Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-02-23
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
Impressive Ceremonies and an
Able Address.

Inc puollc memorial service helu
in this city last Sunday evening at
the Knights of Pythias hall were
very impressive. The hall was
filled to its utmost capacity by
visiting knights and townspeoplo.
The music, both vocal and in
strumental was superb. DR.. B. F.
Fortner, chancellor commander of
Phialphian Lodge, No. IA, X. p,
delivered the following eulogy on
the life and character of DR.. Sam
uel ]. Thompson, the deceased
brother in honor of whose memory
the services were held:
THE ADDRESS:
FELLOW KNIGHTS AND FELLOW
CITlzENs:-Tnis is the anniversary
Of the order of the Knights of Pyth.
las, a society, which, unlike free
masonry and odd fellowship, is
comparatively young, and quite
recent in this country. 1t has
been in existence twenty-nine years
and numbers thousands. The foun-
dation principle of this, as of most
secret orders, is friendship, word
of momentous import. Christ
said, "Ye are my friends if ye do
whatsoever | command you"
This is pre-eminently an age of
secret societies, because an age
wherein the people of our world are
becoming acquainted with, and
profoundly interested in each
other. Railroads and ship lines,
by enlarging and extending our
commercial relations, have like
wise broadened US socially. This
more. extensive and intimate asso-
citation is rapidly creating a uni
versal bond OF sympathy which
finds its expression in secret or
ganizations, church extension, and
lite insurance. The relation which
these societies sustain to the
church of Christ has long been to
non participants an Interesting
question. Some ministers of the
Gospel have looked upon them with
degree of suspicion, and the Pope
of Rome has within the last ten
years ordered the priesthood to
resort to extrem9 measures to
stamp out free masonry, which he
says denies the divinity of Christ.
Such charges need. no refutation.
II is a fact which state for the
comfort Of christians, that Christ,
the Lord, is the power that moves
in all of them. 1t Is the provi-
dence of God which through Sc.
cret orders amplifies and puts into
practical operation the tenets OF
his religion as taught from the pull
pit; and by their instrumentality
together with his church shall be
spread the gospel of peace through
out the world. Here in this Pyth.
ian lodge, or yonder in that lodge
Of Odd Fellows or Masons nothing
is taught which you may not hear
from the pulpit. Religion teach.
es it; we demand its practice. The
abstract principle -of friendship
is there taught, but Pythianism
seeks to place men in relations
which enforce the practice of this
virtue. Such practice makes me n
better. These organizations lead
into the church-are 90 many
channels through which men march
heayenward.
1t is the custom OF lodges
to make merry on their an
niversary. We can not. True, we
as lodge have much that might
make US feel joyous and happy,
and ordinarily this occasion would
be one for expression Of il, were it
pot that we have a vacant chair,
made so by the sickle of death.
Our esteemed brother knight, Sam
uel j. Thompson, has laid down
his helmet and surrendered his
sword TO the universal con queror.
He was born in 1857, received the
rank Of knight in this lodge, Aug.
8, 1892, and departed this lile
Nov. 8, 1892.
/ hope | shall be excused for
a personal reference. Early in the