The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03


"Iu the same Office young man by
the name of Robert A. Champion was
clerk, and although Champion was
not singer, he was lover of music
and congenial soul. And so it came
about that Rathbone, Kimbal. Cham
pion and my brother and myself form
ed sort of social, close corporation,
with music as the ground floor basis.
Champion, not being able to partici-
pate In the practise, insisted upon sup.
plying the place for meeting, so we met.
twice week at his home for several
weeks.
"Justus Fl. Ratb bone was character
He had dabbled in theatricals, minstrel
sy and was a singer of much more than
ordinary ability, with restless, ambi.
Iious temperament He aud Champion
were members of the order of Red Men
and enthusiastic secret society men.
s'We had had sort of intimation
that Rathbone was at work upon SONS
sort of scheme but nothing definite was
known until early in February, when
after the singing, Rathbone proceeded
to unfold his plans. He had evolved q
new secret'order, he said, and declared
his willingness to read the unfinished
skeleton in our presence, but insisted
the balance Of the quintet should be
obligated. The obligation admins
tered was not in form. but it was con-
sidered amply binding and so proved .
'Rathbone drew manuscript from
his pocket and read to US the outline OF
the secret work. The work embodied
practically al of the tenets OF the order
OF knights of Pythias as now exempt
fed, although the arrangement was
aft-rward changed somewhat, aud the
principal features elaborated. 1t is
| only just to Mr.. Rath bone to say, how
ever that the features of Pythianism
which have made the order SO popular
throughout the world, were included
in the first rough draft of the ritual as
presented that memorable evening of
February Is, 1864, in an upper chamber
with only four auditors.
"Rathbone's motive in founding the
new society was to provide a fraternal
and beneficial order and it was his
purpose, originally, that its member
ship should be confined exclusively to
clerks in the departments in Washing
ton,
"Aft n the reading of the ritua' we
ell voted the plan good one and heart
lily approved the secret work, in fact
we were all as enthusiastic as the
| writer of the ritual. At late hour
that night we parted with the under
standing that another meeting should
be held on the evening of February 10
four days later. 1t was agreed that
each of the five ground floor member
should invite other clerks of good
standing and character whose affilia-
ton would be congenial and those in,
vited should be present at the next
meeting.
''On the evening of the 10th, OF Feb
ruary twenty or twenty-five young men
assembled in the room appointed. All
were clerks in the departments and in
fact the greater portion were from the
surgeon generals Office of the war de-
partment.
| "The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. Rathbone, who briefly stated the
object of the gathering and informed
those present that the plan OF the work
would be disclosed to those disposed to
subscribe to an obligation of secrecy.
All present were duly obligated and the
ritual read as it had been at the origin
al meeting. Following the reading a
society composed of those present was
organized. Justus Fl. Rathbone was
chosen the first presiding officer de-
nominated worthy chancellor afterward
changed to chancellor commander.
Sat the time OF the organization, the
work was continued in only two de
grees-the iniatory and the second, A
committee composed of Mr.. Rathbone
Kimball, w. II. Burnett and Plant was
appointed to prepare for actual work
the first degree--now the second de-
gree. A committee was also appointed
on appliances, regalia etc, and tn
evening of February % named as the
date for the next meeting.
CAT this session the various com.
mittees were discharged. That night
q committee consisting of Rath bone,
D. L. Burnett and Woodruff was ap-
pointed to prepare the ritual of the
third degree, the fe lures of which
had been largely separated from the
second degree by the first named com
mittee. This last named committee
was authorized TO devise signs, grips,
pass words, etc.
Soon after, the matter of a grand
lodge was taken up and while at that
time there appeared no particular need
tNs. l.