The herald., 1897-02-22
THE KNIGHTS OF PYTH|AS
Celebrate Their Thirty.Third
Anniversary
INTERESTING CEREMONIES
At the Service Yesterday Morning at sig
Paul's Church
The Sermon Of the Rev. !. M. MerIiniones.
The Sermon Of the Rev. !. M. MerIinIones.
The Beauties Of Brotherhood and
Benevoiencs

The observance IN tnlS city yeSteruty
Of the thirty-third anniversary of the
founding of the order of the Knights of
Pythias was appropriate and Interest
ing throughout. The arrangements were
made by Los Angeles company No. 20,
Uniform Rank, and it's energetic cap
tain, G. S. Adolph The successful issue
Is a credit to them and the order in gen.
eral. The weather was bright and sun
ny and induced many people to throny
the streets to see the gallant knights
Loyal, with Offering uniforms and
glistening swords, en- route to st. Paul's
church for the anniversary service, and
also to attend themselves.
At the hour of 10 q. m. the members
of Los Angeles company No. 25, Uniform
Rank, proceeded to the plaza, where, a
little later, they were Joined by Pasa-
dena company No. 32. The battalion
was formed in the following order,
headed by the Catalina band: Los An
geles company No. 25 Capt G. IS.
Adolph, Lieuts l.. l.. Mendell and Capen
Ellis; color bearer; Pasadena company
No. 80, Capt. T. A. Collins, Lieuts. w.
Holloway and II. j. Hardwick. Major
]. G. Scarborough of Gen. McGlashan'5
staff was in command. Rev. |. M.
Merlinjones, chaplain of the regiment,
was also in line.
There were about 100 knights Loyal
In line. and when the battalion reached
the Castle hall, at 10S North Spring
street, a larger number of members of
subordinate lodges Joined them, making
long procession. The route taken 10
the church was down Spring street to
Third, up Third to Broadway, down
Broadway to Fifth, up Fifth to Olive,
on Olive to st. Pauls. During the march
the knights Loyal made some good
evolutons and sword drill. At Castle
hall they formed in line and saluted The
major. Upon reaching the church there
Mas another salute after which the
knights Loyal opened ranks and al
lowed subordinate Knights to pass into
the church first.
The large auditorium of the church
was filled with people. The Knights
were seated In the central portion Of
the church and the band occupied
position within the chancel The usual
opening morning service of the Epis-
copal church, which was fully choral,
was then conducted by the rector. Rev.
John Gray. at the close of which he
welcomed the Knights of Pythias, say
Ing that 1t gave him great pleasure to
greet In Gods house the members of the
order and to assure them that their
presence was pleasing in the sight of
him who had made them to be brethren
one to the other, and that the world
stood in need of men who would draw
their swords for the defense of sacred
friendship and give themselves daily to
the service Of real benevolence and true
charity.
THE PYTHIAN ADDRESS.
Rev. /. M Merinjones. rector of the
Episcopal church at Santa Monica. and
chaplain of the Third regiment, U. r. of
X. r., then delivered sermon address,
his text being, Cast thy bread upon the
waters and it shall return after many
days. The subject was treated chief
ly from fraternal point, but contained
religious principle as well. The story
of Damon and Pythias was told with
eloquent words and dramatic effect A
complete hush came over the vast as
semblage during its recital, and the no.
Bile principles of brotherhood shown
must have been apprecia ted.
The preacher said in substance: These
words were by Solomon, king of Israel
person well qualified to pass Judgment
whether upon a matter of philosophy
or of experience. The words refer to
the custom of sowing seed by casting 1t
from boats into the overflowing waters
CT the Nile, or in a marshy ground.
When the waters receded the grain in
the alluvial soil sprang up. Waters"
also here expresses multitude. and i'm
plies the seemingly hopeless character
of the recipients of charity, but it shall
prove at last to have been not thrown
away. And today when celebrating
the thirty-third anniversary of the
founding of the order of knights of Pyth-
las these words, to my mind, are most
httingly appropriate as illustrating the
increase of the order and also as an ac-
acknowledgement to Almighty God that
the increase is due to his blessing on the
seed rather than to human efforts. This
naturally suggests the often repeated
accusation that fraternai societies are
antagonistic to religion. To prove the
falsity Of this accusation we have but
to point to the event of today that the
great order of the knights of Phythias
and the Rathbone Sisters. of this beauti-
full and progressing city do deliberately
signify their faith in God, also their
gratitude to him by observing the be-
ginning Of Pythian year in the house
Of God, wherein praise and prayers are
continually offered to him. AS knights
and ladies faithful to our obligations we
gather together on the Lc DIS day to
worship the Almighty Creator and to
render him the just praises and honor
due his holy name.
Then the reverend gentleman referred
to the order as being purely American,
in sentiment and in practice; that the
American language must be used in the
lodge ROOM Then he gave brief his
tory Of the order, how it originated in
Washington, ID. c., February 10, 1854
Then he graphically portrayed the story
of Damon and Pythias, which was made
the sweet song of ancient Greece and
which is immortaliZed in the permanence
of the order He then directed the at
tention Of the vast congregation to the
following points: Q) A large and liberal
benevolence is enjoined upon us. (2)
Some interesting motives to the exercise
of this benevolence. (3) We have some
reasons for diligence and constancy.
A PYTHIAN WEDDING.
After the usual offertory anthem, the
Catalina band gave good selection,
leading into the wedding march, dur
ing which the expected Pythian bridal
party entered the church and advanced
to the chancel rail, where they were met
by the Rev. I. M. Merlinjones. The
bride was Katie Folkert, most excellent
chief of Purity temple No. 2, Rathbcne
Sisters, of Los Angeles. She wore a
handsome travelling costume of brown
watered silk and was supported by her
Rathbone sisters, Mrs. Bette Nickell
Mrs. Clio Routzahn and Mrs. Katie
Kingswell. The groom was Major Sc
bern Steele of Pomona, ide-de-camp on
General McGlashan's staff, X. p, and a
member of Los Angeles Company No.
25, U. r. He = ore his regimental uni
form and was supported by Knights
Loyal l.. Stanton, B. A. Gordan and Will
Kingswell. The ushers were Captain
G. s, AdOlph and Lieutenant L. L, Mum