The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-15

The Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias
of Virginia will convene in its twenty
third annual session in this city on
next Tuesday the 18th.
This is the first time in the history
of the order or of Roanoke that this
city has been given the opportunity to
entertain the Grand Lodge, Knights Of
Pythias.
Oscealo Lodge, No. AZ, is, with one
exception, the oldest secret society in the
city, Lakeland Lodge of Free Masons,
being organized several years before.
1t is also perhaps the strongest lodge,
both financially and in membership of
any in the city, its rolls showing tho
names of about 21O Of the best citizens
in the city.
For several years Osceola lodge had
but few members, but their interest in
tho work and principles were ardent
and pure, and soon brought forth the most
astonishing results. During the year
of 1889 great revival suddenly took
place. Applications rolled in every
meeting night, sometimes as high as
fifteen or twenty. 1t was almost i'm
possible to confer the degrees on so
many applicants, and the lodge was ire
qucntly in session till the small hours
of the morning.
1t was lodge for everybody; from the
banker and merchant to the honest
toiler, but the greater number Of it's
members are young, active business
-l,A H,,1 &c r.,1
pleasure, as we'll as virtue.
AT the last annual session OF the
order. held in Suffolk, it was decided by
large ma ority to come to Roanoke, on
invita- ton of Representative q. H.
Thomas, to hold the next session, and
since that time Osceola lodge has been
looking forward with much pleasure to
the event which will bring together so
many distinguished Pythians.
For several weeks the lodge has been
making active preparations for the
event, and their programme is now
about complete, but will not be made
public for reasons best known to the
committee in charge.
The representatives from all parts OF
the State will arrive on Tuesday and be
qua"tcrcd at the Ponce dc Leon. The
same evening the grand lodge will be
called to order in the Castle Hall by
Grand Chancellor Commander Leonard
Marbury, of Alexandria, Va, when the
credentials of the representatives will
be examined and the grand lodge
opened.
Wednesday morning and afternoon
will be devoted to the regular routine
work, and at night the reception and a
banquet will be given. Tho reception
will be held in the hall, after which the
grand lodge and the local members will
repair to the Asbcrry building on Salem
avenue, where an elegant banquet will
be furnished by the ladies of the Union
Benevolent Society.
The following committee, Mayor w.
G. Evans, ii. NJ. Darnall, C. b. Moo
nav, c. w. G. Woolwine, and e. III.
Wolff have charge of the arrangements.
Mayor Evans has been selected to de-
liver the address of welcome on behalf
of the city, and Rev. j. III. Boyd on be-
half of the lodge. Other prominent
members have been selected to deliver
addresses, but their names have not
been made public.
Prof. James Dcvons orchestra will
furnish music, both at the reception and
banquet.
The uniform rank, separate organ
ization, but composed of members of the
subordinate lodges, are expected TO give
grand parade on Thursday evening
The following is list of the officers
of the grand lodge: Past grand chan.
cellor, Harry f. Chase, Norfolk; grand
chancellor commander, Leonard Muir
bury, Alexandria; grand vice-chancellor,
w. l.. Oliver, Staunton; grand prelate,
w. l.. Lithgood, Manchester; grand
master Of exchequer, II. l.. Courtney,
Richmond: grand keeper of records and
seals, Walter a. Edwards. Norfolk;
grand master at arms, Isaac Diggs,
West Point; grand inside guard, w. l..
Mcleod, Suffolk; grand outside guard,
Joseph A. Milton, Winchester; also re-
personalities to the supreme lodge,
John ii. Alexander, of Leesburg, and
d. j. Turner, Jr., of Norfolk.
There will be present also about fifty
representatives from the different lodges
throughout the State.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia can boast
of once claiming as a member the
founder of this great order which has
spread throughout the United States and
Canada. 1t was Justus ii. Rathbone, of
Alexandria. He wrote the ritual, and
founded the order February 10Th, 1864.
About four years ago he lectured in this
city and was warmly received by every
member of the lodge. He died Deem
Der 9th, 1889, after seeing the fruits of
his labors developed into one of the
strongest organizations of it's kind in
existence.
The knights of Pythias of Virginia
now number about $500 members and is
steadily increasing. The session in this
city promises TO be one of the most
interesting vet held and manu- admir-