Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-13
LADIES TO THE FRONT.
An Order of Pythian Sisters Organized In
This City.

Another secret and beneficiary organiza-
tion has been started it this city. This
time the ladies are at the helm. Yesterday
a cooperative branch of the Knights of
Pythias was inaugurated in Wheeling by
Deputy Supreme Chief, Mrs. j. A.
Poland, Of Columbus, Ohio, and is
known as the Order of Pythian Sisters.
The meeting was held in the X of L. hall,
on Market street. and called TO order at
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Poland
opened the session in a brief speech. in
which she carefully explained the work
ings of the order, in which she said that it
gave the members the advantages Of organ
lied cooperative effort, by which means
they became mutually auxiliary, while
retaining their individuality, and
independence Through the wise regula-
tlons which have been adopted for the or
der they may have all the benefits Of the
knowledge and experience of the Brother
Knights, and at the same time have an or
der they call their own. Mrs. Poland also
said that experience has proven that the
membershipOf the Knights will be increas-
ed thereby, by ladies, having friends in the
order persuading their male relatives TO
Join the knights, so they may become
eligible to membership in the Pythian
Sisters. The chief object of the new order
like that of the Knights, is TO promote the
moral, mental, social and physical eleva-
ton of its members, and to cultivate
spirit Of fraternal love. Like the Knights,
it is a beneficiary organization, and the
allowances for members who are sick can
be fixed by option. The con-
ditions for membership are that
the candidates must be over Is years of age,
and if married, must be wives of Knights
Of 1Dhvfbiac althart aIl laAiae
become members of the order, and retain
membership after marriage, even if their
husbands are not identified with the
Knights of Phythias. Gentlemen are ad-
mtted TO the order, but simply become
honorary members and cannot hold Office
This is the first order of Pythian Sisters
ever instituted in West Virginia, and is to
be known as Hermion Temple No. !. The
name of "Hermionn was suggested by Mrs.
L. Habberfeld, it being the name Of the
legendary wife Of Damon. After the work
of the order had been fully explained. it was
naugurated by the following initial officers:
Past Chief-Mrs. l.. Haberfeld.
NJ. T.. C.-Mrs \. Graves
+. s. T.-Mrs. NJ. Il. Rottmire.
L. j. T.-Mrs. NJ. Silvis.
5. NJ. T-Mrs. NJ. Koch.
s. NJ. of X. C.-Mrs NJ Schwalb.
S. NJ. of F-Mrs c. Rodgers.
:. u. T-Mrs. s. Heston.
:. G.. O. T-Mrs. McGranigan.
The new order starts out with thirty-one
members, with quite number of applica-
tons TO be personally responded to immedi-
atelv. The secret work of the order is
very pretty and impressive, and, as exem-
plifed yesterday, found favor with all
present The ladies passed through the
initiatory ordeal with all the grace and
fortitude so characteristic of the sex, and
evening found them all adorned with
smiles. They were all much delighted with
the work, and judging from the interest
eyinced it is just such an organization as
will grow and wax stronger as the months
wear on.
The nearest approach to this Order Of
Pythian Sisters hereabouts is what
is called Sistcrhood, which has
been in very successful operation in Ben
wood The first temple Of the Order Of
Pythian Sisters was organized October
25th, lSSS. Since that time the order is
represented in ten States, with Il member
ship Of more than three thousand.