Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-12
RITUAL OF THE K. OF P.
MIR. BENJAMIN DECLARES RATH-
BONE WROTE IT.
Says He Remembers the Circumstances
Plainly-Knew Rathbone
Well.

IT see that VIM. D. Kennedy of Illinois
past grand chancellor and past supreme
representative, says, in an article published
in The Evening Star Of last Saturday, that
Justas H. Rathbone wrote no rough draft
of the ritual of the knights of Pythias up
in Michigan said Mr.. S. c. Benjamin of
533 T street northwest today.
1T seems strange to me why, after a
lapse of some thirteen years since the
death of Mr.. Rathbone, a dispute should
arise as to who first conceived and wrote
the original or rough draft of the ritual on
which is based the ritual Of the Knights Of
Pythas of today.
LAS 1 am somewhat conversant with
Pythian history and it's inception, allow me
to state the following facts: l went to
Lake Superior in 1852 and had charge OF a
store at the Copper Falls Mine when Mr..
Rathbone came up on the lake In 1860
Mr.. Rathbone taught school at Eagle
Harbor the Northwest Mine and the Cen
trail Mine. From the time of my first ac-
quaintance with Mr.. Rathbone In 1860 until
his death at Lima. Ohio, was his personal
and intimate friend, and was his confidant
in many respects, so that know from per-
sonal experience and observation what
am talking about
Mr. Rathbone was teaching school at
the Central Mine. Lake Superior, M CHI,
when he conceived the idea of writing
ritual for fraternal organization, which
would make him a name and fame, as he
expressed it..
Knew He Was Writing Ritual.
II know from our repeated conversations
on the subject that was writing ritual.
or making rough draft Of one, based on
the story of Damon and Pythias, and that
the ritual was intended for fraternal
organization which he intended to work at
after he left the lake.
Il saw the original draft with its era
sures and interlineations, and Rathbone
spoke of the scenic and stage effects he
proposed to introduce during the rendering
of the ritual
THAT Justus H. Rathbone did write
ritual, based on the story of Damon and
Pythas while he was teaching school at
the Central Mine. Lake Superior. Mich.
cannot be controverted by any person liv-
ing any proof furnished that he did not
do so.
ut is some forty-three years ago since
what l have referred to happened, but the
details are fresh in my memory, and they
are correct in the main. and the actual
facts 1 remember them.
Mr.. Amos ]. Cunning. prominent Pyth-
ian of this city, says that Rathbone told
him that he Rathbone) outlined or wrote
the ritual while a teacher of school near
the shores of the mightiest of the fresh
water seas Was Mr.. Rathbone truth
full man? What object could he Rath-
bone) have had to make such a statement
If it were not true?
II met Mr.. Rathbone here in Washington
in 1863 and he told me that he had found
ed the order of the knights of Pythias.
Give Source Of Their Information.
II would like to have the three gentle
men mentioned by Mr.. Kennedy inform
me from what source they gained their
information that he Rathbone) wrote no
rough draft of the ritual up in Michigan.
1T may be true that Mr. Rathbone did
not pick up the name of the order until
the fall of 1863. but that is no proof that
Mr.. Rathbone did not write ritual on
Lake Superior