
tion has ever assumed such vast proper
tions. There are now ia existence "A
/ grand and 1000 subordinate lodges,
/ with membership OF over 500 600 !;
carries 10000 of life insurance have
paid $3,716,ls5 for beneficial purposes.
| West Virginia has Il subordinate lod.
ges, with membership of IL 900. The
Professor traced the history OF the or.
der with mastery ability aud in beauti.
full terms spoke Of the past noble work,
| the present influence and the glorious
future outlook. We noticed that the
| speaker had played an important and
active part in the work OF extending
and perpetuating the organization.
| Professor Gerhardt announced that
the visitors were invited to be present
to enjoy themselves and laugh to their
hearts content.
A mock admission of new member
occurred next. The members slipped
into an ajoining apartment and soon re-
| appeared in outlandish and curious ap.
parel, all wearing masks over their
faces. They marched around the room
and then occupied special positions.
Archon, the ruler and king, was seated
upon his throne and each of his associ-
ates was required to give the password
Bill Blunderbuss forgot it and was
| thereupon exercised. The great Ar
chon then demanded the duty of his
| followers. One was to keep those in
who we're out; another, to lead the can
didate to his doom, etc. The Knights
then sang in doleful tones, two stanzas
of
''rhere We're three crows sat on tree,
And they were black as black could be.
The grand secretary read the minutes
of the last meeting and stated that a
number of pennies had been received
and that Hans Sebastian Christopher
Doodlesock desired to join the gang.
! He was brought forward, large, fat
fellow, who wobbled up the aisle to the
!
throne, and was addressed by the great
Archon. A number of questions were
asked him, of the most humorous ma
ture, and the answers were equal to the
inquiries. He was examined by the
| doctor, made TO blow big horn, given
the grip, stood on one leg. then on the
other, marched around the room and
in many other ways, scared almost to
death. He had one more ordeal to pass
through. In order TO become perfect
follower of Archon, he must contest
with King Diabolus, i. e. the Devil, for
the possession of the wonderful philoso-
piers stone. The contest was waged
with swords, and at last the Devil sue.
ceeded in disarming Doodlesock, and
was about TO gain possession OF the tai
ismanic stone, when the brave eandi-
da'e seized tin gun and shot his Sa-
tanc Majesty dead. Then, amid loud
huzzas and great racket. Hans Sebas-
tion Christopher Doodles0ek. was crown
ed by the great Archon, and almost
shaken to pieces by the admiring and
jublant Sir knights.
4 This concluded the funny portion Of
the program, and the lodge set aDous
TO refreeh the inner man. Several
walters, loaded down with choice sweets
and lemonade, iloated down the aisle
to the great delght.of every one present.
All appeared to enjoy the treat, aid
laughed and conver.ed pleasantly for
some twenty minutes. Or. j. w. Me-
Sherry, W.. r. Long, Esq, aud Mr..
Grant Pitzer, We're called upon and
made brief remarks, expressing thanks
for the pleasant exercises and treatment