The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-11
FOR THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs.
Memorial Services Conducted at the
Church of the Holy Innocents.

Snurcn Oh the HOLY InnOcentg.
The little Church Of the Holy Innocents,
at Fletcher avenue and Cedar street, was
appropriately decorated yesterday morning
in honor Of the memorial service of Center
Lodge. No. 2O6. Knights Of Pythias After
the brief preliminary exercises customary
in Episcopal churches the knights began
the service proper with the singing of
their ode, God Bless Our Knightly Band"
to the air of America" Rector F. c.
Woodland delivered the memorial sermon
beneath long streamers of orange. red and
blue. the Pythian colors The list of de-
parted knights was read, after which the
minister announced as his theme Era
ternity." He took for his text the scrip
tural words. "a brother beloved. especially
to me, but how much more unto thee?'
Mr.. Woodland said in part:
There are degrees of brotherhood found
ed upon the ties of a great fraternity.
Those ties are made more sacred coupled
with solemn obligation. This creates
community of feeling and interest which
is the real foundation of the fraternal re-
lationship. This, dear brothers. Is an age
of activity, and we need to stop a while to
think of the lessons which we ought to
learn as we pass along life's journey. This
age of activity is absorbing almost all our
efforts and energies. Old and effete ma
tons live in the memories of the past;
great and strong nations live in the
thoughts of the present; young and hopeful
nations look forward to the future. And
that is the thought which. coupled with
fraternal feeling. comes to the brotherhood
which you represent and which we repre-
sent-that of hope and expectation, and we
look forward to 1t in hope for the future.
Under the governments OF the world the
obligations which rest upon us are those
which are imposed; In our order the OBJ
legations which come to us are those
winch are voluntarily assumed; and. as
the obligations which rest upon us as citi-
Zens are helpful mutually, one to another
so the obligations which rest upon US as
brothers in the order are more helpful be-
cause they are voluntarily assumed. We
gladly fulfill the duties which are required
of us, and this morning / welcome you,
dear brothers, here in this memorial serv-
ice, and We are glad to see that this Is
Memorial Sunday, and we are glad to
again enter into and improve the oppor-
tunity or this service have had the pleas
ure and honor of addressing a number of
| cur lodges ON different memorial days. and
| IL those who hear me gain half the benefit
| that / do myself, / am sure l am well
pleased. and 1 hope this may be bene-
| every regard.
start to-day with this thought. that we
must cherish the memories OF those who
| have gone before u.s. with whom you and
have been associated in our fraternal re-
/ lationship. Cherish the memory of those
| loved brethren. You know as you think OF
/ them that they were not without their
/ faults, and they would be the very last to
| think so. They. indeed, I'm the very least
degree would claim any approach unto per-
lection, but think of them we need
TO think of them in two ways-that they
| were striving after that noble manhood for
| which our order stands. and they were also
| striving to exemplify in all sincerity the
| teachings OF our order. With these two
/ thoughts, then. we can lay hold of the
| memories of the past and bring to our
| hearts the cherished memories Of brothers
| that have gone before. and how helpful IL
| is to you and me to spread over their lives
/ TO a degree where there have been mis-
/ takes the mantle of loving charity, and TO
/ cherish in our memory, deep down seated
| there. the thought of their desire for we'll
| doing and the earnest, sterling manhood
/ of those who have gone before us.
The minister briefly discussed the origir
of the order of KNIGHTS of Pythias, dwell
| ing with pleasing emphasis on the fact
| that IL was OF American inspiration. HI
\ paid high tribute to the founder. Justus
| H. Rathbone, and said that war times
| when brother was taking up arms agains
foundation OF an order whose guiding prin
ciple is fraternity" Mr.. Woodland felici
| tated the Pythians upon their large mem
| bership, which is claimed to be
half million. He devoted some time 10 the
benevolent feature Of the lodge. saying ha
s.. 900. 900 OF benefits have been distributed
to those who have been sick and In need