The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-02-21
FIVE CENTS.
ADDRESS OF DIR. CRUTCHER
At the Silver Anniversary Banquet, Tues
day Night.

day Night.
About midnight the guests of the Pyth-
ian ball were invited to the handsome hall
Of the Order, where a delicious collation.,
with hot coffee. prepared and served un-
der the direction of Mr.. Ed. Sims and his
polite and attentive aids, was spread out
before them.
After supper, and while the guests yet
sat at the tables, Vice Chancellor E. A.
lsingwald in felicitcus manner intro.
duccd DIR. Ernest Crutcher, Grand
Master of Exchequer, who riveted the at
tention of all present by the graceful and
eloquent manner in which he de1ineated
the growth of Pythianism. DR.. Crutcher
said: zqes...z
count myself most happy and highly
favored, Mr. Chairman, Brother Knights,
Ladies and Gentlemen, that to me is dele
gated the pleasing task of speaking, tho
but briefly, on the Order of the Knights
Of Pythias. Yet, as [ look around this
double triangle and observe the faces of
so many distinguished gentlemen who
bear with them an uction from the foun-
| in-head of oratory, l stand abashed and
ardently long for the genius of De-
mosthenes, a Cicero or Il Webster, that
might more worthily grace my cause on
this proud and auspicious OCCASION; and
if the presence Of these excellent and elo-
quent gentlemen were not sufficient en-
barrassment, Beauty's princely majesty is
such, it
"Confounds the tongue and makes the senses
rough"
Let me express for this Lodge, how
ever, our sincere qualification and pleasure
to meet you, my friends, and give you
knightly greeting, upon this the Silver
Anniversary of the Order of knights of
Pythias.
1t is easy to supply superlatives in
culogy of popular things and people, and
to be successful is to be popular. This
Order is popular, but not alone because Of
its pre-eminent success, for in the bright
lexicon of knighthood which Fate has
reserved for Pythianism, "there's no such
word as fail!'
The Supreme Lodge, at its recent ses-
in the world be requested to appropriate
ly observe the twenty fifth anniversary of
the Order. 1t was organized February
10, 1864, and its record of grand achieve
ments has no superior in the nineteenth
century amongst similar organizations.
Social internlingling and alliance are the
germs Of friendship and brotherhood, and
form the central column Of this society.
The thirty-one hundred subordinate
Lodges, forty seven Grand Jurisdictions,
with membership of 250,O00 attest the
wondrous growth of this great Order and
speak eloquently in its behalf. The
Order has received and disbursed millions
of dollars in the payment of weekly sick
benefits, in relieving the distressed, and
in the burial Of the dead. On October 1,
; Endowment rank in all classes, and there
had been paid out to the widows and
orphans Of deceased knights more than
$5,500,000.
The Uniform rank has had most ex
traordinary growth since its institution,
about ten years ago, having now over
500 divisions, with muster roll Of over
10000. The beautiful, brilliant and
impressive pageant of 1000 uniformed
knights in line OF march in Cincinnati
last June was never exceeded by any
Order, young Or old, on either continent.
The founder Of this Order, Justus II.
Rathbone, and three Of the original mem
bers, are still living in Washington, d.
c.. where originated this organization:
Everywhere Throughout our borders
|
healthy conditions exist. 1t is cheer
ing fact that there lurk no latent fires of
discord under Il placid surface of amity,
but with one accord, with an eye single
to the furtherance of the interests and
virtues of the Order, "as IN army with
banners," marching steadily, bravely for
ward, conquering and to conquer, every
jurisdiction and Lodge seems inspired
with the desire of carrying out the prin-
ciples of Friendship, Charity and Benevo-
lence; vieing with each other in their eff
forts to eXcmplify and augment these
most salutary influences. To true and
faithful Knight these principles are
dearer and more attractive than the mys-
tic bough of the sybil to the eager
arean, or the golden apples, guarded
by sleepless dragons, to the Hesperian
daughters.
There is in every true Pythian heart
spark Of heavenly fire which, perhaps,
lies dormant in the broad daylight of
prosperity but which kindles and beams
and blazes in the dark hour Of adversely.
No man knows the hidden energ les and
sympathics Of his neighbor's nature;
none can guess what ministering angels are
about him, until he has gone through the
fierce trials of ailiicton, sorrow and be-
reavement.
;. Napoleon on the eve of the battle OF
the Pyramids exclaimed: "Soldiers, from
the nights Of yonder Pyramids, forty cen
turies look down upon YOU" Gentlemen
of the Order of knights OF Pythias, from
the sublime nights of past ages, countless
worthless: who were animated with the
principles of philanthropy that actuate
: you, point and beckon to Il goal more ele
waited than ever attracted Senators, Solons
: or Caesars. History teens with living
forms that wave their magic wands before
G us, whilst we enchanted will follow to
meet our fate nobly and successfully,
dispensing with unstinted hand the
e choicest blessings Of Friendship, Char
ity and Bencvolence.
DR.. Crutcher's speech was gratefully
received.
Mr. Chas. NJ. Webster being called for,
arose and, after expressing his gratitica-
ton with Grand Master Crutcher's ap-
propriate address, said the guests will now
return to the ballroom and~on with the
dance let JOY be unconfined!
4 more delightful party could not be
brought together. Every ones cup OF
happiness was full to the brim; and as the
last voluptuous strains Of the music had
ceased and the kni ghts and their friends
rccedcd from the hall, bidding each
other good night, the wish was in each