The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-23
TIE KNIGHTS OF PYFHIAs.
Tho Growth Of the OFdsr-Its rraeti
Value To the Country,

Tho Growth Of tho ordsr-Its Practical
Value to the Country.
Clieago LRtr 0aaR,
A remarkable instance Of great results
from small beginnings is the order Of
the Knightso Of Pythias, which has just
celebrated Its twepty-aith anniversary,
From a modest, nay, a very insignificant
source, the friendly union of five men,
It has grown with such rapldity that it
now has enrolled as members nearly
100000 knights, Such increase, the
earlier conditions considered, Is marvel.
Gus, to be explained only by the high
character and noble purpose OF the
order. II is not supposed that the five
men who, In Washington, met for must
cal practice one evening, and then
adopted and sWore TO q ritual one OF
them presented, believed that they were
laying the basis for an institution that
should in their own lifetime become q
wide-reaching power Of incalculable
beneiicenCe,
From $500 lodges the good influence
exhales, the fundamental principles Of
friendship, b%enevolenCe, Charityspervad'
ing the work OF the order, making each
OF these lodges the source Of private ser
vice for the public welfare, When the
first lodge was established the formation
OF secret societies was O vogue, and there
were many kinds and for many purposes
The theories and objects Of the Knights
OF Pythias were, however, OF breadth and
character that appealed at once to thu
intelligence and sympathies OF men,
The conditions OF It's origin were moi
ephemeral, It's motive was human and
humane, and therefore abiding, Though
there was the underlying purpose oil
loyalty, devotion to country, u true and
actuating patriotic spirit, the vital and
vltalizing element was love Of man and
the wish to help him, Ministering sub
stantially to real wants, bringing man
into closer acquaintance with man Were
the aims In the active province.
In their ritual Is the idea that these
knights Of friendship have practicaI
benevolenCe aver before them, seeking
out he distressed, binding up wounds
assuaging grief, feeding the hungry
clothing the naked, visiting those II
prison, protecting the widowed and thu
orphaned, comforting the Rick, NobleI
work there Is mono. Man can not liW
purer, more helpiully than in obedience
10 the laws oil this ordGr-for its senti
ments BECOME laws under the oath thu
seals the knights OF the order. Mora
chivalry ia the height and crown o
knighthood, and atthisa aim the FythiRns
Whatever prejudice may be In popula
minds against secret orders there can b.
only admiration for the organization tn
members ri which count life nothing II
defense Of the right, and who sacrifice
self to the service Of others when occa
sion demands.
There is II material value as well as al
ethical and benevolent excellence In tn
order, for has a uniformed department
numbering $1,000 members, who ar
trained, thoroughly discipled soldiers
This bOdyis not merely drilled 10 max,
picturesque parade, it Is organized upde
the regular army plan, and Is managed II
strict conformity with the infantry tao
IlCb VI tuo Ouitcu StoNS9 hthl9t WIZ
there need these men, sixty'six regi
ments Of them, could march into battll
as ready for action as old soldiers, aal
one may DO cure they would aCqui
! themselves like veterans. Agood Knigh
liz Pv ."tGs may not falter n1tle hogr o
danger, His F;,ligtOn teaches him that
brothers. life is wott." noFS lpHn ~
own, and he will freely risk w. W U
save that other. Happily this Is MOI
theory alone; 1t has been beautifully
demonstrated on o than n ocCO
sion. BUTT Is to be hoped the knights
will continue to make only bloodlesI
Conquests, and meet no hour Of public
need that will require them to put theil
soldier training to soldier uses,