Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
PYTHIANS IN COUNCIL
MEETINa OF THE SUPREME LODGE
AT LOUISVILLE TODAY.
Admission Of the Rathbone Sisters
Discussed-Contestf for Next En-
campment-Interesting Report.

LOUISVILLE, KY, August 16.-Ihe gu
preme Lodge, which is the business oe-
partment of the Knights OF Pythfas' OPEN
ed Its sessions today at the Masonic Inca
ter The attendance was large ana mucli
interest was shown. 1t being reported that
many matters Of interest to the knights
would be taken up. Among these matters
was the method Of promulgating the SEMI
annual password. many contendfng tnat
the magic word should be changed only
yearly, and that the present manner OF
acQuainting the members with 1t prevented
many from attending lodges. 1t was pre-
dicted by some that the lodge would wipe
away all forms of benefits. but strong OPP
position to this move seems assured.
Perhaps the most important matter the
lodge will be called upon to settle Is the
relation Of the endowment rank to the reg
ular lodge. Many enthusiastic knights 1eei
that the knights of Pythias is frater-
naT' order rather than "benenciary III
stitution' or an insurance organ1zauoh'
and that all insurance features shoulo DC
completely eliminated from the orSaniZa-
| ton proper. The insurance feature repre-
sented by the endowment rank Is an oIu
institution of the Pythians. and 1t Will not
easily be set aside.
a stirring topic in connection with the
lodge is whether or not the Rathbone
Sisters are to be admitted to the order.
The Rathbone Sisters have been knocking
at the door of Pythanism for ten years
or more. and at each meeting of the SUI
preme lodge they have been denied en-
trance into the portals. Old-time Pyth-
ians feel that Pythian hall is place Tor
knights and that one of the chier prln-
ciples of Pythianism being the preserva-
ton of the home inviolate and the pro-
lection of woman, they alone should be
the knights; the women should be the
ladies'" All the traditions of Pythtan-
ism are against it, they say.
After welcoming addresses and re-
sponses the general meeting Of the lodge
adjourned until night, and the accredited
delegates went into executive session to
hear the reports of officers.
The spectacular side of the biennial en-
| ampment of the knights of Pythias was
| the parade scheduled for pm. today.
The route of the parade was thronged
with people before noon While the
heat prostrations were reported good
breeze tempered somewhat the strong
| rays of the sun.
Thirty-six states are in attendance upon
the encampnent, and each has been al
lotted position in the parade. The grand
marshal of the day will be James r. Car
nahan, supreme commander of the uni
form rank.
Cincinnati has apparently dropped out
OF the contest for the next meeting place,
ana the fight has narrowed down to the
two southern cities, New Orleans and
Nashville.
Supreme Chancellor's Report.
The biennial report of the supreme chan
cellor, Tracy r. Bangs. contained the fol-
lowing:
The lodges under the immediate control
of the supreme lodge are the same as two
years ago warrant has been issued for
a lodge at Farnham. Squebec, and blank
applica tons have been received looking to
the institution Of lodges in Newfoundlan nd
ana IN Porto Rico. The latest reports re-
ceived from foreign lodges show that all of
them are in fairly healthy condition. and
mat Pythianism is holding it's own in the
foreign countries. At the present time our
ability TO expand is limited by the English
speaking zone. Would it not be wise to
take some action authorizing the printing
OF the ritual In languages other than the
English i
the cause of much concern We have for
years taken 1t upon faith, and it strikes me
that IL Is about time to stop long enoug h
10 take stock and endeavor to ascertain
whether the uniform rank-as now msnagej
ana controlled, is a benefit or a hindrance
10 the order of knights of Pythias The
ss.ailstlcs snow that we are going steadily
backward In this rank. 1t appears to me
therefore. that there is something radically
wrong with this branch of the order
am or the opinion that one of the
:'' IL i'St the great cause for loss of
interest interest,", loss of membership and general
ueterloratlon, Is lack of home rule and
the 1act that the rank is over-ofticered.
over-controlled, and has run to form ratbe,.
than to substance. l believe that it is due the
UNIFORM rank that it should be absolutely
ana without reservation released from anv
ana an control by the supreme lodge limit
ing It's supervision to that which if NAV
flSnt1ully exercise over any man who ia
member of the order of knights of Pvtb
ias-to insist upon such conduct as win not
bring discredit on the order
The receivership of the City National
Bank OF Fort Worth, Tex, has been closed
| the total loss by the failure to the order
| being $50 1872
The report of r. L. c. White. sunreme
keeper of records and seal, shows that the
total number of subordinate lodges. Decem-
Isber 81, 1903. was 7,22S and the total mem
| pershlp o94,SS3, net gain during the year
! or l63 lodges and 81, $50 members This is
| the largest gain in membership made dur
| ing any year since 1892. The net gain dur
| ing 1902 and 1903 combined was 2l6 subor-
| dinate lodges and 5.745 members There
are 546 lodges in Illinois. 446 in Indiana.
400 in Iowa. 300 in Kansas, PAT in Missouri
23t in New York, CAT in Ohio, 453 In Penn
| sylvania and 323 in Texas
The total receipts of grand lodges were
! $4,S13,659. of which 81, 533 435 was expended
| for relief
| The total suspensions for non-payment
| of dues In 1903 were 80, 7S1 the total for
| this cause since 1863 is G69,4
Thomas d. MeareS supreme master of
the exchequer, reported receipts of Sl64,6
and expenditures of $125, los, leaving 500 5l2
on hand.