Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-19


When John Banim, young Irish au
thor, dramatist and poet produced the
now weli-known drama of Damon anc
Pythas, it is not to be supposed that he
had the fainteSt idea that out Of thi.
creature Of his brain, though founded as
1t was, on the immortal friendship OF the
men whose name IL bears, would spring
one Of the greatest fraternal and benevo-
lent organizations that the world has
known. The story Of Damon and Pythias
setting forth at one and the same time
mans humanity and iahHmahity toman,-
the great devotion Of friend 70. friend
touched even the heart of the mercless
tyFant Of Syracusc-B Bionysius. His in
humanity was tempered by the self
abnegation Of Pythias in behalf of his
friend Damon, and he, the cynic and
scoifer. learned that there were friend
ships as irm and steadfast as the rock
foeea mus Of his own Sicily, as dear as
ruth and right.
hThe drama, then, the scenes Of which
were laid more than two thousand years
ago, In Siciian groves was the spring or
source from which has come the great
Pythan river, bearing on it's broad bosom
lessons Of devotion aud friendship. en-
twined with classical and legendary as
sociations of the mystical past, and over
nowing with that charity and faith aud
hope OF the living present, which vaunting
not themselves teach many a modern
Diogenes, that Friendship is Jewel
among men precious as the stores OF the
mind"
The story OF modern Pythanism Is soon
told. Amid the stirring scenes which The
nation witnessed between the years 1861
ana 1855, may be found the birthplace of
the order. H. was not born in time OF
peace, bat amid the clash Of armstand this
roar Of cannon-when nation was
divided, aud when a brother sought a
brothers blood. 1t was fitting time for
the cementins OF friendship, exempilfytng
TO the greatest degree, amid the conflict
or internecne warfare, that man should
not rise up. against man, that brethren
should dwell together In unity.
The order was founded at Washington
lty February 10, 1864. The founder was
fustus II. RathbOne, a gentleman hold
il@ position In one OF the governmental
departments. RathbOne lad read lbe
story, Of Damon ana Pythias. and from
this he conceived the idea Of founding
new traternal and benevolent order, !
whose ritual would illustrate, 70 the
highest degree, the lessons OF practical |
friendship and devotion, exemplfded In /
this drama. The more than royal dcvo- /
tioh OF soldier, and citizen senator. shouii /
be preserved 70 the world. men would |
be bound together 10 the closest bonds OF /
friendship, and with this idea, while a
school teacher I'm the state Of New York.
during his leisure moments. he prepared |
the ritual, TO which today 315.OOO Knights
OF Pythias In The United States subscribe.
1t was success. The order grew and
prospered. 1t had its dark days. but
founded as IL was upon naught but the
purest and sincerest motives. its aim 'to
alleviate the sulferngs Of a brother. sue
cor the unfortunate, Zealously watch at
the bedside OF the sick, sOOthe the dying
pillow, perform the last sad rites az The
grave Of the brother, offering consolation
10 the amlcted and caring for the widow
and the orphan" its prosperity might be
Tor time, but its ultimate
triumph was assured. And so IL spread
rapidly, gaining strength and influence day
by day, until now It's numerical strength
Is reckoned by hundreds Of thousands.
The grand work OF alleviating suffering
thmanity Is nowhere better shown than
bat performed by the Knights OF
r thias, during the fearful scourQe Of
yellow fever In the South in the summer
Of 1878. When the streets OF Southern
ties were silent, by reason OF the fear
'ul plague, which was daily claiming ]
many victims, when that silence was only {
broken by the sound Of the cart convey q
ng the victims 10 their last resting place. I
and the awful voice seemed to saw,
bring ont your dead, bring out yonr I
lead, it was then that the order proved n
.he length and breadth and i
iepth and strength Of the ties v
which bound man 70 man, and
proved that they we're brothers. The =,
writer will never fOget the awful scenes !,
IS witnessed In Memphis, Tenn, during !,
hat fearful time. Daily the cry of "hetp y
Is or we utterly perish" went out. and
obiy was the appeal responded to- ,
Knights Of Pythas, Masons and Odd Fell q
Ows alike shared the common woes, les. j
ened the burdens. aud sOothed the affifc- e
ions Of their brethren In distress.
The growth and spread Of Pythianism. u
ince 1873, has been almost phenomenal u
nd today there Is scarcely a hamlet IN 50
he United States or Canada, where a
astle ball is not 10 be found. Ia
y WASHINGTON PYTHIANs u
Fruitful IN all things good, the state Of q
Washington has been, and IS, a prolific e.
eld in which Pythianism has taken ir
Dot and lourisbed abundantly. In its pl
which includes the Pam
andle Of Idaho, there are seventy four b,
)dges, with membership Of 1000. The g
oungest in the fold Is that Instituted at q
YoolIey last night by Grand Chancellor II
NTH and visiting brethren. grand a
)dRe was Instituted IN 1884 the first ses- X