The record-union., 1892-01-09
PYTHIANISM.
An Able Address Thereon by Hon.
A. J. Buckles.
Delivered at the Recent Joint InstaIla-
ton of Columbia. Capital and Con-
fidence Lodges In This City.


Knights of Pythias, in this city on
Wednesday evening last, Hon. A. j.
Buckles of Solano, p. @. c., delivered the
following able address:
Ladies, Gentlemen and Brother Knights:
Tonight we have listened TO the cere-
monies of installation of officers in the
Order OF Knights of Pythias We have
heard the new officers charged with the
duties they are expected to perform, and
to me at least the services have been inn
presslve and pleasant. These ceremonies
ended, may we not turn our thoughts Tor
few moments to the history of the past,
with hope that we may learn more of
the great principles, and their origin,
which underlie our superstruction, our
Pythlan fraternity?
In doing SO we shall not be oblivious to
the present, for we are living in an age
that never had its equal in political, So
clal and perhaps religious ferment.
Whatever may be said Of the results of
political agitation, its peaceful revolu-
tons, and the revolutions attempted and
failed, human progress and civilization
have found their greatest aids in secret
societies, which have no doubt existed
for all time. And limited few have al
ways been they who have shaped the
course and evolved the great truths
which have so benefited the world in all
ages. Humanity never rises in the mass,
but struggles onward, few in the van
bearing the brunt of the battle, while the
great army follows after. And when new
elements are to be sent forth in the
world, or new departures in human con-
duct to be made, it is only here and there
one goes on the mission or does the
work. 1t has been so since the
world began, and will probably ever con-
tlnue. In the earliest days of the world
the wlsest and best men sought in their
secret temples to penetrate the mysteri-
Gus gloom which enshrouded, not only
their own being, but Goo as well. They
toiled in labor and pain, batfied often,
and losing their way at many times, but
the earnestness of their attempt to unravel
these mysteries ennobled them. They
formed some idea of a true God and a
true lfe-the one they worshiped more
often IN q symbolic way, and the other
they lived. The ideal formed they tried
to put into their lives, and here the at
tempt was not wholly fruitless, for out of
these efforts came such societies as the
Mysteries of the Second Rites of Osiris
and Isis, which last was founded in the
time of the first KingIand Queen of Egypt,
and IN whose country is found evidence
OF the Oldest civilization of which we have
any authentic record. Over the entire
HISTORY of the land of the pyramids a
vail OF mystery is drawn. The history of
Egypt is dream, not of the promises of
the future, but of the achievements of the
past. And it was in the Mysteries of
Isis and Osiris that its ancient and, as we
now know, wonderful civilization had it's
origin. Here was fashioned and wrought
out those ideas that subsequently entered
into the very life of her people. 1t was
the laws of these societies which gave her
her great power.
The influence these Mysteries had on
Egyptian life was wonderful. In the sa-
cred retreats, sometimes in caves and
again in specially fitted apartments,
where the aspirant received their
teachings, was laid, and laid deep, the
foundations Of that civilization which is
the wonder and problem of the world
1t is true the rites became in time very
much corrupted and licentious, yet there
is no doubt in their earlier existence they
did great work for Egypt, work that
has more monuments standing 10 testify
to its greatness than any of the mysteries
of the ancient world.
AS the nations of antiquity have
emerged from the darkness of traditional
history, ever in the forefront OF their
progress has marched evidences of secret
societies or mysteries. Grecian history is
replete with the mysteries of secret So
cieties. The City of Rome had its tenn
L empire
spread out over the world found these
societies in its march, and others were
established among the people by the con-
querors.
There is no great principle evolved, or
any great truth found by accident, but is
and ever has been the result of earnest
search and effort of the few So when we
hear the story of Damon and Pythias we
wish to know how they became such
frin 1e bat inf Il.
when at the time they lived but little else
was thought of than self. There must have
been something to take their minds from
self, and teach them to believe there was
something higher and holier in life and
the pulsations of the human heart than
mere existence for ones self alone. The
Savior of the world had not then come to
the rescue of fallen man. The universal
brotherhood OF man was but little thought
OF, and less believed in, outside of linn
tied few. Dionysius, the then ruler and
tyrant OF Sicily, whose subjects Damon
and PythlaS were, was man who repOSed
confidence in no one, not even in the
members Of his own household. And
in the midst of all his greatness. DOS
seSsed of riches, surrounded with pleas
ures of every kind, profuse in his mag
nificent presents, daring reign of al
most forty years, yet it is said he was
never capable of making a single friend
He never tasted the JOY of loving or being
loved, nor the charms of social inter-
course and reciprocal confidence. Could
1t be expected that his subjects would
eylnce, generally, higher idea of moral
life? There was an influence which was
the prime cause of the great friendship of
Damon and Pythias, and it is found in
the Pythagorian school Of mysteries, es-
tablished by Pythagoras, and at first
known as the Italic sect. This wise and
eccentric man lived and taught over 500
years b. c., and was a native of Samos.
an island off the coast of Asia Minor. He
had an extraordinary desire for learning.
and when his teacher died so great was
his desire to know the manner OF strang-
ers and the sciences and systems of the
world, he abandoned his. country and all
he had for the sake of travelling to acquire
the knowledge. A considerable time was
spent in Egypt learning from the priests
whatever he could of the mysteries of
their religion and the knowledge they
possessed. 1t was there he learned the
teachings of the mysteries of Isis and
Osiris. Visiting the country of the Chal-
deans, he acquired the learning of the
Magi, and 1t is thought he met Ezekiel
and Daniel and improved from their les
sons from Babylon. In Arabia, Phenicia.
Judea and India he learned the lessons
taught in the secret societies, and in these
nations he collected all the scientific
knowledge of their wise men, and learned
their ideas ofa God. He was initiated into
all the mysteries OF all these nations.
1t was his ancestor, Pelasgues, who es-
tablished the famous Cabrian mysteries.
which was the prolific mother of SO MANY
others, and it is hardly to be doubted
that he became possessed of all its secrets.
All these mysteries were not only the re-
positories OF the deepest and most sacred
religious trusts, they were the source of
all ancient moral life, the schools of phil
osophy, science and literature. The
world was not ready to receive the truths
they taught, and the teaching was, there
fore, confined to select few.
Learning all there was to be learned in
these foreign lands, he returned to the