The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-16
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Special Session Of the Grand Lodge Of
Maine.

Present Grand Ball in the Evening
Interesting Addresses.
A special session of the Grand Lodge of
Maine, Knights of Pythias, was called
for yesterday to entertain Supreme
Chancellor W. W. Blackwell of Kentucky.
At the forenoon session in Knights of
Pythias hall, upwards of three hundred
were present. Nearly all the grand
off GERS were in attendance. Eighty three
past chancellors were given the Grand
Lodge degree and the rest of the fore
noon was occupied by an address by the
supreme chancellor.
Among the guests from other jurisdic-
tions were S. r. Luther, l.. Tarbell, &C.
Daniel E. Deming, PIG. &C. c. Edgerson
and G.. R. S.. C. W. Cross of Massachu-
sets; &C. L. f. Norton and OK. r. S.
Horace o. Case of Connecticut; 6. G.
Horace Harmon, OK. RS. G. Spoford,
S. R. John Young, G. V. c. Frank NJ.
Bickford of New Hampshire and S. r.
Charles A. Lee of Rhode Island.
In the afternoon there was an exempli-
fication of the ritual in City hall. Bram-
hall lodge of Portland, opened and
closed the lodge. Harraseeket lodge of
Freeport, worked the first degree, Long
fellow lodge of Portland, the second
degree. and Myrtle lodge of Kennebunk,
worked the third degree.
The Evenings Gaiety.
1t seems hardly necessary to say that
the entertainment and ball at City hall
in the evening were a grand success. The
decorations of the Maine Central ball
were retained in the main, but over the
palm decked platform was the inscrip-
ton "K. OF P, Welcome, F. b." and
the lodge banner was in the rear of the
hall were the Maine Central " Station
had been. Previous to the open meeting
the Supreme Chancellor was given
reception in the Mayors room.
When the Supreme Chancellor, the in
vited guests and the grand lodge entered,
escorted by the uniformed rank, the hall
was well filled. P.S.R., Wyer Greene,
as chairman of the committee of:arrange-
ments, called the meeting to order and
introduced Presiding Grand Chancellor
Elder. VINO touched on the formation of
the order thirty years ago. He referred
in complimentary terms to the present
head Of the order, and introduced the
Supreme Chancellor, Hon.W. W. Black
we'll OF Henderson, Kentucky.
The Supreme Chancellor is good type
of the active Southerner. He is ready
and interesting speaker. BE said that he
was hardly in physical condition to
talk. having met the grand lodge during
the afternoon, but he felt the high COM
pliment of such an attendance on such a
wintry night.
From membership of five. some
thirty years ago, the order has reached a
mem bership of half a million. In the
words of the creed of the order, recognize
ing the universally of the brotherhood
of men. it is proposed to extend the or
der through the world. He spoke but
few moments and then was obliged to
give way to others, being too much
worn out to speak at length. contenting
himself with calling attention to the
beauties of the order. He asked for
those who might follow him the same
atten ton they would have under other
circumstances given to him.
R. Luther L. Tarbell, of Massachu-
setts, was the next speaker. He is bright
man, who is apt to make his. points
brightly. He said that he COULDN'T
make a speech in ten minutes, but could
do it eloauently in about an hour.
(Laughter) Perhaps it might be well for
the audience to call at the hotel and talk
it over with him. He regretted that he
was not quite we'll himself, but he would
like to know what it was that attracted
the Supreme Chancellor to Maine. When
ever in Massachusetts, we need him, he
is always In Maine. What is the attrac-
ton? CA voice" Maine water.") Not
much. He was born in Henderson,
Kentucky. (Laughter.) He said that he
was the Youngest member of the order;
only II, as he was born on the goth OF
February, day made especially Tor that
purpose. (Laughter.) The Knights OF
Pythias is grand order, the pes1 oru 1
in tine world, and the best part OF the
work is that of charity. The order looks
after the widows and the orphans
1Annlause. He made highly compli-
mentary reference to M. l.. Stevens of
Maine, and closed with an exhortatlon
to the brothers in Maine to work to add
to the mbersh;p. Out West they won't
of this order, and girl won't marry a
man unless he is one of us. Bonny ladies
make that the rule of your lives.
Laughter.) OF course I know you want
to get married, (laughter,) but don't be
in a hurry. Goa bless the Supreme
Chancellor, the order and this audience
&C. Harmon of New Hampshire. was
next introduced, and spoke earnestly OF
the value of the order When he took
the degree of page. he believed that the
jurisdiction of Maine was present, when
he received the third degree he realized
that he was there himself. When the
knights of Pythias order was formed the
country was wet with tears of war, and,
a real American order, it has done more
than all others to bring together in one
frarernal band those who wore the blue
and those who wore the gray. The
Supreme Chancellor has seen what we
have not, an ex-union and an ex-con-
federate general who left an arm each on
the field of battle walking together under
the flag we love. He spoke. earnestly of
the restraining influences Of the order,
the keeping of young feet from the paths
of sin. This restraining influence is the
srandest, noblest and truest feature of
the order This should be the induce
ment to be offered to whoever is asked to
- -. ~, n ordar The cross of the work