Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-07-06
K. P. Memorial Sermon,

Their Knights of Pythias at tended the
[ Methodist Episcopal church in a body on
Sunday morning and the Rev. John T..
B. Smith preached the memorial SER
mon. OF which the following is part.
The Grand Chancellor in his report
says: "Well may we rejoice because Of
the present prospe rity OF our order, we'll
may we think with satisfaction and
pride OF the many seeds Of kindr.ess sown
which are now blooming and living
amidst the smiles of Almighty God.
Well may we strive and labor to fulfil
our mission upon earth, which we claim
Is that OF love-
What is the origin OF such all order,
which gives such high and blessed con-
ception OF life. and helps to create such
splendid specimens OF humanity; that
speaks OF God Almighty. that makes
the Bible an integral part. an in dispen-
sible part, that asks OF its members, con-
scientions living and benevolent SELF
sacrificing doing? Is 1T too much to
claim that it's author was guided by
that same Almighty who seems to per-
wade and to control the most sacred
parts Of the ritual and order.
The origin OF the order was briefly
given,
Damon displeased bis Grecian master
Was stripped of senator's robes and or
dered to be executed. Only one friend
remained true. it was Pythias,a stranger
to the art Of speech, but his love Of Da-
mon prompted an eloquent appea! to
Dionysius. He pleads: "Thou art
husband and father" Damon is per-
mitted to go home and say '*goodby" to
wife and child. A respite of four hours
Pythias is chained in his place. Da-
mons $ wife wished him to break his bond
of fellowship. The last few moments of
the respite come and Pythias is taken
to the block to be executed, just as
the axe is raised horse is seen gallop-
ing over the PLAN, and Damon on the
horse. Pythlas is saved, Damon dies.
The hearts Of the tyrant ruler and the
populace is moved by a virtue long
bu'ied under the weight OF human SELF
ish' ess. All Pythians are sworn to ex-
ercise this fidelity and friendship.
There are four chief characters in this
incident.
| |. Dlonysius. ruler OF considerable
Importance. strong. powerful, warrior,
lover Of physical siren 9Th, ID sta tesman
J J ssWs]hHo3 who had risen to power by his own am
bition, then abused his power and place
after retaining them by sacrificing friend
and foe. Yet this fend had hidden strings
which brought forth music at the touch
Of fidelity and fellowship. This ruler
is only type OF many today, who sacri-
| flee al! for self and for power, Which,
when attained is abused Yet such tyr.
ants have hearts which can be touched
by loves soft hand
II. Pythias, a senator. Il man ofpow-
| er and OF peace, Il noble warrior, good,
honest citizen. loving truth and loyalty
Not even the block cutting off of all his
noblest ambitions, or his friends appar-
ent falthlessness could kill his love of
friend. True in times OF doubt, of ad-
versity, when he alone proved true. No
bic fidelity Of true fellowship. This is
the life worth living the life OF love-
III. Damon. stripped OF his robes and
power. ready to die and not murmur,
but craving for last look at his loved
one. The love OF home. OF wife and oil
children is strong. do not makes him
false to his friend. His sacred promise,
his fellowship, are true even unto death.
If the love OF wife, OF child, of home are
not sufficient exercise for breaking our
promises, what can we plead in exten-
uating our falseness, when we prove
traitor.
The wife, the child, the home, the
lovers. 1t is human to crave lic for
our loved ones, but even fellowship and
truth with death are preferable to break.
ing our trust. II We can only keep our
VOWS and be true, we can justly afford
to die and leave those behind who would
tempt us from the path Of rectirude aud
| of fidelity.
Life is brief,we have only one little llfe
How shall 1t be lived? Shall we live like
Dlonysus, abusing place 50 costly at
tained? This is the animal OF life. He
was ruler, a citizen, but cruel mon
ster. Yet we must not forget his heart
was won by fidelity and truth. Men
who are false and selfish eannot be won
by seltishness and falseness, only by
love
Shall we embody in our lives the
teachings OF this beautiful friendship,
friendship OF man for man. Live the
life that is for Others. Let our fellow
ship he true, lasting, even until death,
this the teaching Of our order. The love