The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1894-03-08
Rev. E. w. McCorkle on Pythian-

ism.
Rev Emmett w. McCorkle of Clifton
Forge, spoke on Pythianism Tuesday
night in The lecture room of Trinity Meth
odist church to an audience made up of
the Knights of Pythias and their friends.
Mr.. McCorkle was introduced by DR.. j.
A Quarles Of. Washington and Lee. The
exercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. E. J. Prettyman and closed with
the benediction by Rev. B Ii. Dement,.
Several hymns OF the order were sung,
the music being led by the church organ
and lady members OF the church choir.
The address of Mr. McCorkle was
spirited, interesting and instructive.
For an hour he commanded the close
attention of his audience.
He began by pleasant and happy
allusiou to Lexington as the place of his
nativity. He believed! in Pythianism
because its teachings conformed so nearly
to those of the Gospel. Its secret feat
ures could be defended on the ground
that there was no body of men that had
not their secret chamber. To the OBJ
jections of the Ladies to such orders he
replied that if the members OF the
Knights of Pythias but lived up to the
principles Of the order no woman could
could fail to be conscious of its good
results.
He then told the beautiful story Of
Damon and Pythias, the authenticity
OF which is reliably proven, and upon
the principles illustrated in which the
order of Pythianisin is established. The
heroic and noble act of Pythias Offering
up his life as surety for that OF his friend
and the subsequent release when that
friend loyal to him. returns to bear his
sentence, was due, he said, to the teach
ings of the great philosopher, Pytha-
goras. He it was who searched into the
mysteries of the religions of the ancient
world and extracted therefrom and
taught the principles of friendship, char
ity and benevolence-pr principles unknown
to the Pagan, but which as taught by
him excited their wonder and admir-
alton. These were the principles OF the
Knights of Pythias of to day.
The order of Pythians was founded
thirty years ago in the city of Washing
ton by Justice H. Rathbone. 1t began
lodges and 100000 members. Among
the secret orders of the world there had
never been such record OF growth.
There must be something behind it to
give it life and power. This was found
in it's three great principles, friendship,
charity and benevolence. The order
had come into being at a time to bind
together hearts of men lately engaged in
deadly conflict
The speaker then discoursed upon the
virtues of friendship, charity and benev-
olence, and the happiness which their
exercises gives. Beautiful illustrations
! Of each were given by him from sacred
and profane history and the lessons i'm
pressed. Friendship, he said, was the
brightest thing in this world filled with
enmity Pythianism taught the one to
be true to the other, stand by him and
help him up. Charity was shown by
kind words, kind deeds and kind
thoughts; in the hand that reached for
ward to cover up the ugly scars in the life
Of fellow. Beneyolence was love; not
only wishing well, but doing well. The
men who followed it went not forth like
the knight OF old on the field of romance,
but working for men in real conditions
of this real world. A number of exam
Piles were given of men who had done it..
The great example was Christ.
On the talisman which every Knight
of Pythias wore was lily, representing
the blameIess flower of beautiful life;
sword and open Bible-a prophecy Of
triumph and victory, and field of blue,
orange and red, representing the princi-
Piles of Friendship, Charity and BeneT.
/ olenee Rock bridge Ne2ns.