The record-union., 1892-01-09

the long, dark story of selfishness the
world has been writing with its blood
I The Christian of to-day. no less than
/ the heather of that olden time, is moved
TO admiration and stimulated to emula-
ton by its recital. 1t is a story that be-
longs to no age nor cline, but to human.
ity, ever and always. And there is rea-
son that this should be so. The men who,
in the long run have governed the world
have been those who knew the human
heart, those who caught the sound of its
beating, and marched in their life jour
ney TO Its time and tune. These were
the Kind OF men Damon and PythiaS
We're. While they never wore the purple
robes of royalty, yet they were of the
royal household of humanity. Crowns
We're their birthright; their heritage an
empire, not over houses and lands, but
over lives. 1t is the inner acts OF man
and not slaughtered millions, nor bound
less wealth, which is the true measure of
| lie; the Kindness that prompts to deeds
of mercy; the benevolence that
takes form in charity; and. above all,
the spirit of true love resident in man,
that has sent him forth into the world
messenger of good tidings, Gods almoner
| OF peace. These are the things that make
up life. Here is the secret of the influ-
ence this friendship has had, and is hav-
ing to-day. 1t is because it realizes the
ideal of true life, because it is in accord
with the spirit of the perfect age, of which
every mans heart has a prophesy and
causes him TO recognize kinin whatever
is like it.
The founders of our order, deeply
moved themselves by this simple story.
thought they saw in it the lesson that
would teach men their hottest duties. and
join heart to heart in firmest bonds of
friendship. They told the story, and be-
sought men to join with them and try to
emulate the undying devotion of these
Immortal heroes. And as a result, to-
night, as we are gathered here in this
beautiful Pythian Castle, dedicated TO
Friendship, Charity and Benevolence,,
nearly half million of Gods freemen>
who have been created Knights will meet
around our affairs, where they will own
they are bound to be faithful and true,
even till their hearts are frozen into ST. ;
lence. And remembering, also, as they)
assemble In the various loGgerooms in
every State of our Union, that obedience
To law and loyalty to government are
among the cardinal principles of Pythian)
knighthood, and calling to mind that our
loved order had its birth at time when
war was in the heart of man and sor-
row in his home; when from ocean to
ocean, and from lakes to gulf, this glori-
Gus Republic was engaged in scenes of
war, carnage and death, and the
result of disloyalty to the Govern
ment, and they, this half million
brave men, and it will matter not on
which side they fought, they will all feel
that pride OF patriotism for the govern
ment under which they now live that is
felt only by the man who loves his coun-
try next to his God. No man can be a
true knight without being better man,
more exemplary citizen, and have a
greater reverence for his country, its
laws and institutions than he otherwise
would.
This beautiful temple dedicated to
Pythian uses, like the castles built by the
knights OF chivalry in feudal days, will
in time be no longer fit for the abode or
even rendezvous OF our gallant knights. +
1t will crumble and decay, and the place
where it now so majestically rears it's
proportions, bearing to the breeze the tri-
colored banner of Pythianism, will be
known no more as an abiding place of a.
temple made sacred by being dedicated,
not only In theory but i'll practice, to the.
grandest principles ever evolved for the
regulation of human conduct, or will
give place to more gorgeous structure.
But the principles of FythianiSm willr
never die.
If knight is not gallant toward the
ladies he is nothing. But to the shame of,
our order be it said the ladies' begged for
years and years to be allowed to help us
in our tr9ternal work before thew were
recognized; but at last this feeling of gal
lantry would not down, and as result
we were compelled to give them recogni-
ton as an order. The first lodge of the
Pythian Sisterhood was instituted on
February q, 1888, at Concord, n. H.
The sisterhood is composed OF the wives
and daughters of Knights. I regret L
am not sufficiently informed as to the
strength or workings of this branch or
auxiliary to our order to speak of 1t ex--
tendedly. as / am not a member. / do,
5,e,Ts,%
because / am one of those who believe
there is no influence exerted upon man
kind so potent for good as that of woman.
While woman's love ever has been and is
now the bulwark of religion, it is also
the inspiration OF chivalry. Our wives
and daughters should be enlisted heart
and hand in the duties we enjoin, and
which their hands can perform with
more natural grace than we can ever
hope to acquire. The principles of our
order are so closely allied TO woman's
real nature that she is as much needed to
complete our work as when created for
mans happiness. The purest ray from
the throne of God falling upon man to
bless him, is the friendship of good and
true woman.
And now, brother Knights, let it be
your aim to so live, exemplifying in your
daily lives the lessons you have received
aud the principles taught by this order,
that year by year Pythianism in this city
may become more honored, and reaches
that place in the hearts of the people it ia
so grandly destined to fill, and until
every good and true man shall be found
knocking at your portals for admission.
AS the people of this Republic have
solved the problem of human liberty
and have elucidated the theory of mans
capability for self-government, so have
we as fraternity, peculiarly American
in its origin, developed the grand princi->
pie of Friendship, and with its golden
cords bound mems hearts closer than
ever before since the days of Damon and
Pythias.
And now, in conclusion, to you who
have been taught the beautiful lessons Of
friendship, and having seen how easily
man may be led into error, have learned
therefrom the great lesson of caution, YOU
who have climbed the emblematic steps
of this order and passed successfully tho
ordeal by which the bravery of all true
knights must be tested, ask in the name
of all you have seen, heard and endured:'
in the name of the widows and orphans
of our deceased brothers, and in the name
of all you are or hope to be in this life,
to bear in mind that the type of friend
ship which our PythianiSm enioins is a
friendship faithful unto death, which
fights no battles of despoliation, shrinks
at no sacrifice and surrenders to no adj
yersity.
SAN FIR ANFrTSCN GTnCK CAFES