The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-03
KNIGHTS OF pYTHIAs.

| The convention of the Supreme Lodge.
Knights ofPythias which was held in
indianapolis during the past week, was
a secidedly stormy one, as the tele-
| graph dispatches which The News
printed from day to day indicated, and
1t is not necessary to go into the de-
tails of repeating them, but the matter
|, OF checking the enormous falling off of
membership Is matter which receiv-
ed very little attention, il would seem,
considering what was expected in this
respect from a statement made by
the supreme chancellor previous to the
motions and IL is thought that the
measure adopted by the convention will
have only very slight effect Said the
supreme chancellor We must have
some legislation that will put a stop To
the great falling off I'm our membership
caused by suspensions on account of
non-p payment Of dues. All of the or
ganizations connected with the Knights
OF Knights OF Pythias has lost all told
on account of 1t. How TO stop il is the
question. Since it's inception the Order
OF knights of Pythias has lost oil told
350,000 members. If we had retained this
membership we would have today the
largest membership of the secret Or
ders In America, while today we rank
third. the Odd Fellows ranking first
with their $4,000 members, and the Ma-
sons second with their 700 900 members
while our membership as l said, is 50O.-
600. Notwithstanding the losses in the
aggregate, our Order has gained stead
lily every year over the preceding year. |
Between Dec. 81, 1897, and June 30, 1898.
we gained 9.S41 members, and i'm the
last two years we have gained 1000 |
members. We have forged ahead |
through the hard times and the organ |
ization Is now In Its most prosperous |
Next Monday evening the advisory !
board Of the Grand Lodge will meet in
the Office Of TIE latter and good atten- |
dance Is desired.
The Past Chancellor Association OF |
Rhode Island held a meeting In st. Johns
lodge hall Thursday evening. 80
There was good attendance, but
no business of special nature was
Grand Chancellor Frederick
T.. Phillips was present and addressed
the members and his remarks were re-
ceiyed with applause. There was
served by the social committee
and a general good time was enjoyed
Until late hour.
Unofficial information has been re-
,eived at the Office OF the grand lodge,
hat the decision of the supreme tri-
,unal and the r. l. grand lodges. is
sustained I'm the case of Narragansett
odge, ~. 3.
Members who received one OF the cir
ulars. announcing the date OF the off,
ial yisitations of Grand Chancellor |
Il. Phillips. were impressed by
Is patriotic tone. and that II Will meet |
nth ready response by the members
I the order who are asked to attend
he visitations. is the hope OF all those
no take true Fythian interest I'm the
'elfare OF their lodges. The circular,
gned by Grand Chancellor Frederick ,
/. Phillips. Is az follows:
o officers and Members OF all Subor-
dinate Lodges:
I'm announcing to you the dates upon |
hch the remaining visitations are to ,
made. desire to express my CRATE
II appreciation of the efforts made to =
en- the tide OF uspensions. and to up-
lid the order numerically and other
Use. :.
I regret being compelled 10 announce y
still further loss I'm membership dur
z the term ending June 30. 1898 but
n happy. TO say the percentage is 7,
aning.
with the advent OF the whitc-winged
essenger Peace that longed- FOR
40 essential TO the comfort
N success OF every nation. order.
lge. home and individual. has opened
g doors OF prosperity to Pythianism
: glorious and triumphant future.
has also opened up opportunities for M
marvellous growth. prompted by pure
patriotic impulses and sentiment I'm
half OF American institutions.
With the dissolution OF the great ar 1 N
OF volunteers Of the United States,