The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-29
LODGE NEWS.
knights of Pythias Hold Dis
trict Convention.
Usage City Center of Interest
ing Gathering of Pythians.
IN ANNUAL MEETING.
Condition of Order in Third
District Is Satisfactory.
/. o. F. and Rebekah Lodges
Hold Semi-AnnuaI Election.

Usage City was the center Tuesday
and on to sunrise Wednesday morning
of an interesting gathering of Knights
of Pythias, members of the order living
within the third district. which is com
posed of the counties of Shawnee,
Douglas. Usage. Wabaunsee, Franklin.
Linn. Johnson, and Lyon, and wltnlr
which bounds there are about twenty
lodges The gathering was largely at
tended and full of interest
Topeka Knights We're strongly repre-
scented. They left this city early in the
day with big crowd Of uniformed
rank Knights taking with them the
knights of PythiaS band of about -
pieces, and remained until early Wed
nesday morning. From to p. m the
band played e concert, and the re-
mainder OF the evening was consume
with a banquet and the eXemphhcation
OF the third rank work by Usage City
degree team No "a
It should be explained that these dis
trict meetings Of the Knights of Pythias
are events which occur annually and are
of exceeding importance to the order
Coming as they often do just a the out
set of the winter they are productive
OF much good in enlivening the member
ship Of the subordinate lodges and dis
seminatilg new ideas concerning the
high mission Of Pythianism- They al
ways bring together not only the prOni-
nent Knights OF Pythias of the district,
but almost without exception the state
-
to attend and give whatever they may
to their brothers.
In Kansas il was found impossible for
the grand chancellor. who is head of the
state organization of Pythians, to do
Justice to everything that his hands
might find. and in order to relieve this
district deputy grand chancellors wers
named, one for each of the districts
which were esta blished with this pur
pose in mind. The district deputy has
jurisdiction which in the state is only
exceeded by that of the grand chan
cellOr himself and it usually extends SO
far as the arrest of charters. On the
other hand. the deputy must stand spon-
scr for the condition, in a general way.
of all the subordinate lodges of the or
der within his district, l. NJ. Penwen
of this city, is the present district dep
uty grand chancellor for the third dis
triCt. and at whose instance the Usage
City meeting was held. Mr.. PenwelI
was Of course present and participated
in the work of the convention. The
banquet. which was greatly enjoyed by
all, was attended by Grand Chancellor
S. o. Mcdowell of Columbus, Gen. Jo-
seph Lyon Of LeavenwOrth Gus J. Neu-
bert Of Kansas City, kas. and Past
Grand Chancellor SchOenfeldt of Okla
hOma. There were a number of excel
lent speeches by those present, and the
best of spirit existed.
About twenty-five men who have gone
through all the chairs of the local lodges
were given the grand lodge rank This
IN times past has been conferred onlv
by the state grand lodge, but for res
sons of expedieney the law was changed
so that the district conventions could do
this work. The chief rea son for this
seems TO have been the fact that many
or the men were unable to attend the
state meetings, who at the same time
could be at the district conventions.
It has not yet been determined as to
the time and place of the next district
convention.
This week has been one of election of
officers among the I. Q. o. F. lodges OF
the city Nearly all the subordinate
branches have chosen the men and wo-
men who are to manage their affairs
Tor the coming six months starting with
the first of January In Shawnee lodge
No. 1, the Oldest Odd Fellows lodge in
Kansas, the result of the election was
as follows J. H. Johns. noble grand
G. F. Hare. vice grand: H c Stevens.
recording secretary. 7. ?. Kelly. finan-
ctal secretary: A. c. Sowle, treasurer
Thomas H. Balm was chosen to repre-
sent the lodge on the union relief com
mittee composed of one representative
from each local branch to look to the
assistance of brother Odd Fellows who
are in need of hel0.
In Rebekah Naomi lodge No %. .Ae
choice of officers follows. Mrs Eta
Samuels, noble grand: Mrs. Trena Stew
ems, vice grand Mrs Lille Croneuber q
recording secretary; Mrs. Mary Perkins
financial secretary: Mrs. Anna Bluss-
man. treasurer
Capit0la Rebekah lodge No 219. will
have for is new officers the following.
Miss Hattie Burgess. noble grand. Mrs
Marie Bradford vice grand: Mrs. Saran
Brown. recording secretary: Mrs Sarah
Harker, financial secretary; Mrs Lizzie
Cooper. treasurer.
Shawnee encam9ment No. 8. the en-
campment being hi@her rank of Odd
Fellowship than is embodied in tho
work of the ordinary subordinate lodges
will be differed during the coming term
as follows. w H Baldwin. chief pat