The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-19

81 The memorial sermon was by Rev.
N. S. Thomas. rector OF st. Matthew's
church, who took as his text Proverbs
1894, He TINT maketh many friends
doeth 1t to his own destruction" "but
( there is a Friend that sticketh closer
than 4 brother"
The speaker outlined the purpose Of
the. gathering, which was to worship
md to memoriGliZc the dead OF the or
der. not as individuals with Il common
purpose. but as corporate body sworn
to common allegiance and the welfare
OF humanity.
The knights come to this service
wearing the uniform Of soldiers and
bearing the arms Of ancient knight
hood and banners gorgeous with the
emblems of the order What mean
these accoutrements? The literature Of
the order tells that they are symbols,
constant reminders OF truths not to be
forgotten.
The military equipment typincs life
of strife between right and wrong and
good and evil. These are symbols Of
warfare, but not against principallties
and powers. but warfare which con-
quers as Telemachus conquered, by
brotherly love. lE
Your banners are not like the Ro-
man eagle. typical of tyranny; nor like
the Turkish star and crescent, symbols
OF cruelty; nor like the French tri-color.
emblems OF raplne, pillase and slaugh-
T ter-hut they are an emblem Of peace
The blue. heavenly color stands for 10y
atty, not to the usurper or despot, but
to friendship, charity and henevolence.
The yellow, as OF the rlpcninB corn,
typifles the constancy Of the patriot.
filled with high purpose The red means
masnanimity. great soulncss. which in
sists that love Is better than hate, that
humanity is nobler than pride. that SER
Vice Is more royal than sovereignty.
The Pythian banner bears various de-
vices, showing the successive ranks OF
page, esquire and knight. This Is a
lesson OF growth and education, and
shows that perfection Is not gained In
n moment. The motto "Derigo." or II
guide or direct" Is n lesson Of self
conquest, otherwise we are blind guides.
But most important Of the devices on
the Pythian banner are those symbol
cal of Friendship. Charity and Benevo-
lencc.
Does PythIap l1nlghthood serve Its
purpose to you? When you don your
armor Is II n symbol OF the whole armor
OF God. whereby you fight not against
flesh and blood and princlpnllties, but
the w!les Of satan. or IS It Il mere play
thing? II 4 plaything. send It to the
nursery.
The Pythinn organization Is n proud
body and rightfully so. But why? Is
II because yours Is the only fraternal
organization chartered by act Of Con-
gress. or because OF your large and
growing membership? Or because of
the magnincence OF your display? Or,
rather. Is not that your aims are lofty;
your members God-fcaring men. striv-
Ing to realize those aims? This is n
practical question.
Another practical question Is how live
ye by your wntchwords? Here they are.
Friendship. Charity. Denevolencc.
Your benevolcnce Is easy to estimate
+ by reference to fraternnl statistics. Not
so with Friendship and Charity. These
can be measured only by tho stntiati-
clans Of heaven.
Take Friendship. your Keystone. For
this you go to your prototypes. Damon
md Pythias. Cicero and the other an
Client writer's practically agree on tho
story. which Is certainly beautiful H.
lustration. Continuing. the speaker
gave partial analysis OF Ciccros cs-
say on Friendship. In the course OF
which he said Friendship In only for
the virtuous: there can be no friend
chip without virtue" There must be