The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-06-21
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Delivered Before Paint Lodge Knights
Of Pythias, at Hulitt's Gene
terry, by H. L. Dickey.

q
Knights, Esq,nres, Pages and Friends:
About $50 years before the Christian |
era there was founded in the city of |
Croton, in Southern Italy, fraternal
order known as the Pythagoreans. 1t
was a secret order and its members
were bound by vow.
The incident to which am about to
refer occurred about $50 years later,
and singular fact is that that canon
of the Jewish bible had been closed
and the new testament was not writ
ten until long afterward.
The city of Syracuse was situated
upon the most beautiful and fertile
island of the Mediterranean Sea, and
Damon and Pythias, citizens of that
city, were members of the order OF
Pythagoreans. Damon, having been
condemned to death by the ruler OF
the city, begged that he might be
granted a respite of few hours, in
which to go to his home, bid farewell
to his family, arrange his worldly af-
fairs, and return to be executed.
Pythias, his friend, pledged his own
life and voluntarily surrendered him
self as prisoner, to die in the place OF
Damon if he failed to return by the
hour fixed. Dionysius, the ruler, con-
sented, and Damon returned just in
time to save Pythias from death. This
noble example of friendship so affected
the tyrant that he pardoned Damon,
and sought to be admitted into their
sacred fellowship.
Upon this very briefly stated histori-
cal incident is founded the order of
knights of Pythias; and though it de-
rives it's name from these ancients, 1
think 1 betray no confidence when l
say that the philosophy of the Pytha
gorean school is not the philosophy of
the modern knights of Pythias-yet
in ethical teaching there are many
points of close resemblance.
Of many things which belong to the
inner circle of the order, l may not
speak in public; yet there are some
things that may be said in connection
with these solemn ceremonies, which
if correctly understood, can not fail to
awaken a feeling of kind interest
toward our order, and aid in dispelling
any lingering unfriendliness that may
exist, if our motives are understood
and fairly interpreted.
Some will see us and hear us to. day
who are curious to know many things
which we can. not tell them-but will
say to them that within the principles
and doctrines of Pythianism nothing
that is not morally pure and elevating
in its character can be found.
AS death is said to be the door of
hope to the pure in heart and the up
right in spirit, so belief in the Su-
preme Ruler of the universe. accompa-
MED with good moral character,
opens the doors of our Order-nor are
they closed to any on account of doc
trinal views created by mere human
reasoning, so long as they recognize
responsibility to Supreme Being, for
as we interpret this belief, it carries
with it belief in the immortality OF
the soul.
We do not assume to be church
nor a party, nor a state. Nor do we
deal in the many perplexing theologi
cal questions which serve to create
sects and divisions among mentor al
who come with US are free to entertain
unquestioned, their conscientious views
upon religious and political questions
Thus upon high plane of universe
brotherhood, free from the jars, con
fusions and descriptions that so otter
serve to unsettle the confidence ant
faith of men, we stand in quiet con
tent, undisturbed and unshaken.
Individual opinion is free within oul
gates, so far as church and state affairs
are concerned, and in this grand ele
ment of freedom we think we find anG
enjoy superior beauty that enlarge'
the best qualities of the heart an(
broadens the mind. No party cree(
ever crosses our threshold, or can abide
within our castle hall. No system O.
faith, save that of unbelief in a Su
preme Ruler to whom all must finall!
answer, will bar a fellow creature
from the rites of our order.
If there is any place short of th'
grave where man can be free from tn
conflicts of life, where perfect rest from
the strife of the world is found, wher
with visor up new light beams from
face to face, unsullied and undarkenet
by the frowns and wrinkles of care, i
is within the gates of the castle hall o
the Knights of Pythias.
This would seem very broad, know
but where can be found words, pertain
ing to the mere worldly conduct o
men, of deeper significance and broade
meaning than = Friendship, Charity