Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-27
DELAWARE PYTHIANS MEET
ThIrtieth Session of the Grand
Convention OF Delaware.
ADDRESS OF GRAND CHANCELLOR
A Gain of Membership During
the Past Year.
Every Evening, yesterday.

Every evening, yesterday.
The 30th annual convention Of tho
Grand Lodge of Delaware, Knights Of
Pythias, is being hold today at knights
OF Pythias Hail. Seventh and King
streets. A goodly number of delegates
attended the morning session, which
was presided over by Grand Chancellor
Owen W. Everett. The Grand Chan
celior, in his opening address, said !:
we meet today under suspicious
circumstances. The membership il
working together in perfect harmony,
and review of the report of the grand
keeper of records and seal will show
you that despite the fact that so many
q our young men have gone into the
Held to uphold our country in Its noble
defence of the oppressed, Delaware
again takes its proper place as one of
tne grand domains which show an
increase in membership. May hope
that our present convention may tend
to increase the interest in the order
and that the legislation offered will be
considered with the careful Thought
worthy OF so noble a cause. X,
"On November 18th, 1897, received
the following letter from the Supreme
Chancellor, which explains itself.
=, hastings, Mich, Nov. 10th, 1897. -
From various communications you are
familiar with the fact that an earnest
effort is being made to erect suitable
monument to Justus Fl. Rathbone, the
founder OF our order. To this end the
Supreme Lodge, through its legisla-
Zion, has appointed committee on
design and another committee on Rath-
bone Monument Fund. These com
mittees have had several meetings and
are n1W raudu tn txr O o,,1 x.,s4l 4
work, providing suitable funds are
guaranteed. We are restricted nv
legislation of the Supreme Lodge in
commencing this monument until
$4,000 has been raised. At the
present time less than $1,000 has been
realized, although an earnest effort has
been made in every domain to solicit
subscriptions for this fund. Not many
weeks ago l stood at the unmarked
grave of our founder, in the cemetery
at Utica, New York. The local lodges
OF Utica have erected flag staff, and
on national holidays and special occa-
sions keep the American flag to the
breeze. This is the only monument
that tells the resting place of him who
breathed the breath of life into
americas greatest civic society. From
different domains come appeals for
various objects, but thus far have
unhesitatingly refused announcement
70 them until the order has done its
, duty by its founder. The committee
On design has had two meetings. At
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire, on the
10th OF last month, there were sub
mitted to the committee designs by
some of the most famous sculptors OF
America. From models, plans and
specifications we are able to procure a
very suitable monument for 80, 900,
but a. much better, and one more
creditable to the order at AN expense
, OF Sl2. 900. This matter must be settled
fhnd determined before the first Of
SANITARY next as to the amount we
shall be able to expend 10 this project.
will you not at once send circular to
each lodge within your domain asking
item to contribute go for this most
worthy oFhet?
FaithfEaF and fraternaIly yours,
HoI Philip T. Colgrove,
Supreme Chancellor. ~
Chancellor Everett reported that he
had sent letters as desired to the
several lodges, and remittances were
received amounting to 1923. being 70
rom each lodge except from one,
which contributed 81.
-, SnuuCbllOT EIVeTGtG re-
ported: II regret very much to be
compelled to report to you that Friend
ship Lodge, No. 81, of Wilmington, is
practically defunct, not having been
able to get a quorum or to hold
meeting since March 25th last. Upon
the urgent request of some Of the mem
bers who had strong hopes of resusci-
tating the lodge, have refrained from
taking any arbitrary steps in the
matter, especially in view Of the fact
that the paraphernalia of the lodge
was practically in possession of tRe
Grand Lodge and that vote of this
grand body was necessary to revoke Its
charter. The Chancellor Commander
who was elected in January has left the
city as well as the Vice Chancellor,
and since March 25th, the lodge has
made no attempt to hold any meetings,
having notified Wilmington Company,
No. ], in whose armory their meetings
we're held and their paraphernalia now
: is, that they desired their rent to cease
from that date. In view Of the above
facts, would recommend that the
proper steps be taken to secure the
revocation of the charter of this lodge
- would suggest and recommend
that the order of business of subordi-
nate lodges be amended by making the
first order of business the display Of
the American flag.
Having had the honor and pleasure
. Of being high private in the
Uniform Rank for number Of years,
wish to say to you that, in nv
humble opinion, this branch of our
order is not being duly appreciated in
our domain. This is not only a branch
of the order. in which knights are
bound together by, if possible, higher
and stronger ties Of hohor and purity,
but it is branch of the order which
especially attracts and keeps up the
interest Of the younger members.
!, 1t is the branch through which we
ale most especially brought attention.
1t is, ii may be allowed to use the
expression, cur advertising branch,
and as these days of strong competition
OF things good and not so good, even
the best of good things cannot succeed
as they deserve, unless they are
brought to public notice, / believe
that ii we desire to keep proper pace
with kindred organizations, we should
devote more attention to the Uniform
| Rank. Instead Of one company Of 10
mer,l rs, we should have at least four
IL mis- domain.
"Among the many suggestions which
Phave been advanced as to how best TO
hold our membership intact, l would
recommend that our members should \
be induced to place their life in
surance in the endowment rank, a
most important coordinate branch of
fhe order, and thus have double
f.xA a =.