The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-12-01
PYTHIANS BANQUET.
The Noble Principles of the Order Exem-
plifed by Owosso Lodge.

plihed by Owosso Lodge
On Tuesday evening at Knights OF
Pythias Castle Hall, of OwOsso Lodge, No
81, occurred the second annual special con-
vocation for the purpose of exemplifying
thu work of the Rank of Knight, the uni.
formed staff comforting it upon four es-
qures. The evening was also the occasion
of a banquet and literary programme at the
''Hotel DE Patterson"
Invitations sent 10 sister lodges were re-
spOnded to by the attendance of members
from ten cities and when the lodge was
called to order by Chancellor Commander j
III. Robbins Jr., over 100 knights were in
the hall. The opening ode was sung by
every member present and il sent q thrill
through the breast that warmed the knight
ly heart within and which, continuing
through the evening, made the occasion one
that will ever make brighter the lives of the
Damon and Pythias brothers in attendance.
After the opening of the lodge, the pres
ence of Grand Chancellor of Michigan Reyn-
Odds, of Saginaw. and Grand Keeper of
Records and Seals Hopkins, of Lansing,
was made known, and they were received
with Pythian honors.
The uniformed staff working together for
the first time, conferred the degrees in an
unusually fine manner, receiving high
compliment from the Grand Chancellor and
other visitors.
After the degree work and closing cere-
monies the lodge adjourned to the hotel and
there, by twOs, to the beautiful strains of a
MendelshOn march, by the OwOsso string
band, entered the dining room. Here
Knight A. ID. Patterson had spread tables
with dainty delicacies fit for Knights, and
to which they did justice in proper man.
ner. Charles Gibson, the harpist, stationed
at the west end of the hall, alternated with
the string band in furnishing the music,
and the friendly rivalry of the banqueters in
east and west parts of the room, served to
bring out the finest work of the musicians
After forty minutes of feasting and happy
conversation, Knight Bumps, as toast
master, called attention to the literary pro-
gram. He stated that the occasion was an
suspicious one because four more had been
added to the grand army of knights, and
also that it was time when all could Guilt
yate and exemplify the grand principle
which was the bed rock of the order
friendship-and form ties which had and
would disarm tyrants. They had gathered
to participate i'm the pleasure of extending
knightly cOurtesies. The beautiful charac-
teristic of Pythianism was that those lnder
ITS banner were one and delighted i'm deeds
of chivalry, but unlike the old Knights, also
i'm deeds of charity. He extended welcome
to the visitors and called upon Grand Chan
celOr Reynolds to respond to 1.-THE Knights
of Pythias of the World"
Mr.. Reynolds said he was glad to renew
his acquaintance with Owosso lodge and see
so many new faces and also glad to see so
many smiling visitors doing the same thing.
The Order he stated, was scarcely SO
years Old having been started in the capitol
city of the grandest nation and country on
earth on February 10. 1864. The ritual
written by an American school teacher,
whom he believed received an inspiration
from the Great Ruler. Friendship, Charity
and Benevolence were the foundation prin-
ciple of all societies but in none was it
better exemplifed than in Pythiansm.
The first lodge started in 1864, the order
now dotted the islands of the sea, the Euro
pean countries, British America and in
every state and section of the Union had
unfurled its flag. The supreme lodge had
been organized in 1868 with five grand
Jurisdictions, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland and District of Colum-
bia. There were now so grand Jurisdictions
with 500 subordinate lodges and 500, 900
members. In Michigan the increase was
from 1875 in 1878 to 10000 i'm 1898. The
uniformed rank outnumbered the United
States army and was superior 10 1t in drill.
Past Chancellor Billiard i'm speaking OF
the Rank of Esquire" said it was the