Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-15


ties of Fort Worth. how many of the different
orders exist here, time and places of meetings,
their chief officers, etc., be interesting reading?
AS sn advertisement it might result in good to
the differen. orders. for one would like to
become member Of some one of them, but
have not found it easy to locate them. Respect
fully, SUBSCRIBER.
The growth OF the secret, social and
benevolent organizations of city is,
historically speaking, almost identical
with that of the city itself.
Wherever in the infancy of city there
Is gathered together a community of
men the necessity for fraternal organiza-
ton is recognized, and forthwith is or
ganized branch of one of the old and
widespread orders which have attained
worldwide sway. And as the town
grows so do its secret orders.
In Fort Worth it is low estimate that
there are 1000 members OF secret organ
izations of q social and benevolent
nature, and this class does not include
labor or trades unions, charitable or re-
ligIous Institutions.
There are in Fort Worth at a low esti-
mate 100 such social and benevolent So
cieties, all of hich are the growth of
ten years, pointing suggestively to the
rapid growth of this city.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs.
There is no order in Fort Worth which
is better represented than that of Ply tn
ianism. AS Gu order the members rec
ognize the universally of Damon broth
erhood and encourage the dissemination
of the principles of friendship, charity
and benevolence. The cardinal princi-
pies of Pythianism are respect to relig-
ion, obedience TO law and loyalty to gov
erument. Pythianism was the evolu-
tion of one man s brain-that of the
past supreme chancellor and founder of
the order, Justus H Rathbone, at the
mention of whose name all Pythian
knights bow in reverence. On Febru-
airy 10, 1864. at Washington, d. c. F., the
order was ushered into existence.
1t was time when war was in the
heart of man and sorrow in his home,
when from ocean TO ocean, and from
Jake to gulf, the land was engaged in
scenes of carnage and death, that
Brother Rathbone saw in Grecian history
tho germ of an order that could prove
power in dispelling the warmth of sec
tional strife and restoring the hearts of
men TO basis of universal brotherhood.
Briefly stated, the friendship of those
noble Pythagorians has come down to us
at this late day TO teach US lessons OF
brotherly love. Pythias occupied a
position in the army, and Damon,
senator at Syracuse, during the reign of
Dvonysius the Elder. Damon, in
opposing the schemes and plots of the
tyrant, was condemned to die. AT sunset
his execution was to take place; Pythias,
the tried friend OF Damon, besought the
tyraut to grant him u respite, that he
might bid farewell to those he loved.
His entreaty, clothed by the poet in
language which deserves TO become a
classic, Is familiar to all. ''Let Damon
go and see his wife and child before he
dies, for four short hours respite him,
put me in chains, plunge me IN
dungeon as pledge for his return;
do this, but this, and may
the gods themselves build up thy virtues
US high as their own heavens. In an
swer to his pleadings, DIonysius agreed
10 grant his request, upon condition that
if Damon failed to return at the ap-
pointed time Pythias should die in his
stead, TO which Pythias readily agreed,
and Damon sped away on his sad errand,
10 the home so soon TO become house of
sorrow, where, after arranging his affairs
and bidding farewell to his loved ones.
be prepared to return, and called for his
horse, but finding that he has been slain
by his servant to prevent his return, he
quickly secures another and hastens TO
Syracuse. Pythias in the meantime has
been tempted to escape the doom which
seems to threaten him, but no; he insists
upon the terms of hostage being carried
ont, and eXclaims: 90 IT'S sweet to die
for those we love- The time fast ap-
proaches and still Damon does not ap-
pear; the block is erected; the crowds
are gathered IN the square, and Pythias
is led forth TO seal his friendship with his
blood. Does he shrink? Does he falter?
With soldierly courage and iron nerve he
prepares TO die for his friend. In shat
awful moment the clatter OF horses 'hoofs
Is heard in the distance and soon Damon
falls exhausted at the feet OF Pythas.
At this display of manhood and true
courage Dionysius, who has been closely
Watching every movement, was filled
with establishment. 1t was phase of
life he had never before witnessed. HIS
heart was touched, and leaving his
throne he assembled the scaffold and
said: Live ye, mparable pair; ye
have borne unquestionable testimony of
the existence of virtue, and that virtue
eyinces the existence of a God to reward
it,
Twenty-six years ago one subordinate
lodge was the total of their strength; to-
day a supreme lodge, forty-seven grand
lodges and over 5000 lodges gives an idea
of the advance made. There are about
$50 ZOO members in the United States.
In 1877 the grand lodge of Ohio In
structed its representatives, to petition the
S. L. to establish a higher rank or ranks,
wherein no member could be admitted
without having procured the uniform of
the order.
This was the initial move in the organ
ization OF the Uniform Rank. In August
following this was presented TO the SUI
preme lodge, then In session, when, on
motion Of Supreme Representative John
Van Valkenburg of Iowa it was referred
20 special committee of FIVE, consisting
of Representatives Van ValkeDburg of
Iowa, Morrell of Nebraska, Dom of
California, wieley of Delaware, and Su-
preme Prelate Lucas as O committee on
Uniform Rank, to report at the next
session.
On August 80, 1878, Representative
Morren, from said committee5 presented
a report, submitting a ritual, etc., and
recommending that a committee of five,