Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-29
History of the Order.

In view of the growing popularity OF the
knights of Pythias and the rapidity with
which the number OF the order is being
swelled, short history OF the founding will
be interesting.
This order was organized IN Washington
in the District of Columbia on the 18th of
February, 1864, by some eight or ten gen.
tlemeu who met by previous agreement at
Temperance Hall, where, after some CONVEX
sation concerning the subject, the meeting
was called to order and Mr.. |. T. X. Plant
was made chairman. At this meeting Il
committee was appointed to prepare ritual
of ceremonies to be used in opening and
closing the lodge, and in comforting de-
grees. The committee reported at once u
ritual which had already been prepared,
and which was adopted, whereupon the
meeting went into an election of officers,
and. j. H Rathbone was elected to fill
&c position of worthy chancellor of
the order. All the other necessary officers
were duly elected and appointed, and the
various COMMITTEES suggested by the neceS-
sites of the movement formed, and the
meeting adjourned TO meet on the evening
of the 23d to complete the organization.
AT the time appointed these gentlemen
met again at the same place, the
officers were installed, the committees
reported and the newly formed lodge, under
the name of Washington No. l, was
launched for veal or woe upon the stormy
waters of its new life. This was during
the year before the close of the war when
the country was rent asunder by that
mighty and unhappy conflict. If was of all
times the very worst which could have
been chosen to institute and
build up an order having for
its immediate and active purpose the pro-
pagation of good will aud peace and
brotherhood among men. The very worst
time which could have been selected, for it
was at a period when brother was arrayed
against brother and parent against child.
But the men who had organized
the society We're Stout-hearted, firm, and
unremitting in patience and perseverance,
having an abiding faith in the justice and
goodness of men.
During the next month or two after the
formation of Washington lodge, the men,
beers labored faithfully for the advancement
of their order. They used their best
efforts to enlist the sympathies
and active cooperation of all
good and true men with whom they were
acquainted, and succeeded in getting sew
eral additions to their number On the Sth
of the following April, representatives hay
ing been previously elected, they met with
number OF past chancellors, and together
they organized the first grand lodge. As
soon as the grand lodge was in
stituted its energetic and able officers
began to work vigorously, intending to
if possible TO extend the order into other
states. But the state of the public mind
was not at this time in a condition to re-
ceive the new order, and though several
other lodges were afterwards organ
Rsd, including Franklin lodge
7R ?, they were altogether,
fifth Washington No l, dissolved,
attendance and stimulant on the part of
theNe--ssesnbership. Franklin lodge No. .
,sNas an exception to the rule, and to it is
due the holding together of the order. On
the 18th of June the grand lodge held its
last session, and one by one the Pythian
lights were eXtinguished. Matters stood
thus until May. 1865, when the war
closed and attention was once more turned
to the regeneration and propagation of the
order. This time the movement met with
marked success. The grand lodge was re-
organized, a new and amended ritual was
created, all labored with might and main,
and the number commenced to increase.
Maryland was the next state to receive
privileges of Pythian knighthood. From
here it spread to Pennsylvania, and once
started-once the nature and objects of the
order became known-it has gradually eN-
tended itself all over the United States, and
in addition has attained a strong foothold
in Canada, British Columbia, the maritime
provinces and the Hawaiian islands.
The order now has over three
thousand lodges in thirty-eight states
ard territories and numbers over two
hundred thousand men in its ranks.
Some time in 1866 supreme lodge of the
ckForld was organized and put at the head
and given control over the entire order
The supreme power of executing the laws
enacted by the supreme lodge is placed in
the hands of 4 supreme chancellor.
who is assisted i'll the Just and
important administration thereof nv n
aforementioned and ably organized staff OF
intelligent men. Once in two years tbs
supreme lodge meets. 1t is composed OF
the past grand chancellors and representa-
tives elected by each grand jurisdiction.
and it is their province TO frame such gen
eral laws as will subserve The interests and