The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-19
HOW X. OF P. ORIGINATED
THE BIG SOCIETY IDEA BROACHED
AT GLEE CLUB MEETING.
Important Questions to Come Before
the Supreme Lodge for Settle-
ment Next Week.


which is to hold its biennial encampment
and Supreme Lodge meeting in this city
next week. is a comparatively new order.
having been organized during the, civil war.
For the souvenir book. which is to be dis
tributed next week. Mr.. Frank Bowers, sec
rotary of the citizens executive commit
tee, prepared an elaborate history of the
order. From the advance sheets of this
publication. now in the hands of w B. Bur
ford for publication, the following excerpt
is taken:
ITO Justus II. Rathbone belongs the
honor of founding the Order of Knights CT
Pythias. While engaged as teacher in the
schools, of the copper mining district, near
Eagle Harbor. Keweenaw county, Michi-
gan, in the winter of 1S57-5S. he assisted in
forming dramatic and literary club, and
as director and manager. selected, among
other plays that known as Damon and
Pythias; and during the long winter even
the idea of forming a secret society with
friendship as the cornerstone. He at once
began the preparation of a ritual, which
was rewritten and completed about year
later.
Soon after the beginning of the civil war
of 1876 Rathbone located in Germantown,
Pa, and while there enlisted in the federal
army. and was ordered to Washington, ID.
c., for duty in the medical department.
During his brief sojourn in Germantown
he formed the acquaintance of Robert A.
Champion, chief steward of the United
States Hospital, and to him he made known
his desire to at some time form secret So
ciety, and read him the ritual. Mr.. Cham
pion was greatly pleased with the PROPOSE
tion and the two agreed that when they
should find a hitting opportunity they would
knights of Pythias.' Time passed on, and
during the excitement incident to the war
meantime Rathbone and Champion had
formed a vocal society called the 'Arion
Glee Club including William H. Burnett
T.. n
Department; DR.. Edward S. Kimball a
clerk in the surgeon generals office; Charles
Treasury Department These men had fine
voices and were much sought after in nusi-
cal society.
ing of tho Arion Glee Club was held in the
room of Robert A: Champion old number
1863 F street. northwest, near Ninth At
this meeting Mr. Rathbone produced small
Bible and all were obligated not to reveal
any part or portion Of the ritual he had
resolved that each member should invite
some friend to join them in the formation
of the new. order. Friday evening, Feb. 10,
vas the time, and the clubroom, on the
lower floor of Temperance Hall building
(now known as Marinis HalD, on E street.
place agreed upon for the next meeting.
At the appointed hour the meeting was
called to order, the following, gentlemen be-
ing present: Justus H. Rathbone, David L.
Burnett, Robert A. Champion, William H.
Burnett. Edward s. Kimbail. Joel r. Wood
ruff 4. Van Derveer, George R; overt. 4.
show that ]. T. K. Plant presided and
David l.: Burnett acted as secretary. The
object of the meeting was stated by Mr..
Rathbone to be the organization or founda-
ton of a society its business and opera
tions to be of secret character, having for
and charity Before proceeding further
those present were requested to subscribe
to an oath Qaid down afterward in the in
itiatory work.. All present having signified
their willingness to do so. the same was
read to them by, Mr.. J; H. Rathbone. After
resolved that this order be styled the
knights of Pythias.'
"A committee was appointed to prepare a
ritual of opening and closing a lodge. j.
II. Rathbone was appointed, and reported a
ritual which upon being read, was adopted
The election of officers then followed, and
they entered upon the discharge Of the
duties of their respective offices without
formal installation. The officers were: j.
H. Rathbone, worthy chancellor: Joel r.
venerable patriarch; D. l.. Burnett, worthy
scribe; A. Van Derveer banker; r. A
vert. assistant scribe. The worthy chancel-
Tor appointed M. H. Van Derveer worthy
guide. A. Roderique inside steward, and as
choral knights Kimball. Roberts. D. L.
and w. H. Burnett Thus Washington
Lodge, No. l. was organized.
Franklin Lodge, No. q of the District of
to it is due the credit of the life of the
order to-day. Aug. H. 1865. No. was the
only lOQge III existence. dltnOugn TOUR ndQ
been instituted in the District of Columbia
a Grand Lodge had been formed April g..
1860, but this had also become defunct
Franklin Lodge still lived and also exer-
cised authority as a Grand Lodge May /.
1866, Franklin Lodge, No. 2. and Mount
Vernon Lodge. No. 5. of the District of CO.
lumbia, were in existence. and they reor-
ganiZed the Grand Lodge. Dec. 81. 1866, four
lcdges-Franklin, No. 2. Mount Vernon, No.
5. Liberty, No. and Webster, No. 7-all To-
Gated in Washington. were active, with a
total membership of 1873.
From the Grand Lodge of the District
Supreme Lodge and the Grand Lodge per-
formed the double duty of issuing charters
to subordinate lodges and exercising super
vision over them until sufficient number
had been organized in each State to form a
Grand Lodge of their own.
THE order had made rapid progress dur
ing the years 1867 and 1868, and, by virtue
of the power vested in itself by itself, the
Provisional Supreme Lodge had granted
charters to grand lodges which had been
formed in the States of Pennsylvania, New
ton was adopted by the Provisional SUI
preme Lodge on April IA, 1869. to establish
a supreme lodge, and on May 10. 1868. dele
gates chosen by each of the four Grand
Lodges met in Philadelphia Pa, for the
purpose of perfectng a plan for organizing
the Supreme Lodge The plans adopted
were approved by the several grand lodges.
and on the morning of Aug. II, 1868. the
first session of the Supreme Lodge knights
of Pythas of the World held in the city
of Washington, d. c.
UNIFORM RANK QUESTIONS.