Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
The Order Originated in the District
of Columbia.
local. GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT
Some Who Are Now Prominent in
Official Position.
T n E GRAND FICE R s

T II E GRAND OFFICE RS
The biennial convention of the Supreme
Lodge and the biennial encampment of the
Uniform Rank, Knights Of Pythias. to be
held In Washington in August, are attract
ing national notice. 1t will be the greatest
assembly OF Pythian knights within the an
nails Of the organization, and promises to
draw to Washington one of the mightiest
throngs of people which the city has ever
been called upon to house. Washington Is
the birthplace Of the order.
The original meeting, when the work of
the Order OF the Knights Of Pythias was
first read, took place at the house No. 800
street. between Sth and 9th streets, the
following gentlemen being present Gas the
members of a musical association known as
the "Arion GIee Club'D: Messrs. r. A.
Champion. E. S. Kimball, d. l.. Burnett w.
H. Burnett, Roberts and Driver. Each of
these gentlemen were then and there duly
obligated by Mr.. Rathbone. and afterward
resolved themselves into individual commit
tees to obtain the names of proper persons
to form the first lodge. This meeting took
place Monday evening, February Is, 1864,
and on the following Wednesday morning
Mr. Rathbone informed Mr.. j.. T. X. Plant
OF the object of the meeting and solicited
him to join the order. Mr.. Rathbone had.
however, read the ritual to Mr.. r. A-Cham-
pion privately at his own room few even
ings previous to the above meeting.
The ritual was written by Mr.. ]. II. Rath-
bone, originally, in the town OF Eagle Har-
Dor, Houghton NOW Keewenaw) county,
Lake Superior, Mich. in the winter of 1880
and 1861.
Washington Lodges First Record.
he fire. he
Of Washington Lodge. No. 1, reads as fol-
lows:
washington. d. c., February TO- 1854
AT Temperance Hail.
Friday Evening
Upon agreement, a number OF gentlemen
subject they were called to order, and upap
motion Of Mr.. j. H. Rathbone a chairman CO
the meeting was proposed. and Mr.. j. 7. K.
Plant was unanimously called to the chair,
and d. l.. Burnett nominated as secretary.
After organizing as above, the object Of the
meeting was stated by Mr.. Rathbone to be
the organization or foundation of a society,
Its business and operations to be of secret
character. having for its ultimate object
friendship benevolence and charity. Before
proceeding further. those present were re-
afterward in the initiatory. All present
having signified their willingness to do so.
the same was administered to them, by
reading the same. by ]. H. Rathbone. After
resolved that this order be styled the
Knights OF Phythias."
On motion a committee was appointed to
prepare ritual Of opening and closing a
lodge. and OF initiation into the same The
chair appointed as said committee Brother
j. H. Rathbone, who reported a ritual
which; upon being read, was adopted. After
the adoption Of the ritual. the lodge went in
to an election for officers. with the follow
ing result:
J, II. Rathbone: w. G.; Joel R. Woodruff.
"; c; j; T. x. Plant: V. p: D. L. Burnett,
W. s.; A. Van Der veer. B.; r. A. Cham,
pion, A. B.; Geo. r. Covert, A. s. The fol-
lowing officers were appointed by the wor-
thy chancellor: NJ. H. Van Der veer wor-
and Messrs. Kimball, Roberts, d. I, Rur
nett and w. H. Burnett as choral knights
On motion, the worthy chancellor appointed
the following committee to prepare a ritual
gree, signs. etc: Messrs. Kimball, Cham
pion and w. H. Burnett, v p j. r X
Plant and w. c. j. H. Rathbone as chair
man. added Committees were then ap-
pointed to procure regalias. appliances, etc.
AT the next meeting the committee on de-
gree ritual presented a report, which was
adopted A committee was appointed to
procure seal. At the next meeting vari-
Gus applications were received for member
ship.
At subsequent meeting the lodge elected
omcers. and in addition Messrs. woodruff.
Van Der Veer and Rodrigue were elected
representatives to the Grand Lodge which
was organized on the sth of April by mem
bers Of the Washington lodge.
The Grand Lodge.
The Grand Lodge, which was organized on
the Sth of April, with j. T. X. Plant as
grand chancellor and A. Van Der veer as
grand scribe, set about forming lodges else
where. and providentially succeeded in To-
eating one at the Navy Yard known as
Franklin Lodge, No. 2. with the following
charter members:
Robert I. Middleton, venerable patriarcb.
Daniel Carrigan, worthy chancellor; Edw'
Fox, vice chancellor; Clarence NJ Rarton
scribe; James Gill. banker; Nicholas Way.
ard; Hudson Petit, outer steward: Edward
Dunn, James w. Kelly, Jasper Scott. George
Norton. ]. II. Wheeler.
The Lodge was duly instituted on the 10Th
OF april at the Anacostia engine house by
the officers Of the Grand Lodge.
The history Of this lodge needs no COM
ment. 1t is the history of the order, which
1t saved from destruction after her sistar
lodges around her had ceased to exist Ero,n
us very organization the members took q
lively interest in its welfare and determined
mat 1t should become the Excelsior Lodge
OF the order. For nearly eight months n
struggled along, the only lodge of the order
In the country; its little membership meet
Ing with rebuffs and sarcasms and. worse
tnan this, the singing sin of ingratitude
from the hands Of one who had solemn1v
sworn to maintain and defend its princi
pies
On the 10Th of May, 1864, the Grand
Lodge organized Columbia Lodge No. 2. 10
Gated at Temperance Hail; on the I'd of
June Potomac Lodge, No. 4, was also or.
gained at Temperance Hail. and afterwsrd
located tS at Island Hall on the Island; on
NE iSt OF FEBRUARY, 1866, Alexandria Lodge.
no. l, OF virginia, was organized through
tne EFFORTS of Brother John H. King of
Sta asin Looge' then engaged in the United
R ,asGs n K,ma service near Alexandra.
o Iroener sing was appointed deputy grand
chancellor OF the state of Virginia,
Inc lodges were at this time in q h.a
n imam condition. but doing as well as
'o TL os expected under the circumstances.
Inc Grand Lodge held its last session oI
me me t5th OF June, 1855. Washington Lodge
nc. NO. l, ceased holding meetings in Iuv "f
the same year, and petitioned Frant,tn
Lodge to receive the members who were in
e9od stanoihg at the dissolution of the lodge
WHICH was done a short while afferwa1d
Franklin Lodge. No. 2, upon the 1st Of
August 1865 WIS the only lodge in exist-
cree, the Grand Lodge having become De
funct. Franklin Lodge. however, exercised
all the functions of the Grand Lodge A.
[ the close of 1SG5 EroplrItx, ~