The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-04

Ladies, Gentlemen and Brotbers'-Itis with
the most intense pleasure that ] speak this
evening OF the origin, development and pur-
poses of an organization whose laws are
founded upon the precepts set forth for the
guidance of man when the world was In its
Infancy, ere crime had its birth and broth
erly love received its first blow at the hands
of the fratriCide Cain, and whose growth
has been constant and rapid since its origin
thirty-three years go. Dear az IL the name
OF the Order Universal and great as is the
interest felt in its work OF relief, yet is there
left spot in the hearts Of all true knights
where, carved upon an everlasting pillar OF
love and veneration, is the name Of the
founder of the order, Knights of Pytbias-
Justus III. Rathbone. This man realized
with the poet the rarity of Christian char
ity under the sun, )" and casting about for
some means OF remsdyiDg the existing con-
dition he resolv 9d to embody the beautiful
story of Damon and Pythias in benevolent
fraternity,
Many of you are doubtless familiar with
that old tale of friendship which was
stronger than death and which has stood as
an ideal for ages but perhaps it will bear
brief repetition. Damon was one OF coun-
Gil or senate during the reign of the despot
Dionysius, who was an arrogant ambitious
and unscI upulous ruler to whom history
has given the unenviable title, " Tyrant OF
Syracuse" Becoming incensed at some
trivial mistake committed by Damon, he
SolZbu inc opportunity W Sdbloly Ills CIu6l
taste for deeds of darkness and relying
upon terror and death to maintain the i'll
gotten power they had placed in his grasp,
he sentenced the noble senator to a bloody
death by the headsman's axe. True friend
ship then, as now, was "scaroe as gold and
hard to fnd," and OF all those who pro-
fessed the purest friendship for Damon
when he held an honored office but one
Pythias, was true. With him, adversely
and wrong but served to strengthen an
l.. Il. fall rAfrt col
der and a hero, more used to the arts OF
war than those of speech, his love sent him
to plead at the feet of the naughty Dionysius
with all the eloquence of trained orator.
Not for the life of his friend did the pr 1ud
warrior condescend to beg, but simply for
brief respite, that Damon might see his wife
and child before he died. they even then
were seated in their peaceful home by the
distant sea waiting and longing for the re-
turn of loved and loving husband and
father, and in the strength Of his friendship,
the noble Pythas asked as privilege to be
loaded with chains and shackles and
plunged into felon's dungeon as hostage,
there to await the return of Damon to his
death or forfeit his own life. The peculiar
ity and earnestness of his request excited
the curiosity OF the king, to whom mercy
was unknown, and the request was granted.
Damon Immediately started on his sor.
rowful mission, leaving Pythias to await
his return in a solitude which was only
DrOReu WUbu, ny OIu6I Vi DlOuyslus, lnt
fair Calanthe was admitted to beg her lover
to break his bond, escape from prison, and
fly with her to a land of safety. But, to the
surprise of Dionysius and despair of the
sorrowing Calanthe, he refused to save his
life at the expense of his honor, and the day
Of execution found him faithful to his word,
ready and even anxious to die for his friend
yet sadly confident that he would return to
redeem his pledge and to meet his doom.
Who can picture the sadness which over
Swallowed that little family when Damon
told the reason of his return home; and,
sad as must have been that meeting, how
much ssdder must have been the moment
when, with last fond look at his once
happy home, he clasped his weeping wife
and child in farewell embrace, and with
hind and unprotected, and the fear that he
would be too late, he started for Syracuse.
On he hurried with tireless energy. Noun
tains interviewed only to be surmounted;
valleys stretched before him only to be
swiftly traversed; torrents roared and
foamsd across his path; but fearlessly
plunging in he reached the opposite shore
painting and weary, and again pressed on.
At last fortune favored him; he spied a
horse, and mounting, he urged the animal
along at its greatest speed until he passed
the gates of Syracuse and entered the city
just in time to hear Pythias proclaim aloud
the fidelity and honor OF his friend and in
woke the Gods to prevent his return ere he
turned and bowed his head upon the cruel
block. The headsmans axe was on the
point Of descending when deafeniDg shout
from the populace announced the return of
Damon to maintain his honor and prevent
the sacrifice of his friend. Then was the
demon of cruelty and oppression in the
friendship and mercy, and extending par
don to Damon the king humbly begged ad.
mittance to their sacred fellowship. That is
the story OF the virtue upon which the super
structure of Pythianism is reared, and, like
that of David and Jonathan, the story of
Damon and Pythias will be treasured in
the hearts of the people long after the his
tories of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Ma
poleon, and other mighty men OF war shall
have been forgotten
February 10, 1854, witnessed the origin Of
the Order, Knights Of Pythias, in Temper
ance Hall at Washington, d. c., when
Washington Lodge, No. /, was organized.
For a time its growth was slow; the country
was plunged in the gloom and horror Of q
civil war-if such a war be possible War
was the all-engrossing theme, and the death
of fOeman was much more eagerly sought
for than the succor of a friend in need. On
many Southern battlefield the blood OF q
father in confederate gray was mingling
with the blood of son in federal blue.
The sod, torn and Scared by the emissaries
of death, sheltered many a soldier laddie
slain by one in whose veins ran the same
blood as that which he 30 ruthlessly shed (;
the tears OF the widowed, childless and
fatherless were flooding land from whence
all sembance of fraternsl love had van
ished with shuddering horror at the scenes
enacted under the influence OF mans I'M
bridled passions. Then came the down
fall of the South, and the seed which, sowed
in the bosom Of man ages ago yet kept in
allegiance by the chilling and REFRESHING in
fuence Of mans inhumanity to man."
took root in the soil so richly prepared for
its reception by the ravages OF war, and,
wet with the tears Of a sorrowing nation
and warmed by the suns of peace and lib
erty, it has blossomed into glorious evil
dence Of the advance OF Christian benevo-
lence, and Notwithstanding the difficulties
which beset its birth. the order has spread
from city to city, and from state to state, un-
til to-day it numbers full GOO, 900 true knights.
Pythianism does not descend to petty dis
elimination as to creed or nationality, but
it recognizes the existence OF Supreme
Being and requires the exercise of truly
Christian spirit. 1t prescribes no mans
political conceptions, but commands him to
ha 10 10